From Otto’s Corner I start out around 9.30 into another sunny day.
An hour later I think of the fact that I haven’t had any defect yet and stop to do something about that. One really needs to have had some defect on a bike tour like this (everybody’s had one). I decide to pump some more air into my rear tire which seems to be slowly loosing it. So I get out my, quote bike shop guy, ‘really good’ pump and note that I have to screw it onto the valve. This works fabulously, as I promptly manage to screw the whole valve off the tube. Defect accomplished! Changing the tube takes another 5 minutes, on presta valves the pump works fine and I get back onto the road soon.
It’s very hilly, hot and hey that’s my second (light) sunburn, this time on the left arm. Going is also a bit slower because sometimes, but not always, my left achilles band hurts a little. Mt. Hercules, the only notable elevation, is only a 150 Hm climb. The roadsigns telling drivers to go no faster than 25 can tell you a bit about how steep it is, though.
I pass dirty looking Lake Ianthe (after 70km) and the campground there around 15.00. From here on to Ross it’s a very tough 25km for me, only interrupted by chatting with a cyclist going south.
Ross, a gold mining town with an active mine, has some old buildings, a store where I get cookies and coke and no real campground.
I’ve also noticed throughout NZ that there are quite a few vintage cars out there being actively driven.
Freshly invigorated by sugar in liquid and solid form, I ride on 14km to Lake Mahinapua and the great campground there. Hidden from SH6 by 700m of dense forest, it features decent facilities and lots of space.
Around 22.00 a light rain starts. Another 110 km day done.