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Just love the Hokianga


Tired and backside a little sore from the beach the day before, we still managed to cover a bit of distance on day two.  Broadwood has a popular store for riders to grab a pie.  The pie was a case of over promise & under deliver, something we were still sensitive to early on in the project, but was energy giving nonetheless.  From Broadwood it’s up over a sometimes gnarly piece of off road to get to the Rawene ferry. We just missed the boat and had an hour to connect with fellow riders.  I love that Rawene ferry trip which we’ve done before, but couldn’t believe how cheap it was for us riders - something like $1 each.  


Off the ferry: rain.  That made the off ramp slippery, and a couple of riders stumbled alighting.  With a cafes, etc closed in Rawene we bought a few supplies at the 4 Square (I never realised how critical 4 square is to this country) and set off for Omapere some two hours away.  We would be staying there for the night.  The rain increased and we got wet, but arrived at Opinoni stopping at the burger bar across from the famous jetty.  “No fish left,” said the ladies in the shop, but we can do burgers.   No problem for me.  Burgers are probably my favourite food.  Apparently we would have been out of luck the night before because power had just come on that afternoon since Gabrielle.  They became a useful pattern all down Northland.  We spent a lovely hour talking to locals outside over our burgers.  Even heard some secrets re Opo’s death.  ‘Nuff said.  

Our accommodation at our friend Brigitte’s house at Omapere wasn’t far, but was up a steep hill.  It was so welcome tho, and we had a lovely sleep there amidst the views over the Hokianga and the horses & bees.  






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