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Travelogue: Back to the Coast

Travelogue: Back to the Coast

by Johnny Isaak ·

I’ve returned to the North Island for a change of scenery and to keep pushing north. Attached are a couple of images I made while riding through rolling hills angling my way to the East Cape. Now I’m riding against the clock. There are less than three weeks of my kiwi adventure remaining, and there is still so much to see.

Wide open valleys on the way to Dannevirke on the North Island.

I’ve been staying off of standard tourist, backpacker trade routes as much as possible. Preferring to seek out the places only the locals go has provided me with a better perspective of what New Zealand is all about. It’s easy to see why so many people love this country.

Three days of riding through mountains and valleys put me on the east coast about ten kilometers east of Hastings. As I swung north toward Napier, my destination for the day, a fresh breeze carried with it the scent of salt air.  

Jumping off of Highway 2 onto a bike path paralleling the shoreline north to Napier enabled me to cruise along and gaze into the vastness of the ocean without having to keep my attention focused on the traffic passing me.

Low storm clouds along the coast east of Hastings.

The Pacific spread out before me as far as I could see. After so much time in the hills and mountains of the South Island, I looked forward to little time along the ocean. What sights would I see along the East Cape?

Rolling hills and gradual climbs had made up most of my days. Jackson Browne was often jamming in the earbuds, or maybe a little Bob Seager. There was the slight headwind, just enough to keep me honest. Puffy white clouds lined up in the distance. New Zealand has amazing blue skies.

Rolling green hills on the way to Masterton.

Rolling through green hills under indigo skies, there is so much to take in. Cattle grazing, sheep nibbling, while occasionally lifting there heads to check me out. Who’s the crazy guy on the bike? Moderate climbing was just enough to keep the riding interesting but not overwhelming. This is when a low-geared bike comes in handy. 

Troubled skies and three days of rain at Napier.

Black sand and gray skies, a few moments alone to contemplate the nature of things along a windswept beach, it was my last night in Napier. Pleasant weather would have made the stay more photogenic, but as luck would have it, storm clouds gathered on the horizon. This is the nature of travel. You take what you get at the time you are there. My time in Napier is up. It’s time to move on.

CONCLUSION

Rolling through different terrain. Seeing how others live. Real adventures are found down quiet country roads. Experience isn’t about ticking off all the prominent tourist destinations but seeking out authentic places where other travelers rarely tread.

See you out there. Cheers.

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Filed Under: Travelogue Tagged With: adventure, adventure cycling, bicycle, bicycle commute, bicycle touring, bicycle travel, bike travel, Johnny Isaak, New Zealand, North Island

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