First day packing up camp when on tour always takes longer than expected. The as yet un mastered pack up routine hindered departure and we hooned into Thames central to the Post Office. Packaged off to Cromwell to await us is the bike travel bags and carry on luggage, minus contents.
The flat gravel, well built bridges and flat grade of the Hauraki rail trail saw us make Paeroa in good time. Unfortunately finding a replacement buckle for my pack saw many locals sending us all over the town center. (If you need something fixed, good chance Bunnings Paeroa will sort you out.) From Paeroa we branched out along the Karangahake gorge to historic Victoria Battery at Waikino. The rail tunnel and viaduct bridges over highway 2 that lead to the gold mining ruins at Victoria Battery were the highlights of the day.
Lunch demolished in the Victoria Battery ruins we finished our bike fashion photo shoot and tore back along to Paeroa.
The jaunt from Paeroa into Matamata was uneventful along the arrow straight rail trail that ended at Te Aroha, but we capped it off with early takeout dinner before charging to the finish. Rain gear was necessary for the last blat into Matamata, dooming the tents to be neglected for cheap cabin lodgings for the night.
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