Day 8 and 9

 Today was a bit of a grind the Waikato river trails had some awesome sections but would be better to suited to a full suspension e bike rather than a heavy loaded packing bike. We started latish (My fault). But got through to Mangakino had a swim in the lake got some more supplies and carried thru to Pureora. 

We climbed quite a bit today through back roads and forestry trails had to squeeze across a narrow swing bridge and carried on climbing through forestry trails we got to the highest point and it was pretty much dark fortunately the remaining trail was downhill so we zoomed downhill in the dark into Pureora. The night time Forest was alive and we had cats, opossums and a deer run out in front of us.

We stayed the night in a DOC camp at the start of the Timber Trail, we were woken by the sound of Kaka squawking and playing in the trees and a suspected Kokako, the timber trail bush and bird life was awesome it certainly represents what our bush was once like, the giant Matai trees stood strong in the forest with their canopies way in the air. 

We had a 10km uphill and then into mostly downhill trails, the track is 84kms in total, wow!! Outstanding trails!! we weren’t riding tramping tracks but wide open, mostly smooth trails full of turns. A couple of bobcats were working way up in the hills laying gravel on what would be muddy sections and a helicopter was ferrying gravel way up into the mountains so it’s only going to get better even though it will be a mountain bike highway.

Our bikes are heavy but we were honking through these trails the weight seemed to hold them to the ground, certainly a huge smile on my dial as we rode the “hero dirt”. I will be back with a full suspension bike to hammer this trail but on the flip I look forward to coming back to take it a gentle pace with friends or family who want to ride it, there’s heaps to see. Any one want to book this in???

The trail had a couple of massive swing bridges 141m was the longest very impressive hanging up above the valley unable to see or hear any other signs of civilisation. We stopped under one bridge for a swim in a deep pool; so refreshing… 

The trail then ran out into an old tram track through some thick bush and deep cuttings, after the Ongarue spiral the trail turned into a typical tight rutted mtb trail which ran out to the end of the trail.

We had a quick break at the end and then I tried to keep up with Chris as we smashed 24kms to Taumaranui, we checked what time the Indian restaurant was open then headed to the campground, but as we headed there we spotted a Motor Inn for a proper bed and to clean and charge our gear. Curry, bed sleep done…