A lovely start to cycling in New Zealand. A fine twisty coastal road as we head to Coromandel, with two toasty hills to get the legs warmed up.
Coromandel – named after HMS Coromandel who pulled in here in 1820. In turn HMS Coromandel, built in Calcutta, is named after a place in India. International influences and interferences are nothing new: New Zealand should know from its first Polynesian Maori 14C settlers onto an uninhabited land. They learned to farm and use the kauri wood – which turns out to be good for ships masts. Nelson’s HMS Victory for example.
We took bike road to Thames (to avoid Auckland bustle we’re told) and started from there, heading north. Immediate differences to what we last saw in mainland Australia is it’s lush green here. (and the coffee is better – just in case any Aussie friends are reading!) The cars seem smaller on average. Most creeks still sport their Maori names.
Today’s wind blew in a good storm, as in torrential, which I watched from holding down the lunchspot awning. Colder too – care is needed as the hole in the ozone layer is more pronounced here to UV is high all the time.
And then to arrive into this little ex gold-mine town which now lives off fishing and tourism. Quite well according to the number of cafes and crafty shops.
Tomorrow up over to the east coast then head south.
Travelling reflections 