Two rides and a Ball

Last weekend (28/29 June) we were in Auckland for our grand-daughter’s second birthday. Of course we took our bikes along with us, as we had planned to detour via Paeroa on our way back to Wellington, to ride some or all of the Hauraki Rail Trail. Unfortunately, on Monday, the weather was appalling all across the North Island, so we scrubbed that idea, and just made a bee-line for home. The Hauraki Rail Trail will keep for another time.

Auckland’s Sky Tower, seen from the War Memorial Museum, in the late afternoon

By Friday (4 July), the weather had improved enough for us to go for a local ride. We hadn’t been down to the Wellington Waterfront for a while, so we parked at the end of Oriental Parade, and rode towards Evans Bay.

Houses cling to the hillside overlooking Kio Bay. The house at top right has a private cable car. In recent years more and more home owners on precipitous sites have installed cable cars (photo by John)

Evans Bay Marina

As we rode along the Evans Bay Marina, I became aware that my back wheel had developed an odd sort of “bump, bump”. The surface we were riding on was quite smooth, so that wasn’t the cause; I stopped to see if I had a flat tyre, but that wasn’t the case either. We carried on along Cobham Drive, and there John took a closer look. He noticed that the tyre had a bulge. To make sure it wasn’t going to go flat on me while riding, he let the tyre down, felt it all over, and pumped it up again. It seemed to be OK.

John checks the rear tyre on my bike. The airport is at the top right of the photo, and the Miramar Peninsula goes off towards the left

While John was checking the tyre, Alastair Smith and a friend rode past, and stopped to see if we needed help. Alastair is one of the movers and shakers of Cycle Aware Wellington (CAW) and he writes an interesting blog about his cyling adventures (which sound much more active and strenuous than ours!) 

He and his friend were heading to ride around the Miramar Peninsula. They said they had to be back in town in an hour’s time, so they took off pretty smartly.

We went only as far as the Miramar Wharf, where we turned around to go back. By now a rather brisk nor'westerly headwind had sprung up, and it was quite hard work riding into it, especially around the points of all the little bays. We kept going along Oriental Parade, as I was interested in taking a look at the new Clyde Quay Wharf development, which is now nearing completion.

This is the former Overseas Terminal, which has been rebuilt / converted / expanded into a plush apartment complex, with retail outlets on the ground floor. We took a little detour onto the wharf. The retail spaces were still not quite finished, but many of the apartments appeared to be occupied already, judging from the furniture and plants on many of the balconies.

According to the Clyde Quay Wharf website, 90% of the apartments have been sold, and the final ones are now available for sale, starting at a "mere" $1.4 million for two bedrooms and a car park!

The new Clyde Quay Wharf apartment complex has restored the finial of the original Overseas Terminal. I suppose the pre-fab in the foreground will be removed once everything is completed (photo by John)

The apartments appear to be occupied, but the retail spaces are not yet ready (photo by John)

We stopped for coffee at the Karaka Café. We were amused by a very persistent seagull, which decided to perch on top of the umbrella of a neighbouring table. The occupants of the table tried several times to shoo him away, but he obviously thought he had a prior right to be there.

“I’m the King of the Castle!”

On our way home, we stopped at the Johnsonville Bike Shop to get advice on the problem tyre. It turned out that it was a defect in the construction, where the fabric casing failed and the tyre became distorted. Luckily, Francis, the owner of the shop, will get us a free replacement.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Today, Sunday 6 July, we rode in the Hutt Valley. As our house is quite sheltered from the south, we were not aware that a brisk southerly was blowing. While riding up the Hutt River Trail from Seaview, we had the wind behind us. We rode on the stopbank, in the sun, and though it was cold, it wasn’t a struggle.

Setting out from Seaview, well wrapped up against the cold southerly (photo by John)

We rode without stopping until we got to the Pomare rail bridge. There we took a break, sat in the sun for a while, ate some apple slices, and allowed my numb bum to un-numb.

Taking a short break at the base of the Pomare rail bridge (photo by John)

The way back on top of the stopbank, into a brisk southerly, was an unpleasant prospect, so we rode on Taita Drive, which was a bit more sheltered from the wind. It was quite interesting riding in an area that we are not familiar with. I noticed that because the houses face the stopbank, which will never be built on, the numbering was continuous, rather than just odd or just even numbers.

We stayed on the eastern side of Fraser Park, and further along, of Avalon Park, then rode down some suburban Lower Hutt streets, into a dead-end street, and eventually onto the High Street. On the corner of Mitchell Street is a lovely café, the Janus Bakkerij (not a spelling mistake, it is the Dutch spelling of “bakery”). We sat outside, in the sun, and enjoyed some excellent coffee and baking.

Coffee and cake in the sun at Janus Bakkerij (photo by John)

I reckon John suggested a stop here to mollify me, because when we were having our coffee, he said that we could bike along and stop at Jaycar, as we weren’t so far away from it. Jaycar is one of his favourite haunts – a supply place for all manner of things electronic – where he is quite capable of spending an hour or more. Fortunately he didn’t take too long this time, while I waited outside in the sunshine.

From there we meandered through the roads of Lower Hutt, and down Randwick Road, back to Seaview, where our car was parked. We had ridden 24 km. A very pleasant ride, despite the cold wind.

* * * * * * * * * * *

And what about the Ball, mentioned in the heading of this blog post?

Well, last night I attended the Wellington Region Scottish Country Dance Ball. It had a 1920s theme, and attendees had been invited to dress up in 1920s style, if they wished. Many did, some didn’t. Most of the women arrived in wonderful outfits – “flapper” dresses, long strings of beads, feather boas, furs, and feather head-dresses. The men wore either kilts – this was Scottish country dancing after all – or natty striped blazers and boaters.

The (non-alcoholic) punch was served by suitably dressed non-dancing husbands

Members of the Tawa Scottish Country Dance Club

It was a wonderful event – I really did have “a ball”. The dancing was great, of course, and I came home very tired but happy, and with very sore feet!

About the bikes

I have just done a whole lot of "fiddling" with my blog. I have added a list of Keywords along the left side of the page to facilitate finding topics of interest. I have also shifted a few entries that were in the "Other Stuff" page to the main page, even though they are not about cycling, but about some of my other interests.

On John's suggestion that some technical information might be of interest to some people, I am adding below a pared-down extract from his webpage, about the Giant Expressway 2 Folding Bike. This also allows me to add some useful technical keywords to the list.

Giant Expressway 2 Folding Bike (by John Patterson)

 

Introduction

The Giant Expressway 2, 2013 folding bike is the latest folding bike from Giant. The bike is intended for commuting, where a larger bike might not be permitted on peak hour public transport. The bike is also ideal as a means to explore new places, and to get fit. There are many suitable cycle trails and tracks here in New Zealand.

Twin bikes. Note the higher seat on John's bike in front (photo by John)

I purchased this bicycle as an easy re-introduction to cycling. I got it at Burkes Cycles for $560 which was a standard discount from the retail price of $599. This price to that of a good quality conventional bike so a decision can be made purely on personal needs.

I had not cycled for 13 years because of health issues. The folding bike was perfect as I could put it in the car and take it to somewhere flat to ride. Now that my fitness has improved, I have started using the folding bike for longer rides. It deals well with variable surfaces – I have had no problems with riding it on gravel.

I bought Désirée a bike so she can join me on the rides. Both bikes can easily fit inside our small Nissan Micra car with room to spare for luggage when travelling further afield.

Both bikes easily fit into our Nissan Micra, with room for luggage behind the front seats (photo by John)

 

 Technical details

The components are basic, but sufficient for most applications. So far I have had no problems. The Expressway wheels are quite strong with 36 stainless steel spokes, alloy rims, alloy hubs, and solid axles. Other good points are a Cr-Mo fork, a hydroformed 6061 aluminium alloy frame and a substantial carrying bag. Specifications are available from any Giant web site or dealer.

The bike has a wide range of quick release adjustments for seat height, handlebar height and tilt. Other settings for gears and brakes are finger adjustable. Horizontal seat position, and some other brake adjustments, require a 5 mm allen-key. Wheel removal requires, preferably, a 15 mm ring spanner. Quick releases are not required as the bike fits in a car without removing any wheels. If you have a good local bike shop then none of this will be a worry.

The bike has seven speeds ranging from 70 to 35 Gear-Inches, 5.6 to 2.8 Metres-Development or a 5.24 to 2.62 Gain-Ratio. These terms are defined here. In other words, the lowest gear requires half the effort of the highest gear. Here in Wellington, New Zealand, I can climb most hills with these gear ratios. I can always walk if things get too difficult.

The geometry of the bike has similarities to the classic, and well regarded, Raleigh 20 folding bike. Both bikes have a larger rear triangle than most folding bikes sold today. This strengthens the support for the seat post and the more heavily laden rear of the bike. The seat post is supported, in 4 distinct places, rather than in just the 2 places found on many other folding bikes. The Expressway wheel base is 1013 mm, while the Raleigh 20 wheel base is 1003 mm. The shortest distance from the seat-post axis to the handle-bar axis is the same at about 570 mm. The seat-post and head-tube angles are similar at about 71 degrees. The Expressway chain-stay length is 404 mm while the Raleigh 20 chain-stay length is about 392 mm.

Improvements

I was told that I could not fit a standard carrier on this bike. In fact it was easy to fit, so both bikes now have carriers. They are set back far enough to take my old pannier bags, if needed. I have mounted a small pump under the carrier.

A Cateye bar-end mirror was fitted to each bike. This addition is probably the most important as it contributes to safety. You can see the line that traffic is taking behind you, whether any indicators are flashing, and the approach of other cyclists. I have used a bar-end mirror on my mountain bike since the late 1980s. When riding on busy roads it helps me to assess the space that wide vehicles, such as trucks, would leave me. I filed some plastic off the inside of the end-cap so the mirror tilts out further. This prevents it being knocked by my hand during rides.

A rear-view mirror is added onto the end of the handlebar (photo by John)

On each bike I was able to fit a holder for a 600 ml drink bottle behind the seat, attached to the carrier and its support-stay. The bottle holder tabs were bent slightly to fit and a single 5 mm hole was drilled in the carrier. The triangle thus formed made the carrier-stay more rigid as well. I did not like supporting the bottle horizontally on the frame, in front of the rider as it interferes with stepping over the frame to ride or to dismount.

A bottle holder was added behind the seat (photo by John)

 
I purchased two Cateye Velo 5 bike computers so we can each keep track of the distance travelled. This basic model has trip distance, odometer, maximum speed and a clock. The Velo 8 offers more options, including average speed.

I had some old Lowepro camera bags which were easily mounted on the front handle bars. They can contain items such as locks, sun-glasses, cameras and tire repair kits. These bags have pull-out rain covers.

A camera bag is fitted onto the handlebar. Note also the bell, the bike computer (top right of photo), and the quick-release lever to adjust the tilt of the handlebar (photo by John)

On my bike I replaced the saddle with one with longer mounting rails and better comfort. This allowed me to set the saddle back further so that the set-up was similar to my mountain bike. On Désireé's bike I also replaced the saddle with a more comfortable one.

I have a basic LED lighting set-up for emergencies. I don't anticipate cycling at night.

Tyres

For reference, the Kenda Kwest 20x1.25 inch tyre, fitted on the Giant Expressway 2, is actually 480 mm or 18.9 inches in diameter. The circumference is therefore 1508 mm or 151 cm. The last value should be entered when the bike computers are set up. The measured tyre width is actually 1.39 inches or 35 mm, when inflated. In the front, the tyre clearance is an average of 13.5 mm on each side. In the rear, it is about 6.3 mm on each side.

There appears to be little relationship between the specified and the actual tyre dimensions on many bikes. This means that any upgrading is essentially an experiment. The frame clearance from the tyre wall should not be much less than 3 mm. This maximum measured width of a substitute tyre should therefore be no more than 56 mm in the front and 42 mm in the rear. The particular internal width of the rim can affect the measured tyre width and place limits on the maximum tyre width that can be safely fitted.

After experiencing a few punctures I upgraded to Kenda 912 20x1.75 inch tyres. They ride better on rough surfaces and they also have a good tread pattern for the road. The new tyres are 3.3% larger in diameter so a tyre circumference of 156 cm needs to be used with the bike computer. The chain-stay clearance is about 2.5 mm. Note that the Giant tyre specification is wrong in New Zealand. Here, Kenda 20x1.25 inch tyres are supplied instead of the specified 20x1.75 inch tyres.

Maintenance

The maintenance required on this bike is similar to any other. Keeping the chain clean and lubricated is important. I first use some light oil to penetrate inside the chain. I wipe off the outside of the chain and then I apply some dry lubricant.

On Désirée's bike I removed one shim from the freewheel cassette, as it was a little loose and noisy when ridden. This is a low cost item so replacement is an alternative. The shim removal stopped the noise by reducing the bearing clearance. The cover recently worked loose because I did not tighten it up enough when I refitted it. Using a punch I have tightened it up more firmly. I also used blue loctite 243 threadlocker to assist.

Learning to adjust the derailleur will help to keep the bike running smoothly. It is a simple twist adjustment on the derailleur end of the cable housing. The cable can stretch slightly with time or the cable housing may shorten. To compensate, the adjustment is turned while pedalling the bike by hand, in a middle gear. You may need help to support the rear of the bike off the ground, or you could turn the bike upside down. Adjust for minimum chain noise. Excessive noise means that the derailleur is trying to move the chain out of alignment. Your local bike shop can help.

The brakes may also need adjusting as the brake-pads wear. In this case the adjustment is on the brake lever.

I carry some spares and safety equipment on our trips. This includes a spare tube, a tyre repair kit (including patches and tyre levers), a 15 mm ring spanner, a bike multi-tool, light rainwear, a sun hat, a basic first aid kit, a torch, a lock, a small tripod and a tiny folding kite. We always take water, a sliced apple and some small chocolate bars. I usually have a locality map on my iPod Touch. We both carry cell phones. I keep a larger tool-kit and lubricants in the car.

Conclusion

The bikes are performing well. As I have gained fitness, the urge to upgrade the gearing has dissipated. Much of the recreational cycling, in the first half of last century, including round the World trips, was done by people using 1 or 3 speed gearing. The 3 speed bikes also had less than half the gearing range I have now. I see no need to substitute higher grade bike components for our application.

I have found that off-road loose surface riding is a good way to gain bike handling skills.

When cycling recently in New Plymouth we discovered that the bikes are good in the rain. The carrier, added at the rear, provides spray protection from the rear wheel. The small wheel size at the front means the feet don't get as wet as they do on a standard bike.

The folding bike has provided me with a pleasant way to improve my health. The gains have been significant. In addition, I have been able to explore many areas in my own city that are new to me.

Hawke's Bay Cycle Trails – Day 3

Last week we went to Hawkes Bay for a few days’ riding the wonderful cycling trails in the region. This is the post about the third day of that holiday. You can check out days 1 & 2 here.

Day 3 – Saturday 30 November
Hastings to Havelock North, then Tukituki Loop

This was to be a “killer” of a day, but I didn’t know that when we set out. Having said that, it was a great ride, and at the end, I was immensely proud of myself for having completed 50 kms, much of it on a Grade 3 trail!

We were going to ride the Tukutuki River Trail. I thought we were just going to do the flat part of the trail, because as you know, I don’t like hills. And since it was an “easy ride” from Hastings to Havelock North, from where that trail starts, we set off on our bikes, right from our cottage.

The whole Napier/Hastings/Havelock North area is very bike-friendly. Many roads have either a dedicated cycle track separate from the road, or cycle lanes on the road, delineated with green lines, and cycle symbols painted on the road. There are also reminders to motorists that “Cycle lanes are for cyclists”, with a warning not to use them for parking.

There are bike lanes on many roads (photo by John)

It was about 4 kms from the cottage to Havelock North. Along most of the length of Havelock Road, there was a separate foot/cycle path, where posts on each side of every driveway warned cyclists to watch for exiting vehicles.

The foot/cycle path along Havelock Road had warning posts at every driveway (photo by John)

Havelock North’s town centre is very pleasant, and there is a row of nice cafés opposite a park. Of course, with a hard day's riding ahead of us, we just had to fortify ourselves with coffee and a muffin, didn’t we?

After that, we made use of the public toilet facilities across the road, and the “automatic loos” made me laugh. As you shut the door, a male American voice tells you to push the green button to lock the door, and when you do, it tells you that the door is locked and that you’ve got ten minutes to do your business. It was almost tempting to stay in there for ten minutes to see what would happen if you outstayed your welcome, but I had better things to do with my time …

Then, there is no flush button on the toilet, but a notice tells you that it will flush when you wash your hands or when you unlock the door (for those mucky people who don’t bother to wash!). The washing facilities are three sensor-driven automatic dispensers in a row: soap, water, dryer. And lo! as the water ran to wash my hands, the toilet flushed. I thought this was really funny and laughed out loud. Maybe I have a warped sense of humour. When I came out, there were some people waiting outside, and I wondered whether they’d heard me cackling …

Right, on with more serious matters.

We headed out along Te Mata Road, towards the Tukituki Loop. It was uphill – slightly – but it slowed me down. And the wind was blowing, but it wasn’t too bad at that stage. As the day wore on, it got stronger and stronger, a real struggle in places where we had to head into it. The forecast had been for strong or galeforce winds in Hawke’s Bay. When we watched the news that night, we saw that the wind had caused a great deal of damage in Auckland and Christchurch, and near our home, the Johnsonville Christmas parade had had to be cancelled.

Eventually we got to the top of the hill, and I enjoyed freewheeling down towards the corner where the Tuki Kitchen Café is. Only it is not called that anymore, it is now called the Tandem Café.

Having “just” had coffee, we didn’t stop, but went up the hill towards the top of the Tukituki Loop. This is where things got dodgy. When we set out in the morning, I thought we were going to ride just the lower (flat) part of the Tukituki Loop. But sadly, my sense of direction is quite useless, and I have to trust John completely in that. And he directed us up the hill, to do the complete loop. Traitor!

OMG, it was such hard work! Riding up the hill, on the road, I managed it, in first gear, but cripes! it was hard. In Jonathan Kennett’s book “The NZ Cycle Trails”, when describing this trail, he writes “on the way, you must ride the ‘Mad Mile’ – a section of Waimarama Road with no shoulder space”. It was a 100km speed limit road, and quite a few cars whizzed by, while I tried to keep as close to the edge as I could. Having a rear-view mirror on my handlebar helped.

I was grateful for the trees along the road, providing patches of shade in which to stop and catch my breath. I must say, John was very patient, waiting for me to catch up; and very encouraging: “You can do it!” and “You’re doing very well”. When we got to the top, there was a gorgeous view over the river below. I had to puff out, so I stopped to take some pictures.

The view over the Tukituki River valley, from the top of hill on the Waimarama Road

Looking back over the Tukituki River

Then we freewheeled down the hill, wheee! For a while we rode on a more or less flat track along the base of the spectacular Craggy Range and Te Mata Peak. As we got close to the Craggy Range Winery, the track became a smooth “yellow brick road”, which lasted for about a kilometer. Very nice to ride on.

We rode along the base of Te Mata Peak

The “yellow brick road” along the Craggy Range Winery frontage

For a while we rode through pleasant scenery, on a reasonably flat track, edged with trees providing shade. Eventually we arrived at Red Bridge, which we crossed, and now the return journey down to the coast began. But if I thought it would all be downhill from here, I had another think coming …

Pleasant flat riding under the trees (photo by John)

Soon after the bridge, the road started to climb again (photo by John)

On the other side of the river, the Tukituki Road was varied – sometimes gentle rises, sometimes thankfully flat. But then we came to a set of steep hills. Steeper than anything we’d met so far, and in some places I couldn’t ride, I had to get off and walk. Every time we thought the next downhill would take us down to the river, we’d go round a bend in the road and then it was another uphill and another gully. Down, and back up, several times.

John was very attentive – in the sections where I had to walk, he would even park his bike and walk down to meet me and take my bike, so I wouldn’t have to push it up the hill! Such a sweetie! But I told him that I would be fine, and could do it myself – in fact, the bike gave me something to lean on!

At one of the “peaks”, John took a photo of a sign pointing to the lookout – which just goes to show that we had got to a fair height. He interpreted it as "Look out! Hills!"

While sitting in the shade of a tree for a bit, we were overtaken by a young woman – wearing lycra cycling gear, so she was probably one of those fit young things who made a habit of riding hills – and even she complained of how steep and how windy it was.

We had struggled up a hill high enough to warrant a Lookout sign! (photo by John)

The view from the rolling hills (photo by John)

Finally we got to the turn-off at Moore Road, which was straight, and going downhill to the river. Ah, the relief!

Moore Road. Ah, the relief of a straight downhill to the river! (photo by John)

At the bottom of Moore Road, we finally joined the cycle track again, on top of the stopbank. But it was another 15 kms to Black Bridge. And ouch! my behind was sore, my legs were sore, and my hands were sore. And though we were now more or less on the flat, we were riding on the lime sand path, which was not completely smooth, and we were struggling against the wind. A really bad headwind. The only redeeming thing about the wind was that if it hadn’t been blowing, it would have been too hot. As it was, I was so hot, that my face was all encrusted with salt from dried-up perspiration! The temperature reached 28 degrees during the day.

The Craggy Range seen from across the other side of the river. Note how the trees and grass are bending in the wind!

We were now back on the river flats, where there were orchards, and fields with young corn (maize) growing in disciplined rows. One orchard wasn’t taking any chances with its crop: there was netting draped over all the trees. We couldn’t quite make out what fruit they were bearing – perhaps cherries. The mind boggles at the miles and miles of netting this would require!

The orchardist made sure the birds weren’t going to get any of the fruit! (photo by John)

A field of newly sprouting corn (photo by John)

Finally, finally, we reached Black Bridge, where we turned back inland to complete the Tukituki Loop. And – hallelujah! – there was the sign pointing the way to the Bivvy Café, only 700 metres to go!

We had been to the Bivvy Café last time we were here, in March, and we were looking forward to stopping there. In fact, the thought of a fruit smoothie at the Bivvy had sustained me for the last 15 kms! The café is actually just a coffee caravan, parked in a cleared space among the vines, with seats under some shade sails. We were the only customers, and Kate, the owner, said that it had been very quiet, probably because of the wind. And as if to prove her point, the shade sails flapped furiously in the wind. But also, this was the day of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, so many of the local hardcore cyclists may have been away.

We enjoyed our smoothie, and just a small snack, because we were planning to have lunch at the Tandem Café, another 40 minutes’ riding (according to Kate), further up the valley.

The Bivvy Café

Interesting clouds gather over the hills (photo by John)

Actually, it only took us only 30 minutes to get to the Tandem Café, because we now had the wind behind us. What bliss!

This café had changed owners since we were here in March, and they now also hired out bikes and tandem bikes, one of which was on display alongside the terrace where we had our lunch.

A tandem bike – available to rent (photo by John)

The inside of the café was decorated with bicycle wheels of all types and sizes, some quite old, and some modern or relatively new.

Anyone would think this was a cyclists’ café! (photo by John)

We felt we had deserved our lunch after such a long and exhausting ride, but frankly, my appetite just wasn’t what it usually is. And the ride wasn’t quite finished yet. We still had to bike back to Hastings! Up one more b… hill to get to Havelock North, and then another few more kilometres back to our cottage.

As we pulled up outside the cottage driveway, my bike computer showed 49 kms. And would you believe it? John carried on for another 500 metres, just so he could make it a round 50 kms! I suppose I could have too, but NO-O-O! All I wanted was to get off that bike!

Later, in the beautiful, soft early evening light, John took some photos of the trees and the sheep in the paddock next to the cottage. And a while later we were treated to a wonderful sunset. A very satisfying finish to a long and arduous day’s cycling.

The trees seem to glow in the early evening light (photo by John)

The Craggy Range, seen from our cottage (photo by John)

We were treated to a beautiful sunset (photo by John)

I must admit I was pretty chuffed with myself for having achieved (nearly) 50 kms in one day. Now I know that I can manage at least some of the hills, and some of the road cycling conditions that are graded “Level 3 – Intermediate”. Which means that it will give us lots more options of tracks to try on the great Nga Haerenga (NZ Cycle Trails). Bring it on!

Postscript: John tells me that, now that we have new, thicker tyres on our bikes, the mileage reading should be increased by 3 percent, since the circumference of the wheels is that little bit bigger, so we cover that little bit more ground for every revolution. Well, he is a scientist!

So I did more than 50 kms, 50.47 kms, in fact! (49+3%= 50.47. 

Kapiti Arts Trail

Our excuse for a ride on the Kapiti Coast last Sunday (3 November) was the Kapiti Arts Trail. Not that we need an excuse to go for a ride, of course, but this seemed as good a reason as any to go there to ride. We enjoy art exhibitions, and it is good to support local artists.

We parked at the northern end of Waikanae Beach, near the start of Rutherford Drive and headed north, towards Peka Peka. Our first port of call on the Arts Trail was Michelle Retimana’s Studio Garden and Gallery. She’s a potter who makes wonderful pots and garden sculptures, many with a Māori theme. Her work is quite recognizable for the kind of clay she uses, as it is very textured, with gritty bits embedded in it (probably not a potter’s technical description).

I do like Michelle’s work, but didn’t buy anything – somehow it makes me feel as if I am being disloyal to my potter sister if I buy another potter’s work. I also liked the large piece of art in her garden, not pottery, but made from large glass electrical insulators, called, I think, “Asset sales”.

Michelle Retimana’s garden art (photo by John)

We’ve driven along this road between Peka Peka and Waikanae many a time, but never noticed the Pharazyn Reserve. On a bike there is so much more to see and notice. We went into the reserve for a look. It is a wetland area which apparently used to be the sewerage ponds, but is now being rehabilitated. There is a children’s playground by the entrance, and there is a track that goes some distance around the pond, and it heads up a sand dune, but peters out after a hundred meters or so. The development of the reserve is a work in progress, I think. There is a jetty but no boating activity. Perhaps it is a left-over from the sewerage pond days.

Pharazyn Reserve (photo by John)

Riding a longish distance on the road – as opposed to a cycle track – was new for me, but I felt OK about it as there was not much traffic. We called in at another couple of artists’ studios, and then made our way to “Harrisons”, the garden centre at Peka Peka. It has a very nice café, which is often our morning tea stop if we are driving North.

We parked our bikes in the bike rack next to the terrace. While we were waiting for our lunch, a group of cyclists arrived, who looked over our bikes while parking theirs. With their much smaller wheels, our bikes do look very small next to their “grown-up bikes”. We noticed, when we were about to leave, that two of their bikes were also folding bikes (Dahon), but with rather larger wheels than ours.

Our little folding bikes look so small next to their "grown-up" bikes! (photo by John)

After a satisfying lunch we returned to Waikanae, but first we called in at a studio where four artists were displaying their work. Two painters, and two potters. One of the potters, Wendy Masters, also had some delightful small bronzes.

One of these really took my fancy, so I decided to buy it. It is quite small – the bronze part of it is only 8cm high, sitting on a heavy pottery base 5 cm tall. The shape of a horse on it was inspired by early man’s cave paintings, Wendy told us. The back of it also has a horse on it. I’m feeling very chuffed with my purchase.

My purchase: a small bronze by Wendy Masters (photo by John)

The terrain we were riding through was undulating – basically sand hills – but because the surface was smooth, I didn’t find it too hard.

The road went up and down a few rises (photo by John)

The track to Peka Peka Beach (photo by John)

Back at the car, we loaded the bikes back in, and drove to the carpark by the Waikanae River estuary. Then we rode around the Waimanu lagoon, where we rode a month ago, but didn’t do the whole loop.

The lagoon is home to a large number of species of water birds. A gaggle of geese were in pretty much the same place as the last time we saw them, and their goslings, which were tiny then, are now quite a lot bigger. We also saw some black swans with their fluffy grey cygnets.

The goslings (in the foreground) are a lot bigger than a month ago (photo by John)

A pair of black swans and their cygnets

Other birdlife we saw were the pied shags, nesting in the a tree near the lagoon. They have a toxic effect on the trees they nest in, as the photo below shows. Their droppings eventually kill the tree. Apparently this colony of birds has been growing over the last few years, and the residents of the houses nearby have had to put up with the resulting noise and smells.

The nesting shags’ droppings eventually kill the tree (photo by John)

A close-up of the nests shows several nests that have what looks like two adults and one nearly grown chick in them.

Nesting pied shags with chicks

We saw several juveniles sitting at the water’s edge. I noticed that the skin under their beaks was quivering as if they were calling out, but we could not hear anything. Perhaps it is so high-pitched that human hearing cannot detect it?

A juvenile pied shag (photo by John)

After riding a loop around the lagoon, we headed up the track along the river. It is a really lovely track, very enjoyable to ride on. It goes through bushy areas and more open areas near a pony club. A white horse in a paddock full of white daisies looked so idyllic, it reminded me of a unicorn; it ought to have had a horn on its forehead.

The track on the north bank of the Waikanae River (photo by John)

A unicorn without its horn?

At the Te Arawai footbridge, we crossed to the other side of the river and rode back to the Otaihanga Domain, where we found a caravan selling ice-creams. Yay! Just what we needed.

Te Arawai footbridge (photo by John)

After we had enjoyed our icecream, John suggested I try his bike for a bit. After the punctures he had a few rides ago, he had upgraded his tyres to slightly wider ones with more tread on them. He found they gave a better ride on the gravel, but were still good to use on the sealed road surface. So he wanted me to try them out before he upgraded the tyres on my bike.

He had to lower the saddle, before I could ride his bike. I like the handlebar higher than he does, but for this little try-out, we left it as it was. I only rode a few hundred meters out and back on the gravel track, but did find that these tyres seemed to smooth out some of the bumps. John has since been to see Francis at the Johnsonville Bike Shop and ordered a pair for me.

On our way back to the estuary carpark to get the Arts Trail map – so that we could go and look at a few more studios – we rode past a family feeding the ducks and swans, surrounded by a very avid audience.

Black swans galore

A couple enjoying the sun on a bench nearby came over to ask us about our bikes. They had only recently moved to this area, having come from Central Otago. They had cycled the Otago Rail Trail, and heartily recommended it. It is on our “to do“ list – one day.

The Waikanae River Estuary. The posts are to stop cars driving onto the sand and wetland areas
(photo by John)

We rode into the Waikanae streets to visit a few more artists’ studios. Some of the streets were quite steep, and I had to get off and walk, but because they were signposted for the Arts Trail, we persisted. The most interesting studio belonged to potter and artist Pamella Annsouth and her late husband, potter Mirek Smisek. The setting was charming. One enters through a display area, looking rustic and artistic, and as you go up some steps into the workshop space, there is a glimpse through an open door into the living area, which looks very inviting. Pamella’s work is very diverse, many items featuring nudes and people’s faces.

As we were looking around at the work on display, Pamella offered us a glass of orange juice – very welcome, as we had just struggled up a hill to get there – and we chatted. John and Pamella got to discussing the electrics of her kiln.

John is very knowledgeable in electronics, and knows quite a bit about kilns too. He has a small electric kiln that he acquired a couple of years ago to do some consulting work. And he has also been able to help my potter sister with the electrical sensors on her gas-fired kiln.

As they were engrossed in their discussion, I wandered out onto the veranda, where more pots were displayed. The wide sill of the living room window looking out onto the veranda was covered in a multitude of interesting objects – possibly mementoes or items providing inspiration. One of these was a very large piece of turquoise-coloured glass, which really caught my eye – and the sunlight.

The end of the veranda opened out to the view over the estuary and the lagoon, and Kapiti Island in the distance. Absolutely beautiful!

Pamella Annsouth’s work displayed on the veranda

The view from Pamella’s veranda is stunning!

By the time we left this studio, it was nearly four o’clock, the “finishing” time of the Arts Trail. So we had a look at one more, and then we pedalled back to the car. To fill in time before it was “fish and chips time”, we took a walk around the Waikanae town centre and looked in the shop windows. The place was absolutely dead as all the shops were closed.

I peered into the windows of “Fibre Flair” on the main road. In my weaving “yarn-a-holic” days, this shop was one of my favourite haunts, as they stocked lots of interesting yarns. These days, I think the shop caters more for quilters and embroiderers than for spinners and weavers, but I’m pleased to see it’s still in business.

To finish off a most enjoyable day, we had fish and chips overlooking the beach at Paraparaumu. Luckily, the one seagull who spotted us stayed sitting on his fence post, and did not call his mates, so our dinner was quite peaceful.

All up, we rode 31 kms. I was very pleased that I had found it easy. My gel saddle means minimum discomfort in the rear end, and my being able to manage the gears more effectively means that I didn’t have any trouble with the undulating terrain, except for the few steep Waikanae streets at the end. And the gravel track no longer presents any problems for me either.

I’m making good progress. With new tyres, we will continue to do longer distances and more challenging terrain – in preparation for riding the Otago Rail Trail. Maybe some time soon-ish?