Paekakariki – again …

On Tuesday 24 January we took a drive up to Paekakariki again, for another ride on the Whareroa track. We looked in on the Tram Museum again, had another look around the tram barn, and stopped to talk to the two people who were on tram driving duty.

We talked to the people on driving duty for the day (photo by John)

One of them said he had an e-bike too, so we asked if he knew anything about the cycle track that was supposed to be built alongside the new Kapiti Expressway (Mackay’s to Peka Peka). He said he thought it had been built concurrently, and that the Expressway was due to be opened in the not too distant future.

We cycled out of the old Mackay’s Crossing entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Park, and rode for a short distance on a bit of the old road, which had been replaced by a new motorway in 2006.

The old MacKay’s Crossing Road, near where it joins on to the new motorway between
Paekakariki and Raumati (photo by John)

The old Mackay’s Crossing entrance to QE Park (photo by John)

We biked the rest of the Whareroa track, and when we got to Poplar Avenue in Raumati, we went to check on the status of the cycle track by the Expressway. It looked ready to go, but there was orange netting, which, though it had collapsed onto the tarmac, indicated that we weren’t supposed to go there – yet.

The Raumati start of the cycle track next to the Expressway (photo by John)

Since then I have seen on the Facebook page of Cycle Aware Wellington, a link advising that the Kapiti Cycling Club is announcing a “once in a lifetime chance to cycle on the Expressway” before the official opening of the new road. There will be races, but also a non-competitive recreational ride. The date has not yet been determined, but it is worth keeping an eye on. It should be towards the end of February or early March. I think it would be great to take part in the recreational ride.

After checking on the Raumati expressway cycle track, we rode to Paraparaumu for an icecream, and John set up his bike again, to take a bike-style “selfie” (using his rear-mounted camera set on a time lapse).

Enjoying the sun in Paraparaumu (photo by John)

When we returned to Paekakariki, we kept going along Ames Street towards SH1, and found the Paekakariki Domain, which overlooked the beach – far below us – and a walking track that led to The Fisherman’s Table (restaurant). We didn’t go down that track, but John took some nice photos.

The Paekakariki Domain. No guesses what the prevailing wind direction is! (photo by John)

View from the Paekakariki Domain towards Pukerua … (photo by John)

… and towards Kapiti Island (photo by John)

My sister gets an e-bike

A few weeks ago, my sister Aimée and her husband Neil took the plunge and bought folding e-bikes. With Neil planning to retire in the next year or so, they are hoping it will be as enjoyable a retirement activity as it has been for us. The four of us had a wonderful cycling holiday a couple of years ago – is it really that long ago? – when we went on a supported tour of the Mackenzie Country with Pure Trails. You can read about that trip here and here. 

The day they bought their bikes from Wellington Electric Bikes in Petone, they dropped by to show off their purchases. Neil bought a SmartMotion e20 like ours, but Aimée decided that she wanted the SmartMotion Vista, because it is lighter. She wants to be able to lift it in and out of the car herself (as her weekday rides, if any, will be mainly without Neil, until he retires). The fact that it has only three gears does not worry her. She’s not planning on doing any heroic hill rides, she says. (Anyway, John reckons they give her more or less the same range as our gears on the e20 give us.)

Neil’s e20 and Aimée’s Vista (photo by John)

So, on a sunny day in January Aimée, John and I set off on her inaugural ride on her new bike. We met at the Takapu end of Te Ara Tawa, intending to ride to the Gear Homestead Café and back.

Aimée sets off on her inaugural ride (photo by John)

We duly set off – past the Bucket Tree Motels, down towards the bridge over the Porirua Stream, back up a little rise onto Te Ara Tawa. We hadn’t gone more than 500 metres, when Aimée’s bike suddenly keeled over and she fell off her bike. I was behind her and of course stopped to help her. John, who was ahead, hadn’t noticed, so I called out to him to come back.

Poor Aimée, her right elbow had suffered a bad graze and understandably, she was feeling quite shaky. We were all a bit mystified as to what had happened. Aimée said her handlebar had suddenly swivelled, and that’s when she’d lost control. So while I patched up Aimée’s elbow (luckily I always carry a small first-aid kit), John tightened up the handlebar and checked that everything else was as it should be.

After a little while we were up on our bikes again. As with a fall off a horse, it is best to get straight back into the saddle again. John’s rear-mounted camera took several photos of us as we were riding along.

On the shared walking/cycling path on Beauchamp Street (photo by John)

On the relatively new track between Kenepuru and Porirua (photo by John)

The steep drive up to the Gear Homestead Café did not present any problem (photo by John)

We enjoyed lunch in the garden of the café. While we were waiting for our food to arrive, John took the opportunity to photograph Aimée’s bike from all angles, as he wanted to write a review of the bike for his website. Her bike, the Vista, is a folding version of the SmartMotion eMetro that he has reviewed before, so this was to be an update. 

Lunch in the garden (photo by John)

The controller is different from the e20 … (photo by John)

… and the motor is in the front wheel (photo by John)

Ready for the return ride (photo by John)

When we got back to our cars, John asked if he could take Aimée’s bike for a short ride up the track – all in the interests of his review.

I think it was an enjoyable ride, and I hope Aimée thought so too, despite her fall. But she did report that the following few days she was feeling quite bruised and sore all over. Poor thing …

Paekakariki and Historic Trams

On Saturday 7 January we were debating about where we could go for a bike ride – Te Ara Tawa? Hutt River Trail? No, at the last minute, when we were about to go towards the Hutt, John changed his mind and said “Paekakariki”. Quick change of plan. Yep, OK.

We had a lovely day. We parked on the angle parks in Wellington Road in Paekakariki, and headed first of all to The Perching Parrot for coffee and scones. It was quite busy, and they warned us there would be a bit of a wait for our coffees. That was OK, we weren’t in a hurry.

We admired the large pohutukawa on the corner near where we parked. These magnificent trees, which usually flower around Christmas, have been quite late flowering because of the very changeable weather we have been having this “summer”. In fact, as I am writing this – on 24 January – it seems that summer is passing us by, with far more wet and very windy days than sunny and balmy ones. But we make the most of the few fine days we get by trying to fit in a bike ride.

The pohutukawa on the corner of Beach and Wellington Roads (photo by John)

Instead of biking down Tilley Road to the start of Te Ara o Whareroa, we carried on along Wellington Road and ended up at the Queen Elizabeth Park, across the stream from the camping ground. A bit beyond that we joined the main track.

Access to Te Ara o Whareroa from the entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park (photo by John)

John suggested we go and check out the historic trams at the Wellington Tram Museum and see if perchance our friend Robert was on tram driving duty. We followed the tram line and stopped briefly to take a photo of the US Marine Corps Memorial. This is where, between 1942 and 1944, nearly 5,000 American troops were stationed at what was then called Camp Russell.

Part of the US Marine Corps Memorial (photo by John)

When we got to the Tram Museum, the currently running tram was on its journey, so in the meantime we had a look around the Museum’s large barn. Among the trams we found an early Wellington Cable Car and its trailer. I well remember travelling on a cable car just like this, when I was a student at Victoria University in the 1960s. The best seats were the outside ones, along the side. I don’t suppose that sort of seating would be allowed these days, with the “Nanny State’s” need to protect people from their own stupidity. Actually, I don’t remember anyone ever coming to grief from these seats.

An early Wellington Cable Car, showing the outside seats on the side (photo by John)

When the tram returned from its run, we found that we were in luck – Robert was on driving duty. I think he was as pleased to see us as we were to see him. He was keen for us to come along on the next ride. Two trams were taking turns to run every half hour all day – going from the Tram Museum to Whareroa Beach and back.

Robert and Désirée before the departure of Tram No. 239 (photo by John)

As a Tram Museum volunteer Robert has to combine the tasks of “motorman” – i.e. driving the tram, and “conductor” – i.e. clipping the tickets. I don’t know what he got more of a buzz from – driving or interacting with the passengers – he did both equally well.

Robert has to be both “motorman” … (photo by John)

… and conductor (photo by John)

As he was driving he explained about what he was doing. The very loud “Psshhhh” sound we could hear as we were about to take off, was the compressor which governed the brakes. And the children on board got very excited about the “Ting ting!” every time he pressed the foot-operated bell. When we stopped at the end of the line, they asked to be allowed to ring the bell too, which Robert readily agreed to.

How a tram works (click to enlarge). Diagram taken from the Wellington Tram Museum website

The motorman’s controls

At the Whareroa Beach terminus, the trolley pole that links to the overhead wire which provides power to the tram had to be changed to the opposite end of the tram, so it could go in the other direction. This tram had a pole for each end, with the one at the rear doing the job, while the one at the front was tucked under a hook on the roof of the tram, until it was time to swap them about again.

Robert changes the pole for the return journey (photo by John)

The first tram we rode in was a Single Saloon “Fiducia”, built in 1939. It had a single long compartment with upholstered seats. Our tickets allowed us to ride the trams as many times as we wanted all day, so we also took a ride on the older tram – the no. 151, a Double Saloon tram, built in 1923. This tram had an enclosed compartment, “for the ladies”, and an open section – presumably for the men, smokers and rabble. The seating was all wooden – beautifully restored.

The enclosed compartment … (photo by John)

… and the open section. The backs of the seats can be switched over
 to face in the direction of travel (photo by John)

This tram had a front window that could slide across to open it (photo by John)

This older tram had just a single trolley pole which had to be walked from one end to the other for the return trip. When we alighted, I was surprised at how high the steps were. I wonder how the ladies of the time would have managed in their long skirts, or in the tighter mid-calf skirts of the 1930s.

The trolley pole had to be walked from one end to the other before the return trip (photo by John)

Back at the depot, a pause for a few more photos, before we resumed our bike ride.

Driver and passenger

Two happy passengers (photo by Robert Vale)

We had a very enjoyable visit to these wonderful historic vehicles, thanks to Robert’s attentions. He told us that to become a volunteer tram driver he had to attend a course to learn all the ins and outs, and had to sit an exam before he could be let loose on the general public. Good to know that we passengers are in safe hands!

Wellington’s trams operated from 1904 to 1964. I just missed seeing them, as my family and I arrived in New Zealand at the end of 1964. John, on the other hand, has memories of the trams – some dating back to when he was very young: he remembers riding his tricycle with the front wheel running in the tram track on Darlington Road in Miramar. There can’t have been a lot of other traffic!

Time to get back on the bikes. We biked to the Whareroa terminus, waving at Robert as he drove past.

We waved at Robert from the road, as he drove past (photo by John)

From the Whareroa Beach end, we spotted a narrow track that went across a small stream and up the hill – the coastal track. It got very steep at one stage – with steps to negotiate. I was glad of the “walking assist” of my e-bike. The track down the other side of the hill was a bit scary in places – narrow, gravelly and steep – but it ended up back on Te Ara o Whareroa, where we turned left towards Raumati.

View from the bridge across a small stream (photo by John)

The track became very steep! (photo by John)

Towards the end of Te Ara o Whareroa John spied a sign saying “to Rainbow Court”, which we thought would be a motel or a café, but it turned out to be the name of a street. Eventually, after meandering around the streets, we ended up on Poplar Road, and found the Raumati Social Club Café. It was very busy and noisy inside, but we sat outside (though it had clouded over and become a little cooler) and had iced coffees.

A much more civilised track – Te Ara o Whareroa (photo by John)

Iced coffees at the Raumati Social Club Café (photo by John)

We rode the usual way back to Paekakariki on Te Ara o Whareroa. Along the way, John stopped to take a picture of a “deconstructed” bicycle. Was it meant to be an art statement, or a climbing jungle gym for the kids, or even a wind chime or musical instrument? It looked like fun, anyway!

A "deconstructed" bicycle (photo by John)

By the time we got back to the car, we had done 22 km, not a huge distance, but it was quite varied, and it was so nice to have done something a little different. And mostly in sunshine too!

John and Robert on Tram No. 239

Plimmerton and Airlie Road

On 5 January it was a sparkling, sunny day, but cool. We planned to bike from Mana to the top of Pukerua and back. We parked in the Ngati Toa Domain, and when unloading the bikes, we were surprised to find that the southerly was really strong still, and cold! Our house is sheltered from the south, so we often are not aware that it is still blowing.

We had not expected it to be quite so cold (photo by John)

We biked to Plimmerton’s Big Salami café, and had coffee and a small pizza – it was 3pm, a rather late lunch, but no matter. It was very nice, as usual. We were sitting the sun, and the wind wasn't too bad there.

Waiting for our pizza at The Big Salami Café (photo by John)

After that, rather than going down through the underpass below the Plimmerton Station on our way to Te Ara Harakeke, which would take us to the top of Pukerua, we thought we’d explore another road and headed up the hill by the roundabout – The Track, it’s called.

There are some lovely views from up there, overlooking the foreshore and out to the Whitireia Peninsula on one side, and Pukerua on the other side, and Mana Island in the middle.

The view towards the Whitireia Peninsula … (photo by John)

… towards Pukerua (photo by John)

… and out towards Mana Island

3a Roys Road, spelled out in paua shell beside a driveway

We meandered up and over and around, and eventually found ourselves on Airlie Road. We had ridden on this road before, in the other direction. This side of the hill was not quite such a killer as the other side, so we climbed to the top, and over the hill down to Whenua Tapu.

Climbing up the seaward side of the hill on Airlie Road (photo by John)

The view from the top of Airlie Road (photo by John)

From there we continued up Te Ara Harakeke towards Pukerua. But before we got to the top, John was feeling quite tired, and knowing we would have a headwind on the return trip, he suggested that we had done enough, and should turn around. The headwind wasn’t too bad actually. By the time we got back to the car, we had done exactly 15 km.

The track between Plimmerton and Mana (photo by John)

Paekakariki to Paraparaumu

On 20 December, we had a beautiful day, so having done some shopping in Porirua, we drove further north to Paekakariki to bike the Whareroa track. Of course we had to start with coffee at The Perching Parrot in Paekakariki.

The inside of The Perching Parrot has some interesting decorative details (photo by John)

Ready to go (photo by John)

Alongside Te Ara o Whareroa there are masses of yellow lupins (Lupinus arboreus), but unfortunately it was a bit too late to see them all in bloom. John had seen the start of them when he went on the Waikanae to Peka Peka Folding Goldies ride the previous month, but I didn't go on that ride. However there were still quite a few lupin blooms out, enough to get a whiff of their fragrance every so often, very nice. We must make an effort to go there next year at just the right time to get the full glory of them (end of November).

Lots of lupins beside the track, but they had mostly finished flowering (photo by John)

From the end of the track at Poplar Ave, we rode into Raumati and ended up at the beach. Though it was not a weekend, there were quite a few people around, as the school holidays had already started.

Raumati Beach (photo by John)

John had to fix something on his saddle, and while he was doing that, a man sitting in his car alongside, watched him with interest. When we were about to go, he had some questions about the bikes, and we had quite a chat.

John had to fix his saddle

While John was attending to his saddle, he placed the camera that is usually fixed to the back of it, on the ground, where it continued to take photos (it is set on a two-minute-interval time lapse). It took this picture, which he dared me to include here. Not a pretty sight – rather solid calves thanks to lots of Scottish country dancing, and biking, and an SCD 90 degree stance! Oh, cringe!

A pair of sturdy pins obscure the view to Kapiti Island (photo by John)

We carried on to Paraparaumu, where we stopped for an ice-cream. John turned his bike around so the camera would take pictures of us while we were enjoying the sun and the ice cream.

Enjoying an ice cream in the sun at Paraparaumu (photo by John)

We returned by a slightly more inland route to Raumati – not so much traffic – and back to Paekakariki. There we sat on a bench overlooking the beach for a bit, then rode to the end of The Parade, where the surf club is, and back again. All up we did 32 km, very satisfying.

The seafront along The Parade at Paekakariki (photo by John)