20th and 21st dec.

on Monday cycled around from kateia to hi hi bay where we camped 34 miles quite gentle by relative nz terms. have now left the Tasman sea and are traveling along the south pacific coast. so have reached the most northerly point in which we will go and are traveling south, did not go up to north cape as 1. it was a long way and 2. it was very fogey and as reported by people who did go (by car) you could not see a thing.
Tuesday cycled down to keri keri where we are spending 2 nights, prior to heading to roturua by bus. staying in a beautiful hostel with our own room in orange groves, keith loves all the wooden floors and surfaces, it is really an organic farm and there are miniature pigs in a pen plus chickens running around. This relaxing day is a good thing because yesterday (Tuesday) to get here we took the scenic route, left the main road and took the coastal route, very lovely sandy bays but very steep hills I mean realy steep gradient hills in between them plus the route was much further in distance so we cycled 64 miles at the top of the final hill was the first cafe we had seen since our coffee break,keith had to be placated with juice, ice cream and a chocolate bar.