Pureora Timber Trail

A few years ago we did some riding in the Pureora Forest to the west of Lake Taupo. However, in the last couple of years there has been a lot of new trails built as part of the New Zealand cycle trail network. One of these new trails goes through the Pureora forest and is called the Timber Trail. It uses several old forestry roads and tramways and links them up, with a total distance of 84 km. You can do it in 2 days, with a lodge and campsite half way - but there was no room at the inn as the track has been pretty popular - so we had to ride it in one long day.... Fortunately the first 12 km are a gentle up hill and most of the rest of the ride it gently down hill. Nothing very technical - just a nice cruisy grade 2 ride. 

The start

The track goes through some old forest, some regenerating forest and some recently logged areas. They have also built some amazing long suspension bridges across some of the valleys. This is both spectacular and also saves you riding all the way down and then back up again... Thank you DOC.

One of the amazing suspension bridges

Aaron riding across the longest and highest bridge - 141 m across and 51 m high.

At the end of the track there is a feature called the Ongarue Spiral, where the old tramway goes over a bridge, through a tunnel and then under itself. A way for the train to go down something a little steeper.

The whole track took us 7 and a half hours... not too bad. Our bums were a little sore at the end of it, and we were tired. But it was a great ride - we will certainly do it again sometime.

Rotorua

Just before Christmas some friends of ours from Canberra, Susie and Patrick, got in touch with us and told us they were going to Rotorua to go mountain biking on holiday. So we used this as a great excuse to make the annual biking pilgrimage to Rotovegas, as well as catch up with friends. We spent 4 days riding over 30 km a day of the different tracks at Rotorua with Susie and Patrick and their friends Sam and Ben. The tracks even held up pretty well after a 24 hours of torrential rain. The kids - Max (11), Nikita (9), Josh (8), Mia (6) and Thea (6) all did really well. They improved a lot and rode as long as 20 km on some days.... I don't think I will be able to keep up with them all in a few years.  

We also made sure we dragged them to our favourite hot pools at Kerosene Creek.  

Relaxing in the warm waters of Kerosene Creek

We also couldn't go past checking out the mud pools....and the Aratiatia dam release... 

Ohakune Old Coach Road

Last year Aaron rode the Old Coach Road with his friend Craig as part of a bike tour. But he loved it so much he took me back again. It is a nice ride on the edge of the Tongariro National Park between the farmland and the native forest, with a couple of old railway viaducts across some valleys to check out along the way. One way the track is 14 km, but we rode to the end and back - mostly down hill on the way back to Ohakune. 

We camped the night at the DOC campsite just inside Tongariro National Park at Mangawhero Stream, with amazing views of a pink Mt Ruapehu as the sun set.

New wardrobe

After many, many months we finally installed the wardrobe in our bedroom that Aaron has been building in his wood working class and the garage over Christmas. They say if you want perfection you have to be patient.... I have been very patient... and it has turned out great.

It was a bit of a brain tease to get the sections in to the house, down the corridor and around all the the corner in to the bedroom.

The cats also enjoyed helping out....checking out all the new draws and shelves.

Safi sitting in a drawer

Mifi sitting in the drawers

Mifi helping Aaron screw it all together

Another impressive piece of furniture built by Aaron.... now he needs to reclaim the garage from the sawdust and left over pieces of wood ;)

Pencarrow Lighthouse Ride

We have both been doing lots of chores the last few days as well as squeezing in a few bike rides. Today was the nicest day since Christmas so we decided to ditch the chores for a day and go have some fun. We decided to head out and revisit Pencarrow Heads, on the opposite side of the Wellington Harbour. We hadn't been out there for many years and several new tracks have been developed since then around the lakes and up the lighthouse.

Lake Kohangapiripiri and Pencarrow Lighthouse, with Wellington harbour and city in the background

View from the highpoint

View of one of the lakes from the lookout

Climbing up to the lighthouse, several short steep pinches... but mostly rideable.

Descending from the lighthouse, Helen with tongue out for added concentration.

Lots of people out cycling, walking, and collecting seafood along the coast. Temperature was very pleasant and not too windy, although the northerly picked up after lunch. A great summer day in Wellington. Hopefully we will get a few more this summer...

Shutters

We have the same problem in the bedroom as in the lounge - how to block out light and still let the breeze in. I found these kit-set shutters on line and thought we could give them a try.  I ordered them several months ago and they finally arrived on Friday.

Some of the pieces

First one assembled

All mounted up

And opened up

We are pretty happy with the shutters. We have to orde another set for the spare bedroom.

Projects progress

Today is the first day of my 'retirement'. I have a feeling I am going to be busier in my retirement than I was when employed. Sometimes I was happy to go back to work on Monday as it gave me chance to recover from the long weekends activities.

Here are a few pictures of where some of the projects I have been working on are up to.

Patchy grass growth

The last of the dirt has been removed and grass planted. Some of the starter soil was old and the cats liked it as well so the new growth is rather patchy. Hopefully it will fill in a bit more.

Cleared and ready for gravel

The north side of the house will get weed mat and gravel as well as few pavers so you can walk around the house in bare feet.

First look at the wardrobe doors

The wardrobe doors have made it to the painting stage. I don't like painting and tend to rush this part, but since I am going to have to look at these things every morning when I wake up, I figure I better take my time and do a good job. Here they have had a primer coat and I have filled in some of the holes from knots.

Drawers for the inside of the wardrobe

Here are all the drawers (minus one that will go in the middle). They are sitting on the plywood that will become the carcass. I still need to cut, paint and attach the drawer faces. So lots still to do...