265 km north of Auckland, just outside of Kerikeri. Yesterday morning I drove 30k out to the Topshop on Million Dollar View Road. I began with a descent to the beach at Matauri Bay, hairpin on top of hairpin. Ocean views, too much speed, and the wow factor was off the charts. I did the turnaround at the sand's edge and soft pedaled a km back to... the climb out. The 1.1 mile climb took 11 minutes 34 seconds at LT+. Thanks to Andy and Wendi, my knee or hip didn't explode on the 20% pitches.I rolled along the ridge, then down to Te Ngaere Bay, next a couple of short climbs away from the ocean and through Wainui Valley and up Radar Hill. Had a few 12-15 minute climbs at Tempo and another 9 minute climb at LT. In over 2 hours, maybe a dozen cars, most of them at the speed limit of 35 kph. I think Mario Andretti might have been driving that ute though.
Then I got back to Kerikeri for the 2 hour evening ride with Mike.
Hope y'all feel fast. Cheers!
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Nice! Meanwhile, here in Boulder, we're about to set the all time winter snowfall record, with more on the way tonight. I hear the beach calling.....
It's cold, getting colder, and wet with more precip on it's way. We're surrounded by puddles, pot holes, and pot heads -- many of which are driving cars -- lots of cars. Definitely more than 12 an hour and by the looks of it they're texting like banchees. (What is a banchee? "It's a spirit from Irish mythology; usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld.")
But, that's beside the point.
Have fun Randy. Wish you were here. :)
Joe, That beach callin' is right over the hill here... come on down. Or is it the banshee you hear?
Julia, I had failed to note than None of the drivers I saw while riding that day could possibly have been texting! The road's edge is right under the outside wheel and in most places, over that edge it's a long ways down in a hurry. My Irish grandparents used "banshee" quite often and means "woman of the fairies". Pertaining to cycling, "down the Matauri descent like a banshee", which implies screaming. aptly. :-)
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