Moeatoa? - Blogabond

MOEATOA? (62km, 278km total) - Today was the best day of the trip yet. We had great cycling.

The entire day was almost all downhill through a gorgeous mountainous countryside. We got our workout in though with a significant incline to start and end the day, plus a stiff wind coming into Marokopa.

Looking Up at the Land Bridge

Under the Land Bridge

So much happened today. We took four side trips throughout the day. First we saw a very impressive natural land bridge. Then we stopped and explored Piripiri caves. Then I was left speechless standing before the immensity of Marokopa Falls.

Marokopa Falls

Our last side trip was to the black sand beaches of Marokopa, a phenomenon I had never seen before. The dry sand looked like graphite and the wet looked like cold tar.

Lunch today was at the bottom of our longest descent at Te Anga Tavern. This bar was one of the best bars I’ve ever been to. They had great food (cheap too!), a wonderful and quaint interior, a nice deck, and the view was to die for. It was well worth the stop.

Looking Down on Marokopa

We weren’t sure where we were going to camp – just see how far we got by around nightfall and set up camp on the side of the road somewhere. We ended the day on a long stretch of gravel road stretching through a mountain farming valley. One farmer even let us ride through/chase a herd of sheep on our bikes. (Shad’s got a great video of it.) It was seriously in the middle of nowhere. One grizzled rancher who drove by us turned around and asked us where we were trying to get to and where we were thinking of spending the night. When he heard our plans, he pointed out a campsite just off to the side of the road and told us to camp there. The site was too good to be true – a miracle camp site. We had a metal shelter with a fireplace, outhouses, tress for me to hang my hammock, and it was right by a little river (where we each enjoyed a refreshing but cold bath). We built a fire, made some delicious pasta with tomatoes, avocado, and broccoli, and then somehow managed to consume an entire loaf of just purchased bread. I fashioned a bit of wire into an excellent campfire toaster and we had peanut butter, nutella and honey sandwiches. For the record: Nutella and honey is a perfect combination.

It turns out there's nothing in Moeatoa, not even a house. Just a miracle campsite and heaps of stars. Perfect.

written by

aeonhunterinnz on December 17, 2009 from Moeatoa, New Zealand

from the travel blog: AeonHunter in New Zealand

Send a Compliment

Fantastic!! Glad to hear that you two are sticking together and that your knee is doing better. You both take care. Love, Dad

written by Jeff Phillips on December 19, 2009

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