Day 6: Pukakohe to Putaruru

"You can go up the hill and through Bombay, or you could just join the Expressway here!", said the lady at the BP garage. "Bombay is a nice little place that........". But her words tailed off, as she realised that the strange English cyclist had already gone, his chubby little white legs pumping away down the Expressway in the direction of Hamilton, with a blessed tail wind behind him!

Not fantastic scenery today and rather grey and misty, but I covered 55 miles in 3 hours cycling, by quarter to 12:00. After a long stop in Hamilton, I then cover another 40 miles in three hours, reaching the small town of Putaruru. Check into a huge old rambling and characterful hotel, the Putaruru Hotel.

I am shown around by the hotel's cook, Arthur, and later join him and some of his pals, including Pogo and Lido, for a really nice time in the bar. When I mention that I need to eat, Arthur escorts me to the kitchen and insists that I have his own dinner!! He assures me that, now he has started drinking for the evening, the dinner will otherwise go uneaten. Whatever, I woolfed down Arthur's pie, peas and mash with relish! Thank you Arthur. And thanks Pogo and Lido, too, for advice on the route! it was a pleasure to meet you all and I hope to see you on the way back! (Would you believe that New Zealand won that match in the end!!).

Distance today: 153Km, cumulative: 713 Km

written by

John and Claud on January 28, 2007 from Hamilton, New Zealand

from the travel blog: Cape Reinga to Bluff

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