Cycle: 71.3km

We started the day by having our breakfast (instant coffee and muffins) down at Orere Beach. The weather was still fairly poor, unfortunately, but the beach was well worth a look because of the overhanging trees at the top of the cliff. The cliff was probably about 10-15m high, so you wouldn't want to be under one of the trees when it finally lost its grip.

The cycling for the day started off fairly easily, mildly undulating with a tail-wind before flattening heading South. As the road turned East and finally North, the wind changed into a fairly strong head-wind. The section heading East was on the state highway and was mind-numbingly flat and boring. There were no corners or bumps for 20km, but Claire learnt the virtues of drafting, and we wound up taking the punishment of the wind in turns.

Along the way we saw four female cyclists going the other way who, by the look of their matching kit, physiques, speed and smiles, must have been pro or semi-pro. We picked up lunch at Kaiaua (where Claire played with the shop cat), which we ate on a sheltered side road a little South of Miranda. The beaches were quite dull, mainly being mud-flats as we approached the bottom of the Firth of Thames. They apparently provide homes for 42 species of waders, but since birds aren't really our thing, we were happy to put our heads down and keep going.

When we reached Thames Scott was pretty tired, so some emergency fish and chips were required! We finally reached our campsite, the Dickson Park in the early evening. The campsite was great, with a charismatic owner and attached butterfly enclosure. We spent the evening planning our trip through the Coromandel and the nearby Pinnacles.