Cycle: 56 stupidly windy km

An early start meant setting off with cash in our pockets at 9:30. Oh dear, I think we need to practice early starts. There were south easterlies winds forecast today but we were heading south west so were full of optimisim for a not too crazy day up into the Tongariro National Park.

Our first 10km south along SH1 was into a wind but not too bad. We turned off heading west along SH46 (an easy route to remember today state highways 46, 47 and 48!) and got brilliantly blown along. Fabulous! We stopped at Lake Rotoaira for lunch and sat on swings eating our snacks watching the black swans and white horses on the lake.

Back on SH46 Scott's pannier bag fell off as a screw had worked loose. After searching for about 15 mins he spotted the little terror and screwed it back in, tight. At the cafe round the corner on SH47 we did a little more pannier maintainance and partook in some tea, chips (with chicken salt on - what is chicken salt? Answers on a postcard please...) and some bloody good chocolate cake.

Back on the bikes the wind kicked in as we were travelling south again but this time up on a plateau approaching 1000m altitude. On several occasions we were both pushed into the middle of the road by the wind. Luckily traffic was very light. Turning east onto SH48 meant going uphill for 6km into 55km/h winds. Not a proper gale according to Mr Beaufort but it was jolly tough! I slowed down to 5km/h at one point! We arrived at our campsite exhausted after only 55km of cycling. The hot showers were lush and we made friends with a giant thing (a cross between a hornet and grass hopper I think!)

We spent a night in a chilly bar (the bar man wore two fleeces!) and a chilly tent. Hoods up chaps!