Mon Feb 6 (Okauia to Waihi, 80km):

This morning, when I rolled my bike out of the cabin, I saw that my front tire was flat.   Not a good way to start the day, but at least all my bike problems had occurred at "good" times:  at lunch, where the truck was available (though not needed that time) and then twice at the very start of the day before even leaving camp.

Looked like a tube malfunction:  there was a rough spot close to the valve stem (on the rim-side part of the tube), and it had a small cut.  So it was not the typical flat where the tube had been punctured when something had penetrated the tire.  Anyways, we got that fixed and set off.

It was a great day, with perfect weather again, pretty scenery, and mostly flat terrain or gently-rolling hills.  Our route took us through mostly rural roads so we encountered very little traffic.

We stopped in Te Aroha for coffee and grocery shopping and Jenni even got a chance to visit a thrift store.

Traffic got heavy as we got close to Karangahake Gorge especially because today was Whitiangi Day.  But we took the historic walking trail through the abandoned train tunnel to avoid riding on the busy highway.

Our cabin, Waihi Motor Camp

Ericès Airnimal at Waihi Motor Camp

We turned up at Waihi Motor Camp about 3 pm and had 2 units, each capable of sleeping at least 3 and each with full kitchen and bathroom facilities, and even a TV with digital channels!  It was very quiet at the motor camp because most people had left that day to return to work, school, etc.

Jenni whipped up a modified Morocan chicken dish over couscous, with a home-made plum tart for dessert.  Again, she made it look easy, and she didn't even have a sous-chef to to help!