The first ride was out to Acacia Bay which is on the lake just north of Taupo proper. It was a rolling ride out with a couple of hills at the end as you climb then decend into Acacia Bay.  The area seems to be a rather tony suburb with big newish houses. It has two nice public beaches though with views back to Taupo and  the mountain behind it.

 

The second day I rode out Broadlands road and back, intending to ride an hour out and an hour back. I was continually passed by other cyclists in both directions (must have been at least 100), clad in lycra and looking lean and fit. About 20 km out, a woman came out to the road to offer a water bottle. It turns out that she mistook me for one of a group they were waiting for.

 

She explained that all these cyclists were in training for the Taupo Ironman, which happens next week. Broadlands Road is the route for the cycling leg of the race. It is two loops from Taupo to Reparoa and back. I only did one loop out to River Road and back (about half of the Ironman Loop).

 

 

On Sunday, it was off to Ohakune, home of the giant carrot. It looked like there might be some good quiet rides out there near Ruapehu and I thought I might do the Tongariro Crossing one day walk later in the week.

 

 

Raetihi is a town that has seen better days. It was one of those small rural NZ towns with the wide main street that ran perpendicular to the highway (National Park to Wanganui). The main street had all these old fashioned storefronts along one side. Unfortunately, it seemed most were empty. There were a few cafes, dairy, 4 Square, stores that did farm equipment and supplies trade and auto mechanics. It looked like the local theatre was being restored, but with two rather tatty garages on either side, it was a bit sad.

 

On the way back, I passed a farm building and a couple of shorn lambs popped out. There were some people outside so I stopped and asked if they were shearing and if I could take a look. They invited me down. It was bedlam inside. The shearing shed was fairly tight and there were four guys shearing with another four bringing sheep in and several women gathering up the fleeces and wool bits.

 

The machinery was loud and the clippers were on long metal arms. They were all powered by a single belt-driven motor. The shearers were just far enough apart to get a sheep in and they were clipping like crazy, sweating like mad and the hip-hop was blasting away, turned up to 11.

 

By the time I got back the clouds had moved back over Ruapehu, but it was sunny in Ohakune. The weather forecast isn't really promising, so I may be here until at least Thursday, if I want to do the Tongariro Crossing.