• Te Araroa kilometres done: 976km
• Official kms: 37km
• Garmin kms: 38.81km
• Total time: 5:50 (cycling the timber trail)
• Calories burned: 3427
• Body battery: 9/10 well rested
• Accommodation: Camp epic glamping
• Tent nights tally: 10

This morning was nice to have a bit of a sleep in as we don’t need to be at the timber trail until 9.30am. This is what time the bike hire company turn up.

We got to sit around & have coffee & breakfast with Dean & Lesley before packing the car, getting a few supplies from the local Foursquare for the next few days & driving to the timber trail.

Once we arrived at the start of the trail we met up with some of the crew that I started with on day 1. Awaited for the bikes to arrive, just before 10am, got some information on the trail & what to be alert on, we were off just on 10:15am. Tim stuck with me for the 1st kilometre to make sure I was ok & new how to use the bike which I massively appreciated!

The 1st 5 kilometres was fairly flat & then the climb of over 400 metres began over the next 8km (very gradual) but as an inexperienced biker & muscles I haven’t used before, I pushed my bike most of the way up, in fact I did this for pretty much all ups today.

About 8km in I met a cyclist going fast towards me from the other direction, this was right on a sharp corner. I slammed my brakes on & went straight over the handle bars with me on the ground, the bike with the back tyre in the air & a very painful right thigh, my GoPro was in my right pocket & I landed on it (the GoPro & bike was fine). The rest of the day I have suffered with a very sore right thigh, which will bruise nicely I reckon (will take a picture in a few days)

Needless to say, I was very cautious for the following 32km & I put my GoPro in the day pack I had been supplied as I didn’t want that happening again!

The trail itself was beautiful & the downhill parts were fun! It would be a nice easy one to walk, with such good gradient, but would be a very long day due to the distance.

I got to Camp Epic just before 4pm, Antonia was waiting at our tent (Glamping). I sat down for 20 minutes just to recover as that was hard work! I much prefer hiking!

It was nice to get a hot shower an early dinner & just relax for the evening. Really hope my leg is ok tomorrow as it’s a 45km ride to the end! I think I will just push the bike on the uphills & ride on the flats & downhills.

Most of the group are leaving around 9:30am tomorrow, I’m considering leaving at around 8am just to get it done as I was a bit slower than the rest today. Let’s see what tomorrow brings!