Stratford to Cape Egmont

Day 6 - Friday 4th March

Stratford to Cape Egmont - 96km

1. Stratford to Plateau Car Park (20km MTB)
2. Dawson Falls to Cape Egmont (68km MTB + Road Bike)
3. Cape Egmont to Ruddocks’ Resort (8km Run)

The forecast was right - the rain and wind hit Stratford about 4am. It was going to be a wet ride up the mountain. We got away about 7.15 and nosed up Pembroke Road toward the Plateau Car Park with the gusty wind and showers driving in from our starboard quarter. The gradient was obvious from the start as we struggled to reach double digits on the speedo. We were glad to have chosen the MTBs which are far more stable in the wind and actually have brakes in the wet, essential assets as the wind got stronger and the rain intensified as we climbed slowly up the mountain. We resorted to riding on the right hand side of the road, tucked in against the hedges when we could and leaning our bikes into the wind.

Once we reached the tree line - the National Park boundary - we were sheltered from the wind but there was no let-up from the rain. This 20km leg should have taken about an hour… two hours later, after negotiating ‘rivers’ powerful enough to carry rocks down the road, in the middle of a torrential downpour we finally popped out of the trees and into the scrub country, and back into the gale!

It was about now that it dawned on me that our planned run from the Plateau car park to Dawson Falls had probably been thwarted by the weather bomb. There are several creek crossings on the track and we made the call that it’d be too dangerous to risk. So, after 2 hours of busting our butts to get to the top we promptly turned around and beat a hasty retreat to the DoC Centre where we jumped in the car to drive around to Dawson Falls to catch up with Keith in the camper for a stunning hot breakfast.

As we ate, as if by magic, the rain eased, the clouds parted and the summit of Mount Taranaki burst into view. It’s a great perspective from Dawson Falls - very close and ‘in-your-face’.

With the day brightening, we rolled down the mountainside with full stomachs, saddle sores and frozen fingers toward our final destination - Cape Egmont. The easy road and slight tail wind helped us make good time and before we knew it we’d clocked of 30km on our MTBs and it was time to change up to the road bikes for the final leg. Our legs were pleased about the change since the road bikes roll along a lot easier but our butts protested as we settled in and started clicking off some fast kilometers along Wiremu Road. Finally it was time to swing west, drop toward sea level and attack the last 10km directly to the Cape. It was surprising just how much energy we could muster (I think someone said the race word) and we cranked up to over 40km/hr, sweeping the bends and cranking the short climbs and suddenly the lighthouse appeared in front of us.

We backed off, sat up and rolled quietly toward Cape Egmont amongst a flotilla of ‘Britz’ campers eager to get their photo at the lighthouse. We’d made it! Over 700km in six days, of biking, running and kayaking across New Zealand’s widest point. Another one ticked off!

After the compulsory photo, thankyous and congratulations, we decided to run the coastal route from the lighthouse to our accommodation - it was only 8km, shouldn’t take too long. Another two hours, five swollen river crossings and one entanglement with an electric fence we arrived at Jeff’s resort.

What a perfect way to round off a brilliant week of adventure. Keith Brodie arrived with cold beer, the mountain cleared and we witnessed a stunning red sunset over the Tasman - brilliant.

I’ll add some photos and trip stats over the weekend when we get home. Tomorrow is a travel day back to Waihi.

Life is for living after all…

Eleanor Roosevelt