Day 1 AKL to Miranda - 109 km, 1,189m


 Self, Peter and Stephen about to leave Heartland Hotel, Auckland.

My thanks to Shelley and Paul who who had me stay with them at their great bach at Ngarimu Bay on the Coromandel and then back at home in Auckland. Ours is a friendship that goes back 48 years and over 50 for Shelley - we might not see each other for sometime however when we do catch up we simply pick up where we left off. True friends.

I left their apartment in Ponsonby a bit after 7:00 AM and rode out to the Heartland Hotel at the airport to meet up with Peter and Stephen who were ready and waiting. It's cycle trail out from the airport out beside Ardmore then the Hunua Ranges before dropping back down to Miranda.

Whacked. 

Whacked is how I describe how I felt at the end of the day. Not too many hills in my training and a close to 30 degree day meant the end couldn't come soon enough.

The shop at the Miranda Holiday Park closed at 5:00 and we arrived at 5:05. Fortunately it was still open.

For the first time I experienced quite seever thigh cramp when trying to bike up even a slight hill over the list 20 km - like I couldn't turn the pedals but at least could walk.

That aside all in all it was a good longish day and one that was good to share with Peter and Stephen. 

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