Day 10. The Bridge to Nowhere and a Jet Boat to Taumarunui

The Timber Trail had been a huge amount of fun, the next stage was to the Bridge to Nowhere via the Mangaparua Track, this was not fun. Maybe on a different bike (I’m on a Gravel Bike), with wider tyres or after no rain, it would be better. Today was one of my worst days on a bike, about 1200 meters of steep climbing, at least half super slippery peanut butter clay mud. Constantly having to get off to push, feet disappearing into the soft mud, almost impossible to even get grip for my shoes let alone my Pathfinder Pros with their slick middle runner for pavement.

The top did have some stunning views over the valley, making the slow crawl-up feel worthwhile. This section of the ride probably had the most exposed cliffside trails; both the roads and these paths had lots of signs of recent rockfalls, so it was careful going.

The ride down the other side was much better until I was off the steep stuff, and the mud returned. Somewhere along, in one of the many slips, I bent the derailleur hanger, I managed to straighten it enough – I hope. Pretty close to the bridge is a perfectly placed guest house and cafe, the Blue Duck Cafe, except it was closed today so it was onto the boat. The Bridge to Nowhere itself is quite substantial, particularly since it literally goes nowhere!

The various bike repairs meant I was late for the jetboat, that was OK I would just camp and get the first one in the morning. Luckily though, another one was there for some hikers, he had seen my dot coming down the path and knew I was late. The hikers were being dropped halfway so I got a private trip! Really cool.

For people on the normal boat, they let you order a dinner which they cook in the Pipiriki campground at Taumarunui, very luxurious after a hard day. I arrived just in time to see the kitchen closed. After raiding the little campsite shop it was a dehydrated meal for me, not the same as the pizza I had been imagining, but at least there was a hot shower and a warm common room full of people interesting to talk to. One was local and owned a bike shop in town; luckily, my poor bike needed one.