New Zealand Photo Journal #10 Forgotten World Highway By Scott David Plumlee

New Zealand Photo Journal #10, Forgotten World Highway Copyright 2015 Scott David Plumlee. All text and photography by the author. Map image from Wikimedia Commons. Table of Contents: Hauhungaroa Range 6 Ohinepane Camp 19 Tangarakai Gorge 28 Whangamomona 37 Strathmore Saddle 44 About the Author 50 Discover more adventures at: www.davidchain.com/travels.htm And at: www.amazon.com/scott-david-plumlee/e/b001js5hk0

Previously on NZ Photo Journal: After sailing from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula, I cycled down to the Hobbiton Shire, and then did a four-day hike outside of Rotorua. Next, I biked past the Rere Waterfalls to Gisborne, and then to see Lake Waikaremoana. Recently, I pedaled south around Lake Taupo to Turangi, where I hiked the picturesque beauty of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Today, I ll be pedaling along the Forgotten World Highway from Turangi to Stratford, where I am planning to hike Mount Taranaki. Wow, so much to see - let s go!

January 7th: Up at 7am, made coffee and a protein shake, packed my gear, led a yoga class for my friends, gave lots of hugs, and started pedaling westward at 10am towards Mt. Taranaki.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

I m pedaling around the south end of Lake Taupo and uphill into the Hauhungaroa Range.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

Here are views of Mount Ngauruhoe at left and snow-covered Mount Pukeonake at right.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

The blue skies are beautiful, yet the sun is so intense, forcing a second coating of sunscreen.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

I arrived down into Taumaruna at 3pm and had a ham sandwich, chips, and coke for lunch.

I was going to camp at a holiday park here, but with four hours of light remaining, I decided to push onward down the Forgotten World Highway to a free DOC campsite only 19km away.

No sooner had I decided to push onward that the sky began to rumble and turn dark gray.

Almost there, but the rains couldn t wait any longer, and it started pouring buckets on me.

Drenched to the bone and thoroughly exhausted I finally arrived at the DOC campsite.

I cycled 89km (55 miles) today through blue skies and pouring rain to finally arrive at a wonderful campsite by the Whanguanui River. I pitched my tent in a brief beak in the rain, got water from the cistern system, and met the family of river rafters that were staying at the site. I cooked a heavenly pasta dinner with tuna and pesto, wrote in my journal, and read my Papillon book till I couldn t keep my eyes open. Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

January 8th: Up at 7am, made coffee and a protein shake, and laid all my wet gear out to dry. I did a much needed yoga session, packed my gear, and started pedaling at 10am to Taranaki.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

It rained off and on climbing several huge hills and only ceased at the top of Paparata Saddle.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

I had been pedaling hard all day, feeling really strong, and listening to fast-tempo music. Suddenly something didn t feel right, and when I looked down -- my back tire was flat. I pull off onto the shoulder, dismounted my steed, and when I removed the music. WOW, the rushing sound of the river, and a dozen types of song birds came rushing in. By the time I patched my tire s tube, and got the tire back on the bike; I didn t want to leave, so I just sat there eating cashews for lunch, loving the sounds of Tangarakai Gorge.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

This is one of those moments where I just had to lay down my bike and laugh out loud.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

This is a one-lane rail tunnel carved through the mountain that s labeled the Hobbit Hole.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

I rode 75km (47 miles) to a campsite in the town of Whangamomona, where I pitched my tent, took a hot shower, and made a scrumptious pasta dinner. Today was a long and exhausting ride; requiring me to change in and out of my rain gear a dozen times or more.

January 9th: Up at 7am to pea-soup fog, made coffee and elected to read Papillon till 10am. Once the sun came out and I packed my gear, I realized that I had a broken spoke on my back wheel; so after I replaced the spoke, I didn t start pedaling down the road until noon.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

Today is a hill-climbing extravaganza, as this is the second of three saddles to cycle up and over.

The awesome views from the top always outweigh the sweat and toil it took to pedal uphill.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

Time to reapply sunscreen and get motivated, as this is the last saddle pass to my destination.

Back at Matamata, I got my panniers out of storage, and peddling my bike on to Rotorua.

Today I rode 68km (43 miles) through fog, drizzle, rain, and scorching sunshine over three huge mountain saddle passes to the town of Stratford with its very own Swiss clock tower. I found a nice holiday park campsite, took a hot shower, scheduled a transport up to Mount Taranaki tomorrow, went out for Thai curry, and found a slice of chocolate cake. Maybe I could have passed on the cake, but I have found in life that beyond a wholesome discipline, you should be good to yourself, and give yourself a slice of cake once in awhile.

Thank you for joining me to cycle the Forgotten World Highway; hope you liked the photos. Won t you join me for my next adventure to hike around Mount Taranaki from Stratford? If you LOVE this photo journal ebook, please leave a review on Amazon -- Thank You. The author, Scott David Plumlee, seen with a monkey on his head below, is an avid world traveler, photographer, and writer. He has traveled to over 40 countries, taken millions of photos, and is always willing to share his jokes, stories, and philosophies. Plumlee is also the author of the five book Chain and Bead Jewelry series, and currently loving life in Guatemala. Discover more adventures at: www.davidchain.com/travels.htm Visit my Amazon author page at: www.amazon.com/scott-david-plumlee /e/b001js5hk0 Friend me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/scottdavid.plumlee View my jewelry designs at: www.etsy.com/shop/davidchain