{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-journal-js","path":"/journal/153","result":{"data":{"markdownRemark":{"html":"<h1>Palmerston North to Eketahuna</h1>\n<h3>Tuesday March 20, 2018, 46 miles (74 km) - Total so far: 4,455 miles</h3>\n<p>(7,169 km)</p>\n<p>The first part of today's ride involved taking the Pahiatua Track, which would\nusually be a very quiet road. However, due to the nearby closure of SH 3,\nthere is a reasonable amount of traffic going along it. We didn't actually\nfind it too bad (there's another alternative route too which may take more\ntraffic), and it's a great climb. As we neared the top, we were overtaken by\nseveral sprightly things on road bikes. Once at the top, we stopped to admire\nthe view and have a chat. Turns out they are a group on a supported trip -\nmostly American, with a couple of Canadians. Their guides were also very\nfriendly and gave us their card, offering accommodation in Christchurch even\nminus bikes (they are warm showers hosts)!</p>\n<p>The hill was followed by a great descent, after which it seemed to take an\ninordinately long time to get to Pahiatua. However, it can't have been that\nlong as we encounter the cycling group once again, still having their lunch!\nThey tried very hard to share their food with us but, alas, we'd just eaten\nour far inferior sandwiches. We chatted for a a little while longer, before\nheading to New World to borrow the free wifi....and also buy some fruit. We\nchecked out the remainder of the route and were crestfallen to realise we\nstill had 37km to go, and it was ALL UP HILL!!!!</p>\n<p>Turns out, the uphill-ness was barely discernible so, with the help of a\nroaring tailwind, we made great progress. A friendly farmer pulled alongside\non his quad bike and reassured us that even the actual hill right at the end\nwasn't too bad.....I am learning not to trust hill-judgement of people in\nmotorised vehicles, but actually he was spot on!</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.strava.com/activities/1463522514\">https://www.strava.com/activities/1463522514</a><br>\n<a href=\"https://www.strava.com/activities/1463523346\">https://www.strava.com/activities/1463523346</a><br>\n(two parts due to a GPS malfunction!)</p>\n<p>Eketahuna is a pleasant little place. Everyone seemed very friendly, and it's\nbeen through a period of self improvement - meaning excellent toilets, amongst\nother things! They're right on the Tour Aotearoa route so have seen a lot of\ncyclists recently. The campsite is a little gem - lovely people and great\nfacilities for $7 each. It was a very quiet spot too - apart from some road\nnoise as the town's right on SH2, but that didn't bother us.</p>","frontmatter":{"date":null,"path":"/journal/153","title":""}}},"pageContext":{}}}