Turangi to Motitere Bay (13.5 miles/21.73 kms)

Today was a very rewarding day, I found $3.20, a two dollar coin and a twenty cent coin. Ok, not a big thing but the mystery of why I am finding all these coins on the highway baffles me? I walked over fourteen hundred miles from my house to Canada and I might have found fifty cents! Is it a new custom here to make a wish and throw money out the window of the car, or is it that the windy roads shake the money out of motorcyclist’s pockets? Great mystery?

It felt great to get a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, but when I have neighbors like I had last night I miss the solitude of my tent, or even a cabin or trailer. Sitting outside my window talking loudly on their cell phone, and while smoking to the point of infiltrating into my room, was bad enough, but then watching tv so loudly the walls were almost vibrating. Luckily I was so tired I feel asleep rather quickly with a pillow on my ear.

I was up at 6:00 and out the door by 8:00. It was cool, but sunny and not a cloud in the sky. It was the first time in days that I could just wear my usual wool hoodie and long pants without having other layers on. It’s been even longer since I’ve had shorts on and today it was still to chilly all day long.

I walked through Turangi fairly fast and traffic was fairly busy in the morning. I thought because it was Monday that it would lighten up a little, but it remained fairly busy all day long.

I stopped at a little cafe in Motuoapa Bay and had a chia latte and a fresh baked good. I had the usual friendly hellos from people inside, and when I was leaving a woman came rushing out to talk with me. She was a Kiwi living in Australia and had quite a few questions for me about my trek. I always enjoy people talking with me and I always thank them for taking the time to do so.

The road was mostly flat and it runs near Lake Taupo but it doesn’t actually come to the lake until about eight miles at Waitekoko Beach. I love using these names as it makes it seem like I know them, but I can’t pronounce them worth a darn!

Once past Waitekoko the road runs right next to the lake shore and the views are really beautiful. You can actually look back towards Turangi and see the mountains I trekked by a few days ago in the distance with the snow covered peaks.

I stopped at a large rest area close to 1:00 and had lunch, and thought about camping there, but it was posted no camping. I started back up and figure I would trek for another two hours and then look for a place to camp. After just a short distance I came to Motitere Bay and saw the sign for the Top 10 Holiday Park motor camp here. I did not know it was here and decided to look at it.

I was greeted by Sue, the friendly new manager here, and was told there were cabins available. They were $80 ($55 US), and I told her I would take it. After chatting with her for a while she said she wanted to give me a better price and made it $65 ($44 US) instead. She also gave me the most private cabin which also included all the bedding, as it’s usually just sheets and pillow cases.

I asked her if she knew where the windy, narrow, and dangerous section of the road was? She said it was a few kilometers from here, and yes it would be dangerous to walk as there is no shoulder. She told me she, or one of the other workers here, would be happy to drive me past that area. After yesterday’s unnerving experience in those blind curves I told her I’d take her up on the offer. After I had settled in she introduced me to the husband and wife assistant managers that are going to Taupo and will drive me the short distance past the dangerous stretch of Highway. I am thankful!

I checked into my cabin and really like it. It has a queen size bed and a view of the lake. I happily got here at 1:30, which gave me time to dry out my tent, take an early shower, which will gave me lots of time to relax this afternoon and evening. I have plenty of food for dinner tonight and tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will take the ride for a few miles past the dangerous area and then trek the rest of the way to Taupo, which will still be about seventeen to eighteen miles. Tonight I will enjoy a Netflix movie or read my book. Ahhhhh!

Best wishes to all,

Ted

Please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., as I am typing this on my phone, and I am probably pretty tired.