CYCLING TOUR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2076, 31 December 1907, Page 4

CYCLING TOUR

EROM GISBORNE TO NAPIER. , ' ' ’(Contributed.) Under -n Mr H. Anderson- and lii* two sons and Mr A. J. Hodgson left .Gisborne at 4 'a.m. on Christmas morning for Napier ;via 'iStorero and-Wairoa. S far t'mg away in high spirits .and feeling very fresh we sidled along vory sweetly on the LVfakauri ilats, but before roiieliing'Te Alai A. Anderson moti witbt ■m slight accident; ono of tlio balls in the 1 rout wheel splitting, but within a few minutes it was fixed m» and away we went oneo moro. Calling on Mr Craig of To Ami we again went along our journey, everything running smoothly. After crossing a creek at Muriwai and climbing a terribly long hill wo reached Whaieiat-i at 9 a.m. Wliilo wo were having breakfast -a very heavy shower of rain came on, but afterwards the weather cleared and at 9.30 a.m. we again set sail under a very light rain; but thinking it would clear we battled along up hill and down dale, the rain getting heavier all the time. We were determined, however, to go/ through, and we never thought of returning. On reaching a camp we inquired how far it was to Morere and we were• informed that it was about 6 or 7 miles and the road was similar to that we had passed. On we plodded. At this time we were unable to ride our bicycles..on account qf the mud, and we had to push them along. A little further on we mot a gentleman on horseback and he told us that there was a creek at the bottom of the hill. Hodgson carried his bicycle down and washed it,, returning to see where the others were. Ho met Anderson pushing a wheelbarrow with the bh vc.'es on board, which was a most extraordinary picture. After washing the bicycles we proceeded a little further, only to bo stopped again, through the linulsticking to the bicycles. So we decided to' leave them on the side of the road anil walk to Morere. Away wo plodded through all kinds of roads without shoes or stockings, as it was the easiest way of travelling. Oil reaching Morere at 3.45 p.m. we were drenched to the skin, but through the kindness of Mr Aislabio of the Hot Springs Hotel wo got a change of dry clothes and after having a hot bath and tea we retired, giving up all hopes of reaching Napier; but on awaking the next morning to our surprise the sun was shining, so after breakfast, we started back for our bicycles reaching them about 11 a.m. anil finding them in a wretched condition. We set to work and cleaned them sufficiently to ride them to Morere, reaching Morere again about l p.m. After dinner we fook another bath, fixed up our bicycles and proceeded once moro, leaving Morere about 3.30 p.m., having to ford the river at Stewart’s Crossing, which was a little higher than usual owing to the previous rain. We got across safely and away wo went across about ten miles of level country, until we came to the sandhills, through which we plodded for about two miles, after which wo got into some moro hilly country, which was much the same right through to Wairoa. Arriving at Wairoa at 6.4-5 p.m. we staved at the Clyde Hotel- for the night. Wo started away again at I a.m. over about 12 miles of good level road, hut as usual struck the hills again, and after climbing another tremendous hill, we reached Mohaka at 7.45 a.m. We had breakfast and started at 8.30 a.m for Waiknu, our last stopping place, reaching there at noon. Wo had dinner and started at 1 p.m. on our last long spoil of 40 miles to Napier, passing through a flock of 5000 sheep’on our way. After crossing over hills and through valleys and gorges we reached Napier at 6.45 p.m., feeling rather tired; but after having a hot bath and a fish supper proceeded, to t'ao wharf to sail back to Gisborne. Leaving the wharf at 8.30 p.m. we arrived in Gisborno at 7.30 a.m. feeling none the worse for the rough and tumble trip. Throughout the trip the roads were very rough.