AROUND EAST CAPE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 434, 19 January 1933, Page 7

AROUND EAST CAPE

INTERESTING TOUR BY I TWO ROTORUA ENTHU SIASTS. JOYS OF CYCLING. | Cycling tours seem to be growing more popular every year. Here are ■ two more enthusiasts who cycled round : the East Cape this vacation. They were Mr. and Mrs. H. Gribble, who expressed themselves as charmed with their interesting venture, and the following is an extract from their holiday diary whieh is typical of the days and nights which made Up the two weeks which the five hundred mile trip occupied: — "Friday, December 30. — The billy soon boiled by remains of our overnight fire, and, we were on the road again as the sun Tose. An hour brought us to the Kereru River, and while breakfast was cooking a refreshing swim in its clear but icecold water was much enjoyed. "From here, with but few breaks, the road was entirely covered with heavy metal impossible to ride, and difficult even to wheel the bikes. In due course we reached the Raukokore River, where a yolce of bullocks was waiting to pull the mail car aeross; wre were wondering which was the best course to take when the mail car arrived complete with bullocks and we gratefully accepted a lift across the treacherous river. Then, on to Raukokore, where Sir A. T. Ngata was addressing a large gathering of Maoris. A short halt was made at Waihau Bay to procure billy lids which had been lost crossing the river, also sundry purchases, as this was the last store for many miles. "We wended our way round the long curve of Waihau Bay, the road being the beach itself; then up a bushcovered hill, and down to a good camping ground at Cape Runaway. "Abundance of driftwood for a huge fire, and water in plenty descending the cliff's face at high water mark; level turf at the foot of a overhanging cliff to shelter the tent, sausages frying, potatoes boiling. Soon to bed, and to sleep to the sound of the heavy 'surf. — An ideal camp for wearv travellers. "In retrospect, the outstanding impression made by the trip was the unfailing courtesy and kindness met with all the way. The weather was warm, and with the exception of a few summer showers, quite fine throughout. "The roads were patchy, and it was a pleasure to encounter once more the pumice roads of Rotorua. On the whole, the holiday was a great success, and it will be rep-eated at the first opportunity."