ON A PUSH BICYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1922, Page 7

ON A PUSH BICYCLE.

FROM BLUFF TO THE NORTH CAPE. NOTABLE TRIP COMPLETED. The push-bicycle tour of the north, essayed by Mr. C. Barwell, of Auckland, in continuation of his journey from Blufl’ to the North Cape, has been completed. Mr. Harwell completed his second bicycle tour from Auckland to the end of the South Island on February 18 last, and left the same day with the North Cape as his objective, carrying with him on his three-speed bicycle his camping and cooking gear, making in all between 501 b and 601 b. The distance covered on the ride to Bluff was 2340 miles, and only two punctures were experienced, but the tires were renewed after about 1400 miles had been ridden. Going north, Mr. Burwell carried a message from the Mayor of Campbelltown at Bluff to “The Chief Executive Officer” at Parengarenga. When he reached Parengarenga, after some exciting and unenviable experiences by field and flood, he was told that the only white man resident there was Mr. Keene, postmaster and and as he was away from home the letter from the Mayor of Campbelltown was left at his house. He was advised that Te Paki was the best jumping-off place for the North Cape and the NinetyMile Beach by which he proposed to return to Kaitaia. Mr. Burwell immediately left for that place. The bicycle was left at Te Paki. it being impossible to take it on. Mr. Burwell, now a pedestrian, was soon put on the right track for the North Cape. He describes this cape as a massive promontory joined to the mainland by an extensive flat, a little above sea level, and largely swampy. A track leads along the sandhills skirting Tom Bowling’s Bay. He arrived at a mass of high hills forming the cape, and he had to fight his way through scrub and fern bound together with a fine creeping plant. Making progress was difficult in the short scrub, and impossible where it was breast high. The extreme end of the cape was leached at last, and the trip from Bluff to the North Cape accomplished. The return journey was made through ( the West Coast settlements. The trip to the North Cape and back was made without experiencing a puncture, and Mr. Barwell says -that with first-class tires the danger of punctures is almost negligible. He expressed himself as desirous of seeing a cycle touring club started in Auckland on lines similar* to those in existence in England. He says that throughout the trip he enjoyed perfect health, and for 3000 miles, during which he visited nearly all the larger towns of the Dominion and many of its most noted beauty■ spots, his expenses, spread over nine weeks, were £l6 ss. He had never once on this trip made use of a hotel or hoardinghouse. Apart from a little hospitality ’from personal friends he has slept in his own tent and prepared his own meals.