LONG CYCLING TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1940, Page 4

LONG CYCLING TOUR

MASTERTON TO KAUKAPAKAPA AND BACK. COLLEGE BOYS' HOLIDAY. Four pupils of Wairarapa College, Messrs Doug. Tooby, Gordon Slatter, Frances Shearer and Bruce Donnelly returned to Masterton on Saturday after a tour of the North Island in which they covered a distance of 1,500 miles on bicycles. Leaving Masterton at 1.30 a.m. on December 26 the party returned to

Masterton at 3.15 o’clock on February 3, having covered the distance at an average of 84 miles per day. Travelling to Napier, Gisborne and Hick's Bay the boys went on to Cape Runaway, Opotiki, Whakatane, Tauranga, Hamilton, Auckland and to Kaukapakapa, returning to Masterton via Te Kuiti, New Plymouth, Wanganui and Palmerston North. The longest journeys in a day in the torn’ were those from Masterton to ' Waipukurau (106 miles), and New Plymouth to Wanganui (103 miles), and the shortest was from Te Kuiti to Pio Pio (14J miles).

The cycles and loaded packs averaged 851bs. The cost of the tour was £l2, the boys managing their finances so well that they returned with 31d.

The weather was hot until Tauranga was reached, except for a thunderstorm at Te Ante. A wild storm was experienced at Tauranga. Head winds were frequent, except from Hawera to Masterton.

The boys stopped in camping grounds and paddocks, using a 6 x 8 tent and fly. They each had one blanket and a ground sheet. Going to bed at 9 o'clock the party rose each morning at 4 a.m. At Auckland the party discovered in the Auckland Museum the trowel with which the foundation stone of the old Wairarapa High School was laid.

The party pay a tribute to the many kindnesses received during their tour, particularly from Mr Hovel, Te Araroa. and comment on the beautiful scenery to be seen on the East Coast. The whole party put on weight despite their arduous trip.