Day 9 - Rain, Rockslides and a Race against time

Day 9 of our Tour Kopiko began with a leisurely breakfast before we braved the rain to kick off our ride. We set off from Ohura towards Pukeho and onwards to Lepperton, we were expecting to cover approximately 102 km for the day.

Despite the rain dampening our spirits, we conquered the Paparata Saddle, missing out on the stunning views of Tangarakau Gorge due to the weather. Our journey led us deeper into the Taranaki countryside, where we stumbled upon the mysterious Moki Tunnel and eventually crossed into the whimsical “Republic of Whangamomona.” Lunch at the iconic Whangamomona Hotel brought an unexpected surprise from David in Tara Iti’s Member Services team and his wife Pam, who presented us with a wonderful gift basket and a good dose of encouragement for the final days of our journey.

However, the afternoon posed its own challenges as we battled through four peaks amidst pouring rain and relentless gusts of wind. Navigating slippery gravel roads and dodging goats, we pressed on, counting between 75 to 85 goats along the way. With our rendezvous point with the driver looming at 100-102 km mark, Eugene (our driver) was nowhere to be seen, prompting us to bike an additional 19 kms before locating the van.

However, our trials were far from over. On our way to camp, we encountered a massive fallen pine tree blocking our path. As darkness descended and with no way to turn around on the gravel road, our attempts to reverse the van proved unsuccessful. Suspecting a broken gearbox, tensions rose as we debated our next move. At around 7.30 pm Eugene and I armed with a torch, water, and snacks disappeared into the night on foot and walked approx 10 km to find some cell service and to seek help! .

The rest of the team had waited hours but relief finally arrived in the form of headlights. We had returned with our camp manager, Kevin and a chainsaw to clear the road. Despite several unsuccessful attempts, we were eventually shuttled to camp in two groups, leaving our bikes and van stranded on the back road.

So here we are, at camp, trying to work out our next move. Will we be able to make it to Cape Egmont today? Will we be able to cross the finish line?…… It’s time for us now, to dig deep!