Further stylish adventures of the surprising Victor Vitus...

It was such a nice day that Victor Vitus longed to be out and about.  Fortunately SkipperG agreed and without further ado, straight after a stirring pot of Ethiopian Blend stovetop, they set out to explore.

Along the rail trail they sped at a cracking pace, leaving several other morning cyclists in their wake and cracking on toward the rail bridge some 8 kms distant.












On through the low and slightly scary tunnel they hurtled (Victor was very brave and kept his eyes wide open nearly the whole way through!)





Oh no, thought Victor, as they approached the bridge.  We've been stonkered!  Some blokes have gone and  built a fence with barbed wire and a locked gate, and a sign to boot that appeared to read "Bridge closed for construction"

Fortunately SkipperG was not so easily deterred, nor evidently were others before him as he spied an opening which had been made in the wire mesh.  As quick as a wink Victor felt his front wheel come off and the next thing he knew they were though the fence and freewheeling at great speed across the old rail bridge... until they reached the other side and came up against an even more impressive fence and gate!

Victor felt himself being hoisted high into the air and being lowered down the other side.  Soon after SkipperG appeared beside him with a grin on his face and they were off again.  

Over the road and onto the track and still another sign warning off cyclists and walkers from going any further "Track incomplete - please use road"  

This time Victor knew what was coming and sure enough another hoist over this gate and they were off again, spinning and crackling their way along the coarse gravel path... until the track suddenly stopped.  Victor looked across the gully and could see where the track started again, but the bridge hadn't yet been built.  Well, there was nothing for it but to jump yet another fence and clackety clack they rattled across the rail bridge - keeping a close watch for the train which was due to come through shortly!

On they sped across the valley until it looked like the track disappeared into a lake.  Just this

week they reckoned that six inches (150mm) of rain had fallen in one night and the valley was still quite flooded.  Across the lake Victor could see the track emerge from the other side and 'nekminute' he felt himself sloshing through the water with SkipperG peddling furiously to keep moving. Deeper and deeper into the water until SkipperG's feet were disappearing under the water every pedal stroke!  Victor held his breath and concentrated on keeping his wheels going round and round until they were through and whizzing around the next bend.  Five more times Victor and SkipperG braved the water and each time they managed to squeak through to firm ground again.

Soon they came to the each of Kawakawa town... 












just as the train was leaving to head off down the track to Taumarere Station.  Whew, thought Victor, that was close!  I'm glad we're not still crossing that rail bridge!!






Just down the road Victor spied the sign saying Kawakawa Baptist Church and it looked like they had just finished the morning service.  Well, thought Victor, we might still be in time for a cup of tea.  SkipperG agreed and Victor had a little rest against the front of the building while SkipperG checked it out.  Sure enough, there was Pastor Chris Bradley and the congregation having a good old chinwag over a cuppa.  Victor could see that SkipperG was having a chat to a few of the folk so Victor had a little snooze and waited... and waited...

Soon SkipperG reappeared and they set off in search of some supplies - it was after all close to lunchtime by now.  Victor was keen to go to the funky looking "Trainspotter Cafe" but it was closed.  The world famous Hundertwasser toilets were right across the road and Victor had to stop to have a look... http://www.bay-of-islands-nz.com/hundertwasser.shtml

 Fortunately the busy bakery over the road was open and SkipperG was able to get the essentials - Shepherds Pie, Cream Donut and L&P bottle.  A veritable feast!

Much later together they wandered over to the train station and Victor wondered whether SkipperG was going to have the energy to pedal all the way back.  He didn't think that they really wanted to wade through water and climb all those gates again and Victor was pleased to see SkipperG buying a tickets for them both on the train.  

How exciting to ride back to Taumarere station on one of the first railroads ever built in NZ.

Even the station building in Kawakawa was pretty old...












Well, as it turned out, Victor and SkipperG were the only passengers but the train driver said that was okay and the Conductor clicked their ticket and off they flew with a toot or two right down the midddle of the main street and with a woosh and a roar they were clackety-clacking right alongside the 'nearly finished' and sometimes under water cycle trail.

Soon they were back at the Tamarere Station with the old Conducter unlocking the gates to the bridge.  Woo-hoo thought Victor,  that's one gate we won't have to climb over this time. But he could see that SkipperG was being told that "You can't go over the bridge, it's closed - we are just opening the gate to swap the engine onto the other end of the train"


Oops, though Victor, looks like we might have to take the road back to Opua this time, at least until we meet the rail trail again.  

Off they sped again, up Lemon's hill until Victor could hear SkipperG's breathing get louder and louder, and Victor's wheels turned slower and slower.  Soon SkipperG was wheeling Victor and walking alongside to keep him company.  Thank goodness, thought Victor, another few metres of that and we might have had a busted foofoo valve (which everyone knows is a particularly bad valve to bust!)

Soon they were at the top and off they went, whirring down the other side at 50, then 60 then 65 kilometres and hour.  Oh dear, thought Victor, glancing down at his front axle, I sure hope SkipperG remembered to tighten that quick release locking clamp properly...

No wurries, said SkipperG as his legs spun in synchronous symphony along the twisting turns beside the mangrove mud flats amongst the bushy hills.  Soon they were near home and PierE was a welcome sight to a slightly dusty Victor and a little weary SkipperG.