Kahurangi 500
Kahurangi 500 - loop around Kahurangi National Park including two great single track MTB rides - Old Ghost Road and Heaphy. We go for a travel light option, stay in lodges/Airbnb. Not really a godzone training but fun trip and meeting the team mates!
On the first day we follow the Great Taste Trail from Richmond to Tapawera and then joins the official Kahurangi 500 loop clockwise
It does feel like summer in the sunniest place in NZ!
On the way to Tapawera we first notice the snow peaks
Tapawera, 60km in, 90 more to go. We had a late start due to Maciej arriving at 9am so short lunch break and continue on. When I was leading the pack on the road , The rest of the group were repeatedly trying to slow me down … should have taken my tow rope :)
Water refill along the road!
Green Monkeys reaching the lake Rotoroa, I think this is my first time here!
The backdrop is really amazing. From here it is only one climb (always “one more climb!”) and 25ish km to Murchison , our final stop of the day!
I attack the climb and wait for the team with some good photos in the sunset light.
Isn’t this beautiful ?
Final push on the road to the pizza place and a beer for recovery!
Day 2 starts with meeting our captain Milan and 35km warmup ride on the road to the start of OGR. I’ve only run it before so excited to finally be riding it on a bike!
First 20km is uphill to climb to just over 1000m , fun times!!!
Beautiful scenery and good company to chat all the way!
When we leave out of the bush line there is last chance for cell phone coverage and check your work email or Instagram :)
Finally some snow! I also get a silly puncture on my rear wheel (I think I got pressure too low for rocky downhill and had to apply a bacon strip patch). Milan helps me out while others wait in the hut!
It is cloudy and dump, even with occasional snowflakes
Quick fire and hot tea at the hut.
The most scenic part of the route , we even see a glimpse of blue sky and a rainbow .
Ridge line.
The famous 30 stairs of bike-a-bike section.
After the steps there was a technical descent which I’d isn’t quite enjoy on my hardtail and soft rear tyre. But I was happy to survive it and head to the last climb of the day. The rock garden climb - nice flowing climb, section where Milan and I dropped the others.
This place good memories of running here 2 years ago!
Top of the hill , nice chat to Milan on adventure racing topics!
Downhill , chasing the dusk
We arrive at Rough and Tumble lodge , just as it gets dark! Lovely place with fireplace and fooooood! We wash the bikes and I repair the rear wheel and front derailleur glitch.
Day 3 starts with a long 70kmish road section to get to the start of Heaphy. Only be big climb, as always :)
Wet/West coast, we practice some rotation but it is clear that after 2 days of riding the group is divided into 2, fast riders Milan&Alex and Maciej&Ruth. Our kiwi girl starts feeling pain the knee which is not a good sign while the Polish youngster just got the mountain bike 2 weeks prior the event and is only getting used to spent long days in the saddle.
We were lucky with the weather - only got a minor wet patch after Karamea.
Karamea is a strategic stop - only 14km left on the road and we need to get food for the day! Also I get dry meal for the evening as the glam ping cabin doesn’t provide any food. We lube the chains and Ruth applies magic tape and painkillers to keep going with the knee pain.
Shakedry is a great invention - light and keep the water away! This was the first trip to test the gear out!
Start of the Heaphy
The First section is really scenic following the coast …
With some cool looking Nikau palm trees!
It is around 20-25km to the hut where we decide to break into 2 groups as Maciej needs and extra 30km on top of our final stop
The climb up to Mackays hut was a lovely gradient and a lot of steep hops onto wood bridges. I wish I had my bungy rope with me to share the load with Ruth. It felt we were going a bit slow but I was entertaining myself putting high gear and doing a strength/up into he legs training session. Surprisingly for us we arrive at the hut to meet Maciej and Milan again.
We give them a couple of minutes of head start - we enter different climate zone and the trail is very flowy at places.
Just a light drizzle along the way and some moody skies.
Next hut stop and we bump into these two :) Milan suggests to stay together but Maciej murmurs something and shoots of…
Love this composition :) last climb to the hut of the day!
Panorama on one of those bridges over numerous streams.
At the last hut we finally reconvene and go jointly Ona. Long rocky downhill in the rain and started darkness. I had a bit of panic moment on those wet rocks but as the descent got lower and I turned on the lights I could regain confidence and was again the happy place!
Just before we find our glamping spot 3km from the Browns hut - final team reshuffle at the hut. Farewell to M&M who shoot for another 30km to Colingwood. It was pouring out there and I didn’t want to be in their shoes! Glam ping spot was really fun - off the grid, very romantic getaway! We even got a homemade pizza from the owners!
