Day 3 took us in two stages from Palmerston North to Wanganui. These stages were notable for rain and cold and a long section of road works. Fortunately they stopped to allow everyone to fix their flats (punctures as they're called here) because there were about 15 flats, 2 guys got two flats!
Day 4 the "hump day" was two stages taking us from Wanganui which is sea level up to Ohakune which is on the plateau near the National Park. Lunch was in Kakatahi School--they have 11 students this year. I'm sure this was the highlight of their year to have 150 bike riders and a National News 3 reporter and an ex captain of the All Blacks show up at their school. The students had balloons and cheered as every single person crossed the finish line and then put on a huge lunch for us. This was billed as the hardest day with two 7 km hills.
Day 5 was the longest day 86 km and then 50 km from Ohakune to Turangi and then Turangi to Lake Taupo. It was beautiful and sunny and we went through part of the national park. The views reminded me of high plateau Wyoming or Montana with mountains and lakes in the background.
We're definitely on the downhill slide now, the next two days are relatively flat and the weather is picking up. The Channel 3 News broadcaster who's doing the ride broadcasts live from the town we end up each night. They show footage of the ride each day and the kids from Kakatahi school ended up on television last night.
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