Headed into Palmerston North for breakfast at The Coffee Club in the middle of town. Easily found a park at that time but they have the most user-unfriendly parking system we've ever encountered - made worse when you're standing in the freezing cold wind and heavy rain and the machine won't take your card or your coins. Getting soaking wet and cold I decided that we could argue with any parking attendant who happened along so we had our bacon and eggs and coffee with free parking.
The main road from Palmy to Napier is closed due to landslides so we had to take the old saddle road which we were told was pretty winding and dangerous but turned out not so bad even in the pouring rain - in fact a spectacular drive with beautiful scenery but only able to stop once for photos.
We stopped in Woodville (pretty depressed) and Dannevirke (clearly a Scandanavian settlement) where we enjoyed a beaut hot chocolate in the old trustees building cafe. More rolling green sheep and cattle country - lots of new lambs obviously not enjoying the cold and wet - and then stopped in Hastings for lunch. Quite a big centre and very well preserved with heaps of second hand shops, gift shops etc. Nice break.
Got to Napier with bright sunny sky but still a cold wind at about 3 and took a stroll along the front. Obviously much better off around here - lots of Mercs, Audis and Jeeps etc. Booked into the Navigator Apartments which are very nice and we are booked into Shed 2 for dinner by Jenny the bike tour organiser. Dinner at Shed 2 was excellent. Both enjoyed braised beefcheeks and shared a chocolate and pear creation for dessert.
On the bikes heading back to Hastings tomorrow morning and thankfully the weather forecast is fine but still some wind around - but it will be a tail wind at least.
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| The Saddle Road |
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| Someone forgot today was Thursday! |
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| Central Hastings - very well presented city |
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