With a ferry crossing booked for Sunday from this point all the way to Helensville it was going to be a fairly easy day with a good rest promised at the campground .The wild card was the heat as the day started so misty that I delayed in Dargaville till the morning mist blew off . When it did the super hot clear skies made for a hot ride .

Our fav cafe Blah Blah Blan didn’t open till 9 but I managed to find an alternative . Cafe Karma … No menu , you just get what you deserve .

Good coffee and as my modus operandi for this trip is the first meal of the day happens at the destination . Was worth the wait , a 5 egg bacon scramble .4 and a half actually as an egg broke in the brutally corrugated last 10 km of bad gravel .

It’s a hilly route and it was a surprise to arrive at the interesting old campsite perched on a high point looking down to the entrance . It was remarkably the first ever customs house in nz controlling maritime traffic in the days of Kauri extraction built in 1884 and still standing . Steve manages the campsite and its rocking with bike packers , 4×4 folk and motor homers .

The inside is luxurious and comfortable .

There is a small flock of birds camped here with their bikes , not a group , simply independent young woman who seem to be embracing the sport of bike packing . It’s similar to cycle touring however they travel very very light . I’m keeping a close watch on my kit and food in case these light travellers have kit envy or hunger !