Day 4: Waipoua to...almost Pouto Point

This morning we had a another long climb right off the bat over about 5 or 6km. I was so excited I biked the whole thing (I did get off once to rest my rear and get a drink though). Our stuff was soaked yesterday so here's to literally airing dirty laundry. And yes, I straight up road like this, bra and padded shorts flapping like a battle standard.

The rest of the time we were on gravel roads leading to Dargaville. Here we splurged on our first restaurant meal at Shizar, a delightful Indian restaurant. It was almost closing but he said they would give us takeaways and let us sit outside. We both decide we are getting two entrees. We are starving. Jess orders hers and I go up to order mine and he was like "Oh your friend ordered yours already"...."I was like oh no sir we are hungry, that was just her order." Ignoring his bewildered face, I told him my order. Oh. It was soooo good. I was too busy stuffing my face with Korma and Naan and salad to snap a photo so you'll have to take my word for it.

However, behold how my hair molds into my helmet. I look like the Statue of Liberty, waiting so patiently for the foods.

We decided to try to get in a few more km today because we would rather tomorrow be less intense. Our eventual destination is called Pouto Point and that's where we are meeting with other cyclists to share the cost of a ferry on Wednesday morning. But Pouto doesn't have any stores for food (says the guidebook) so we loaded up our bikes with food and water. As you can see, Jess is hoping for a new job as the Uncle Ben ambassador and I will always make room for carrots. Because roughage is always a priority.

Oh and don't you worry, our leftover Indian food is tucked in there too.

Well, fast forward 20km outside Dargaville and we are thinking it's about time to set up camp. We've got at least an extra 15 lbs on us between water and food (not to mention the korma food baby inside my belly). So I pull up Google maps and Jess points to a group of houses we can see on the map and says "how about here." We drop a pin and ride like the wind. Ok, against a head wind. See why we were feeling done?

When we get to the houses we chose the most friendly and shady looking one and walk our bikes up to the front door. Our soon-to-be host, Leslie, answers the door and we just ask her kindly, looking rather pathetic I'm sure, if we could put a tent up in one of her fields. She says "Oh yeah, of course!" and then takes us to her side yard that is gorgeous and sheltered, gives us a clean towel and let's us take a shower. Blessed is she!