Tuesday 3rd Nov.
Left Johns at about 9 O'clock this morning it was cold and windy but at least it was not raining.
The first part of the ride was a bit boring getting through Auckland and out the other side but once out of Auckland the road returned to good twisty and hilly ones with fantastic scenery. I was planning on staying in Coromandel but the road was so good I kept on going the road turns in to gravel for the last 30 or so miles and is just as twisty and hilly, quite a challenge especially as its very narrow. The bike feels much better to ride with its new tyres, chain and sprockets and just when I thought life could not get much better than this a car came round a tight bend taking up all the road and forced me off into the really loose gravel with negative camber and I lost the front end and slid down the road ripping the rear pannier clean off the bike. Dusting myself off and picking the bike up, gladly there was not to much damage to the bike. the rear brake pedal was badly bent and so was the pannier rack. The pannier looked like it was a bin job but after jumping up and down on it and kicking it a few times in strategic places i managed to get it square enough to fit back on. I thought about turning round and heading back for Coromandel but decided to head on to port jackson. But before I did I strapped on my GoPro. It took quite a while to ride to Port Jackson but it was well worth it the views were stunning. I thought about camping there but decided it was still to early and rode back down through Coromandel and kept on riding until i reached a campsite just outside of Thames. Met a really interesting guy who came out of his caravan with a few beers while I set up Camp.

Wed 4th Nov. 
It rained nearly all night and all of the next day. I was feeling pretty sore now so the idea of picking up my tent and riding in the rain was not one that I relished, so a tent day was had.

Thursday 5th Nov.
Sunny day YAY. Packed up most of my gear then borrowed a hammer from my neighbour Chris and set about the pannier I have managed to get the lid to fit but the split down the side/bottom will require some duct tape or welding but it looks a little better and the lid now closes.
Set off for Hot beach which meant crossing over to the other coast on another twisty mountain gravel road. I took great care on the blind corners (nearly all of them) and had a few near misses with cars on the wrong side of the road. Made it to hot water beach, when the tide is out there are hot water springs that come up through the sand and I was quite looking forward to a soak in a hot spring but was not sure wether that was a good idea with the graze on my knee so as the tide would not be out till late tonight i decided I can come back this way and rode on to Waitomo Caves. Found a really good campsite her at Waiatomo and have decided to pitch up here for at least a couple of day's.
Video 1
Video 2