We accompany the early sun, crossing the Harbor Bridge to Mt. Maunganui, sister city to Tauranga, situated right at the base of an extinct lava cone of the same name. Follow the beach road along pleasant, affluent homes (a la Martha's Vineyard), stretching to Papamoa Beach, where we hesitantly rejoin crazy Rte. 2 again. Pass thru Te Puke (Tay Poo-kay), which boasts being the kiwifruit capitol of the world. We sure saw acre after hectacre of plantations, plus the cutest "kiwi-people" driving reminder road signs. (pictures soon to come). It was easy to remember how to pronounce 'Puke" when in context with the "Te" but when Ellen saw "Pukepine" on a sawmill, she hesitated...
Early afternoon and we diverge from much of the nasty truck traffic going south and hit the aquamarine waters of the Bay of Plenty. Sure looks inviting! A pie break in Matata, surrounded by a dozen hungry gulls and ducks. Wanted to get in a swim this hot, hot afternoon, but beaches were closed to protect dotteral laying habitat. Dotterals are cute, LBB's (little brown birds) who stupidly nest anywhere on the beach at the high tide line and give cause to the "greenies" to close the beaches, preventing overheated tourist bikers, like me, from fully enjoying themselves.
Overheated and in spite of the damn dotterals, we make Whakatane at rush hour, and score a lovely room right on the river. At dinner we opt for the "fish plate for two" and when the overflowing platter arrives, heaped with clams, oysters, mussels, shrimp, gurnard, and salmon and delish dipping sauces, we are intimidated. But we surprised the wait staff (and ourselves) by polishing the lot off and a bottle of yes, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc {"Ned", named for the largest hill in the growing area) and an ice cream sundae with the delicious local berries. Ah yes, one of the priviledges of having cycled 62 miles today. Tho, I would have chosen the Dotteral plate, if it was on the menu...
Bird of the day: Dotteral (see above)
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