Day 1 Part II - Karaka Bay -> Upper Hutt -> Rimutaka Hill -> Carterton -> Eketahuna -> Ashhurst -> Cheltenham -> Vinegar Hill -> Hunterville -> Wanganui -> Kai Iwi Beach.

355 km - 5hrs : 27 min - Whew!
No half measures - straight into it!
A long day to get back into travel mode. 9:30 start on a fine Wellington morning. Calm & mostly clear. Hutt valley is overcast but dry. Slow over the Rimutaka Hill with Sunday traffic. Very pleasant morning coffee at the Wild Oats Cafe in Carterton.
Off the main road and onto numerous secondary roads as we start to weave our way north west towards Wanganui. Little traffic & excellent riding. Sky chaotic with diverse cloud formations. Always threatening to clear and always with pockets of blue on the horizon.
Stop at Cheltenham for late lunch at roadside rest area.
Continue on through various side roads wending our way closer to Wanganui. Miss a turn and end up doing 16 km of unplanned gravel. At least the sky is clearing, sun shining and countryside beautiful - when we have time to look!
Riding is slow and requiring concentration as the gravel is thick in places and covering lots of fine dust!
Finally rejoin sealed road outside Wanganui, where we shop for breakfast then enjoy a felafel roll at "Jabies" Doner Kebab.
Last 20km down to Kai Iwa Beach and our campground for tonight. Spectacular sunset over black beach. Campground is deserted and we have lounge/kitchen area to ourselves.
A beer before bed and time to catch up with the blog. No free WiFi and no mobile coverage.
Tomorrow? North - more or less!