bikes and burns

The weather is warming up now as we move into summer so we took it upon ourselves to dust off the push bikes and go for a pedal today. I have a great aversion to cycling up hill so we headed out to Papamoa mainly because it is the coast road which is very flat but also because there are lots of coffee stops on the way. The road really is the road to nowhere, just one long stretch of tarmac ending at a farm gate with a sign telling you to turn round and go back the way you came.
We started from the Mount and cycled past the dunes which are particularly pretty at this time of year with the dune flowers out in bloom. After what must have been at least 2 hours but turned out to be 20 minutes we stopped at Fashion Island for our first caffeine intake.
Million dollar houses sit on both sides of the road, some almost on the beach. Some of these houses are very strange looking, individually designed by private architects with windows in odd places to ensure a view or peep of the sea even if this means towers on top of 3 storeys. New Zealanders will go to great lengths to ensure a house by the beach even if this means living in a house built in someones back yard.
Heading on to Papamoa East houses become smaller with much more space between neighbours. Its a very peaceful and relaxed almost sleepy district.
We eventually reached the ominous farm gate and turned round to head back for lunch at a roadside cafe then of course back to Fashion Island for another coffee.
Our legs and butts were aching by now so we had a rest on the beach and watched a couple of fishermen using one of those remote controlled fishing lines (seems a bit of a cheat to me) then cycled back home.
The air temperature was very pleasant all day and we didn't get over heated but we had become victims of the fierce sun. After the 30km round trip we both did excellent impressions of red and white pandas. Fortunately after a couple of pints of Murphy's Red we were convinced we looked sort of 'rugged' and 'out doorsy'.