The last few days on the North Island

Friday 23.2 (95 km / 800Hm)

today cycling is very difficult for me... we know that it is 95 km to Black Head campground which the French and Steven recommended.
The very last part is downhill for 5 km - luckily..
Completely exhausted when we arrived there, a grumpy old lady tells me that they are fully booked and we can't stay here.
While I'm telling this to Patrick, a 'permanent camper' comes to us and says that she is an 'old bitch' and that her husband will surely find a free spot.
Luckily, he did and after setting up, we were invited for a couple of cold beers by John and Marge, the permanent campers.

Saturday 24.2 (93 km / 1200Hm to Pangaroa)
The next day, we were not sure if we want to cycle only 45 km or 93 km to the next campground.
When we saw after 45 km that the place is 10 km in a different direction than our route, we decided to keep cycling so that we don't have to go back 10 km the next day.
There was a tavern and we thought: 'Hmm, we can have a drink, it's after 12...'
What we didn't know is that they only had 745 ml bottles.... never mind.. we weren't the only ones having a drink at the Dutch guy's place and after a while, there was also a bachelor party going on.
When we were on our way to our destination, cycling uphill and sweating, the guys overtook us and Patrick was cheered on by a naked streaker (the future groom)...afterwards they gave us a nice cold beer.. haha..
Later in the evening, when we arrived in Pangaroa, we looked for the guys but they were nowhere to be found... a bit disappointed, we returned to our campground... but suddenly, there they were... all Red Caps and they greeted us with a cold beer :)
Then they invited us to a pub... what a fun day!!

Sunday 25.2 (102 km / 1000 Hm)

Cycling with extreme headwind (almost blew us off the bike once) to Masterton where we catch the last train to Upper Hutt and crash at the DOC campground.

Monday 26.2 - Tuesday 27.2

2 days relaxing at Warmshower Host Stuart