As we get used to what will be normal for a month-plus, I kept my weekend ride local – staying on the hill on familiar streets less than two kilometres from home. I’m rather pleased I do live on a hill, as there’s plenty of climbing to be found out my front door. What’s more, it was a glorious early autumn Sunday afternoon – generally sunny, with a gentle southerly not letting things heat up.
With the country in lockdown, the biggest change I’ve noticed locally has been the peacefulness without the suburban traffic. Riding every street on the hill was even more enjoyable without thinking too much of the traffic. Plenty of people were out walking and biking whilst keeping in their bubbles, many looking rather bemused by the whole situation. A bit different to my usual weekend rides, but thoroughly enjoyable with a variety of expansive views, a neighbourhood with a wide variation of architecture and plenty of trees.
Might not do this again for another couple of years, but it was good to find a better route this time – taking five kilometres off, while still covering all the streets on the hill. It did give me other ideas for exercise close to home, although it’ll take a while for my legs to be good for anything besides cycling on hills.
Cape Kidnappers from the end of my street.
Guess I won’t be downtown for
a while, from a little further back up my street.
Those three houses always catch my eye from afar.
Looking back towards my little corner of the hill.
There’s still a little bit of work for these tugs…
The cliffs I was on top of last week above the container ship.
Go get it!
Got it.
Over Ahuriri fuel storage, the estuary, and Poraiti towards the Kaweka Ranges.
Those cliffs.
A touch of the old sawtooth warehouses.
Indeed.
Proper decent rope swings; it was not easy jumping off makeshift platforms onto the ropes – great fun but.
We wound our way downtown, pausing briefly to check out some murals and numerous eels slithering around another stream.
Down to the coastal pathway, near the infamous Wind Wand – this is about the only thing I remember about New Plymouth from my university holiday job in South Taranaki – it was the topic of much conversation in the smoko room.
Jacqui, Dan, Adele and James just before heading west on the pathway.
Passing the port, we rode up towards the base of Paritutu Rock.
Atop, we looked out over Sugar Loaf Islands and could just spot some offshore platforms.
East we looked along the coast, past the port and a disused power station.
Floating roof tanks! Oh, and the city. I rankled a little bit at the industry-is-ugly comments.
Hidden in the cloud was Mt Taranaki.
A little further west we enjoyed a bit of beachside riding – my legs were at least still good for cycling and some nasty little grassy pinch climbs.
Back towards Paritutu, note the sax player adding a touch of class to our seaside meal.
The slight detour back into town was unsuccessful in obtaining cronuts, alas; but this building is striking.
This striking bridge is even more so when the mountain behind us is not shrouded in cloud.
Most of the public events centre around Marine Parade and the sound shell – opposite the wonderful Masonic, where many gathered.
Cars weren’t the only historic vehicles out and about.
Saturday afternoon’s vintage car parade was well attended by umbrellas. The Bentley club was in town from all over, impressive.
Beautiful cars, and many of them – those in open-topped ones looked decidedly damp.
There was plenty of opportunity to admire the vehicles afterwards.
This number plate caught my eye.
A few of the cars were originally from Napier.
Bikes even got a look in.
More Bentleys.
OK, there may have been more looking at cars.
I bumped into many people from work over the weekend – this time an American visitor, Jody, who I managed to get this photo (and the better ones in this post) from.
Yes, more cars – particularly struck by the body work on this one.
This was probably the oldest car around.
I did manage to get another photo of myself from an obliging passerby.
The Gatsby Picnic got moved off the soggy lawn it is always on, most picnicers went down the main street of town – this couple set up near Tom Parker Fountain and seemed to spend more time posing for photos than eating.
So many choices; I want to know if Colin’s cat is still in the same place.
