Tuesday and we are finally under way.  Using a mix of residential roads, some cycle paths and some other quiet roads we managed to wriggle our way out of the Auckland sprawl and we were soon in open countryside.  This being North Island it was hilly.  Eventually we hit the coast along the edge of the Firth of Thames and things flattened out and, with  a fair tailwind, my riders drifted in to Miranda between 2:30 and 3:30.  We are staying in a holiday park adjacent to a hot spring – the guests have very nice chalets and I have a bit of grass on which I have to pitch a tent.  I shouldn’t grumble as this was my choice (trying to make a bit of profit on the trip) but camping really is rubbish! 

There is no restaurant on the holiday park and this means there is no restaurant within 20 miles which might have been a bit of a problem.  Fortunately  the hot spring complex next door has a sort of chip shop and the guy who works down the chip shop swears he can bring round a tasty supper.  I popped round to pay him and he appears to have rather less catering equipment than I have in my tent so it will be interesting to see what he comes up with.  Still, judging by his girth he does OK for calorie so maybe we will be alright!