CYCLING HOLIDAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 4

CYCLING HOLIDAY

WANGANUI TO GISBORNE ELDERLY MAN'S TRIP Tanned by the heat of the sun of many seas and countries and. despite his age. still fit and virile, Mr. T. P. Browne at the age of 72 lias reached Gisborne after cycling by himself on a long but unhurried pleasure trip from Wanganui. Mr. Browne, whose prisoner-of-war son returned to New Zealand with a recent draft of servicemen, left Wanganui on the night of Christmas Day and journeyed to Gisborne on his bicvcle, choosing a route which look him to the Tongariro National Park. Lake Taupo. Waiotapu and Rainbow Mountain. From the Rainbow Mountain he passed through 23 miles of Government forestry plantations, during which time, as he, put it. he was alone with nothing hut the road, the skv and thousands of trees. He next visited Waikaremoana and from there travelled through Frasertown and Tiniroto to Gisborne. ■ A feature of the latter part of the trip. Mr. Browne stated, was the short visit he made to Te Reinga Falls, the like of which he had never seen throughout his travels all over the world. It was the formation of the falls which interested him most and although he had seen many much larger ones he considered these were well worth seeing. Mr. Browne has had an exciting and adventurous career, having wandered the seven seas for 30. years, serving -under both sail and steam. He also fought as a soldier for three years during the Inst wnr. Since he -settled down in his home country some years ago he has made many cycle trips, the longest of which took him to Dunedin, the actual cycling distance being 1300 miles. , Oil his travels he carries a hiker s tent, cooker and utensils, saddle bags and blankets and bedding. He purchased his bicycle 35 years ago and is not its first owner. Throughout his present trip he had fine weather. Mr. Browne has an early connection with the Coast, his father, the late Mr. W. F. Browne, being foi some years a teacher at the Waipiio Bar Native School. He intends leaving Gisborne early this week on his return journey to Wanganui and will take the route via Taihape.