CYCLING IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18295, 11 January 1923, Page 9

CYCLING IN THE NORTH.

TRIP TO SPIRITS BAY. . C - AUCKLAND MAN'S TOUR. ;• A cycling trip from Auckland to within 'a a few miles of the Dominion's most nori- tlierly point, has again been made by Mr. C. BarwelJ,-of Panmure, who left Pant mure on December 16 with full camping Lj outfit and returned this week. On the i >- outward journey to Waimauku, Mr. Bar-. g well encountered very rough roads, and ). at Tauhoa, beyond Helensville, was forced ; : to remain in his . tent for a day owing j !" to heavy rain. The next day he set out y for Port Albert, but the mud made progress slow and difficult. However, J the road from Port Albert to Kai.waka I was in excellent condition, but the road g from the latter place to ' Maunßaturoto' was " atrocious," and the cyclist did not ;■ again meet with good roads till he, ' reached Paparoa and Matakohe, the latter being one of the most prettily situated towns in the North. Proceeding north- - ward, Mr. Barwell forded the Wairoa! River, passing through Dargaville, the ' Mangakahia Valley, Kaikohe and Kohukohu, where he was again forced to camp for a day owing to rain. Christmas Eve was fairly fine and Mr. ; Barwell reached Broadwood before rain - again set. in heavily. Shelter was then • taken for some hours, after which another I start was made, and the foot of Awaroa '. hill reached. This is the historic hill ) where 14 motor-cars were stuck in the mud during the northern Parliamentary ; tour. It is still unmetallcd. A desperate I struggle took the cyclist to the top of - the hill, but the conditions there made > further progress . impossible, and he ; camped for the night in a clump of teatree. The Ninety-mile Beach was reached ; on the afternoon of Christmas Day and • the Bluff at dark. The next day was spent e at Te Paki, and a day later Mr. Barwell ; reached the coast at Spirits Bay. At Te ] Reinga the magnificent panorama was • sufficient reward for the 20-mile walk " involved. - Leaving Te Paki Mr. Barwell passed ' through Ahipara, Kaitaia, Fairburn, Waipu, and the Whangaripo Valley, crossed Whangaripo Mountain and went on to Matakana. He spent a day there - and reached Devonport the following event inK * I Mr. Barwell leaves this week for the South, Stewart Island and the . Franz Josef Glacier being his main objectives.