Timber, lush, green vegetation and old growth forest embraced us as we cycled through the first segment of the Timber Trail, one of New Zealand’s Remote Wilderness Rides.
It was mostly flowy single track the entire day with just a few technical spots.
The day started with a sweet surprise as we celebrated a family reunion riding past the campsite of our TA trail buds, Pippin, Amelia, Sarah and Zach. They were camped less than a quarter mile from us. So good to see the fam again.🥰
Tomorrow we finish the Timber Trail and but not before crossing the longest suspension bridge on the trail.
The Timber Trail has a fascinating history. As it is (was) flush with timber, it naturally became a target for intensive logging. The old growth Pureoran forest was quickly diminishing as loggers fell 100-150 trees a day, and hauled them out to be milled for lumber.
In the late 1970’s environmental activists helped save the ancient forest as they lived in platforms in the trees to prevent continued logging. The subsequent effect? Good for the forest, but not so good for the local economies.
John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand serving 2008-2016, began efforts to revitalize post logging economies with adventure tourism. Key was instrumental in conceiving the idea of linking the entire country with bike trails. The 53 mile Timber Trail became a part of that plan opening up to cyclists in 2013. Oorah Prime Minister Key!
More swing bridges today (and yes they DO swing when we cycle across them) and a stop at the Timber Trail Lodge for a pizza before heading to Camp Epic where we camped.
We luckily beat the rain and chowed on a Hawaiian pizza until Pippin showed up treating us to a cup of French press coffee.
At Camp Epic we quickly pitched our tent, reveled in a hot shower before a huge downpour and then cooked up the rest of our food in their outdoor kitchen.
Tom built a fire in fireplace and we ended the day with Abbott strumming his ukulele. I call this perfection.
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Keep Calm and Pedal On 