TA Day 5 - Karapai to Auckland

 53 miles, 2733’ climbing

Lodging:  Sebel hotel, south Auckland 

Weather:  Overcast and cool, turning sunny and warm

We woke up to a drizzle, grabbed a coffee and breakfast before heading out of Karapai. The rain lifted, and we opted to ride the longer but safer highway 16 to Auckland.  There was a small shoulder for most of the ride. After about 15 miles we merged with the official route, passing in and out of busy areas. In the city, our route put us onto a separated bike path which was great since navigating traffic would have been extremely difficult. 

In the morning, we saw a number of pukeko birds, including one with chicks, looking a little like dark chickens with red beaks. Crossing a marine reserve, we saw herons. We soon we happened upon 4 people with large nets capturing something adjacent to the bike path. A delightful woman explained that they were capturing and relocating endangered, endemic copper butterflies, and she showed some to us in small containers. The butterflies only breed in muehlenbeckia bushes, and they were being moved to a better location to help aid their survival, pretty cool.

We pedaled to the top of Mount Eden, took in the view. Stopping for a break in a park, we saw 4 bikepackers go by, and we hollered and waved. It was Quintin (Nelson), Dom and Lisa, and Nuttert. They stopped, and we all rode off together thru traffic and continued south past the airport somewhat hectic.  After another 10 miles or so we were ready for a hotel. The first hotel we tried wasn’t open, and we ended up at the very nice Sebel hotel near a grocery store and everything else we may need. It feels good to have an early night and take care of chores. The others continued on. Maybe we will see them again down the road.