Late winter 200

A cool start, overcast and 9 degrees, the Kiwi Randonneurs Hamilton 200km ride set off at 07:00.
5 of us riding this edition. Quiet and easy through to Ngaruawahia, and onto Whatawata, the first checkpoint.
A light drizzle, but the elusive Pirongia Mountain was visible as we headed to Pirongia, Te Awamutu and Cambridge. We had champagne gravel on the way to Cambridge to boot.
Coffee at Cambridge, a new café to try, quick service, excellent flavour, will be back there again.
Through French Pass in dry and to be honest, really pleasant conditions. Chatting with Geoff made the climb pass swiftly. We stopped and watched Tui’s though the late winter cherry blossom, then onto Morrinsville… cow town! A quick repair for Geoff’s Garmin, the stap attaching it to the bar broke.
Another quick stop for coffee and a very fine pie, then back across the plains, into a headwind (all be it light…) and a fine finish for a ride well done.