Bike Ride

The Rangataiki River can have many moods. Below are 2 photos I took one day after the other. It's amazing a bit of sunshine and blue sky can make. The top photo was taken from the stop bank they have just repaired and strengthened on our road. The second one is, also on a stop bank on the other side of the bridge looking up stream towards Edgecumbe.

On Wednesday we went for a bike ride along the Whakatane River bike and walking path. It is all concreted and a nice easy bike ride. It goes from the bridge as you drive into Whakatane to the Whakatane Heads.

We had to duck around where they were doing roadworks along the stop bank. I think they are making it stronger in case of flooding in the future. They have been doing it for ages. We went to Gibbos Fish and Chip shop for lunch on our way home. We had some scallops too. It was all very delicious. The fish comes fresh off a boat, so you can’t get better than that. 

A man with a fishing charter boat moored to the wharf by the fish and chip shop spent about 20 minutes getting fishing rods off of his boat. He must have had about 30. He said he was taking them home for maintenance. We didn't think he was going to stop bringing them out.

This is a statue of Wairaka and the Whakatane Heads. She is wearing a seagull crown in this photo. I think she wears them a lot. She was one of the people who came on the first waka to the area. When the men left the boat to do some exploring it started to float back out to sea. Women were not allowed to handle the waka, but she was able to stop it floating away and saved all the lives on board. The name Whakatane is from her actions. She "acted like a man."

Two waka in a shed at the Whakatane Heads.

Eddie at the heads. Whale Island in the background.

Our bikes resting from their ride.