Monday, 19 October 2026

Excerpts from Grum Goes Global

Today’s Pearl of Wisdom: See NZ First

Seeing NZ first. Remember the TV add about " Seeing NZ first"? I've seen alot of NZ, my grandmother used to take us boys somewhere new every Xmas holidays, I've traveled up and down the country all my life, especially as a hiking guide for fifteen years, but this last week is the very first time I've traveled up the Surf Highway from Hawera to New Plymouth, and I've loved it. Mother Nature has thrown it all at me, but it has still been a joy. A little late in life especially as I've cycled 75,000km in other countries, and visited over fifty countries before this special part of NZ, but the South Taranaki coast ranks up there with the best in the world. My original plan was to perhaps ride the Kopiko from West Cape to East Cape or visa versa, but invites from my grandkids and weather have altered the plans. I cycled from Oakura to New Plymouth yesterday, and took my friend Michelle's advice and turned left just after Omata. Once again I found myself on the coast, this time above the beaches, and eventually at the base of a large rock that I've always thought was called Sugarloaf, but now I know it's called Paritutu. But just before I took that left turn, for the first time in seven days, over my right shoulder, a gleaming snow-white volcano, Taranaki appeared, and stole my heart, and for the next two days popped up in every view. Suddenly, I was riding the New Plymouth Coastal trail, and being a Sunday, it was busy. I had been in touch with an old university mate, and he told me to wait under the Windwand. I had been sitting there for only a few minutes and a guy came up to me. " Gidday Grum. My name's John. I stayed at your place in 2021 when I biked through the Molesworth. Welcome to New Plymouth." Wow. We chatted for a while, catching up on our cycling adventures since 2021. It's a small world. Then my PE School mate Phil arrived. For over an hour we caught up on adventures since 1975. Wow, alot has happened since then. After that, I found a supermarket and a Camp Ground, just above the port, ate lots and sat in the sun enjoying the views. Today I rode the length of the Coastal trail, plus a subsidiary trail, that took me to a sign that said: 140km to Taumaranui. I had stumbled on the Kopiko route, but alas it is not to be from here this trip. Tomorrow Fiona and I are jumping on a bus to Wanganui, where I will be watching grand-daughter, Violet, playing at the Roller Hockey Nationals. I'm looking forward to spending a few days with my daughter Lisa and Violet. After that? Perhaps an attempt on the Gisborne to Opotiki route, around East Cape, another road I've never traveled on, and it is part of the Kopiko. My decision will depend on........ how I feel, and what I want to do.