Day 9: Riding the Dragon's Tail

Last full day in Rotorua! I'm going to miss the smell of sulphur! Another fine day so I set off to see the Blue and Green Lakes. They are still as beautiful as ever.
 

Viewing platform between Blue and Green Lakes

 

Blue Lake

 
 



Green Lake



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that I was determined to ride the bumpy old Dragon's Tail at Redwoods, another must-do Intermediate trail. There are so many trails here and I have only been halfway up the mountain. It takes me half an hour just to ride up to the mid-way tracks. There is a shuttle bus that takes riders and bikes right up to the top on the weekends. I will have to do them another time. A pretty decent effort though - 4 out of 5 days riding - one day rained out. I am officially awesome!

 

Start of Dragon's Tail

 

This is the best video clip I could find of the trail. It really is like a dragon's tail, lots of sharp bumps, roots to get over and winding all around. It was pretty hard going on a hardtail (only front suspension). I have to stand up and use my legs as suspension over all the bumps. And my jumps are limited. It's fairly hard on my unbroken leg - it gets a bit sore. Thank goodness for the hot pools :) I'm going to have to upgrade to full suspension soon!

 

 

So then it was back to the hot pool for a recovery session. Fantastic!

 

 

True confession time.

I had a crash.

On my first day at Redwoods.

Straight over the handlebars.

Flat on my face.

I'm fine.

It looks worse than it is.

Only a cut and a bump on my nose.

And one on my forehead.

Oh and these big bruises on my thighs.

My nose didn't bleed.

I haven't got a black eye.

It will all be healed by the time I get home.

So all good.

I'm done with the Redwoods now.

Didn't want to worry you...