Dawn was bright and promising so I set out on my planned long bike ride to Upper Hutt and through Whiteman's Valley. At the Petone overbridge I used the new underpass I recently discovered and found myself on the Petone foreshore path. I preferred the track to the heavily trafficked road for this part of the journey. The local Forest and Bird members have done a great job planting native shrubs each side of the path making it a very pleasant ride and there are also a variety of community sculptures to admire.
I went over the Hutt River Bridge on the footpath, took the cycle path curling underneath it and popped up on the road again. With the hills close on my right I continued along roads that took me to the top of of the hill that leads into Whitemans Valley whereupon it teemed with rain. I decided to cut my losses and head back down rather then follow the road through the valley and back down Blue Mountain. Whitemans Valley seems to me a hidden part of Wellington, a 'Brigadoon' type of place, beautiful but secretive.
I cut across to State Highway 2, got down on my drops and hightailed it with a good Norwester behind to push me along. I left the rain behind and settled to a pleasant ride home along the harbour.
The sea was calm and turquoise and to my surprise I spied a group of black swan floating a little off shore. I took a break to watch them as they gently bobbed up and down.
On arrival home I had one more thing to do. I checked the tyres carefully for glass and dug out a couple of nasty chunks. If left, they work their way in and puncture the tube. Wellington roads always have the shards of many a beer bottle tossed out car windows on their surface, proving drinking and driving are still a way of life for some.
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