Rain is done for now and Christmas with Alan & Jannete was marvelous! (not to mention the food...) Instead of being alone on the road, I was a special guest of this wonderful family who owns the "Cowshed" camping ground. This is the great joy of traveling - meeting awesome people. If you ever find yourself in New Zealand, it's a must-stay. I took off & then rode through the Waipoua Forest, a rain forest on the west-central coast of Northland. The tiny road in the picture is of one of the many one-lane sections along the way, but indicative of most of the ride through that forest. Elevation is about 800 feet, just off the coast and windy today; I found myself thinking it's a bit cold but then remembered that 68F° is pretty good for the day after Christmas - just a bit cool for around here.