Today was a trip that I’d wanted to make for a long time but I’ve never really had a chance to do so. Now I’ve got my own ride I can explore when and where I like… after work.
Today’s trip was Lucy’s Gully.
I’ve never been up this road but I’m quite glad I did. It’s not a long road but it was winding and had trees lining a good chunk of it. It made for that weird lighting that is both light and dark at the same time which I love. There’s something intense and exciting about roads like this.
I was surprised to see a redwood forest. It’s not uncommon but they are an introduced species but these ones looked old.
The sad thing about Lucy’s Gully is that early 2000s some absolute scumbag picked up a European hitchhiker and murdered her up there. That’s not why I wanted to go up there but I’d be lying if it wasn’t the reason why that name stuck in my head for so long.
Lucy’s Gully was named after Lucy Stephens who grew up there. While someone was trying to get exotic plants established, she would cut them down and plant more native trees. She was a well known character of the time as well so it’s nice that people recognise her with a named piece of land that’s still called that today.
There is a link at the bottom of this article where you can read up on Lucy’s Gully.
Here’s the thing with Taranaki. It’s a province of contrasts. Lucy’s Gully is at the foot of Mt Egmont/Taranaki and is one of the entrances to the Egmont National Park.
Literally coming back down then crossing the road from Upper Ahuahu Road to Lower Ahuahu Road saw me going from the foot of the mountain to the sea within 3 minutes.
I genuinely love riding in this province. Now that I’m getting used to this bike, I’m going to have to get my mate out for a ride.