Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:55 am
We did ride from Westport to Murchison. We left at our usual time and I was very pleased that the day didn’t start with fitting a new tube in Sarah’s rear tyre.
No puncture, no problem. However, I need to be checking things a bit more often as I’ve obviously got a bit lazy with the bike checking.
We went to Murchison via Reefton and the Lewis Pass. The day started out with grey skies and drizzle but as we headed in to the hills and away from the west coast the sun came out and I had to change my smuggly chosen thicker waterproof gloves back to the summer ones. Where better to change gloves than a tea and apple slice stop.
It was looking like a 10 out of 10 day already.....
We’d decided to camp and had picked a campsite based on its internet reviews. The manager was a very laid back chap and during our two night stay the shower block went from OK thank you to a laid back Oh Dear. Still, it was the lowest price we’d paid for a pitch since Croydon in Australia.
The worst thing about the site though was the sandflies!! They got a real taste for my ankles, feet and elbows. Scratching has never felt so good.....why is it so nice??
Yesterday was Wednesday, I did some bike checks. What a good chap. All seems OK so fingers crossed they’ll be good until the booked service in Wellington in the 19th.
We also walked in to town as we had the previous afternoon. It was a 5.5km round trip so a bit of exercise, not much but better than nothing.
So that brings us to today. We would have stayed another night but the shower block looked even more ‘laid back’ this morning and the sandflies seemed to have called in reinforcements.
So we rode to Pohara up in the North of the South Island. What a cracking ride. Only 120 miles but lovely sweeping bends through beautiful scenery. The day was topped off with a very twisty mountain pass. Up one side and down the other, in to the Golden Bay Area.
I type this drivel from the tent, it’s pitched on a much nicer campsite. All clean and tidy. We joined fellow campers, Caravaners actually, for drinks and chat this evening, and very pleasant it was too. Tea for us obviously.
The plan is to stay here for a few days, the weather looks a bit dodgy for tonight and tomorrow, wind and rain. As usual I’ll let you know how it goes, until then....yep...
Two happy people, two happy bikes.
No puncture, no problem. However, I need to be checking things a bit more often as I’ve obviously got a bit lazy with the bike checking.
We went to Murchison via Reefton and the Lewis Pass. The day started out with grey skies and drizzle but as we headed in to the hills and away from the west coast the sun came out and I had to change my smuggly chosen thicker waterproof gloves back to the summer ones. Where better to change gloves than a tea and apple slice stop.
It was looking like a 10 out of 10 day already.....
We’d decided to camp and had picked a campsite based on its internet reviews. The manager was a very laid back chap and during our two night stay the shower block went from OK thank you to a laid back Oh Dear. Still, it was the lowest price we’d paid for a pitch since Croydon in Australia.
The worst thing about the site though was the sandflies!! They got a real taste for my ankles, feet and elbows. Scratching has never felt so good.....why is it so nice??
Yesterday was Wednesday, I did some bike checks. What a good chap. All seems OK so fingers crossed they’ll be good until the booked service in Wellington in the 19th.
We also walked in to town as we had the previous afternoon. It was a 5.5km round trip so a bit of exercise, not much but better than nothing.
So that brings us to today. We would have stayed another night but the shower block looked even more ‘laid back’ this morning and the sandflies seemed to have called in reinforcements.
So we rode to Pohara up in the North of the South Island. What a cracking ride. Only 120 miles but lovely sweeping bends through beautiful scenery. The day was topped off with a very twisty mountain pass. Up one side and down the other, in to the Golden Bay Area.
I type this drivel from the tent, it’s pitched on a much nicer campsite. All clean and tidy. We joined fellow campers, Caravaners actually, for drinks and chat this evening, and very pleasant it was too. Tea for us obviously.
The plan is to stay here for a few days, the weather looks a bit dodgy for tonight and tomorrow, wind and rain. As usual I’ll let you know how it goes, until then....yep...
Two happy people, two happy bikes.