tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55408984928892629082024-02-08T15:02:27.303+13:00Dizzy's folding bikeA re-introduction to cyclingDesiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-5071757976341714612023-06-06T21:47:00.000+12:002023-06-06T21:47:19.012+12:00<h1 style="text-align: left;">South Island — November 2022 – Part 5</h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><p> </p><p> I’m
finally getting around to writing up our 2022 South Island Holiday.
Again, we went during the couple of weeks straddling November and
December. Last year, we had a trip to the same part of the South Island
at around same time of year. This time, John particularly wanted to
spend a few days at Lake Ohau Lodge – to do some cycling, to just ‘hang
out’ and take lots of photos, and to enjoy the Lodge’s delicious meals.
And we also wanted to spend several days in Arrowtown, another one of
our favourite places. </p><p>This is quite a long story, so I have written it up in five parts:<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Part 1: Wellington to Christchurch</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 2: Christchurch to Arrowtown</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 3: Arrowtown to Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 4: Two days at Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 5: Ohau to Oxford and home <br /></div><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part 5 – Ohau to Oxford, and home<br /></h2><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sunday 4 December – Ohau to Oxford<br /></h3><p>We
were up early, had breakfast, and finished packing. John had already
loaded the bikes in the car the night before, and we left at about 9:20.
We stopped briefly at the shore of Lake Pukaki to take some photos of
the full glory of Mt Cook and its adjacent peaks.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjtEnXIqhbYEVidQRqiLWuuZV6lOu8fxwmCy8lBOKDX8ADHQ2LGKP4W_LLxprvsX0pLgulVtCIK1UesQM1uu4WH_wh9gTjVyKAf5EHh0M7hm6H3__IhojVM1AUSRYEGPQqB_-AP6jtCgZQEVSW18HXnlt4nu5qtG-_WG1d4J8bQCU-vNGknLE0s8/s1024/IMG_0243%20copy%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjtEnXIqhbYEVidQRqiLWuuZV6lOu8fxwmCy8lBOKDX8ADHQ2LGKP4W_LLxprvsX0pLgulVtCIK1UesQM1uu4WH_wh9gTjVyKAf5EHh0M7hm6H3__IhojVM1AUSRYEGPQqB_-AP6jtCgZQEVSW18HXnlt4nu5qtG-_WG1d4J8bQCU-vNGknLE0s8/w640-h360/IMG_0243%20copy%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aoraki/Mt Cook (3724m) and its adjacent peaks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
stopped at Tekapo, as John wanted to put some charge into the car.
While it was charging, we went in search of some coffee. I was pleased
to see that the flash new YHA hostel, that found itself forced to close
for lack of visitors this time last year, seemed to be up and running
again.</p><p>The Dark Sky ‘museum’ was closed, as was its café (being
Sunday!), so we walked to the main drag where the cafés are, and it was
mayhem with so many tourists. John waited outside, while I queued up to
order take-away coffees and a packet of cookies, which we took back to
the terrace of the closed café at the museum, and enjoyed them in the
part sun/shade, away from the crowds. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUM1-EKZuDQq8OKchjX293408uqkNeWcH8_Gi9zf6KEcTQa2-jC1ZPnGNwCDBmvXf1jzg5zxN75l4XOy123PI5Wer1mIrI9Jnb8bTrjs2vs_MgCYl32shy-6-8NApe857YUCZzCOfZRjwFvgmL5NkdKYh1lLB5MJ3uX9aOHNW6i2UJvIj4NTuNUk/s1024/IMG_0245%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUM1-EKZuDQq8OKchjX293408uqkNeWcH8_Gi9zf6KEcTQa2-jC1ZPnGNwCDBmvXf1jzg5zxN75l4XOy123PI5Wer1mIrI9Jnb8bTrjs2vs_MgCYl32shy-6-8NApe857YUCZzCOfZRjwFvgmL5NkdKYh1lLB5MJ3uX9aOHNW6i2UJvIj4NTuNUk/w640-h426/IMG_0245%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee with a sublime view<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
stopped at Geraldine, to charge the car (again!) and lunch at Café
Verde. The drive from Geraldine to Oxford, via the Inland Scenic route
(SH 72) was very pleasant, mainly fairly straight roads, so easy
driving. </p><p>We had booked to stay overnight at “<a href="https://www.ribblesdalegardens.co.nz/" target="_blank">Ribblesdale</a>”,
a ‘significant’ garden with a B&B on site, near Oxford. We had a
call from Denise, our host, to say she had to go out, but that the key
was in the door, and that we could just make ourselves comfortable when
we got there, and look around the garden if we wanted to. <br />As we got
to Oxford, we had to invoke Siri (the kind lady on the phone!) to find
“Ribblesdale”. We had to go round the block a couple of times before we
found the entrance. </p><p>It was absolutely delightful. ‘The Barn’ is
huge for a B&B, it looks like it is used for community events or
classes or some such (it appears that Denise runs garden tours). </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKirDyqMcw39y_wQYZZwr5uvJ7b2Pf-xOBNq3YEJv6Cfhl8jpJTl2As9JuVt5xIAlkykNNmNRWutM078NFUUamf1MDDHJqYiUaea--GLebkh3b-sm4y6FyBG6Pv1Lujnc2UItHdgzbFXjkynenHkGRKbLtbTuiJ59eP9MJQLwjZESHhEhxQ77KnW0/s2306/IMG_0304.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKirDyqMcw39y_wQYZZwr5uvJ7b2Pf-xOBNq3YEJv6Cfhl8jpJTl2As9JuVt5xIAlkykNNmNRWutM078NFUUamf1MDDHJqYiUaea--GLebkh3b-sm4y6FyBG6Pv1Lujnc2UItHdgzbFXjkynenHkGRKbLtbTuiJ59eP9MJQLwjZESHhEhxQ77KnW0/w640-h426/IMG_0304.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of Ribblesdale Gardens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZUmmQTkg44W0d3eLbTD3s6rD5OvXxMqlhd9d1X2ZJfGb89Rfqb_aSjeFYGhSYneTcBFxevGXwd8J-0yF3b1Mlomq3R1cgeILyWl5CuVe_pCNvoeZ974c9LsLHyll--pxonUAkbaBywse9AV0kyyDVoIaNjYaZWd2mUGPz0ACHwYWxufZLbzYjhM/s1024/IMG_0257%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZUmmQTkg44W0d3eLbTD3s6rD5OvXxMqlhd9d1X2ZJfGb89Rfqb_aSjeFYGhSYneTcBFxevGXwd8J-0yF3b1Mlomq3R1cgeILyWl5CuVe_pCNvoeZ974c9LsLHyll--pxonUAkbaBywse9AV0kyyDVoIaNjYaZWd2mUGPz0ACHwYWxufZLbzYjhM/w640-h360/IMG_0257%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barn<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It
has a large open space, with a dining table, and on the side a couch
and single bed. There is beautiful bedroom with a king-size bed, and a
kitchen and bathroom. There is also a commercial kitchen, which we
thought initially was the kitchen for our use, but it was locked, until
we found a kitchen alcove further around. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPakLrVzUZw2R_9LGeWhNoZqqt-X76KVUn4p3qbyYE19gxUDNX7A1nGWjUGwNO5U9INhGRBIedUbGiT38hqBkrojDHiC_7L6QaL3HqQcTGEKDOvqhUrDEc_gszTAe5Fur5mtEtG2_be2CbxqLLYmNTPHEHvSejvgShehAg1m6TGeNkwW5n9PSsLE/s1024/IMG_5275%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPakLrVzUZw2R_9LGeWhNoZqqt-X76KVUn4p3qbyYE19gxUDNX7A1nGWjUGwNO5U9INhGRBIedUbGiT38hqBkrojDHiC_7L6QaL3HqQcTGEKDOvqhUrDEc_gszTAe5Fur5mtEtG2_be2CbxqLLYmNTPHEHvSejvgShehAg1m6TGeNkwW5n9PSsLE/w640-h426/IMG_5275%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main part of the barn. Bedroom off to the left, kitchen and bathroom to the right<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was very warm, so we settled our stuff inside, and went to take look around the garden, which is magical. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZmUR7RPquuywkVCtdzdI7CN5jXXz1svO4vxSNGln7YevuGlP8ythHpvGePZZxeNngSE6DyhEfd_j60_AW1tKFTA4A-kAcjGcsyhGHUFghGNMCe6H_VA0q58udbtcPZ_w-gbse8W2AjimGYkcGQQG2mB9ZA846j_2WZNpwQ_zaQfKHqX0ckRfDcw/s1024/IMG_0271%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZmUR7RPquuywkVCtdzdI7CN5jXXz1svO4vxSNGln7YevuGlP8ythHpvGePZZxeNngSE6DyhEfd_j60_AW1tKFTA4A-kAcjGcsyhGHUFghGNMCe6H_VA0q58udbtcPZ_w-gbse8W2AjimGYkcGQQG2mB9ZA846j_2WZNpwQ_zaQfKHqX0ckRfDcw/w640-h426/IMG_0271%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silverbirches line the driveway<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiK41ZFhNMg-SUrgeEyaU0i5hTKC9ih805BY7u1bUYL6sCKFbneBc0xxWaFGVoOGPuTnI4ngWP3lhSi94e06klgGGXefulEO2gryKl1jfQMRurdPD1V204pRvoucJ23w7NFjxaeDRP0wqLkT-y1l_ak1m4lMb2RmcGHs0x274RChnlv4K7ggJ-p4/s1024/IMG_0261%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiK41ZFhNMg-SUrgeEyaU0i5hTKC9ih805BY7u1bUYL6sCKFbneBc0xxWaFGVoOGPuTnI4ngWP3lhSi94e06klgGGXefulEO2gryKl1jfQMRurdPD1V204pRvoucJ23w7NFjxaeDRP0wqLkT-y1l_ak1m4lMb2RmcGHs0x274RChnlv4K7ggJ-p4/w640-h426/IMG_0261%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main lawn<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSmBDOSuHZnxkbehaHk7tbf9tTG4ENgce_JmWaRmzmhk_cTUz-m3N8j3j-1bHBsBrnVG-Nu_4iOU_MC9I6bcW8ZgcOG76QG6Ksc1jvz1cSNzkcrMrVSQEjHdi34OdQreJLO8mLvhRaW1G_2YeKLPSGJmrRvE-M_xsHL30AMcdsOIf4GmxJxX9sR8/s1024/IMG_0289%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSmBDOSuHZnxkbehaHk7tbf9tTG4ENgce_JmWaRmzmhk_cTUz-m3N8j3j-1bHBsBrnVG-Nu_4iOU_MC9I6bcW8ZgcOG76QG6Ksc1jvz1cSNzkcrMrVSQEjHdi34OdQreJLO8mLvhRaW1G_2YeKLPSGJmrRvE-M_xsHL30AMcdsOIf4GmxJxX9sR8/w640-h426/IMG_0289%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Rust in peace' – is that a coffin on the dray? </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeZZEfEXkeq6M2BWcYgQQSUGjVLMXCsSwdjBQrUgLXDyzg9LKbubojpg27ojd6L8FRVbNpj8NnvmRQEKydxKEaGLUurElcXkvNpBfc2nHvzLRmhNBNvmUGvMcfbjizvd0it6J_l-r1aGkcrP2grY0R-mFqYygo9oPBmDkSYuJ-ZQlgDk5H-4YLnE/s1024/IMG_0290%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeZZEfEXkeq6M2BWcYgQQSUGjVLMXCsSwdjBQrUgLXDyzg9LKbubojpg27ojd6L8FRVbNpj8NnvmRQEKydxKEaGLUurElcXkvNpBfc2nHvzLRmhNBNvmUGvMcfbjizvd0it6J_l-r1aGkcrP2grY0R-mFqYygo9oPBmDkSYuJ-ZQlgDk5H-4YLnE/w640-h426/IMG_0290%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Stumpery"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislo2w2qflPNysk3zMPgl9-_UICeYkLu0FFsULxhdeIB9HLYBT8W7vPHbBNxNrtSKqhjX0Tu2hluz8YMPtZuhCkEQYd6RbtyKPtHgCIGI_E9L8dTwECdXuO0ZYhl_vvoBgtcEOXk-nkTJt9ZVZkw0hIKWq-7yHrT45O_uujOT9Vow_l27g1bk_WYc/s1024/IMG_3556%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislo2w2qflPNysk3zMPgl9-_UICeYkLu0FFsULxhdeIB9HLYBT8W7vPHbBNxNrtSKqhjX0Tu2hluz8YMPtZuhCkEQYd6RbtyKPtHgCIGI_E9L8dTwECdXuO0ZYhl_vvoBgtcEOXk-nkTJt9ZVZkw0hIKWq-7yHrT45O_uujOT9Vow_l27g1bk_WYc/w480-h640/IMG_3556%20copy.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what plant this is, but it is gorgeous<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>After
a while Denise’s husband Robin turned up and we chatted for a bit. He
said they’d been working on the garden for the last 25 years. The place
used to belong to Denise’s parents, but most of it was still a paddock
when they took over. </p><p>When Denise got back she showed us more, and
also into her nursery, where she grows plants to sell. I selected two
deep pink rhodohypoxis, and some hostas – one gold and a one grey – to
take home. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB62-yxxGV5i86TzMFLktven6R2SrYB8XrwnjYL60LiYvDbUXhBYudqsEsjVQQTuyZ44oM2cKSIjMotvIffi63Yr2J1VnxkbI4tf9SBtG1cJFfuCRN40tzGhn9dINiw40haVUsTf1NN2iBpun23oHfqip6wcPWVPDBHWkF2bZDBFsEdLpbvBcscI/s1024/IMG_0292%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB62-yxxGV5i86TzMFLktven6R2SrYB8XrwnjYL60LiYvDbUXhBYudqsEsjVQQTuyZ44oM2cKSIjMotvIffi63Yr2J1VnxkbI4tf9SBtG1cJFfuCRN40tzGhn9dINiw40haVUsTf1NN2iBpun23oHfqip6wcPWVPDBHWkF2bZDBFsEdLpbvBcscI/w640-h426/IMG_0292%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denise's nursery<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlxp6Qj-FcVyM2bEFPVTPksyFsPRxSAdpJ7vRff4AT2oTqqp2GDWnF0jtiRUI12nuNXYuBVXNdoce2vWRkwAWYXlfIe9VGwL9WKUuWWRkNPmjz3OqdS2efF3TDZCIHMuKGkpSiaTIxaJa71dcuaoQ95W699elPCxkTz9LySPTkFUlQxz2TEx9mh8/s1024/IMG_3553%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlxp6Qj-FcVyM2bEFPVTPksyFsPRxSAdpJ7vRff4AT2oTqqp2GDWnF0jtiRUI12nuNXYuBVXNdoce2vWRkwAWYXlfIe9VGwL9WKUuWWRkNPmjz3OqdS2efF3TDZCIHMuKGkpSiaTIxaJa71dcuaoQ95W699elPCxkTz9LySPTkFUlQxz2TEx9mh8/w640-h480/IMG_3553%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John in the "Secret Garden" (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h3 style="text-align: left;">Monday 5 December – Oxford and home<br /></h3><p>Before
leaving, I went to find Denise, to pay for the plants, and we had
another chat. I discovered the ‘Hosta Haven’, which I hadn’t noticed the
previous day – an area with lots of varieties of hosta, all in drifts
of the same variety – gorgeous. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rmYdLJowbi_kXkqvGznfqJb7RhkyMx6GjWcLVVgA4k6kSrFapSErS8m4jSqlXodDHg86GElk29uft8-5yhmxS8FHP9ySfmCrkzt6TSgw2hdfSs1Aw4u4dqUSY9x8_NO4f54d2EJzNEKM_ZLB3AqoRstzRaxwP4R_-9SLQZhmago_WckejoQ3FeU/s1024/IMG_3570%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rmYdLJowbi_kXkqvGznfqJb7RhkyMx6GjWcLVVgA4k6kSrFapSErS8m4jSqlXodDHg86GElk29uft8-5yhmxS8FHP9ySfmCrkzt6TSgw2hdfSs1Aw4u4dqUSY9x8_NO4f54d2EJzNEKM_ZLB3AqoRstzRaxwP4R_-9SLQZhmago_WckejoQ3FeU/w640-h480/IMG_3570%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Hosta Haven'<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRdeP5zTtoUWT9jRTc5tBz7X-VFwlTmDznNsiOSb3FsrXGYa-3H3jMs4GiEX9zWbqSfjdWnEIQ4VT3JkL3aeMc79Dl-T3VviNgnNo3kzwzKyFG50ayOsWU5KgF51wrdKa7DUbjFMC--WZiYNmfxmzZZ738uniP9dD_orSDKMmEF0e5GimRbUSxoE/s1024/IMG_3568%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRdeP5zTtoUWT9jRTc5tBz7X-VFwlTmDznNsiOSb3FsrXGYa-3H3jMs4GiEX9zWbqSfjdWnEIQ4VT3JkL3aeMc79Dl-T3VviNgnNo3kzwzKyFG50ayOsWU5KgF51wrdKa7DUbjFMC--WZiYNmfxmzZZ738uniP9dD_orSDKMmEF0e5GimRbUSxoE/w640-h480/IMG_3568%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many varieties of hosta – I love them!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
stopped at The Store, at Kekerengu for a late lunch, and a little
wander down to the grassy area and beach below the café (I nearly keeled
off the stairs!), and then on our way to Picton. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1u9zVsqLcJxWWYkzMzIv1zxgyQ19Bgau9FJA1H4iQTAPlnr-Su23AZHcNoGhiZnR_bwAesOSdALMPyHKWDMh0flKm8j_eK7woEGZ3CSXa8aT6d7kTKBem1xaKHhBXvPB9lXGZOgDm7VnQsP4BSgcGtpmPcC69bFUHRjVXvxXYtybJLQYoAFRos_I/s1024/IMG_0309%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1u9zVsqLcJxWWYkzMzIv1zxgyQ19Bgau9FJA1H4iQTAPlnr-Su23AZHcNoGhiZnR_bwAesOSdALMPyHKWDMh0flKm8j_eK7woEGZ3CSXa8aT6d7kTKBem1xaKHhBXvPB9lXGZOgDm7VnQsP4BSgcGtpmPcC69bFUHRjVXvxXYtybJLQYoAFRos_I/w640-h426/IMG_0309%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at Kekerengu<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In
Picton, ferry check-in time was 6:15, but it was only 4 pm. So after
checking in at the office and being told to line up at 6:15, we went
into the town. It is a desert after 4pm, cafés all closed, but we
managed to get an icecream, and we walked through the street eating it.</p><p>Then
we drove to the waterfront, there was a message on the info screen of
the car, that the tire pressure was low. We couldn’t see anything wrong,
and just assumed it was one of those things. A friend who has the same
kind of car had something like that happen and it turned out to be a
false alarm. John said he would check it out when we were queuing up to
board.</p><p>We sat in the car, while I read, and John was highly amused
by the antics of a whole lot of seagulls, which were plaguing a car
where people were obviously eating fish and chips – they can smell it!
The driver tried waving at them, and working the windscreen wipers, and
opening and shutting the door, all to no effect. When they left, so did
the seagulls. At least they did not bother us.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkUfKLfcVQaETJdQ0mt-CvxcbEmUvt0U042u2N8bah_VnaqEtYKNXxXY8D6kz_DNxA1aNc-disYogEzaGTaWE298sTFjeviapyP10iQiFOY5kozKqhTzB06Qn6mkGeWYncCtSo1aPPeOBuxOQwkFi3nkyLKxoecyGvEzPd-WOMZ2hcEMh-qN6rjE/s1024/IMG_0310%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkUfKLfcVQaETJdQ0mt-CvxcbEmUvt0U042u2N8bah_VnaqEtYKNXxXY8D6kz_DNxA1aNc-disYogEzaGTaWE298sTFjeviapyP10iQiFOY5kozKqhTzB06Qn6mkGeWYncCtSo1aPPeOBuxOQwkFi3nkyLKxoecyGvEzPd-WOMZ2hcEMh-qN6rjE/w640-h426/IMG_0310%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A car being plagued by a flock of seagulls<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>We
went to line up at the Bluebridge terminal. There were not very many
cars. We were among the last half dozen to be called to board. As we
were driving up, we noticed that the car was ‘limping’ and yes, hey-ho,
we did have a flat tire! Oh, rats! John pulled off to the side, and told
the crew that we had a flat. </p><p>There is no spare tire with this
car. You just have to re-inflate the damaged tire by means of foam from a
canister. But our canister was buried under all our stuff in the boot!
The crew were very helpful. A guy in a van driving on, waved a canister
out the window (apparently he was also part of the crew), and between
John and some of the guys, they managed to get the thing working and
re-inflating the tire enough to be able to drive on board. </p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK605LAMc_ORmZxouSBwvbnPV1XTswQoRxEJyzOFFa7jGZq5L5vlSGcmCAby0BL_69jPjhP-Du4CU0w6lEvwAURbHpjsnwxzsBCBLf6_f5YS8oEHpih2YUCbkv4-9w09jf2d-Gpo35MFbBGUR3Z788RD10TvUttYiYZIXxS99ZBwhA1W6I5ilQtw/s1024/IMG_3571%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK605LAMc_ORmZxouSBwvbnPV1XTswQoRxEJyzOFFa7jGZq5L5vlSGcmCAby0BL_69jPjhP-Du4CU0w6lEvwAURbHpjsnwxzsBCBLf6_f5YS8oEHpih2YUCbkv4-9w09jf2d-Gpo35MFbBGUR3Z788RD10TvUttYiYZIXxS99ZBwhA1W6I5ilQtw/w640-h480/IMG_3571%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dealing with a flat tire! (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Obviously
we were the last ones to board, and I think we held up the sailing for a
bit, but nobody complained or was rude to us about it. Phew! </p><p>The journey was smooth and I took some nice photos of the setting sun. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ8jzeX6sNoFrwDWFmgscAAomcAxLvNk0bP-7TQVEOOvc4FZPjiTjQ1MffkylPH8qii7hY7fgl1lSnS191W4C6tUkBExri2JiexxrKKKoXuWcnlgbvxwqWROdT3XqltbzOrbTs31l6RpFqflK5pudLBlfyXAVjxt8aMYm6vxV7sKICpW2pusmYF4/s1024/IMG_3573%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ8jzeX6sNoFrwDWFmgscAAomcAxLvNk0bP-7TQVEOOvc4FZPjiTjQ1MffkylPH8qii7hY7fgl1lSnS191W4C6tUkBExri2JiexxrKKKoXuWcnlgbvxwqWROdT3XqltbzOrbTs31l6RpFqflK5pudLBlfyXAVjxt8aMYm6vxV7sKICpW2pusmYF4/w640-h480/IMG_3573%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the Sounds</td></tr></tbody></table><p>During
the journey, John got me to ring the AA, to ask them to arrange for
someone to meet us off the ferry, to check that the tire was safe to
drive home. After a bit they rang back and said that their road
assistance service finishes at 11 pm, but they would arrange for a
tow-truck to meet us. The car would be put on a flat-bed and there would
be room for two passengers. OK …</p><p>When we arrived, we went down to
the car, the tire was still inflated, and John got out the bike pump,
and pumped it up some more. It was a big effort for him, and I was a bit
worried for him, as he was quite out of breath after that. The crew
told us the tow-truck was waiting for us, and pointed us in the right
direction.</p><p>The towie took a look at the tire, and thought it would
probably be safe for us to drive home in the car, but he would follow
us in the truck, just in case things went wrong. Fortunately they
didn’t, and we arrived home safely, thanked the driver, and he was on
his way.</p><p>We had been impressed with the helpful attitude of both the ferry crew and the tow-truck operator. And we were grateful.</p><p>So here’s the end of the holiday, <b>but not the end of the story</b>! </p><p>The
next day, John got up feeling feverish, so he took a Covid RAT (Rapid
Antigen Test), and it was positive! Oh, bugger! I then tested myself,
but was negative, and remained so until John was in the clear. </p><p>We
think he may have got it from one (or several, who knows) of our dinner
companions at Ohau Lodge. What an end to a holiday. But I guess it was
lucky he didn’t come down with it while we were away, or we would have
had to stay put for a week’s isolation. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm_EQcqUNixXRu8y9iholFqrp2G6UvXmme2uzX58kV3d1b8Zus7uteCysCGCSMboaUYIa2V87BwM5u2qGkugUXX55UqiSOsI6F-Px7PdfAs8RaOaXxxtwgybnKO9aOA7yP2khZn9aEM4FCWOmuk_JX5Mka9lOZw8qORhyUdx3f_gjsVO5LrpVcmc/s1024/IMG_9130%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="1024" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm_EQcqUNixXRu8y9iholFqrp2G6UvXmme2uzX58kV3d1b8Zus7uteCysCGCSMboaUYIa2V87BwM5u2qGkugUXX55UqiSOsI6F-Px7PdfAs8RaOaXxxtwgybnKO9aOA7yP2khZn9aEM4FCWOmuk_JX5Mka9lOZw8qORhyUdx3f_gjsVO5LrpVcmc/w400-h139/IMG_9130%20copy.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evidence – Positive! </td></tr></tbody></table><p> <br /></p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-33244499061535473502023-06-06T21:45:00.000+12:002023-06-06T21:45:29.171+12:00<h1 style="text-align: left;">South Island – November 2022 – Part 4</h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><p><br /></p><p>I’m
finally getting around to writing up our 2022 South Island Holiday.
Again, we went during the couple of weeks straddling November and
December. Last year, we had a trip to the same part of the South Island
at around same time of year. This time, John particularly wanted to
spend a few days at Lake Ohau Lodge – to do some cycling, to just ‘hang
out’ and take lots of photos, and to enjoy the Lodge’s delicious meals.
And we also wanted to spend several days in Arrowtown, another one of
our favourite places. </p><p>This is quite a long story, so I have written it up in five parts:<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Part 1: Wellington to Christchurch</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 2: Christchurch to Arrowtown</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 3: Arrowtown to Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 4: Two days at Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 5: Ohau to Oxford and home </div><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part 4 – Two days at Lake Ohau <br /></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"> </h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Friday 2 December – First day at Lake Ohau<br /></h3><p>It
was a pretty early start, as breakfast was from 7:30 to 8:30 – unusual
for us, as we tend to be night owls. But when we got to the dining room,
we were the first people there.</p><p>It was a lovely day, and when we
got back to our room, John started to get the bikes ready. I found an
email on my phone that needed a lengthy response (Scottish Country
Dancing club stuff!!!), so I went upstairs with my laptop as the only
strong internet connection is in the lounge.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEbRbZgHHhmxAn3jdb4DkaWbrQw02euGTdKERikk35ChC3Z8iUUQRtaLf7x74nR59C-AnBFHP-dcCaLY2YsF4l1J86XD6a61Qr9FQwxqTTxgkDL8ZIYpCcmtKgRBEHsp6KzSDm5RUo_QSu_Z047zu0oDvdubGK1p26R7ehoE-HgBg8qOktXpOdyM/s2048/IMG_6024.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEbRbZgHHhmxAn3jdb4DkaWbrQw02euGTdKERikk35ChC3Z8iUUQRtaLf7x74nR59C-AnBFHP-dcCaLY2YsF4l1J86XD6a61Qr9FQwxqTTxgkDL8ZIYpCcmtKgRBEHsp6KzSDm5RUo_QSu_Z047zu0oDvdubGK1p26R7ehoE-HgBg8qOktXpOdyM/w640-h480/IMG_6024.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go. Note John’s reflection in the glass door …</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We wanted to bike a short stretch of the beginning of <a href="https://www.alps2ocean.com/trail-map/section-4-lake-ohau-lodge-to-omarama" target="_blank">Section 4 of the A2O trail.</a>
On the website, the whole section is described as Level 3, but it says
that “starting from the Lake Ohau Lodge driveway, the Trail traverses
the lower slopes of the Ohau Range, with stunning views back across the
basin to the Ben Ohau Range – 6km of easy cycling will take you to
Freehold Creek, 600m above sea level”.</p><p>We intended to do just
those first 6km, as we know that the track gets very steep after that.
But we didn’t even manage that. The beginning of the track is very
rough, with big rolling gravel. John didn’t like it at all, it threw his
balance out, and he reckoned it was not good for the bikes either, with
the smaller wheels. So after about 1.5 km, we turned around and came
back. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav3_eZQ_5XOi_OYG-JGRnUgtn2fetBMCR2KxmTDeCFJhzd8NCB35w3dhkNrAlK6JquGmMES2a1pu1hBbNyPwRMgfPw0AghpCPCZ4sj-IfEfJOTuZbEKk1iY3S7JOMg75f40mgCi7YB2rihY8DRcNViTzwf7CqjzQ58iI6l9ubzf4bx5FNmDFr914/s4032/IMG_3531.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav3_eZQ_5XOi_OYG-JGRnUgtn2fetBMCR2KxmTDeCFJhzd8NCB35w3dhkNrAlK6JquGmMES2a1pu1hBbNyPwRMgfPw0AghpCPCZ4sj-IfEfJOTuZbEKk1iY3S7JOMg75f40mgCi7YB2rihY8DRcNViTzwf7CqjzQ58iI6l9ubzf4bx5FNmDFr914/w640-h480/IMG_3531.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We could not cope with the very rough gravelly track … (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenkV9F_L00iF07HMowAQBtMbhhuI8VqqkksZ6PL603QVVsKweROv6hX0QEPequyl6tyRrb1CTVmmyuOFavHoFMOx4Yuac2r4zXYffTl4XppUBN6szWJfFzkS_dGbGvdW5uXUPx2pGiIGblshUTcxgtAw5k_gTDv1-yQCgCdPf6oiK72rfv7tgKl4/s3830/IMG_3532.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3830" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenkV9F_L00iF07HMowAQBtMbhhuI8VqqkksZ6PL603QVVsKweROv6hX0QEPequyl6tyRrb1CTVmmyuOFavHoFMOx4Yuac2r4zXYffTl4XppUBN6szWJfFzkS_dGbGvdW5uXUPx2pGiIGblshUTcxgtAw5k_gTDv1-yQCgCdPf6oiK72rfv7tgKl4/w640-h480/IMG_3532.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> … but the views were certainly stunning (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>So
then we rode 10 km on the road to the beginning of the lakeside section
of the trail – that we have biked a few times now – and biked about 6
or 7 km to “our” tree. On the way we stopped for photos of course.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJeXTjxehwaw9upYLXFpL_x-ZYdWMxvjjhLvqEPvqVjSGEO_tjbtvGL1XmbtNCB_jeB4eSTZ2m3uyHF5nzPswGqCjHJjWbxEvB0Kv6q5xBt90Ru4POk0UsJzRywuDpDTwe-V-NkbnsiTYXArA9LW2f0lFUzSE9J9_MFXGn69RJ-K9vV6PJQGL5gA/s2307/IMG_5247.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2307" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJeXTjxehwaw9upYLXFpL_x-ZYdWMxvjjhLvqEPvqVjSGEO_tjbtvGL1XmbtNCB_jeB4eSTZ2m3uyHF5nzPswGqCjHJjWbxEvB0Kv6q5xBt90Ru4POk0UsJzRywuDpDTwe-V-NkbnsiTYXArA9LW2f0lFUzSE9J9_MFXGn69RJ-K9vV6PJQGL5gA/w640-h426/IMG_5247.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Ohau on the right, and in the distance, the Ohau Range and the road to the Ohau ski field</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXrU14kYfqpXdmYLdK_3gE5tolroxVDe0tWw9lyCE16HVf5v3GX9sQYa2X--32_-D8cvoLFXpR-zXBs42ZOMvWbvUB-fzZM1uhqdm6mZSnP8Y-qn_9Jp_PjKxssfvN8lzD7x9NmMAFwnxCayi4crH5FDyASNms6Q1TVhGxoyn1V6CDsfYg0xUyMw/s2048/IMG_6025.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXrU14kYfqpXdmYLdK_3gE5tolroxVDe0tWw9lyCE16HVf5v3GX9sQYa2X--32_-D8cvoLFXpR-zXBs42ZOMvWbvUB-fzZM1uhqdm6mZSnP8Y-qn_9Jp_PjKxssfvN8lzD7x9NmMAFwnxCayi4crH5FDyASNms6Q1TVhGxoyn1V6CDsfYg0xUyMw/w640-h480/IMG_6025.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Ohau’s gullies and shingle slides make it very recognisable</td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>“Our
tree” is a big old willow on a beach of large round stones and lots of
driftwood, where we enjoyed a break last year and marvelled at the
silence and the beauty of the landscape. We said at the time that we
should have brought a picnic. Well, this time we did bring a picnic – a
packed lunch courtesy of Ohau Lodge. </p><p>But when we arrived at this
wonderful tree, we found that the site had been mutilated. It was now
the marker of a fence that went all the way up the hill, and there was a
cattle stop to get to the other side of the fence. Some of the large
branches had been cut off the beautiful willow, and some small trees had
been chopped down. The debris had been left there, of course. What a
crying shame!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_Mu8ORdYw5l4_Tm0sRi8KNQGULi9ZsV7Pi5kcTw972wwd74lpjo6E81XWeyjvYLg9DxSbgafTXslqwXjMnJBCM7VRem2U3ySGvflsLy0aPb-6NuCdlWgY5xKOPYCewhoQ-sGrAcW0VzJ5FiQhyezKJACAEmngJ1hLQqD7OyJArEvqrsYNw_uhik/s4032/IMG_3534.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_Mu8ORdYw5l4_Tm0sRi8KNQGULi9ZsV7Pi5kcTw972wwd74lpjo6E81XWeyjvYLg9DxSbgafTXslqwXjMnJBCM7VRem2U3ySGvflsLy0aPb-6NuCdlWgY5xKOPYCewhoQ-sGrAcW0VzJ5FiQhyezKJACAEmngJ1hLQqD7OyJArEvqrsYNw_uhik/w640-h480/IMG_3534.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mess left behind after the mutilation of the tree. You can see the
fence behind John and all the way up the hill (top right of the photo)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
walked our bikes a little distance towards the beach, and we had our
picnic lunch, though it was still only just after 11:00. But we did have
a very early breakfast! We sat on an enormous log that had been sawn
off the tree in the process of building the fence. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPSGoRnw5op2wT5D-Owao2IOdNBOWMYGykSy4fplAKnmsMNtqz_-w37YrH1NyojG4KfpV3ERdjAWBrcpDNh6sAjPfaZ593BWgpWG6VXUqBf2BJ4NX6a1CquuQtc4jI0xt1nRpyHKOMdH3jKy-WiJnm8VC4HXKM_q2CS6ihBxkUuLTyqZQ3luRyHw/s2306/IMG_5248.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPSGoRnw5op2wT5D-Owao2IOdNBOWMYGykSy4fplAKnmsMNtqz_-w37YrH1NyojG4KfpV3ERdjAWBrcpDNh6sAjPfaZ593BWgpWG6VXUqBf2BJ4NX6a1CquuQtc4jI0xt1nRpyHKOMdH3jKy-WiJnm8VC4HXKM_q2CS6ihBxkUuLTyqZQ3luRyHw/w426-h640/IMG_5248.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The mutilated tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHJi9QDGa7eMn1WxMPHGi9Qt7-m_DH5OGtu6ETezsQoriVe6-iNVcJUkEejnclwK2V7QVff30tatyuij8c23AmOJJv3XoUo1x9o5uqLeWfOXHZjEkGdeXWfq02PfKnnJk06YV_JW0aepmeVYcE7LhjI_Dzqd0KnYYbT32g7dteJTELR79D9rH_PU/s4003/IMG_3535.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3002" data-original-width="4003" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHJi9QDGa7eMn1WxMPHGi9Qt7-m_DH5OGtu6ETezsQoriVe6-iNVcJUkEejnclwK2V7QVff30tatyuij8c23AmOJJv3XoUo1x9o5uqLeWfOXHZjEkGdeXWfq02PfKnnJk06YV_JW0aepmeVYcE7LhjI_Dzqd0KnYYbT32g7dteJTELR79D9rH_PU/w640-h480/IMG_3535.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other, undamaged, side of the tree</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After
this we biked back, stopping at several little beaches to sit in the
sun and enjoy the silence, until two groups of cyclists came past, and
replaced us at this nice beach. They were all riding the A2O, and would
be staying at the Lodge, so we would see them again at dinner time.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG6a75HXtecAY0NTr9AEr0W2pr5a3ux_GzJ5SPJJ7KK39goOwRUfEJtKUUEiQuXNdwGBb2DwIfGBVwPMV2ZA1zS1AEkyZeuqYyrqRP1QIPObNCWyg9sUUD-QMswzXyLJu0bqM5eSR98aq_sRTF_5eyO70lTHLvRJ_V3su9tzU5vwmef06vR-C85c/s3889/IMG_3537.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2916" data-original-width="3889" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG6a75HXtecAY0NTr9AEr0W2pr5a3ux_GzJ5SPJJ7KK39goOwRUfEJtKUUEiQuXNdwGBb2DwIfGBVwPMV2ZA1zS1AEkyZeuqYyrqRP1QIPObNCWyg9sUUD-QMswzXyLJu0bqM5eSR98aq_sRTF_5eyO70lTHLvRJ_V3su9tzU5vwmef06vR-C85c/w640-h480/IMG_3537.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Camera at the ready (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQMBF0ESn1Y5VKIaQc2gIT-uEUYsvMNiVkX7EaVSG40h0Gj_mnrQi32algC4ZfDdosuB16atKpJdMBTVKgFixpV06yBQAak7Hgc_uyuW_2jXZLdr0AIun2za_dO7rEsw4G-ZHEmDOfpcp9D81HtNx3DLZtwBi3NrP1EQ6ilh5eXJLtGp_cdXQrvg/s3990/IMG_3538.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="3990" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQMBF0ESn1Y5VKIaQc2gIT-uEUYsvMNiVkX7EaVSG40h0Gj_mnrQi32algC4ZfDdosuB16atKpJdMBTVKgFixpV06yBQAak7Hgc_uyuW_2jXZLdr0AIun2za_dO7rEsw4G-ZHEmDOfpcp9D81HtNx3DLZtwBi3NrP1EQ6ilh5eXJLtGp_cdXQrvg/w640-h480/IMG_3538.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perfectly circular inlet is the result of a geological phenomenon (but we’ve forgotten the details …!) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvKfMZvbN8HmBxsWcP65LEwUQWxt1snpXJOK8ANTQbVA6zvwv7hltr4r7C_hLWo3gWCsmTQYve2Ksp5GSsBmUwnEhqyVumWdkVMOc5c2WeEnV7RKmz51u_L0JeJIkesw27JEuPO9-3CNvz631c5u22KXGsMBY5Gz1jKv9_poX0Z53531HwG234U8/s3971/IMG_3539.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="3971" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvKfMZvbN8HmBxsWcP65LEwUQWxt1snpXJOK8ANTQbVA6zvwv7hltr4r7C_hLWo3gWCsmTQYve2Ksp5GSsBmUwnEhqyVumWdkVMOc5c2WeEnV7RKmz51u_L0JeJIkesw27JEuPO9-3CNvz631c5u22KXGsMBY5Gz1jKv9_poX0Z53531HwG234U8/w640-h480/IMG_3539.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large amount of driftwood on the shore is evidence of the fierce
storms that can happen on this lake – Ohau means ‘windy place’ (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEOuBGMVNTRG00gmClWvUTPAa1vNTypvd81mokGnN5VUgPt0xTolvIKD-k6tpjG_AJz8UMjzXjxg9eXV_2DI5RnpPK0xXmVxi25INe5_HFZ3H-AzVWlNxZinx36ZA-7MFtFyM2BSEBDm-aGtqL15xfNALEtZ0N978yYdyE54wa3gf1UHF-Caxrg8/s2048/IMG_6026.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEOuBGMVNTRG00gmClWvUTPAa1vNTypvd81mokGnN5VUgPt0xTolvIKD-k6tpjG_AJz8UMjzXjxg9eXV_2DI5RnpPK0xXmVxi25INe5_HFZ3H-AzVWlNxZinx36ZA-7MFtFyM2BSEBDm-aGtqL15xfNALEtZ0N978yYdyE54wa3gf1UHF-Caxrg8/w640-h480/IMG_6026.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a sublime landscape </td></tr></tbody></table><p>John
was having a bit of a struggle, he was tired and his balance was giving
problems. The 10 km on the road back to the lodge seemed like a long
way. It was still only about 1:30 when we got back to the lodge. We had
done 37 km all up, not bad really. </p><p>While John took himself off
for a snooze, I went into the lounge with my laptop, to reply to some
emails (SCD club work!). After this I sat on the deck with a good book,
enjoying the sun, until John emerged, and we had some flat whites from
the bar. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAyEudnJ43bLctCc0Ie4zxbi053CPyqjapYO233RRV0OBTVCt5A6Pobe6FI1j08CqIahFmaC14wpqR7KZfBJ2Uz4WYvZg9x-k_KeDe-OU6Mm0AzO8tQP8cFkR3ELs_gkzcWNkSIPya8449d70-MnmVFglfFWFczHhKrmMC0haNF6aQhwFqAUs9ks/s2307/IMG_0221.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2307" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAyEudnJ43bLctCc0Ie4zxbi053CPyqjapYO233RRV0OBTVCt5A6Pobe6FI1j08CqIahFmaC14wpqR7KZfBJ2Uz4WYvZg9x-k_KeDe-OU6Mm0AzO8tQP8cFkR3ELs_gkzcWNkSIPya8449d70-MnmVFglfFWFczHhKrmMC0haNF6aQhwFqAUs9ks/w640-h426/IMG_0221.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the deck</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tonight
we were the first to arrive for dinner (last night we were the last).We
were allocated a table in the corner by the window, with six other
people – a couple from Auckland travelling in their camper van and doing
out and back bike rides; a couple from Australia, who had been
travelling round NZ for the last five weeks, doing some hiking, biking
and canoeing; and two guys from Christchurch who were doing the A2O the
hard way, covering two sections a day. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUsNTJ0bO6lb1Ayju8y65hCwjAcmZLEx6VwoNKfGL_a1xZt7INn4xenwHxI1mvSlEwUjTD0HDhfJy0CltSCKiisuFUxDZAWDz2-qFYa2pYpbKz-07JW8kvhU8mfyUwUVyLFQsDB4QHKUU2-OvIBbLvnZiUHMZ6c4e6mlval97LhKscFxoWflj9Js/s2304/IMG_0223.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUsNTJ0bO6lb1Ayju8y65hCwjAcmZLEx6VwoNKfGL_a1xZt7INn4xenwHxI1mvSlEwUjTD0HDhfJy0CltSCKiisuFUxDZAWDz2-qFYa2pYpbKz-07JW8kvhU8mfyUwUVyLFQsDB4QHKUU2-OvIBbLvnZiUHMZ6c4e6mlval97LhKscFxoWflj9Js/w640-h426/IMG_0223.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our dinner table</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Dinner was delicious again and the conversation was quite animated and varied, and it was 9pm before we went back to our room.</p><p><br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Saturday 3 December – Second day at Lake Ohau<br /></h3><p>In
the evening of this last day in Ohau Lodge, I wrote in my diary: “There
are days when I feel like a hundred years old. Today, right now, at the
end of the day, it’s more like 125 years. I came off my bike today, and
I am feeling the worse for it. A banged-up knee, and big bruises on
both legs will probably show tomorrow”. </p><p>But back to the beginning of what was actually a lovely day … </p><p>At
about 9-ish we biked up the road towards the top of the lake. It was
quite fresh in the shade, but soon we were out in the open and it was
lovely. The sky was clear and Mt Cook was visible all the way as we rode
towards the head of the lake.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWowg8YJRZAPajI3V9pQdv6n_PpY8FzZLis5jm4MZZqCoHbopMdBdfDLdNxlobRRuz-KAfSpOfkOZdYOw6VRSbfb6Nb_DIAPJRRi76hUlylgWDG8BPQ-jH1B-yFzZ7QY5U2oC3QHZ1rgyWQ4tPz8JLuF7wsq5sT27LOlznL6GzMXu8qFyOixSGHo/s2306/IMG_5261%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWowg8YJRZAPajI3V9pQdv6n_PpY8FzZLis5jm4MZZqCoHbopMdBdfDLdNxlobRRuz-KAfSpOfkOZdYOw6VRSbfb6Nb_DIAPJRRi76hUlylgWDG8BPQ-jH1B-yFzZ7QY5U2oC3QHZ1rgyWQ4tPz8JLuF7wsq5sT27LOlznL6GzMXu8qFyOixSGHo/w640-h426/IMG_5261%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few drifts of cloud were still hanging around …</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkPm6vCSq5KgnIwM--1JKfJ4lIjfKrQ53kmXqi9V6m1ypXM-IVkviFtH9NUg7w89FkXZySgjtKv8mNpXqTgLpBi3cB9rgHwatw01O-_-OTf_zQM84OatBaO6nEqSjcz_E8gKWUt208dWcS0OzHwzjqUC8cSKouUWaMY3n9n7QzPtGMoNMO7lhWas/s2307/IMG_5262%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2307" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkPm6vCSq5KgnIwM--1JKfJ4lIjfKrQ53kmXqi9V6m1ypXM-IVkviFtH9NUg7w89FkXZySgjtKv8mNpXqTgLpBi3cB9rgHwatw01O-_-OTf_zQM84OatBaO6nEqSjcz_E8gKWUt208dWcS0OzHwzjqUC8cSKouUWaMY3n9n7QzPtGMoNMO7lhWas/w640-h426/IMG_5262%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… but Mt Cook was clear</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
had to cross a ford, where a stream was crossing the road, or perhaps
rather, the road was crossing the stream … We debated whether we could
do it without getting wet by stalling or falling over. We did go through
OK, with just a few splashes onto our feet. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUjz0THCKCsw8JIVIFwipubJQDfl8HBNH6N3SwK1ZA_gIEctDNHD6esSQn7J0l0IRw_9pntcwtp-WnBNYZ9XLFA8_Cehq4POcngSDaEzDRhsD4AcSKTtqWpKW4O7sY38Gve4_US0T9VMszDig7iNgX9ia2AiSP53tMieq54HTU16NMc9kbp3-Uko/s3862/IMG_3543%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="3862" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUjz0THCKCsw8JIVIFwipubJQDfl8HBNH6N3SwK1ZA_gIEctDNHD6esSQn7J0l0IRw_9pntcwtp-WnBNYZ9XLFA8_Cehq4POcngSDaEzDRhsD4AcSKTtqWpKW4O7sY38Gve4_US0T9VMszDig7iNgX9ia2AiSP53tMieq54HTU16NMc9kbp3-Uko/w640-h480/IMG_3543%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the lake and in the distance, the Hopkins River, which flows into the lake further over to the right</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We got to the head of the lake, and this was <a href="https://lakeohauquarters.co.nz/the-station" target="_blank">Lake Ohau Station</a>,
a farm of over 8,000 hectares of really beautiful flattish land
surrounded by impressive mountains, which runs 5000 merino sheep and
angus cattle. </p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESyeRhqnMH9OiNCJaeylLVOgf5kayK72JPQt4AIcNFQexxOBi_wuBUFDsLjAvrK0i0W9F6uD0QPW6BcVxIWLqdCE4D6hgzyoDrsSq4N0uRSJcQuXz0MtYPA1aZZAoEUbgrMJjBbjG2FWcrxR4DTAXCYpA0uiKxo75JoPRurETYQ83JxxkMjAEq7g/s4032/IMG_3548.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESyeRhqnMH9OiNCJaeylLVOgf5kayK72JPQt4AIcNFQexxOBi_wuBUFDsLjAvrK0i0W9F6uD0QPW6BcVxIWLqdCE4D6hgzyoDrsSq4N0uRSJcQuXz0MtYPA1aZZAoEUbgrMJjBbjG2FWcrxR4DTAXCYpA0uiKxo75JoPRurETYQ83JxxkMjAEq7g/w640-h480/IMG_3548.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful flat farmland … (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIIY_m97CadxLhggrP-rBHh7pAi-LkAbWgZm_7KUraQC-oyRZZUprbZa1sfa0a0iuyXIpJ0_6CY2pW9MNPrnbloAMkrpz5hx-RtLLiTLEghJcrnJOT0etqsBj5noT0HD5wsj3ESCM-LWnwlVtsQeLNcj8E5-dEDhHC9I7GWeeRQ9mbCNKe-2aMf8/s4032/IMG_3550.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIIY_m97CadxLhggrP-rBHh7pAi-LkAbWgZm_7KUraQC-oyRZZUprbZa1sfa0a0iuyXIpJ0_6CY2pW9MNPrnbloAMkrpz5hx-RtLLiTLEghJcrnJOT0etqsBj5noT0HD5wsj3ESCM-LWnwlVtsQeLNcj8E5-dEDhHC9I7GWeeRQ9mbCNKe-2aMf8/w640-h480/IMG_3550.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> … and what a backdrop! (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlADNelcaqtYFqvvT4-bLIGG0OYxml8-tHu5sva84SXrl-RoG7fKZ5jQ3FlecGpch0LtJYJmffcu21xpYpbwqy45gU-LN6Wh00vOQ0mOZ4Jum9-VYWc6swvcC_h-tOGeRzWqt4hBZ8xEYihzCQ_YW0ff1K3m0j0JDruoDoSHG-CynOlQ4LNEwNgWw/s4032/IMG_3551.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlADNelcaqtYFqvvT4-bLIGG0OYxml8-tHu5sva84SXrl-RoG7fKZ5jQ3FlecGpch0LtJYJmffcu21xpYpbwqy45gU-LN6Wh00vOQ0mOZ4Jum9-VYWc6swvcC_h-tOGeRzWqt4hBZ8xEYihzCQ_YW0ff1K3m0j0JDruoDoSHG-CynOlQ4LNEwNgWw/w640-h480/IMG_3551.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Nothing to say – just silence and sunshine and Mt Cook way in the distance (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
carried on for some distance in this flat area. When we got to a long
dip towards a bridge, beyond which the road continued into a long wide
valley, we decided it was time to turn around.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTUShIJU042XXQLdye_KPVBrfsXw6nphRWlRL-V-2jSE9h0Q1utdXwrMMUAQ2Rk4Ec8mpNb3P2-MGP5Ppgm6lxvQ0b_6mZnIVBkdnfNZo8WxyaTpUoUts_Mia_tv_vubGvsWoJIh3AKR5-KcZsUnQ8eozXjIJv8zWMsiI5MlojG1JS6dDvYoDjdk/s2306/IMG_0229.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTUShIJU042XXQLdye_KPVBrfsXw6nphRWlRL-V-2jSE9h0Q1utdXwrMMUAQ2Rk4Ec8mpNb3P2-MGP5Ppgm6lxvQ0b_6mZnIVBkdnfNZo8WxyaTpUoUts_Mia_tv_vubGvsWoJIh3AKR5-KcZsUnQ8eozXjIJv8zWMsiI5MlojG1JS6dDvYoDjdk/w640-h426/IMG_0229.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where we turned around</td></tr></tbody></table><p>When we came to Ohau with the Pure Trails tour in <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2015/02/touring-mackenzie-country-part-2.html" target="_blank">January 2015</a>,
the tour leader took us up this valley in the van, so we knew there
were some steep descents, meaning steep climbs on the way back, which we
were not keen to tackle. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ-itMr-Rv0eONfz_61UkY6hzXZoaacAyk9JlOZSq9-Ifuh2PzwF7J3erx3MEzd82YL1F9G8GSl-8vZolL6Pm8UOwbZcuFD-VObw4wBSzNznfcScvfkRJyZcFWJRnI-z0nApQgbM8hBJQmsQRU9yM6og-fC_HDM2-5saO0TziP1ITZunGd0bD4nM/s2306/IMG_0227.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ-itMr-Rv0eONfz_61UkY6hzXZoaacAyk9JlOZSq9-Ifuh2PzwF7J3erx3MEzd82YL1F9G8GSl-8vZolL6Pm8UOwbZcuFD-VObw4wBSzNznfcScvfkRJyZcFWJRnI-z0nApQgbM8hBJQmsQRU9yM6og-fC_HDM2-5saO0TziP1ITZunGd0bD4nM/w640-h426/IMG_0227.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lines on the hills show that this was once a glacier</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiCfIsuzSKyBK6O1P73OUWs-m2q8Ek3ji9Y8yQJRuXOLPTFAgUUYJg9my-xZIBFjn3cU9S2WbdHuq5Z7IBQ7Au0u9q-kdFTx5r7ygYMeGkQXxhUCHUQtRao20GyGYHk1tMJaaaPqXTsGvh0e0DubCYdQoE70KNKcCtEyeNFUnPok2wcfDds_RaSw/s2306/IMG_0228.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiCfIsuzSKyBK6O1P73OUWs-m2q8Ek3ji9Y8yQJRuXOLPTFAgUUYJg9my-xZIBFjn3cU9S2WbdHuq5Z7IBQ7Au0u9q-kdFTx5r7ygYMeGkQXxhUCHUQtRao20GyGYHk1tMJaaaPqXTsGvh0e0DubCYdQoE70KNKcCtEyeNFUnPok2wcfDds_RaSw/w640-h426/IMG_0228.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selfie – for the record …</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The
way back was lovely, until I came to grief at a cattle stop. There was a
lot of accumulated, large, round gravel just before the stop. I skidded
in the gravel, and keeled over towards the right. I thought I had
smashed my knee, so I sat there for a bit. I called out to John, but he
had gone around a corner, and didn’t hear, and unusually, he did not
ride back to see if I was in trouble. He thought I was taking photos, as
often happens. </p><p>My knee had landed in something wet, and couldn’t
figure out where the water had come from, until I saw that the crash
had smashed my water bottle. I didn’t know how to get up, as I can’t
easily lean on my hands (arthritis), and I needed to get up on my knee,
but I couldn’t do that on the gravel (too painful). So I took off my
jacket, folded it over a few times and kneeled on that, which worked. </p><p>I
picked up the bits of broken drink bottle, and limped, and pedalled
over to where John was waiting for me. The first-aid kit always lives in
my bike bag, so I was able to put a plaster on my knee – the wound was
clean thanks to my leaked water bottle. My knee felt OK for biking, but I
thought I should keep it moving, as I didn’t want it to seize up.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRXmgxJfuvUoAbCSU2D8TtAZNWYvWpccKePsg5_DUNcmG7VLRPmuLhNJ18PLSE7Ybi7xoTaZ6FEZO1hdvAbJmI_BssrUajPD08geJJQ8DPDwkkWSXS8I5uK8icQemIHe9NOTE_XM989T18cvxb61kHgPQdTF9OfdY4hLGToN1E0QgSS3eRdWrtNg/s2306/IMG_5268.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRXmgxJfuvUoAbCSU2D8TtAZNWYvWpccKePsg5_DUNcmG7VLRPmuLhNJ18PLSE7Ybi7xoTaZ6FEZO1hdvAbJmI_BssrUajPD08geJJQ8DPDwkkWSXS8I5uK8icQemIHe9NOTE_XM989T18cvxb61kHgPQdTF9OfdY4hLGToN1E0QgSS3eRdWrtNg/w640-h426/IMG_5268.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The way back</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8Xf6ypBaV-Brofc5ZbsN-iBBSdhYHFFUkqjpP9w5OsOOwXFTaiFKzKzqZbg3fGWRybJcv3DDla1NCBHZya5YCtpUaDd_1Reeiuk9DHu5h1Q_7Z1WrJQsLn5s0fqNdWxl3NRK_zgSNi5won7NIU5q8slb50Ac_dfTBX-TkD_KOWjW_HlWTZna3s/s2732/IMG_5270.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2732" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8Xf6ypBaV-Brofc5ZbsN-iBBSdhYHFFUkqjpP9w5OsOOwXFTaiFKzKzqZbg3fGWRybJcv3DDla1NCBHZya5YCtpUaDd_1Reeiuk9DHu5h1Q_7Z1WrJQsLn5s0fqNdWxl3NRK_zgSNi5won7NIU5q8slb50Ac_dfTBX-TkD_KOWjW_HlWTZna3s/w640-h360/IMG_5270.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The remains of an original farm building </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntPthZJa2rSBT67ngTDPnipjzyqYIDvEcZIaUAO3wM6EgMyUNh9t62-xR6gZg73FkKEpM7A6A7mN-V6SByo4eGsZJuchMw-x7kHiBIBzzl1Pp0kFnQ2AgBFs4if_RsB6PXJ7fICzp8VJQcT6P98_G_FkviSXGA4SeHn53jhuaX6hDd5ZSX3gjpug/s2306/IMG_5271.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntPthZJa2rSBT67ngTDPnipjzyqYIDvEcZIaUAO3wM6EgMyUNh9t62-xR6gZg73FkKEpM7A6A7mN-V6SByo4eGsZJuchMw-x7kHiBIBzzl1Pp0kFnQ2AgBFs4if_RsB6PXJ7fICzp8VJQcT6P98_G_FkviSXGA4SeHn53jhuaX6hDd5ZSX3gjpug/w640-h426/IMG_5271.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I managed the long uphill OK, despite my bunged-up knee – thank goodness for e-bikes!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>When
we got back to the ford, we worried that I might go for another skid in
the gravel leading up to it. But John tramped the gravel into a
somewhat more solid approach, and we got across OK. We got back to the
lodge by about 11:40, having biked 22 km. It was a lovely ride, despite
the crash.</p><p></p><p>We had some coffee in our room, and spent some
time watching some swallows (welcome swallows) which were flitting back
and forth outside our room. We discovered two nests under the balcony
above our room. I think they were feeding young, as they kept coming in
and sitting on the edge with little titbits. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOcua6al89v4tvr1Ss6Tb3221YD9aSavADsL20VYpPrLjabQxICOnchQrhRfd_CriAkA72o3h69607GXFS8FHOxIFDfOQrz5EnkSmRGzxwSyUTg7Aw900DHyeLUVT2FABGtNR5spujG6xEf8W7MSypZ0XFL_eWoc-Lcio66MpbZYqjze-UnQkjj4/s2306/IMG_5272.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOcua6al89v4tvr1Ss6Tb3221YD9aSavADsL20VYpPrLjabQxICOnchQrhRfd_CriAkA72o3h69607GXFS8FHOxIFDfOQrz5EnkSmRGzxwSyUTg7Aw900DHyeLUVT2FABGtNR5spujG6xEf8W7MSypZ0XFL_eWoc-Lcio66MpbZYqjze-UnQkjj4/w400-h266/IMG_5272.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcome swallow with a titbit for the babies in its beak</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSjpP2-VF1MH4SW26Omk0-nc5yRiMJi2pKlUqpDOQnHgT1jgZZzaujy8beKht-kHPciBk0NqQ97n8uvw2CrqyjWw6qk7KDIOt9HvsEVx4HPLtpIrRYbquUNW8C3BFqHOmkwtlzc_CqAP6R1DVHFJKvYDkZbq4CwJkmaSEUgoypb_SUnZBWUTF_ag/s2306/IMG_5274.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSjpP2-VF1MH4SW26Omk0-nc5yRiMJi2pKlUqpDOQnHgT1jgZZzaujy8beKht-kHPciBk0NqQ97n8uvw2CrqyjWw6qk7KDIOt9HvsEVx4HPLtpIrRYbquUNW8C3BFqHOmkwtlzc_CqAP6R1DVHFJKvYDkZbq4CwJkmaSEUgoypb_SUnZBWUTF_ag/w400-h266/IMG_5274.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swallows’ nest</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Later
we went upstairs to sit in the lounge with our laptops, a book for me,
and drawing materials for John. By the reception desk there were a
couple of dozen suitcases and backpacks, delivered by the shuttle
service, awaiting the people cycling the A2O. After a while, cyclists
were starting to come in. I heard the lady in the bar offering toasted
sandwiches to some people who had just arrived, so we ordered some too,
and some flat whites. Perfect.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1ARrGCkFbfZPGNiqAB5J7gBWBHyvVB_YSydV-0UHdNIMi4EU2faUtFam4hlPHlnZUDLE927IzyIXEzhap-uS4QcEW4yirgoeiLK_kv8wvtdBuldcYWO-re0urxXEcbAr1wveqUnU3GZzomX4pa0nbutYolJpB73QUcr43RhFGnVkbvbLvenUBa0/s2306/IMG_0234.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1ARrGCkFbfZPGNiqAB5J7gBWBHyvVB_YSydV-0UHdNIMi4EU2faUtFam4hlPHlnZUDLE927IzyIXEzhap-uS4QcEW4yirgoeiLK_kv8wvtdBuldcYWO-re0urxXEcbAr1wveqUnU3GZzomX4pa0nbutYolJpB73QUcr43RhFGnVkbvbLvenUBa0/w640-h426/IMG_0234.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quiet afternoon was spent reading in the comfortable lounge</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Again,
dinner was a highlight. The food was excellent, and our table
companions were very interesting to talk to. There was a couple from
Canterbury University – he a researcher into, among others, the native
mistletoe; she a publisher for Canterbury University Press. </p><p>I was
particularly interested in what he told us about the native mistletoe.
He had led several research/conservation projects about this endangered
plant. It flowers for only a very short period every year, and this was
the exact week that this happened, so we were very lucky to see it. The
plant propagates by birds tweaking the buds to get at the nectar; the
buds burst open and the pollen dusts the birds' beaks, which then gets spread about. They also eat and spread the seeds. But because the birds are endangered by such pests as possums
and stoats, it means the mistletoe is endangered too. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx2rr_bPB9b7bn6RICVIWDMOznuLV_ITk0gf5JCn8V6NceEc_0FxhevTzqgyz9eif45YgMXCA0ST6KutbxAtpI57ugnobVUVa_BzYBEC1OvT6hESjnYfY89ect0r091fA4wFDolhkfWf1nQA2Sgn7bljP3fGMHYiBr4Lyb49od2qFcQG2_awbHJw/s4032/IMG_3528.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx2rr_bPB9b7bn6RICVIWDMOznuLV_ITk0gf5JCn8V6NceEc_0FxhevTzqgyz9eif45YgMXCA0ST6KutbxAtpI57ugnobVUVa_BzYBEC1OvT6hESjnYfY89ect0r091fA4wFDolhkfWf1nQA2Sgn7bljP3fGMHYiBr4Lyb49od2qFcQG2_awbHJw/w300-h400/IMG_3528.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The native NZ red mistletoe (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Another
couple was from Auckland, travelling with a man from Christchurch, who
was a scientist, so he and John had quite a long conversation. The
Auckland woman was a rep for Random House publishing company. Editing
and publishing are some of my interests, so I would have liked to chat
with the University Press publisher and the Random House rep, but it was
just too noisy, with a couple of tour groups also there. </p><p></p><p>When
we headed back to our room, Mt Cook was nearly clear. It was hard
walking down the steep path to our room with my left sciatica, and my
damaged right knee. As I said at the start – I feel like 125 years old.</p><p>I said to John “I have had a lovely holiday, but now I am looking forward to getting home". </p><p> </p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-63798902999543296232023-06-06T16:54:00.007+12:002023-06-06T21:43:49.853+12:00<h1 style="text-align: left;">South Island — November 2022 – Part 3</h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><p> </p><p>I’m
finally getting around to writing up our 2022 South Island Holiday.
Again, we went during the couple of weeks straddling November and
December. Last year, we had a trip to the same part of the South Island
at around same time of year. This time, John particularly wanted to
spend a few days at Lake Ohau Lodge – to do some cycling, to just ‘hang
out’ and take lots of photos, and to enjoy the Lodge’s delicious meals.
And we also wanted to spend several days in Arrowtown, another one of
our favourite places. </p><p>This is quite a long story, so I have written it up in five parts:<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Part 1: Wellington to Christchurch</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 2: Christchurch to Arrowtown</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 3: Arrowtown to Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 4: Two days at Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 5: Ohau to Oxford, and home <br /></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part 3 – Arrowtown to Lake Ohau, via Cardrona</h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Thursday 1 December – Arrowtown to Lake Ohau<br /></h3><p>On
our last day in Arrowtown, it rained. But the day we left to go to
Ohau, it turned out to be a beautiful day. We drove to Wanaka via the
Crown Range, and Cardrona. We stopped several times to take in the view
and take photos.</p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwxXP31ExDMApns7yqaOalT3bih3vqlRaF343hCYj_aVt-kVILfW5CLukuy-mAtef6wmFssTTNETvnAQvClG3VChfNzsRGxtnl1cUxmYGUC23YP2mNdkBkWwt0qRyKonHziqvr2U2Rms85dwp92KQVHBTNEbr_csPh8ufOTY3ZMAWDlWDJTsh73w/s4032/IMG_3495.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwxXP31ExDMApns7yqaOalT3bih3vqlRaF343hCYj_aVt-kVILfW5CLukuy-mAtef6wmFssTTNETvnAQvClG3VChfNzsRGxtnl1cUxmYGUC23YP2mNdkBkWwt0qRyKonHziqvr2U2Rms85dwp92KQVHBTNEbr_csPh8ufOTY3ZMAWDlWDJTsh73w/w640-h480/IMG_3495.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrowtown and the Arrow Valley, and the backdrop of the Remarkables (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeut_dYiPzuc31Ahl0mP4riWqET4d5NKtv1zbcJtQ70hiboQrbBzOmJ9nqy4duI7eFzX6QTq2o-R3ZeHysSL2r6OOlza12fI1fulepRTxKwzVnZEJIjvbyVUnR4ABGCVI87skL_TM-5OF3AFi456fFmDa4nIVkfB3LayzW68PyX7l1hsv1Swn9MKs/s2306/IMG_0167.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeut_dYiPzuc31Ahl0mP4riWqET4d5NKtv1zbcJtQ70hiboQrbBzOmJ9nqy4duI7eFzX6QTq2o-R3ZeHysSL2r6OOlza12fI1fulepRTxKwzVnZEJIjvbyVUnR4ABGCVI87skL_TM-5OF3AFi456fFmDa4nIVkfB3LayzW68PyX7l1hsv1Swn9MKs/w640-h426/IMG_0167.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frankton and Queenstown in the distance, from halfway up the Crown Range road …</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPIzlP0nAc4uIJ-VC1Hr9qMn9B3P1XXWef1PuUdvRz6dOj8TwrFAFh_Z9_ZJaOU6es7Ds18a9mq8yh6nPliAHNJwK4gl63F8mvC3W96fB8BCmIEOdPl2nPidDj57dA6mtnX4M5zOIWBQZdDbAbX2UP1tZG2wwU7ZLb_0xDmqO55HedoPcC4e4eJc/s2306/IMG_0165.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPIzlP0nAc4uIJ-VC1Hr9qMn9B3P1XXWef1PuUdvRz6dOj8TwrFAFh_Z9_ZJaOU6es7Ds18a9mq8yh6nPliAHNJwK4gl63F8mvC3W96fB8BCmIEOdPl2nPidDj57dA6mtnX4M5zOIWBQZdDbAbX2UP1tZG2wwU7ZLb_0xDmqO55HedoPcC4e4eJc/w640-h426/IMG_0165.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and looking the other way</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyK1mhpDOdETBS8iO0DZeG58Bl5giTGUwSSrcW3J8DL9eoLrGvLaQ1j9KGaZJunusTN5ljqJN7ct2gA1y0xEladfZ7GcY93Y8VQOXO0ZO9yhJG0AM-FNSlkeTlShu89M7af0xgcvHrdvzAoZO0wTLF_8TZQcjW_5TXdGhyhURDtbzwKmKxEhAEak/s4032/IMG_3497.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyK1mhpDOdETBS8iO0DZeG58Bl5giTGUwSSrcW3J8DL9eoLrGvLaQ1j9KGaZJunusTN5ljqJN7ct2gA1y0xEladfZ7GcY93Y8VQOXO0ZO9yhJG0AM-FNSlkeTlShu89M7af0xgcvHrdvzAoZO0wTLF_8TZQcjW_5TXdGhyhURDtbzwKmKxEhAEak/w640-h480/IMG_3497.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Closer to the top, the land is more rugged (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd6-lc_AVDwjMoWoMOUzumGTjH3YrTt6fhtFaH07VDvChyCQPm1i5psqnRL-V6G9lSsJkYrL4IqV9oSyNqYs0KGblZUAVeILyLPiMPXvMttLC9wCvEAWsuvSF4JT33zQBTvLvVkkZDhjgXb57r7V3Nd9zcr-jlnnjHXd8mUgxBPEIctxRHYhHAGY/s3998/IMG_3499.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="3998" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd6-lc_AVDwjMoWoMOUzumGTjH3YrTt6fhtFaH07VDvChyCQPm1i5psqnRL-V6G9lSsJkYrL4IqV9oSyNqYs0KGblZUAVeILyLPiMPXvMttLC9wCvEAWsuvSF4JT33zQBTvLvVkkZDhjgXb57r7V3Nd9zcr-jlnnjHXd8mUgxBPEIctxRHYhHAGY/w640-h296/IMG_3499.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tourists are back! </td></tr></tbody></table><p>Last
year, when we drove through here, we didn’t stop at Cardrona, and I was
a bit underwhelmed. However, this time we did stop, and were pleasantly
surprised. I didn’t know that the Cardrona Hotel was still a
functioning venue. In fact, it featured a cosy pub, a café and lovely
seating outside in a pretty garden. And there is actually accommodation.
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxW3EHXJUp-FMWL6adO6BbzmvQQHR22eniS9dQguAxcDnATYe15wrC1lj2DrUSi1DG97i6D0ZA7NREUNzggupEn1WMEHVrLWFKXZ9yk07LXsQUdgYL5pI9g3XxqBeWscvaXnFBhs50JlQDOhn3iRDMkJTJl_Gm8LTKTv0xtQxC5YPJmTZ6TSY0Qc/s2306/IMG_0181.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxW3EHXJUp-FMWL6adO6BbzmvQQHR22eniS9dQguAxcDnATYe15wrC1lj2DrUSi1DG97i6D0ZA7NREUNzggupEn1WMEHVrLWFKXZ9yk07LXsQUdgYL5pI9g3XxqBeWscvaXnFBhs50JlQDOhn3iRDMkJTJl_Gm8LTKTv0xtQxC5YPJmTZ6TSY0Qc/w640-h426/IMG_0181.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cardrona Hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJB_4trpdsjgDxI5DSMHuv3YjNH31gRVCd9qi6i95vb3N3yMKsopoUymunSSJIaVyOMskuUdbXwkpb-ye4H8cyoMaRwgfaRCwN7ye_o8ZMhZZHkde-hN2Vx4fFrsbtVhXdwp_1Z48FpXaf7rhRVkExFhSpz2-Wd7R-a4UP4HYrWhWzmBOCvimzXDQ/s2306/IMG_0176.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJB_4trpdsjgDxI5DSMHuv3YjNH31gRVCd9qi6i95vb3N3yMKsopoUymunSSJIaVyOMskuUdbXwkpb-ye4H8cyoMaRwgfaRCwN7ye_o8ZMhZZHkde-hN2Vx4fFrsbtVhXdwp_1Z48FpXaf7rhRVkExFhSpz2-Wd7R-a4UP4HYrWhWzmBOCvimzXDQ/w640-h426/IMG_0176.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely garden setting<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhledErS8viv-TYhwKUg-P9QCxmqQDuHdr2lXDzB_j8RkuE8Iw2HOZGk7cjHe8SJn_TsJ5UFBjlEbEpcUYRZzZR1Dh3CTcOQHuxCvn3QjFTtRiVshS6m6vDY2BKEjlLPj6wq5Vxj94XvK0kJD9mWkpH4k9ejvqZUazBk0cujv3cZaF30H5jmUo99TU/s3995/IMG_3502.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2996" data-original-width="3995" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhledErS8viv-TYhwKUg-P9QCxmqQDuHdr2lXDzB_j8RkuE8Iw2HOZGk7cjHe8SJn_TsJ5UFBjlEbEpcUYRZzZR1Dh3CTcOQHuxCvn3QjFTtRiVshS6m6vDY2BKEjlLPj6wq5Vxj94XvK0kJD9mWkpH4k9ejvqZUazBk0cujv3cZaF30H5jmUo99TU/w640-h480/IMG_3502.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A delightful cottage garden</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
ordered coffee and cheese scones and sat outside, but we were plagued
by very brazen sparrows and blackbirds. I went for a wander in the
garden, and when I got back, John said that when he took his eyes off
the scones on the table, one sparrow had lifted my scone right off its
plate, before being shooed off. It was quite a big scone, I don’t know
how such a little bird could do that.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIkuEIp5kWIMxJL69lqVIkVQbdKfqul6LHEj7gWc6SYxmGGZREV59CVwspNWgZI1tuh3hvzoVMwIqEYtGE0BQq_RGdU1-zdzm3TSG2n9OWUjkQbgV6H9s1PrWtKzwAPwaDITxy3efPmxKy3d_J5QgsuiKyLZvEYMGcrbRevzPj8_PcvnHK7dBx1Q/s2306/IMG_0170.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIkuEIp5kWIMxJL69lqVIkVQbdKfqul6LHEj7gWc6SYxmGGZREV59CVwspNWgZI1tuh3hvzoVMwIqEYtGE0BQq_RGdU1-zdzm3TSG2n9OWUjkQbgV6H9s1PrWtKzwAPwaDITxy3efPmxKy3d_J5QgsuiKyLZvEYMGcrbRevzPj8_PcvnHK7dBx1Q/w640-h426/IMG_0170.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheeky birds!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI0BF9CZcTa-SRehOuxhUyU_E-7DjAKiGU8m3SVeEwlJNwUuE3sVszQOISL0WRhfhbr_yGy76LyiWfNme3j_xgBRRBy2zVJ4HltgFl_QaWipLU0EsY6FxzSLhjJoaoGH7zTslPOfyb6oIVUPFHkj6to4tLMbOY0UitenIdFDuJJiLvwanK73rF8o/s4032/IMG_3500.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI0BF9CZcTa-SRehOuxhUyU_E-7DjAKiGU8m3SVeEwlJNwUuE3sVszQOISL0WRhfhbr_yGy76LyiWfNme3j_xgBRRBy2zVJ4HltgFl_QaWipLU0EsY6FxzSLhjJoaoGH7zTslPOfyb6oIVUPFHkj6to4tLMbOY0UitenIdFDuJJiLvwanK73rF8o/w300-h400/IMG_3500.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous peony (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A
gap in the hedge led to another part of the garden, where a year’s
supply of firewood was neatly stacked, and drying in the sun. I imagine
it will get very cold in the winter at this altitude, and they will need
all of that. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuWINrCkNjorYTYEJb1aujTBC4XZZQo5pJNVUwgEjpe2zC5gx9MeGCeZ8FMnw8S2yeFTiELKevcJe5L0eGB0d89HSBp8OYAhyylPEUEX2cSK1yuWNLHvSptEH4TefoCppjpjL3WHb0NhYRufLGHF_kD9trN4743dpZkQgnQzVtvDa9fcvXRMM0VM/s2306/IMG_0173.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuWINrCkNjorYTYEJb1aujTBC4XZZQo5pJNVUwgEjpe2zC5gx9MeGCeZ8FMnw8S2yeFTiELKevcJe5L0eGB0d89HSBp8OYAhyylPEUEX2cSK1yuWNLHvSptEH4TefoCppjpjL3WHb0NhYRufLGHF_kD9trN4743dpZkQgnQzVtvDa9fcvXRMM0VM/w640-h426/IMG_0173.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A year’s supply of firewood</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODobICU9JAPm3TWz2y07POTrhQgSwDfyqkvCnJdU-3rR9N29-TiCdevQjnRvVLM7NWB_OXqg6eE6hV73PBH8Lh4Dvf_GsHNNv9vW9gARzpl2muepcksm2RSwc0z9lKpioCWO4Zgi53zeMisDF8VgywhcX4sYNHno2bRqh1ChHQ7N-GcEdxeU-rD4/s2306/IMG_0178.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODobICU9JAPm3TWz2y07POTrhQgSwDfyqkvCnJdU-3rR9N29-TiCdevQjnRvVLM7NWB_OXqg6eE6hV73PBH8Lh4Dvf_GsHNNv9vW9gARzpl2muepcksm2RSwc0z9lKpioCWO4Zgi53zeMisDF8VgywhcX4sYNHno2bRqh1ChHQ7N-GcEdxeU-rD4/w640-h426/IMG_0178.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the pub</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY0qhaNfgtInO6SFq4aOE227ecv6wISEdZoP-h8thpS1EOQ3UlG8NI6igMmpyuzpozBNGCd0_VeE1RpJJI7P7HRv_mApV6QpcmR_g-QBDtnLr2k4ZQJSmiR0W1kYVSq4rQHGU-HUkiUlz9eNZ3hWbbk7ia9l8nrXsJLbnaVU6S_GyY4KmzM3xgTo/s3763/IMG_3504.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3763" data-original-width="2822" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY0qhaNfgtInO6SFq4aOE227ecv6wISEdZoP-h8thpS1EOQ3UlG8NI6igMmpyuzpozBNGCd0_VeE1RpJJI7P7HRv_mApV6QpcmR_g-QBDtnLr2k4ZQJSmiR0W1kYVSq4rQHGU-HUkiUlz9eNZ3hWbbk7ia9l8nrXsJLbnaVU6S_GyY4KmzM3xgTo/w480-h640/IMG_3504.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glass window in the floor revealed a display of a mine shaft</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
didn’t stop at Wanaka, but pushed on towards the Lindis Pass. Except we
missed a turning, and ended up at Hawea Flat. We have done that once
before, I think. So we u-turned and continued (Siri helped …).</p><p>The
Lindis Pass was magnificent as always, but much greener than in
previous years. And lots of areas of lupins, only they were not very
brightly visible, as they were not yet fully in flower. The lower you
got in altitude, on the way down, the further up the stalk they were
flowering. </p><p>Once down from the Lindis, I was on the lookout for
the spot where I knew there was a gate that would allow us to take a
closer look at the Ahuriri River, which, at this time of year, has
masses of lupins flowering in or near the riverbed. I saw it, but we
zoomed past it, so I asked to go back, as I really wanted to take some
photos there. </p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg18WNcPfRF7HlP2dpuLwMS0Q27HGUcVW_HSJO-IS7YWQjNSm97n2nRcM2LpEw1j27BXQOO1njgUbxqBTWZP6ZN3WLKJGElQx1u7liFJjD_IpVhTIMU1nNLaoVyX3LHXM9ejRIflpGF6Ze2I3IKUSuH8q3XHDO8_fV0_APn0niLFFsQMgTVSDO7I/s4032/IMG_3507.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg18WNcPfRF7HlP2dpuLwMS0Q27HGUcVW_HSJO-IS7YWQjNSm97n2nRcM2LpEw1j27BXQOO1njgUbxqBTWZP6ZN3WLKJGElQx1u7liFJjD_IpVhTIMU1nNLaoVyX3LHXM9ejRIflpGF6Ze2I3IKUSuH8q3XHDO8_fV0_APn0niLFFsQMgTVSDO7I/w640-h480/IMG_3507.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a glorious sight! (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZYmYeZVZh2fo-fIJpBhMiQt9G0zRaJG8htr-gpxcUuzsBaDRIhmgeEjr-XeVf9mTTr3-z9g1y3FQ8tnreOdgz79Alk0lErBOGc0Qnxk1nA2xOBpsS8vSRpPm4RQl38e14M73zQ1QFsnEMsnwn015oIdbDCSGdTnsrKrws0ep83BwY4Prz0R7Uk/s4032/IMG_3511.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkZYmYeZVZh2fo-fIJpBhMiQt9G0zRaJG8htr-gpxcUuzsBaDRIhmgeEjr-XeVf9mTTr3-z9g1y3FQ8tnreOdgz79Alk0lErBOGc0Qnxk1nA2xOBpsS8vSRpPm4RQl38e14M73zQ1QFsnEMsnwn015oIdbDCSGdTnsrKrws0ep83BwY4Prz0R7Uk/w480-h640/IMG_3511.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stream is quite narrow here, on its way to the Ahuriri River. (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eLYY3YyDp2CsgzsmWqQ8zg_514KyAVPwKw-l_Iedgm9DO-qE3vSSNyFQl1MO-GqPodknSpZy8OPSqlQ-JLctCEV1s0wmSwE3jgUVCCozhARkPadivQVicFaimokUF2A0bj_zucdUVnGYgcgulEtn9x7gQySxAvgejouqQFtuUUyATnS0dpBukRo/s4032/IMG_3516.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eLYY3YyDp2CsgzsmWqQ8zg_514KyAVPwKw-l_Iedgm9DO-qE3vSSNyFQl1MO-GqPodknSpZy8OPSqlQ-JLctCEV1s0wmSwE3jgUVCCozhARkPadivQVicFaimokUF2A0bj_zucdUVnGYgcgulEtn9x7gQySxAvgejouqQFtuUUyATnS0dpBukRo/w640-h480/IMG_3516.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stream joins the Ahuriri River – or perhaps it is just part of a braided river (DP) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbNf0h4YslsB6SwMXdxMiGc0To5yNRrmf9QX0-WXJlQYMIgG1NmJBaNb2-9ZWUDIkhxHVfgqudLKhgY29NlTqFKDO0wxw_rBcS_p2v_eaMESLTaSL2We1OYx20FlxaPEyujK7esOdI6j2uDSxGaOGJInr6jTXEpIP3QKE8InUWcCDMMSDBtbGKEI/s4032/IMG_3512.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbNf0h4YslsB6SwMXdxMiGc0To5yNRrmf9QX0-WXJlQYMIgG1NmJBaNb2-9ZWUDIkhxHVfgqudLKhgY29NlTqFKDO0wxw_rBcS_p2v_eaMESLTaSL2We1OYx20FlxaPEyujK7esOdI6j2uDSxGaOGJInr6jTXEpIP3QKE8InUWcCDMMSDBtbGKEI/w480-h640/IMG_3512.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More lupins galore! (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I
had been wanting to stop there for the past couple of years, so now I
have managed to ‘scratch that itch’. From here (near Omarama), it wasn’t
far to the Lake Ohau turn-off. But I was actually a surprisingly long
road from SH8 to the Lodge. We drove up into the Ohau Alpine Village,
where those dreadful fires burnt a lot of the houses a couple of years
ago. Rebuilding is going on apace, I think and it’s looking very good. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLSU_SCwd729vsaKv6_vaLXEGERL8wwqvk1y61Vjg7KCnqPQA8u2mC7OmHykGyHPEw8EwvT_dSpUAiR35yS0CjBnswwLZmC14-OtcLPIwrYH9VihsqZ9z6Etx1uz9VyIK3g0vfiXbzh6rO3bs4A4PGNMune7dqLk_696M9Se4-oMnPiWAwuXUblI/s2306/IMG_0189.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLSU_SCwd729vsaKv6_vaLXEGERL8wwqvk1y61Vjg7KCnqPQA8u2mC7OmHykGyHPEw8EwvT_dSpUAiR35yS0CjBnswwLZmC14-OtcLPIwrYH9VihsqZ9z6Etx1uz9VyIK3g0vfiXbzh6rO3bs4A4PGNMune7dqLk_696M9Se4-oMnPiWAwuXUblI/w640-h426/IMG_0189.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Ohau dominates the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlrsq3hXeeW36HKdVW1CWvXZOmeMVDDi0Yq_8mVXF9AlqNUHXr3HjRWkdoiOpZpF2LAsBkpK9eDMA8E_h5qdb2xkMbc7UTtWG35oXPQXYfwiCGtPnAGa0pcBkVT01X_r5visfCMJY-C5WQFk_odHoZK3cUeGaUpT8cMHjxfijsFw33RWXjksqvfs/s3998/IMG_3517.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3998" data-original-width="2998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlrsq3hXeeW36HKdVW1CWvXZOmeMVDDi0Yq_8mVXF9AlqNUHXr3HjRWkdoiOpZpF2LAsBkpK9eDMA8E_h5qdb2xkMbc7UTtWG35oXPQXYfwiCGtPnAGa0pcBkVT01X_r5visfCMJY-C5WQFk_odHoZK3cUeGaUpT8cMHjxfijsFw33RWXjksqvfs/w480-h640/IMG_3517.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards the top of the lake (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZrX7L4KcR4pN5oEUbX6G1_t0ICw1njXyzG91-Ka7qBR2WfqB2r6iEkY7R3N-riS7G-5xJQMrlvAIpNtUE8KGBmJcMaB59lZ59JxUnQClXH0Dcqmhe4wMPHSvtbBJADxkNiShcWqSIVoYdpkz0WtXpG7eOkQl6KBrsTc8EP2pcNQFHSMALkMgwhE/s4027/IMG_3518.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="4027" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZrX7L4KcR4pN5oEUbX6G1_t0ICw1njXyzG91-Ka7qBR2WfqB2r6iEkY7R3N-riS7G-5xJQMrlvAIpNtUE8KGBmJcMaB59lZ59JxUnQClXH0Dcqmhe4wMPHSvtbBJADxkNiShcWqSIVoYdpkz0WtXpG7eOkQl6KBrsTc8EP2pcNQFHSMALkMgwhE/w640-h480/IMG_3518.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Lake Middleton, with some of the Ohau Alpine Village, and the road to the ski field beyond (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
got to Lake Ohau Lodge at about 3:30. We signed in, told we were in
room 72 right down the end, we could park right outside it. The room was
a little disappointing – looking a bit tired, and there were no comfy
chairs, just two ‘desk’ chairs, a tiny fridge, no TV, and no Internet.
But TV and Internet were available in the lounge and dining room
upstairs. In a way, it was quite good to be cut off from the “outside
world” …</p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3KnR10bIMhzTisO-lWUN3O3QHoXD9bNv2PUFs7dHzjOCvgVjbfJAm_ljrh7A5WTDBT6M7xl5ZS4K8PBvOykttXj2ptGrRkwBJQsREGHaXx7JONQBCEMOXFA7jGeQ6k7o9b9M1vnkAVKUyvrIccePSZcsKNafkSJFDWWAzwE8GZs5HgP6EBGH2k0/s2306/IMG_5260.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3KnR10bIMhzTisO-lWUN3O3QHoXD9bNv2PUFs7dHzjOCvgVjbfJAm_ljrh7A5WTDBT6M7xl5ZS4K8PBvOykttXj2ptGrRkwBJQsREGHaXx7JONQBCEMOXFA7jGeQ6k7o9b9M1vnkAVKUyvrIccePSZcsKNafkSJFDWWAzwE8GZs5HgP6EBGH2k0/w640-h426/IMG_5260.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We could park right outside our room </td></tr></tbody></table><p>After
a while we went for a walk, down to the lake (quite a steep track),
then along the road for about a kilometre. I had spotted – from outside
our room – that there was a red glow in some of the distant trees, and I
wanted to know if that was the native red mistletoe. It was. We found
quite a lot of it growing in the old trees, some trees had been
completely taken over. It is so beautiful, it just glows against the
dark background of the trees.. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd4lux3hkeWkOTlUDjTA-EhpQwrUo2k7vRHDtaQgS_nYe9H-CDMXQ6YOEt0-O8YO1MvHod6Tj-LLYdkd7ObD0qf0XZWv3u8w4dySAwZFrRtgosQ-xu7Y0pOCoZHHryWbRlbgZ0jF5C5B88mcf_HrJ01oUxm8p1XM2fm-J-bxbRH_B9W8gPs5e5tk/s2306/IMG_0198.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd4lux3hkeWkOTlUDjTA-EhpQwrUo2k7vRHDtaQgS_nYe9H-CDMXQ6YOEt0-O8YO1MvHod6Tj-LLYdkd7ObD0qf0XZWv3u8w4dySAwZFrRtgosQ-xu7Y0pOCoZHHryWbRlbgZ0jF5C5B88mcf_HrJ01oUxm8p1XM2fm-J-bxbRH_B9W8gPs5e5tk/w640-h426/IMG_0198.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The NZ<a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/mistletoe/" target="_blank"> native red mistletoe</a> (<i>Peraxilla tetrapetala</i>) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLe6Y2nJCVeSlwvIWgNNSVNV_3ZJVXq8u-x4z2IMI4dzB1dsluFRYZGOhvkqJ5LFupmnuNinscsV8vePin_rEgG5lgwjWRxhEowqwWcsVp-WD0zzAIah9FNytQEmy-1AB3RJy-8Yjn6_tzU5Q8QCmLLtjLFmY8HRPIC1A4o5u9qbApCvyIJV-oMM/s2306/IMG_0195.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLe6Y2nJCVeSlwvIWgNNSVNV_3ZJVXq8u-x4z2IMI4dzB1dsluFRYZGOhvkqJ5LFupmnuNinscsV8vePin_rEgG5lgwjWRxhEowqwWcsVp-WD0zzAIah9FNytQEmy-1AB3RJy-8Yjn6_tzU5Q8QCmLLtjLFmY8HRPIC1A4o5u9qbApCvyIJV-oMM/w426-h640/IMG_0195.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some trees were completely taken over by the mistletoe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz-6A43Xh7iuqOHEaGqZKKO74N05Bz3G0r-3SZw-r7f-7lxmpOsNfJinfpWa4_ov1qb8nOLY4R20jFTJ5cPAnHb0DR5eSNOtUd-hAKXaO-dR_dVZ6n_3KIuuMr7u8V3DkPKyQ8Pq3YoikaCd-xEcxcYHjXp7VEmA4qqHGkVzOa3yFK_EqMr7SVRI/s2306/IMG_0197.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz-6A43Xh7iuqOHEaGqZKKO74N05Bz3G0r-3SZw-r7f-7lxmpOsNfJinfpWa4_ov1qb8nOLY4R20jFTJ5cPAnHb0DR5eSNOtUd-hAKXaO-dR_dVZ6n_3KIuuMr7u8V3DkPKyQ8Pq3YoikaCd-xEcxcYHjXp7VEmA4qqHGkVzOa3yFK_EqMr7SVRI/w640-h426/IMG_0197.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old beech trees that the mistletoe likes to grow on</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PF8l9PglRRYgUIK2xQIvys_qt-sKrMfpnr_FW842ZHs3sFQyFzS7kM8280eWpbFTNR3FalyYl8eVVInEGVKCiY49g6jhrQtGo_cpuGmtwT3ruRZMV6y6S1L0N7XrsK41pgqSQcZX4SGbQfWdvqgeO0_O8r1wFkF3YhkPPMewQRBLkgTPhj2M_3c/s4032/IMG_3524.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PF8l9PglRRYgUIK2xQIvys_qt-sKrMfpnr_FW842ZHs3sFQyFzS7kM8280eWpbFTNR3FalyYl8eVVInEGVKCiY49g6jhrQtGo_cpuGmtwT3ruRZMV6y6S1L0N7XrsK41pgqSQcZX4SGbQfWdvqgeO0_O8r1wFkF3YhkPPMewQRBLkgTPhj2M_3c/w480-h640/IMG_3524.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Lupins and mistletoe – and John (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As
we walked along the road, there were fabulous views of the lake and the
mountains. This place is so spectacularly beautiful, especially on such
a fine day.<p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9oDzqGFtMg2ez3KMl1lb0V0nnQmhQqCPiETMLcnSE6aJf7ceSVCJuCnbMQYiDf1v4RNB8uplVB7-owi497G1mlnuoRM4_4eq8UHX21gb6yTqFw27QbZiJpszyupeZQEhRD7nPfRZMtT1lVOVQYwr_DZfxCETYVLe-BZRqqLfxKvQm9rtyX2oOvM/s4032/IMG_3521.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9oDzqGFtMg2ez3KMl1lb0V0nnQmhQqCPiETMLcnSE6aJf7ceSVCJuCnbMQYiDf1v4RNB8uplVB7-owi497G1mlnuoRM4_4eq8UHX21gb6yTqFw27QbZiJpszyupeZQEhRD7nPfRZMtT1lVOVQYwr_DZfxCETYVLe-BZRqqLfxKvQm9rtyX2oOvM/w480-h640/IMG_3521.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful gnarly old tree (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpotQMybbH_zrp2mFdCt1XpBBOU9oel00XTu0TLeIzDKS1fcAW7nTVns-Y7SG6FvEjwzPEDvcHSN0iU3Kv_VMZFoyJshttlRNJOgPSnc9E2DfTsz4MFt_I60BML_EKOb-lsgvTCYYJ008-xbg2iA4DSfD4mGwMDLf_mleu6s7enGNqJ8-vZGAqDQ/s3985/IMG_3527.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3985" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpotQMybbH_zrp2mFdCt1XpBBOU9oel00XTu0TLeIzDKS1fcAW7nTVns-Y7SG6FvEjwzPEDvcHSN0iU3Kv_VMZFoyJshttlRNJOgPSnc9E2DfTsz4MFt_I60BML_EKOb-lsgvTCYYJ008-xbg2iA4DSfD4mGwMDLf_mleu6s7enGNqJ8-vZGAqDQ/w640-h480/IMG_3527.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I think Lake Ohau is one of the most beautiful places in NZ</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZRwwHs1tPLHsMsmQcQuuSq2mtHfR8TmzuNiV7Rw_gKwzKZanN04ce1Ogx-89qigjsNdgihh4fpB9V41ZXqS70il1V5EKIPidjNiHMggywkdU262bsyyjWrIFu1R-Oz97ooYUjXp3KcvgLJfra0Co7km62wQUHXkqOuPGnt82MIcIpk1_Z0mh7Wg/s2306/IMG_0202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZRwwHs1tPLHsMsmQcQuuSq2mtHfR8TmzuNiV7Rw_gKwzKZanN04ce1Ogx-89qigjsNdgihh4fpB9V41ZXqS70il1V5EKIPidjNiHMggywkdU262bsyyjWrIFu1R-Oz97ooYUjXp3KcvgLJfra0Co7km62wQUHXkqOuPGnt82MIcIpk1_Z0mh7Wg/w640-h426/IMG_0202.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dragon lurked near the track …</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
clambered back up the steep track, and John had a lie-down, as he was
quite tired, and his balance was really bad. I sat and read. I woke John
at 6:45, because dinner was at 7. I should have woken him earlier, as
they were waiting for us. </p><p>The special feature of Lake Ohau Lodge
is their Dinner, Bed and Breakfast package, and the excellence of their
food. Also, instead of people siting at small tables as in a restaurant,
here, you are allocated a place at one of several long tables for ten
or twelve, so you get to meet new people and have interesting
conversations. </p><p>The dining room was full – most of the patrons
being cyclists riding the A2O (Alps to Ocean) trail, either on their
own, or through a cycle touring company, of which there are quite a few
now. These people just stayed overnight, so for the three nights we were
there, we had different table companions every time. <br />The
three-course set menu was superb, as expected: soup with freshly baked
bread, a choice of two mains with vegetables, and a dessert. To finish,
you could help yourself to coffee or tea, or you could order
barista-style coffee. </p><p>While we were eating, the clouds over Mt
Cook cleared and the mountains looked wonderful. Later, back in our
room, John took lots of pictures (on tele-lens) of the mountains, as Mt
Cook gradually turned pink. <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA-UWWO9WMzdr6Sws4q1kkc-Z0MWNMd65g-NXmSNtNfwYiEjjGpl8JE2fYEfGrouMVfvd45jljx6e_dQL3wo5AadB0MLKZicsL5uakIK3gI8tStHdtFAVgbl6m5iT9D4lHdIgoPV8rjT2pW-uDMnp6jLsz5AdkPNAHq6Jo1fSJ8F3dPTaww3ep4U/s4032/IMG_3529.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA-UWWO9WMzdr6Sws4q1kkc-Z0MWNMd65g-NXmSNtNfwYiEjjGpl8JE2fYEfGrouMVfvd45jljx6e_dQL3wo5AadB0MLKZicsL5uakIK3gI8tStHdtFAVgbl6m5iT9D4lHdIgoPV8rjT2pW-uDMnp6jLsz5AdkPNAHq6Jo1fSJ8F3dPTaww3ep4U/w640-h480/IMG_3529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Just before dinner, Mt Cook was still covered in cloud (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEjRI3a1kyksd_TZf8L-6CeFecbbedHLsAYoaVgW9bSVYAzS1OZeB9sgkrbhWBgFt0wIphnnk-YSWmXit8o-XOyuvQIQIPLNQlXaVXydftSdFAcsbMUZdwLdXhxNZrRghHo4S4vFzcRDuxHssp9fQP20OIMsizgRDjLc1tok5I7k6Gr4khll_ZHU/s2306/IMG_0204.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEjRI3a1kyksd_TZf8L-6CeFecbbedHLsAYoaVgW9bSVYAzS1OZeB9sgkrbhWBgFt0wIphnnk-YSWmXit8o-XOyuvQIQIPLNQlXaVXydftSdFAcsbMUZdwLdXhxNZrRghHo4S4vFzcRDuxHssp9fQP20OIMsizgRDjLc1tok5I7k6Gr4khll_ZHU/w640-h426/IMG_0204.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the clouds cleared – Aoraki/Mt Cook looks flat-topped from this angle </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRlFRhWvj0VpyZkqHkLBo-0n0RJHEgLOyCqy5rWvTac5E2-VB900BCQnjaC7W_TBY6s-mSkvn3S0ILlkRieX0YEydBDRWaXTo1G9tXwX58mzbVryej1_VeH4lGwpXXc0JH4dUoe-BrMQpFwiKHgesavIFKJDWXje3Aebu8fImOxredvSzFSuGCAc/s2305/IMG_5237.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2305" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRlFRhWvj0VpyZkqHkLBo-0n0RJHEgLOyCqy5rWvTac5E2-VB900BCQnjaC7W_TBY6s-mSkvn3S0ILlkRieX0YEydBDRWaXTo1G9tXwX58mzbVryej1_VeH4lGwpXXc0JH4dUoe-BrMQpFwiKHgesavIFKJDWXje3Aebu8fImOxredvSzFSuGCAc/w640-h426/IMG_5237.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 pm – Mt Cook catches the last of the setting sun</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-13719234581904339772023-06-06T16:44:00.006+12:002023-06-06T21:41:25.153+12:00<h1 style="text-align: left;">South Island – November 2022 – Part 1 </h1><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">I’m
finally getting around to writing up our 2022 South Island Holiday. We
love the South Island, especially the Mackenzie Country and Otago. It is
so beautiful and there is such wonderful cycling to be done, but it is a
long way to get there by car. </p><p>Again, our preferred time to
travel south was the couple of weeks straddling November and December –
pretty much like our last year’s trip. November 2021 was at the tail-end
of the Covid closure of NZ to foreign tourists, and the Auckland Region
was in lockdown, so there were very few tourists about, which was
fabulous. This time, however, the tourists were back, so we avoided
over-touristed places like Tekapo and Queenstown. </p><p>John
particularly wanted to spend a few days at Lake Ohau Lodge – to do some
cycling, to just ‘hang out’ and take lots of photos of the landscape,
and to enjoy the Lodge’s delicious meals. And we also wanted to spend
several days in Arrowtown, another one of our favourite places. </p><p>This will end up to be quite a long story, so I will write it up in five parts:<br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Part 1: Wellington to Christchurch</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 2: Christchurch to Arrowtown</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 3: Arrowtown to Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 4: Two days at Lake Ohau</div>Part 5: Ohau to Oxford, and home <p><br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"> Part 1 – Wellington to Christchurch</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"> </h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Thursday 24 November – Wellington to Kaikoura<br /></h3><p>Our
plans to catch the early morning sailing of the Bluebridge on Friday
were thwarted by an email a few days earlier about the cancellation of
all early sailings for the week, because of a lack of crew. We had
planned to drive to Christchurch on the same day. The alternative
arrangement – Interislander at 1pm on Thursday – meant that we would
arrive in Picton in the late afternoon, too late to be able to carry on
to Christchurch, so we booked to stay in Kaikoura overnight. </p><p>After
boarding, we stayed on deck for a while. Once we got moving, the wind
was very strong. It was quite amusing to see people bracing themselves
into the wind, or standing by the rail trying to take a photo while
trying to keep the phone or camera steady.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDO1p042mWP8TTPTEw-4tiMYcFMIgcrSnBDmhZ-DUsptGvuiHDWaedwnln7RzAkGlaK_2-2rXBxsJOddiN2OS8zXuk0UAB0BxOmLRijpl0UrbQ5VO9Eqv0sKRbjM-tzEF8Ue4Pi4Yr4GyiNQkox-AVRKpTNpFIDqzgSPb0ICUsg0waSl9geLXJhE/s2306/IMG_0083.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDO1p042mWP8TTPTEw-4tiMYcFMIgcrSnBDmhZ-DUsptGvuiHDWaedwnln7RzAkGlaK_2-2rXBxsJOddiN2OS8zXuk0UAB0BxOmLRijpl0UrbQ5VO9Eqv0sKRbjM-tzEF8Ue4Pi4Yr4GyiNQkox-AVRKpTNpFIDqzgSPb0ICUsg0waSl9geLXJhE/w640-h426/IMG_0083.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind was very strong!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We
had a little misadventure when John put down his parka on the seat next
to me and then moved away to take a photo, just in time to see his
parka take off in the wind. It flew away down to the car deck, luckily
not out to sea. He stressed about it for quite a while, as his
sunglasses were in the pocket of the parka. Fortunately, part-way
through the voyage, there was an announcement that people who had
animals in their cars, and who wanted to check on them would be allowed
on the car deck for the next ten minutes, so John went down and looked
for his parka. He found it on the tray of the ute right behind our car!
It obviously wanted to “go home”!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3pdOPvMCdR7rPZOYZyp1GAtt5nqHIvwGZvmFNQF0oedaiC8an3QgQMIaAWsKiuRWhT8Ey_7KWBwVFHgy9tUFFbBcs8v6Ynb8hswj7g17QYYphKI0207pS2CTQPz-RcJl5Pfudj-JDPAJMgg_k1IhgqIYRFCAXBhZt4MKZKcdUHPgDZyW4idJehw/s3883/IMG_3434.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="3883" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3pdOPvMCdR7rPZOYZyp1GAtt5nqHIvwGZvmFNQF0oedaiC8an3QgQMIaAWsKiuRWhT8Ey_7KWBwVFHgy9tUFFbBcs8v6Ynb8hswj7g17QYYphKI0207pS2CTQPz-RcJl5Pfudj-JDPAJMgg_k1IhgqIYRFCAXBhZt4MKZKcdUHPgDZyW4idJehw/w640-h480/IMG_3434.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The West Wind Farm above Makara (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhI4yX9qz2ulo1sqpbrKCDEnipCMawLb6uAhNwqCIKH489Ijo8j9ujVNSm1PMTl87VNR9KB3m4xUQpcLssCIUgNFOoYxJuyk3P8PuLH-rKjuemaBoTmTzHQLTxA7fFcF22RI2OOGFTti4g0VEduLZ_w69FYXCeopknrkq2UYa6AHE0kMczVFbZb0/s4032/IMG_3442.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhI4yX9qz2ulo1sqpbrKCDEnipCMawLb6uAhNwqCIKH489Ijo8j9ujVNSm1PMTl87VNR9KB3m4xUQpcLssCIUgNFOoYxJuyk3P8PuLH-rKjuemaBoTmTzHQLTxA7fFcF22RI2OOGFTti4g0VEduLZ_w69FYXCeopknrkq2UYa6AHE0kMczVFbZb0/w640-h480/IMG_3442.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John’s parka flew away, but luckily landed on the ute behind our car (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
were supposed to arrive at 4:30, and we finally rolled off at 5pm. And
it rained! We drove into Kaikoura Top Ten Holiday Park at 7:15, got our
key, dumped our bags and headed into the town to find some dinner. </p><p>The
studio unit that we stayed in was very nice. I think it will have to
become our “go to” place to stay next time we come through Kaikoura. It
is fresh, clean, good little kitchen bench, good bathroom, free wifi and
plenty of power points to charge phones and laptops.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Friday 25 November – Kaikoura to Christchurch<br /></h3><p>It
was a lovely day to drive to Christchurch. The coast road south of
Kaikoura is a real treat. It is a beautiful road, a fantastic repair job
done after it was severely damaged in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. In
quite a few places one can still see the scars to the land caused by
this massive quake.<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWo6vV3RFLDvfXz6QVug9tyyGJ2i7CdgIUsoGCnNZcj_1r_X8s5hGKRb5S_dCjexbz8r3BVJNVy0M1BkGluI7boCMBpFcw0VESwOToEuoP_z6hvigPf3jpbX9Cla3JG7BXAphStPsTABCTwLSPzxByyhL-nZkateooQTpAbN8grgdIc3oh1iManU/s2304/IMG_0091.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWo6vV3RFLDvfXz6QVug9tyyGJ2i7CdgIUsoGCnNZcj_1r_X8s5hGKRb5S_dCjexbz8r3BVJNVy0M1BkGluI7boCMBpFcw0VESwOToEuoP_z6hvigPf3jpbX9Cla3JG7BXAphStPsTABCTwLSPzxByyhL-nZkateooQTpAbN8grgdIc3oh1iManU/w640-h426/IMG_0091.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scars of the slips can still be seen along the coast road </td></tr></tbody></table><br />We
got to the northern reaches of Christchurch by about lunchtime, and did
a little tour of Kaiapoi, Kainga and Brooklands. We lived in Kainga for
three years in the 1970s, and much has changed there of course,
especially after the Christchurch quakes in 2010 and 2011, when many
buildings in Kaiapoi were damaged, and much of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklands,_Christchurch" target="_blank">Brooklands</a> suffered serious subsidence and liquefaction, and was declared a “red” zone. <p></p><p>After
that we had the rest of the afternoon to fill, so we went to Lyttelton.
Traffic through town was horrible, but the map app on the phone helped
us through. We were amused at the ‘lady’ on the app, who kept calling it
“Ly-TEL-ton”. </p><p>We had lunch in a small quirky café called The
Shroom Room – away from the main drag, as that was swamped with
passengers from a huge cruise ship. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXtYPejAB33uMNHDUEp60OEEGLwxG0XE-mXU9RSJtBoFUI7IiwbB4sYf3JiWDEagTYzNeKwJlOKclNhYGo1igUxZEP9dJJrjikjr5srWlaPba7hf0yRMRnls9cL-rLHMMHzzgZB_1zfAu3SR8NaSaXIKr0hGcqOSHMpgIY6Qa77XhQXroQhfNnxs/s3945/IMG_3446.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2958" data-original-width="3945" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXtYPejAB33uMNHDUEp60OEEGLwxG0XE-mXU9RSJtBoFUI7IiwbB4sYf3JiWDEagTYzNeKwJlOKclNhYGo1igUxZEP9dJJrjikjr5srWlaPba7hf0yRMRnls9cL-rLHMMHzzgZB_1zfAu3SR8NaSaXIKr0hGcqOSHMpgIY6Qa77XhQXroQhfNnxs/w640-h480/IMG_3446.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge cruise ship was in town (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9T6BP0NZ0B0xWvNgBvddCI8cmmoFw7GZ6mWmHe85URIHbLlZx5kqS0NRW9I5diAOtBJ1BmeJdvgmgbMjywbdZwJXleRK76KgXPJJQH_GylzmmSDPrVMnBGnDxX6Cds4q3miSlCXJfs8PWubPyEyS1xPmvA-_dVN9Ieb1nnU5qObjHWQ1wq4vaD8/s2306/IMG_0105.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9T6BP0NZ0B0xWvNgBvddCI8cmmoFw7GZ6mWmHe85URIHbLlZx5kqS0NRW9I5diAOtBJ1BmeJdvgmgbMjywbdZwJXleRK76KgXPJJQH_GylzmmSDPrVMnBGnDxX6Cds4q3miSlCXJfs8PWubPyEyS1xPmvA-_dVN9Ieb1nnU5qObjHWQ1wq4vaD8/w640-h426/IMG_0105.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the sun and the roses in a park near the café </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYqo-g2-B4rZc5YGmkIUir8MOzK1-nHItJg-qKuz8Pz9qhznrq8CcIBDBBYxrAWGkoS04yY0_uRdlhGKBVRWWkrgjebvsusWMU2NH7APi0fyp8ZHYZ_74tHl2u8pYNxLabTY_vZSX8U28LM-5CgEDMrBlqrMhbEbcwPanJIvkcfSbF5M5vftuoQ/s2306/IMG_0104.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYqo-g2-B4rZc5YGmkIUir8MOzK1-nHItJg-qKuz8Pz9qhznrq8CcIBDBBYxrAWGkoS04yY0_uRdlhGKBVRWWkrgjebvsusWMU2NH7APi0fyp8ZHYZ_74tHl2u8pYNxLabTY_vZSX8U28LM-5CgEDMrBlqrMhbEbcwPanJIvkcfSbF5M5vftuoQ/w426-h640/IMG_0104.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bronze sculpture by Mark Whyte of a sled dog celebrates Lyttelton’s Antarctica connections</td></tr></tbody></table><p>With
not much to do in Lyttelton – eateries and touristy shops in the main
road did not interest us – we drove over the hill to Sumner. We walked
along the Esplanade, where I was intrigued with some amazing plants.<br /> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJAvE_uADM3QKNkhMkbBmQMH9DsXGwsdrSulfDQX_jjTEH2wa4dfd2dSUK2r4TP4aFFAVS9NzH-fpC8b4J0zk6M1dDuIOWZv2Xqqux7YtH_FFXTAKe809spZAmUG2I482DEBeVJgmTxq-HNl8Bg7lFo1Vi4kxKPqoQCuGaWGmN-flR_wPWrwTelg/s1800/collage_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJAvE_uADM3QKNkhMkbBmQMH9DsXGwsdrSulfDQX_jjTEH2wa4dfd2dSUK2r4TP4aFFAVS9NzH-fpC8b4J0zk6M1dDuIOWZv2Xqqux7YtH_FFXTAKe809spZAmUG2I482DEBeVJgmTxq-HNl8Bg7lFo1Vi4kxKPqoQCuGaWGmN-flR_wPWrwTelg/w640-h426/collage_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This very tall flower stalk looked even more amazing in close-up (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjLcMySV9-kHLg0ry8EgCnVarHlGzxnOsDR4zLs4vGfwfSFNEoQKR6_Y8_TE80hD_Yb0M8PLmjHhe3zlkjJQgfn_lD_TY6KcBf7V0-F96_0EfMToz_SDFWQ0SKvzmhkmhNXApVajj30aDra_EXh2V6ogAOh1felk_9cV5L7otiFlaKWEMkzVYbb8/s3945/IMG_3450.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3945" data-original-width="2958" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjLcMySV9-kHLg0ry8EgCnVarHlGzxnOsDR4zLs4vGfwfSFNEoQKR6_Y8_TE80hD_Yb0M8PLmjHhe3zlkjJQgfn_lD_TY6KcBf7V0-F96_0EfMToz_SDFWQ0SKvzmhkmhNXApVajj30aDra_EXh2V6ogAOh1felk_9cV5L7otiFlaKWEMkzVYbb8/w480-h640/IMG_3450.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enormous agave flowers (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There
is a big rocky outcrop on Sumner Beach, which has a cave running under
it. I went though the Cave Rock tunnel while John waited at the other
end, and then we had an ice-cream. <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41vWoNaQlVjYBO4XL3PqOTdQJAKNBKxEWtlWetEuuRJIVySbq3q7Kb0EmWlrkLyuKPSRkdBNAuE06UR1yhmio6vG0G1pg0Ihw_mDhwdi5QzEfV50FK3LVEBqWYt51ccWZxokaqRGDNZAHg4xeY7NHDBp2ZyMKc0irgXhaN9LqYFdJmXUfR21NnmE/s3966/IMG_3453.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2974" data-original-width="3966" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41vWoNaQlVjYBO4XL3PqOTdQJAKNBKxEWtlWetEuuRJIVySbq3q7Kb0EmWlrkLyuKPSRkdBNAuE06UR1yhmio6vG0G1pg0Ihw_mDhwdi5QzEfV50FK3LVEBqWYt51ccWZxokaqRGDNZAHg4xeY7NHDBp2ZyMKc0irgXhaN9LqYFdJmXUfR21NnmE/w640-h480/IMG_3453.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tunnel under Cave Rock (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ5MLZkNca_5xbHNyXqD5NH1r3crMWGrXgRw1-wEXE-Ha0o1NKUHD9lpROI-dLuxlMAb7AwHakRv5dwqiwxirxfwQ67mbXkVVAe_l3693NNSFDn6jAvaU8-8PeR5JxJnaYilDEISIsZkqxihsMyj1LwcCU3YoX93jHAMClPMGQ0ENuxpPi0zE-ts/s1454/IMG_0113%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ5MLZkNca_5xbHNyXqD5NH1r3crMWGrXgRw1-wEXE-Ha0o1NKUHD9lpROI-dLuxlMAb7AwHakRv5dwqiwxirxfwQ67mbXkVVAe_l3693NNSFDn6jAvaU8-8PeR5JxJnaYilDEISIsZkqxihsMyj1LwcCU3YoX93jHAMClPMGQ0ENuxpPi0zE-ts/w610-h640/IMG_0113%20(1).jpeg" width="610" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> So true! </td></tr></tbody></table><br />At
first John had suggested we have an early dinner in Sumner, but it was
only 4:15, so we went to find our motel – Central Park Lodge, on
Riccarton Road. <p></p><p>Unfortunately the motel was not terribly nice.
In fact, it was downright awful. We were put in a unit upstairs, which
meant that we could not charge the car from the room. The stairs were so
narrow that you could barely get through carrying a bag, the bed was
one of those awful springy, wobbly jobs, the bathroom was only so-so,
there was no tea towel in the kitchenette, and the internet was S-L-O-W!
I And the neighbours, an Indian restaurant, were extremely noisy at
around 11:30 pm, when they were closing up, talking loudly and
clattering rubbish bins and crates of bottles. If it wasn’t for the fact
that I had already paid for two nights, we would have left the next
day.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Saturday 26 November – Akaroa<br /></h3><p>John got up really early to find somewhere to charge the car, then took a walk through Hagley Park to Oxford Terrace. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigopmuFe_NzwSQ8iMqwxCciuImdTfMizw0uc9lyR4mlKMNEeKKH0qcEialLDXPazH_nmx-3pyEYP8ASn23jMPDH80j0pgmcAIIKywuwXsy8I1Ogln-7d6qy7crrx-1WBqeYANCIEvPMaMMWs0pZgqtE9sHmq-vKpdHpzT575G_vB4w5wdGqIMuYyI/s2304/IMG_0116.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigopmuFe_NzwSQ8iMqwxCciuImdTfMizw0uc9lyR4mlKMNEeKKH0qcEialLDXPazH_nmx-3pyEYP8ASn23jMPDH80j0pgmcAIIKywuwXsy8I1Ogln-7d6qy7crrx-1WBqeYANCIEvPMaMMWs0pZgqtE9sHmq-vKpdHpzT575G_vB4w5wdGqIMuYyI/w640-h426/IMG_0116.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hagley Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggELvIN-E2oem_fEdKM3bLlaRujvJS00EQZXwlxDXcPtAdZ6G6o5r2gnHe-7ED0JI5vLSuNdIkgwsCQ1Gz0t5obZX1JV2X5k7EkezFoHn7f1oJM4FUkWvG1QJkSPTm76RsOENpr1uYs86rSbomB7PEvVcWIuUYa3R9uxeDOJ9GMtpnbQ9DHWsQxto/s2304/IMG_6008.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggELvIN-E2oem_fEdKM3bLlaRujvJS00EQZXwlxDXcPtAdZ6G6o5r2gnHe-7ED0JI5vLSuNdIkgwsCQ1Gz0t5obZX1JV2X5k7EkezFoHn7f1oJM4FUkWvG1QJkSPTm76RsOENpr1uYs86rSbomB7PEvVcWIuUYa3R9uxeDOJ9GMtpnbQ9DHWsQxto/w640-h426/IMG_6008.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This must be really pretty at night</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5Ny73UxBlOm2mi7CgXig7ckGBAJXUNNXYeV4sWGqlxPzvfTzJj6_S3NENlN-uqcnDyfzNxnEonxj3QfgTutTlj4Z1af57cxuMjgiADRr8VSYEmZ2CRt9Itd5v_W9d8hdMYqd4uT1WsTrBv2hj5yHuzZo_tWXjJk-fbvy2p41V4nhhDU0dwcW_2s/s2305/IMG_6005.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2305" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5Ny73UxBlOm2mi7CgXig7ckGBAJXUNNXYeV4sWGqlxPzvfTzJj6_S3NENlN-uqcnDyfzNxnEonxj3QfgTutTlj4Z1af57cxuMjgiADRr8VSYEmZ2CRt9Itd5v_W9d8hdMYqd4uT1WsTrBv2hj5yHuzZo_tWXjJk-fbvy2p41V4nhhDU0dwcW_2s/w640-h426/IMG_6005.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford Terrace – the historic tram goes through here on its rounds for the tourists</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We
decided to go to Akaroa. It is quite a long way (82 km) and we stopped
at Little River Café and Store for some breakfast. After that we had a
browse in the attached gallery, which was having an exhibition opening. I
loved a couple of paintings of a <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/tui/" target="_blank">tūī </a>and of a <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/nz-pigeon-kereru/" target="_blank">kererū</a>
on a gold background. Luckily they were $2,900, way beyond my pocket,
so I was not tempted to buy the tūī. We browsed around the shop for a
bit as well, there were some nice things there too.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT1efR7kS_oXrUfLgzPLLGS3cEYO1GfFKh-4n3Oll5Fg4KsrgQFpNnTXnE24QuPhG_a5GwRjAD1FckogeFhl_TytTn9A-foDEyvh801TsrdebiEpWUQPet_c2KHcHDrNLfNPMY3CuWEWXqg0oWZyIehqLi-wm4VCVfDIHgVW0K1pP9sJynSHhVeA/s2048/IMG_6009.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT1efR7kS_oXrUfLgzPLLGS3cEYO1GfFKh-4n3Oll5Fg4KsrgQFpNnTXnE24QuPhG_a5GwRjAD1FckogeFhl_TytTn9A-foDEyvh801TsrdebiEpWUQPet_c2KHcHDrNLfNPMY3CuWEWXqg0oWZyIehqLi-wm4VCVfDIHgVW0K1pP9sJynSHhVeA/w640-h480/IMG_6009.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast in the garden behind the café</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Then on to Akaroa. While the road to Little River was more or less flat (we<a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-lupin-trip-part-1.html" target="_blank"> biked here</a> a few years ago), the road to Akaroa was over substantial hills. The scenery is gorgeous.</p><p>The
weather was lovely, warm and sunny, with just a light breeze. We parked
in the shade, and walked first to the wharf area and enquired at the
i-Site about where the Giant’s House was. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NXd99CGKfF2QNHYNbwJrXBwYccqtsaKN9jpa5JMrjZz-ls6HFMb8JxnmeKCrY2OGys-kGMO1KzTrKFKD08Mbmk1iR1IY76xNryu2VS-tk76y-nzg9BTQ59udO8ojYXRsCv-iPgwVJUkaaNgELkL5rWKQFFfFCyN9KDnwS6SMZDVwoil2U-Uq7TY/s2304/IMG_0120.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NXd99CGKfF2QNHYNbwJrXBwYccqtsaKN9jpa5JMrjZz-ls6HFMb8JxnmeKCrY2OGys-kGMO1KzTrKFKD08Mbmk1iR1IY76xNryu2VS-tk76y-nzg9BTQ59udO8ojYXRsCv-iPgwVJUkaaNgELkL5rWKQFFfFCyN9KDnwS6SMZDVwoil2U-Uq7TY/w640-h426/IMG_0120.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akaroa Harbour</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The<a href="http://thegiantshouse.co.nz/" target="_blank"> Giant’s House</a>
is a magical place. The grand historic house has a wonderful garden
full of the most delightful and whimsical mosaics and statues, enticing
paths and steps decorated with mosaic, thriving plantings, and a gallery
of artworks. It is all the work of the owner, Josie Martin, a highly
original artist with bright blue hair. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JOcEROUMCKBbgDWQ4rxTlD5WCIqkxB8PWQBNW0LojRl_Ojv7iSSal7R0pdbSFGwv8WBzwKq5qwSwfBA4lVZm3CIIT3B8wKNzdNI_978_pjv6aE1Vs3KVp1LikOosA6FrjjSw1ywsmGsOs7bBMqPoXYYGsjMT7R4ReDYa6m6SuEuZEMyzvoVOcc0/s4003/IMG_3471.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2347" data-original-width="4003" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JOcEROUMCKBbgDWQ4rxTlD5WCIqkxB8PWQBNW0LojRl_Ojv7iSSal7R0pdbSFGwv8WBzwKq5qwSwfBA4lVZm3CIIT3B8wKNzdNI_978_pjv6aE1Vs3KVp1LikOosA6FrjjSw1ywsmGsOs7bBMqPoXYYGsjMT7R4ReDYa6m6SuEuZEMyzvoVOcc0/w640-h376/IMG_3471.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The driveway of the Giants House and Sculpture Garden (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The
entry was $24 pp, but well worth it. We had been here before, 12 years
ago, and there were lots of new pieces, beautifully trimmed trees to sit
beneath, and colourful flowers everywhere. A real delight.</p><p>There
are life-size – and larger – statues of people covered in mosaics, three
‘swimmers’ around a fountain by a ship, people watching a chef cut a
cake, a girl eating strawberries, a king and queen, and angels. </p><p>The
garden is terraced, and all the steps are covered in mosaics, the seats
are too, perfectly trimmed trees, and gorgeous colourful flowerbeds. In
the middle of the front lawn is a grand piano, covered in mosaics and
ceramic fruit, with the lid up, and filled with succulents, and French
chansons blasting out from it. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysk2AkBNa3QOjoN4NSs2z6dJCb5UbOP5FXwKiWiKtIgzRrJNNUAfEo18RDje6a4-0z3HpNGDqMLR55nveirnhP1fNK6MIyW2I0gL-nZUqKlgiB9aB6_nOIPY0h7d0F0226i8Uah4PdZgjvEarAM5juVk2rTDAVeeBV7-Z2jl_S0TnzukcQVNXM5M/s4013/IMG_3457.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3010" data-original-width="4013" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysk2AkBNa3QOjoN4NSs2z6dJCb5UbOP5FXwKiWiKtIgzRrJNNUAfEo18RDje6a4-0z3HpNGDqMLR55nveirnhP1fNK6MIyW2I0gL-nZUqKlgiB9aB6_nOIPY0h7d0F0226i8Uah4PdZgjvEarAM5juVk2rTDAVeeBV7-Z2jl_S0TnzukcQVNXM5M/w640-h480/IMG_3457.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The good ship “Isola Bella” and its Captain John, watching swimmers around a fountain (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4cCykmn1uEfJkB0g16tER52NHF1AwDEyHV510BMC9co6XfhLYBvR8Bx_CHpRLLEoVW4ptyLi37T_tFKsfJK_i4n4CThnCa38RMfzgeauB4RSNJZ_iJyf8kWp-P_8aWYOl5-TBxaZOsh1dBUDNygeQotPCzh49qj56IdJbEkRN7Uy9Cb49AlnPR4/s3998/IMG_3458.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2998" data-original-width="3998" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4cCykmn1uEfJkB0g16tER52NHF1AwDEyHV510BMC9co6XfhLYBvR8Bx_CHpRLLEoVW4ptyLi37T_tFKsfJK_i4n4CThnCa38RMfzgeauB4RSNJZ_iJyf8kWp-P_8aWYOl5-TBxaZOsh1dBUDNygeQotPCzh49qj56IdJbEkRN7Uy9Cb49AlnPR4/w640-h480/IMG_3458.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the cutting of the birthday cake (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSWRR8nQksCWAwXQqZTAtP8kCdHU8iQkJjz4G-IwH7D0iHYb9YecHdv4JI_kcUTWmH4FPxkHzKLYF0gJSDeYHx4ooVfYNZpj8jksPlI7uuyywb___sQ37AV8kgQIbMl5HHzzXVmfCkmHK3zbUFr7jPYOecmIRdeZyDxTJ_fhpMYJfl4rb1jUziKU/s3872/IMG_3459%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3872" data-original-width="2904" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSWRR8nQksCWAwXQqZTAtP8kCdHU8iQkJjz4G-IwH7D0iHYb9YecHdv4JI_kcUTWmH4FPxkHzKLYF0gJSDeYHx4ooVfYNZpj8jksPlI7uuyywb___sQ37AV8kgQIbMl5HHzzXVmfCkmHK3zbUFr7jPYOecmIRdeZyDxTJ_fhpMYJfl4rb1jUziKU/w480-h640/IMG_3459%20(1).jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry girl</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPTW-jShcckdxb7eH2Ao_3dbWUcpnLuXt-cttOJ_joOqqhv_TSnCsdeERCamVVcDMjvHjx3F1uT9MtHjyzVkdlTwCPvJWxLPOnO7uzCFDBJ46hocTgeKXOUvxsX-18BQWOegva-an_IadeVHJmppx-wTriSDFG3mAX6l1Ysr331izQWe3uboCoDA/s3985/IMG_3460.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3985" data-original-width="2988" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPTW-jShcckdxb7eH2Ao_3dbWUcpnLuXt-cttOJ_joOqqhv_TSnCsdeERCamVVcDMjvHjx3F1uT9MtHjyzVkdlTwCPvJWxLPOnO7uzCFDBJ46hocTgeKXOUvxsX-18BQWOegva-an_IadeVHJmppx-wTriSDFG3mAX6l1Ysr331izQWe3uboCoDA/w480-h640/IMG_3460.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue stairway (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4by3cwXKi4RjEC4OAT7HF6vQTLaneFovA6fcjLYiIqTg1Ztxw07_3GQC8i28dEYbK2Mhyw5Pr6D1JP9R2-AsdZPC_wRlP9g1_D_fk6zmRXTMFcFWzjDSpwoR0BTA57UR-z48wqQMnDdqRU2kLLMq_rxZSr4dWegQASt7JmZnGwzu3XB5xnKDfMAw/s3958/IMG_3467.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3958" data-original-width="2968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4by3cwXKi4RjEC4OAT7HF6vQTLaneFovA6fcjLYiIqTg1Ztxw07_3GQC8i28dEYbK2Mhyw5Pr6D1JP9R2-AsdZPC_wRlP9g1_D_fk6zmRXTMFcFWzjDSpwoR0BTA57UR-z48wqQMnDdqRU2kLLMq_rxZSr4dWegQASt7JmZnGwzu3XB5xnKDfMAw/w480-h640/IMG_3467.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another colourful stairway (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfJ_6UGrHuoHgKjVIhq4n-_aRssy9lHz0Jcq5yvYLbgBQVkJaLmh9bvkIb-Aq6m7uWNYgdih2wZYh4mlqGt0DpnnDyt4WpBssASPmytNPD_naqvcA70L7PMvNcNHDCUBUbtMLYW0NYDWsM9_HmxxPY_L7HwTJ46y29USziRip2iU-ptlQXi4f_rE/s3672/IMG_3466.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="2708" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfJ_6UGrHuoHgKjVIhq4n-_aRssy9lHz0Jcq5yvYLbgBQVkJaLmh9bvkIb-Aq6m7uWNYgdih2wZYh4mlqGt0DpnnDyt4WpBssASPmytNPD_naqvcA70L7PMvNcNHDCUBUbtMLYW0NYDWsM9_HmxxPY_L7HwTJ46y29USziRip2iU-ptlQXi4f_rE/w472-h640/IMG_3466.jpeg" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the lap of the gods ... or is it an angel?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p>We
had a ‘Devonshire tea’ – or rather plunger coffee for two. John had a
date scone (his perennial favourite), and I had a classic scone with jam
and cream. When the tray was brought to us, it was a beautiful
arrangement: little dainty cups and saucers – cups with clocks on them,
saucers with clock faces – alstroemeria flowers to decorate the spout of
the coffee plunger and the jam and the cream, all on a gorgeous
old-fashioned embroidered tray cloth. We sat in the shade of a brolly
and enjoyed the ‘lunch’. <br /> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz168UOU25xEd_gPk--j1jh3a2dVvZrbkmKm7BzSM4WjFTMLTeqjSMd_02SaZBqhq6En0VVrL2BubVj10TOBXEru6DuG0wTvEV4DnNtuZNRMiAhQw6HNDp4132lpib0MkcnTjUjkNUWmUOOWBu5N7GmcTV_PuBIbHhbuj1nxWKwYZLyp72v64ngc/s2306/IMG_0138.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz168UOU25xEd_gPk--j1jh3a2dVvZrbkmKm7BzSM4WjFTMLTeqjSMd_02SaZBqhq6En0VVrL2BubVj10TOBXEru6DuG0wTvEV4DnNtuZNRMiAhQw6HNDp4132lpib0MkcnTjUjkNUWmUOOWBu5N7GmcTV_PuBIbHhbuj1nxWKwYZLyp72v64ngc/w640-h426/IMG_0138.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautifully arranged tray</td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaeo6IAR2HhIBct6I8fMgvNLyz5bH1P1UCVqD2PGcl89_iBLXAqIP42ggChqn_6rqd-UJrzSPfHqzGyQkeGBSO5mbufvskVuJsL1ZzwZxZClSQo_NaT3oSdlywWxdhK9FAGUNcgbERocRVgdVbwPJFCcAGljq2JENELgg9J1vvuB9DYuj0ESyMv4/s2306/IMG_0143.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaeo6IAR2HhIBct6I8fMgvNLyz5bH1P1UCVqD2PGcl89_iBLXAqIP42ggChqn_6rqd-UJrzSPfHqzGyQkeGBSO5mbufvskVuJsL1ZzwZxZClSQo_NaT3oSdlywWxdhK9FAGUNcgbERocRVgdVbwPJFCcAGljq2JENELgg9J1vvuB9DYuj0ESyMv4/w640-h426/IMG_0143.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I love this arrangement of tall lupins and sculptures</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We
spent nearly two hours enjoying the delights of this magical place.
After this we drove round the supposedly “French” part of the village.
The fact that Akaroa was originally founded by French settlers is being
exploited shamelessly by the local businesses, which try to make
everything sound French and romantic. But really, it is just another,
admittedly very pretty, small NZ town. All that was French was a few of
the street names. The shops and restaurants had French names, but the
touristy stuff in the shops that they tried to pass off as French, was
not. <p></p>After a quick tour, we headed back to Christchurch, via Little River, Gebbie’s Pass and Lyttelton. <p> </p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-77081359642671134082023-06-03T16:56:00.058+12:002023-06-06T21:42:41.875+12:00<h2 style="text-align: left;">South Island – November 2022 – Part 2 </h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2><br /><p>I’m
finally getting around to writing up our 2022 South Island Holiday.
Again, we went during the couple of weeks straddling November and
December. Last year, we had a trip to the same part of the South Island
at around same time of year. This time, John particularly wanted to
spend a few days at Lake Ohau Lodge – to do some cycling, to just ‘hang
out’ and take lots of photos, and to enjoy the Lodge’s delicious meals.
And we also wanted to spend several days in Arrowtown, another one of
our favourite places. </p>This is quite a long story, so I have written it up in five parts:<p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Part 1: Wellington to Christchurch</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 2: Christchurch to Arrowtown</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 3: Arrowtown to Lake Ohau</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part 4: Two days at Lake Ohau</div>Part 5: Ohau to Oxford, and home <p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part 2 – Christchurch to Arrowtown</h2><p> </p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sunday 27 November – Christchurch to Arrowtown<br /></h3><p>It was raining when we left Christchurch to make our way to Arrowtown. We stopped in Geraldine for a very pleasant lunch at Café Verde and to charge the car. From about Fairlie, the rain eased off, and we started seeing lupins by the side of the road. They must be about two weeks behind the norm as many of the spikes of flowers still had unopened buds at the top.</p><p>We stopped at Twizel for another top-up for our EV, and for coffee and fruit crumble pies in a not very nice bakery café, but it was the only one that was open that was not a bar. It was Sunday, after all …</p><p>The Lindis Pass, as always, was spectacularly beautiful. The colours are marvellous, and the scenery is so dramatic. We stopped briefly at a spot just past the summit to take photos. <br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfJDDId21__vB3NX-vMkCJQmO2qBiafvuNQEP7lwqzBF_7uEvpoCFB-hMC1HoFT7aicUOryIqqsYsUj4n28VsKh1id9XepK_KO2dxEicBsVe8XNTyVqlD9HiN0VfFg3XM7hrDIsY_bVaeCuvrohff6A3N-VC2nrqfBtYNQ9H0nLDo7SSXsEl50Y4/s4032/IMG_3474.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfJDDId21__vB3NX-vMkCJQmO2qBiafvuNQEP7lwqzBF_7uEvpoCFB-hMC1HoFT7aicUOryIqqsYsUj4n28VsKh1id9XepK_KO2dxEicBsVe8XNTyVqlD9HiN0VfFg3XM7hrDIsY_bVaeCuvrohff6A3N-VC2nrqfBtYNQ9H0nLDo7SSXsEl50Y4/w640-h480/IMG_3474.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lindis Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We stopped in Cromwell, for yet another charge. I made a sarcastic remark – about “17,000 charges" – but John was not amused. He accused me of being crabby. Cromwell’s town centre is particularly unattractive, especially after 4 pm on a Sunday. It is absolutely dead. We managed to get an ice-cream from a petrol station, while we wandered around waiting for the car to charge. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhHdGr5Tb82yEB5al30nt2-RVLXW1hqjP9YeWemvv48Cy00G4NXoMcHCr1IDHUbGkJYZijGw3Mr0rhRG8KPwaOlqvCN3wrxrFWaiQZRH_Q94cyU9DppUT4L3O3kTn55DGlYnt3BVecmmiPv_DgZIy-Whg1A5gdaMnKdPLbOTKvRFyTDEpytxvP2U/s2306/IMG_0154.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhHdGr5Tb82yEB5al30nt2-RVLXW1hqjP9YeWemvv48Cy00G4NXoMcHCr1IDHUbGkJYZijGw3Mr0rhRG8KPwaOlqvCN3wrxrFWaiQZRH_Q94cyU9DppUT4L3O3kTn55DGlYnt3BVecmmiPv_DgZIy-Whg1A5gdaMnKdPLbOTKvRFyTDEpytxvP2U/w640-h426/IMG_0154.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging the car – again – in Cromwell<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The drive to Arrowtown from there was lovely. We stopped at the “Roaring Meg” viewing spot. There is a small power generating station where water from a stream comes and throws itself into the Clutha River below. Beautiful rocks and a roaring river.<br /> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj93FkYLX1iCCC6-eeD1uRmfyQCHN8A55Gk8sCLlUkhZI9_HMh6K3F06_tk-y09IZEeSfbgmKbstMtBXGppGYM13Pp2tmKuNmTEDP70VBa7_Ds5lpChOhbARpZpgDwStMoI0g2sulEq6vBOZXYRyaFSSTgR8SQ96X3zEiDEnj0ZwEJuqyzbD65FZ8/s2306/IMG_0156.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj93FkYLX1iCCC6-eeD1uRmfyQCHN8A55Gk8sCLlUkhZI9_HMh6K3F06_tk-y09IZEeSfbgmKbstMtBXGppGYM13Pp2tmKuNmTEDP70VBa7_Ds5lpChOhbARpZpgDwStMoI0g2sulEq6vBOZXYRyaFSSTgR8SQ96X3zEiDEnj0ZwEJuqyzbD65FZ8/w640-h426/IMG_0156.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roaring Meg power station</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4q9lzRmw2w7IZi8Q9-JjoXtLjrcX-LG-h8Fic4moYHrgsTQGj8eXoHAPimWxUtuk1KzoJnWvj8q7PvDYh1M6VIn0GkMsrnkBIuyOsk1hzUWIluSzllsClI1Tu_fRJTDeN8P2nbeOdyxw6xx27lQL8LSAT0Q7bYh2mqdykWVwLbYPlwRey2AfpJY/s4032/IMG_3476.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4q9lzRmw2w7IZi8Q9-JjoXtLjrcX-LG-h8Fic4moYHrgsTQGj8eXoHAPimWxUtuk1KzoJnWvj8q7PvDYh1M6VIn0GkMsrnkBIuyOsk1hzUWIluSzllsClI1Tu_fRJTDeN8P2nbeOdyxw6xx27lQL8LSAT0Q7bYh2mqdykWVwLbYPlwRey2AfpJY/w640-h480/IMG_3476.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Clutha River</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We drove through the Gibston Valley with lots of wineries. We got to the cottage in Arrowtown at about 6:15. It had been a long day! <p></p><p>We had stayed in this cottage last year, and it was as lovely as before. We were going to be here for the next three nights. We brought all our stuff in from the car, sat around for a bit, then headed down to the pub for dinner. But the pub was closed, and a sign said it would be closed on Monday and Tuesday as well, because of lack of staff. So we went to the “Postmaster” restaurant, and had some flash burgers and some chips to share. Quite nice. </p><p>We had an amusing moment, when the Indian waitress took a shine to John, and while rubbing his arm, told him he was “so cute”. John didn’t hear or understand (he has no hearing in his right ear), and thought she was talking about a stain on his sleeve. But she told him a couple more times “I think you are so cute”. Perhaps she thought he was quite elderly – like in his 90s. It’s the sort of comment one might make to to a really old person, or someone who has gone a bit doolally. </p><p>After dinner, we wandered down the main street and back, and found Nadia Lim’s Royalburn Shop, that we had seen on the Nadia’s Farm TV programme a few weeks earlier. It was closed of course (this was about 8:15 pm). It was a lovely walk back – so quiet and peaceful, and not nearly as cold as the forecast had made us believe it would be. <br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Monday 28 November – Day 1 in Arrowtown – Lake Hayes<br /></h3><p>We wanted to bike the track to Queenstown, but didn't have a map. So I went into the i-Site and got a couple of maps, then we biked to the bike shop/hiring place, where we got another map and better instructions.</p><p>We were not keen to go via the Millbrook resort, so went on a track along the river, then after a bridge, we took an ‘escape’ route to the road – Centennial Avenue.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaoh-gUMCgp9VhzQS5_Cz1mpR_V4Mcg3ZRNOMj08w_Jmppe7rwcP5camZgZfwV-nEOEs936FosspOQoYGgJ-ettOAlmGtNqU3aLQjP3lWTj5o66y_wrofbsiRP0t3CI_HMS4NcqZMsUIn_vTeDOe2Td3Z0J-3SOROIWcbmkiHwhupNPEZ6nlQPYE/s2306/IMG_5191.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaoh-gUMCgp9VhzQS5_Cz1mpR_V4Mcg3ZRNOMj08w_Jmppe7rwcP5camZgZfwV-nEOEs936FosspOQoYGgJ-ettOAlmGtNqU3aLQjP3lWTj5o66y_wrofbsiRP0t3CI_HMS4NcqZMsUIn_vTeDOe2Td3Z0J-3SOROIWcbmkiHwhupNPEZ6nlQPYE/w640-h426/IMG_5191.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is an amazing tree root I am leaning against</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tCXa2fPi5Wq6TRoH4Kd83i8ddqLELGjxF5KlUZuFyAHMRPgPWQTMs33il08SJ3Vp7Qu5lefVskSgpAIkb5fzx53SoOxxbFsuMOeyTEEtY3HwnZnrvqwWBFnOybK1WcjlGpVjWCwoukuf9QlP0lOsB1KQaCOWlhMdG08H474K47f9XNbAm2GVu-c/s2048/IMG_6018.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tCXa2fPi5Wq6TRoH4Kd83i8ddqLELGjxF5KlUZuFyAHMRPgPWQTMs33il08SJ3Vp7Qu5lefVskSgpAIkb5fzx53SoOxxbFsuMOeyTEEtY3HwnZnrvqwWBFnOybK1WcjlGpVjWCwoukuf9QlP0lOsB1KQaCOWlhMdG08H474K47f9XNbAm2GVu-c/w640-h480/IMG_6018.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Centennial Avenue</td></tr></tbody></table><br />From there we got onto the cycling track, rode down Hogans Gully Road, and we ended up at a winery where we had scrumptious waffles last year, after our unsuccessful attempt at biking around Lake Hayes. Last year it was called Akarua, but it was now called 'Mora Wines and Artisan Kitchen'. We stopped and tried to order waffles again, but we were out of luck. “<i>Breakfast is finished</i>” we were told by the man with spiky hair, an American accent, and an affected manner, “<i>but we can book you in for breakfast tomorrow</i>". The place had changed hands, name, and obviously, attitude. So we just had coffee and scones. John was horrified to find they were savoury scones, and what he had thought were dates, were actually olives! I thought they were delicious. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2rqRoQ05fSJ7yRaqEwhZwYmgbkrp-wlp8CvuNsXo7qM-F8aYdGzsf694GtiH2by5O8V9eA5u0gkA4T72miD_Gng8qy47Vkdl6VLAI2agB5kx2v3OmjbGfjduaYHq54GjnXe8Q2dzXekIf8eFLclDbekEKXW-c1WQMpyN4Gm8i_gUPMu7c_zLdL4/s2306/IMG_5193.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2rqRoQ05fSJ7yRaqEwhZwYmgbkrp-wlp8CvuNsXo7qM-F8aYdGzsf694GtiH2by5O8V9eA5u0gkA4T72miD_Gng8qy47Vkdl6VLAI2agB5kx2v3OmjbGfjduaYHq54GjnXe8Q2dzXekIf8eFLclDbekEKXW-c1WQMpyN4Gm8i_gUPMu7c_zLdL4/w640-h426/IMG_5193.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely place to stop for morning coffee – shame about the waffles, though …</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I was amused to see a “Māori guide”, wearing a piupiu over his shorts, standing by the wine counter, checking his phone, while his customers, a youngish couple, were doing a wine tasting. Later I saw them driving away in a van marked “<i>Waka Haka - Enjoy the NZ experience</i>”.</p><p>Having failed to bike around Lake Hayes last year, we decided to give it another go. This time, we managed to bike right around it. Some sections were a bit hairy and scary – very narrow with a big drop down the left. The views were lovely, though. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTkl8PHxVhr73uTe4DGFcxnuxXLGyvliecxFL79RqOEzJzdEl9eK38WJZzaeoZbIz2TkWn9M-DyHEBc_WRlCbSonwV13wIxIKeIiGclgB7DRz2UkMDddzOJzUcww3WwK5muPepPUwunMSWOpYwQyNQLp5LVDZdYowJOVkqEa-2sFRpOr-u3AB-Ws/s2306/IMG_5197.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTkl8PHxVhr73uTe4DGFcxnuxXLGyvliecxFL79RqOEzJzdEl9eK38WJZzaeoZbIz2TkWn9M-DyHEBc_WRlCbSonwV13wIxIKeIiGclgB7DRz2UkMDddzOJzUcww3WwK5muPepPUwunMSWOpYwQyNQLp5LVDZdYowJOVkqEa-2sFRpOr-u3AB-Ws/w640-h426/IMG_5197.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parts of the track were steep, narrow and with a big drop to one side …</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxVqXAQao2pAv0FuS3Cd9hFSjaXWrp3TC6h1-rqEIZsx0q7DtHIlbwwgLIMFcvHW6z3LfWG9pKBlGaGL-MymEb5eAfE1K04kx-1tAu7x1NWNXY9UI4YdqxmVCQm2vr0jE5ciqsgHpjVi1PA9EpGS8u7D57Yr6NTZKLcFfk0SDXdNNsTxGiazsJQQ/s2306/IMG_5196.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxVqXAQao2pAv0FuS3Cd9hFSjaXWrp3TC6h1-rqEIZsx0q7DtHIlbwwgLIMFcvHW6z3LfWG9pKBlGaGL-MymEb5eAfE1K04kx-1tAu7x1NWNXY9UI4YdqxmVCQm2vr0jE5ciqsgHpjVi1PA9EpGS8u7D57Yr6NTZKLcFfk0SDXdNNsTxGiazsJQQ/w640-h426/IMG_5196.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… but the views were gorgeous</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After the steep bits, over the hill and down, the track went through a wetland – the edge of the lake, presumably. At times we were on a raised gravel path with water either side of us, and some of the time there were boardwalks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbYMSAvjG5lCJPddJCk0LiaYXt0q7j9i32i6vGMT-Jygmie9QS1F4ZvBrBaUgxyXEftdNZH-1ySE0WVyHNlo9SELZK7NETEGyee2QOdNlxQBeeKfbnfmRDfTIPbAbWYouLtSfdy7ELFCV05E2ndm9JZChX_NiOW5RzUPG68tb5ZZUL31yY4jDjzQ/s2306/IMG_5200.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbYMSAvjG5lCJPddJCk0LiaYXt0q7j9i32i6vGMT-Jygmie9QS1F4ZvBrBaUgxyXEftdNZH-1ySE0WVyHNlo9SELZK7NETEGyee2QOdNlxQBeeKfbnfmRDfTIPbAbWYouLtSfdy7ELFCV05E2ndm9JZChX_NiOW5RzUPG68tb5ZZUL31yY4jDjzQ/w640-h426/IMG_5200.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A raised track through the wetland …</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYaQsaJ8bMwO2wpQ1riDTonIJQwOcPJEdi6dRrUQ8m5ijrSiX1Eeu9LyKTd9jbGj5_qHpfiAZbNBts-EPhnKkbD_b1RhUEW9F0rRQDJIILLHj8wCBoWfIUyIdxb7-FntLc8v_nkpuK8BKE4-tKLKREoGSxcjEdK7xVDXUWRrumuQZ2YX3H4ZWYnA/s2304/P1080081.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYaQsaJ8bMwO2wpQ1riDTonIJQwOcPJEdi6dRrUQ8m5ijrSiX1Eeu9LyKTd9jbGj5_qHpfiAZbNBts-EPhnKkbD_b1RhUEW9F0rRQDJIILLHj8wCBoWfIUyIdxb7-FntLc8v_nkpuK8BKE4-tKLKREoGSxcjEdK7xVDXUWRrumuQZ2YX3H4ZWYnA/w640-h426/P1080081.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> … and some boardwalks </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiM340a-0SmFg6tpYGjI0E7l8MduW5XFcuLxDOCaFDSsdNopM7t8n9NuPSs8O1SELtJpmNe6duhSFcuyWEovhksnqvHdX7oIqdcIp-gMTfV2OUUXfIocNCF4b2u4uyJYGhxflMEJPui7rvvyreSFFjanykAmbSgn22yzUEkEas1gg1AJbAn4aqGw/s2307/IMG_5204.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2307" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiM340a-0SmFg6tpYGjI0E7l8MduW5XFcuLxDOCaFDSsdNopM7t8n9NuPSs8O1SELtJpmNe6duhSFcuyWEovhksnqvHdX7oIqdcIp-gMTfV2OUUXfIocNCF4b2u4uyJYGhxflMEJPui7rvvyreSFFjanykAmbSgn22yzUEkEas1gg1AJbAn4aqGw/w640-h426/IMG_5204.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the lake’s edge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXM5gZxtQ2pSbFA2YLmaFcyb1V48mJ0J-Mi6u03zxrocTE2H43KcWhcaiUIEgO0iey72Nmp22TMQ4BcbieJtK4mDMVTXwNjaSb4X799gQ-HvfKZZVXt2VSYMEDfJEVKN9BdRw6vL39Qc1UzIJj4qRWOhqwUuPlSNQQFka1cd5bwQvZlYxaXnOw1Y/s4032/IMG_3482.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXM5gZxtQ2pSbFA2YLmaFcyb1V48mJ0J-Mi6u03zxrocTE2H43KcWhcaiUIEgO0iey72Nmp22TMQ4BcbieJtK4mDMVTXwNjaSb4X799gQ-HvfKZZVXt2VSYMEDfJEVKN9BdRw6vL39Qc1UzIJj4qRWOhqwUuPlSNQQFka1cd5bwQvZlYxaXnOw1Y/w640-h480/IMG_3482.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Flash' accommodation, somewhere along the road …</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Having completed the circumnavigation of Lake Hayes, we returned to Arrowtown by the same route as we had come. We never made it to Queenstown. We finished our ride with an icecream at Patagonia, and returned to the cottage. <br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tuesday 29 November – Day 2 in Arrowtown – Frankton to Queenstown<br /></h3><p>Since we didn’t make it to Queenstown the day before, we decided to go there by the lakeside track that leaves from Frankton. It is a lovely track, lots of trees, and close to the lake. Pretty much flat, except for a few humps. </p><p>We biked that track on our <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2014/05/arrowtown-queenstown-and-kelvin-heights.html" target="_blank">very first South Island trip</a> with the non-electric folders in April 2014. I was amused, when I looked up the blog I wrote then, that this time, John took a photo in the exact same spot as he did then. Even the yellow dinghy was there! </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t-6XXZRBTjd5IUjK5y1XYHbHOq7HBWvcwyOchBWHBoorzhsgK2F0WROre1AgbJbMjCxsNy_lQvqmMOhq2zQRZUYdCfJr9K2E-9NbYFQJiS8zT3oxaX9P9MY4MzmiWM8hCCffnVhoPlPq2Gn71l5x9qJqBO6ZOILwjaQAj7Qj6gipj8UVtvFSmlA/s2306/IMG_5208.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t-6XXZRBTjd5IUjK5y1XYHbHOq7HBWvcwyOchBWHBoorzhsgK2F0WROre1AgbJbMjCxsNy_lQvqmMOhq2zQRZUYdCfJr9K2E-9NbYFQJiS8zT3oxaX9P9MY4MzmiWM8hCCffnVhoPlPq2Gn71l5x9qJqBO6ZOILwjaQAj7Qj6gipj8UVtvFSmlA/w640-h426/IMG_5208.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same tree, same dinghy as in April 2014! Even the weather is similar ...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We had left fairly early, as the forecast was for rain by the middle of the day, and we got to Queenstown by 11 am. The track goes through some of the Botanic Gardens.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC7N1Uo4UtoWUr8o8_Jet52tCXpZCehoS_2vFnF9zsezSlhomGSH5jlTc3cq8EDPaoTb_7KJhLELgIb4AEF8U261AoG8DYVQSSdeMiJKpVRxbA1WElxgZE8Dv_LVf58P8ARVpQazr7BU7taoiYzTXVUulOoCBy9eLrlAX176JD_yWIyaE9-JXoCU/s2306/IMG_5211.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC7N1Uo4UtoWUr8o8_Jet52tCXpZCehoS_2vFnF9zsezSlhomGSH5jlTc3cq8EDPaoTb_7KJhLELgIb4AEF8U261AoG8DYVQSSdeMiJKpVRxbA1WElxgZE8Dv_LVf58P8ARVpQazr7BU7taoiYzTXVUulOoCBy9eLrlAX176JD_yWIyaE9-JXoCU/w640-h426/IMG_5211.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather was starting to look a little gloomy</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD7YgHWn3o4f92lJinNlGZ58GD6EgpQ6S11Wuo_8sddUvriPgp4DayGA09ZmiUAMOlLIAj8s60b3aeEdi4UUO5i7a7o3teGYa9VYXhrcWTVPIVH-P5Lg949S1sVm63JLrluUU-aibZWgf2FtEsYww6i2Nh-I34B2nHtN42P_91409p1n1cA6GqE8/s2303/P1080085.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2303" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD7YgHWn3o4f92lJinNlGZ58GD6EgpQ6S11Wuo_8sddUvriPgp4DayGA09ZmiUAMOlLIAj8s60b3aeEdi4UUO5i7a7o3teGYa9VYXhrcWTVPIVH-P5Lg949S1sVm63JLrluUU-aibZWgf2FtEsYww6i2Nh-I34B2nHtN42P_91409p1n1cA6GqE8/w426-h640/P1080085.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track through the Botanic Gardens</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The waterfront between the Bot Gardens and the town is being improved so it was rather messy. We walked our bikes through the area where all the cafes are. We saw a busker who was playing the guitar and singing, and was “accompanied” by his dog (an Old English sheep dog, I think), who ‘sang’ along. There was quite a crowd of people around him watching. We didn’t stick around.</p><p>After brunch at “Pier”, we thought of biking further along the waterfront, but it started to spit, so we made a quick ride back to the car instead. It rained on the way back, but it wasn’t too bad. </p><p>Back in Arrowtown, we went for a walk in the village, despite the light rain, and had an ice cream at Patagonia (one scoop in a little tub – much easier to manage than a cone). We looked into Nadia Lim’s Royalburn shop, and got some Royalburn Alpine honey, which was delicious.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD579MC5mNMS2Qv9iTqBLFchjqfBGax65662fQiOvWUZIQ6CbT6k97oZ7CuLdNcdsP3ZR-s3S-1_13KozaX3RxlsC-BKgWF6SehYPKKgjJEqo_KgVGjY1iy52Qiyp8LjqtQkRRWBa3jGInGmvjBZEJrvWSkDRgWFltJA5HJBfiRrHg1cGDTrvdbM/s2306/IMG_0161.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD579MC5mNMS2Qv9iTqBLFchjqfBGax65662fQiOvWUZIQ6CbT6k97oZ7CuLdNcdsP3ZR-s3S-1_13KozaX3RxlsC-BKgWF6SehYPKKgjJEqo_KgVGjY1iy52Qiyp8LjqtQkRRWBa3jGInGmvjBZEJrvWSkDRgWFltJA5HJBfiRrHg1cGDTrvdbM/w426-h640/IMG_0161.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the lovely tree-lined streets in Arrowtown</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Wednesday 30 November – Day 3 in Arrowtown – Kingston<br /></h3><p>It was still raining, so not a day for cycling. I suggested we drive to Kingston. Along the way, we had a wee nosey around the Lake Hayes Estate – a flash new subdivision – then headed south towards Kingston.</p><p>It’s a beautiful drive, despite the rain. The road skirts the southern half of Lake Wakatipu for much of the way. The rocks and just general landscape are fantastic.</p><p>Kingston is famous for its vintage steam train,<a href="https://thekingstonflyer.nz/" target="_blank"> <i>The Kingston Flyer</i>.</a> A passenger service operated between Kingston and Invercargill from the late 1870s, but by 1950 passenger numbers declined and in the 1970s, the Kingston Flyer became a tourist operation. This suffered a series of ups and downs, but in 2022, a Grand Opening Ceremony was held to celebrate the return of commercially run public train rides on the Kingston Flyer, from Kingston to Fairlight. It appears it now runs only on Sunday afternoons, from August to May.</p><p>Being a Wednesday, we found the site deserted: we took photos through the fence of a shunting locomotive and a passenger coach. The vintage steam locomotive was nowhere to be seen, and will have been in the shed. The former Kingston Railway Station, which is now a café and bar, was all closed up. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0_XJlK4uRdfRiU0smw01qL5tgcpGlw9dCOtH_QTI3s99lI-PCLgUZjH0j4YgLYCd9wroB7JVpv8zJQB2bGYFvcLn9ne2dfWzymkjHLs0EC9sdJlc57byQly63ZDOehKEjvJvwAdQWEmJUf78MzeEEeOxOyDIYwdhVXmywdw_FbtdQh6qOHueh7Q/s4032/IMG_3485.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0_XJlK4uRdfRiU0smw01qL5tgcpGlw9dCOtH_QTI3s99lI-PCLgUZjH0j4YgLYCd9wroB7JVpv8zJQB2bGYFvcLn9ne2dfWzymkjHLs0EC9sdJlc57byQly63ZDOehKEjvJvwAdQWEmJUf78MzeEEeOxOyDIYwdhVXmywdw_FbtdQh6qOHueh7Q/w640-h480/IMG_3485.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shunting locomotive and a passenger coach, with a guard compartment (DP) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6ozl_iLT2lUoeuYJfTV2ArmGjCNYY8QbrwZWfTfSXmc0knZ6lah2BycgKj4i72T4xI7Owi1qiXkQAjTQ2ueXXvN3zNg-1qyHNXduIr5c8JuCjRZulyBnlYSFpcNBdq7zcLaSncsDaVl0pvMyVFObcWvcO584cK1nQuEtWpx1Cx8EqcbO1VattTE/s3926/IMG_3486.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="3926" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6ozl_iLT2lUoeuYJfTV2ArmGjCNYY8QbrwZWfTfSXmc0knZ6lah2BycgKj4i72T4xI7Owi1qiXkQAjTQ2ueXXvN3zNg-1qyHNXduIr5c8JuCjRZulyBnlYSFpcNBdq7zcLaSncsDaVl0pvMyVFObcWvcO584cK1nQuEtWpx1Cx8EqcbO1VattTE/w640-h480/IMG_3486.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The former railway station is now a café and bar. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>We drove through the small township, and in one street we discovered a fence line made up of all kinds of big wheels and cogs – locomotive and train wheels, but also steam engine wheels, I think. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNA5Mhsz39gtPzvvycDCTs_2dpOiCvN1PQfvYlone7DJdMd-N3N77-z0tqEP3ltzUaD6NPV0lW98xevmPL4_tAnGp7qNps6yuv3akUSSm8PSYni1LcexcGuWXf4L8PLmTktgeoJ6lYdswFAbXAYyIeRghPUzwWhHpsj4k4mwUtONjKKP1HM1gxG0/s4008/IMG_3483%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2238" data-original-width="4008" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNA5Mhsz39gtPzvvycDCTs_2dpOiCvN1PQfvYlone7DJdMd-N3N77-z0tqEP3ltzUaD6NPV0lW98xevmPL4_tAnGp7qNps6yuv3akUSSm8PSYni1LcexcGuWXf4L8PLmTktgeoJ6lYdswFAbXAYyIeRghPUzwWhHpsj4k4mwUtONjKKP1HM1gxG0/w640-h358/IMG_3483%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting fence line</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We carried on further south, and at the end of the lake there are lots of moraine build-ups. The valley was obviously carved out by the glaciers that created the lake. We got to Garston and thought we would have coffee there, but the “café” was just a van, albeit a pretty fancy van, named “The Coffee Bomb”. It was surrounded by very wet tables and chairs, and lots of puddles, as it was still raining. So we took our coffee, slices, and cheese roll back to the car to consume.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddfoZm20JyKbVmQYLsNpl9glPzDkjcCx2ucwBPw6n9pYsjLw4J9M_TfOIWpAtOIPo2fNRqusPpJVj91VddtT7WyITfMXFzcti2-tktz6IP4JRDIgtt7e_Z3VAxcJZR1tGhQO5OIO0JYdqE2QBRWnhxS19Afc99NCVmi8pDf18NCwuE3Y3UVywBZU/s3990/IMG_3487.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="3990" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddfoZm20JyKbVmQYLsNpl9glPzDkjcCx2ucwBPw6n9pYsjLw4J9M_TfOIWpAtOIPo2fNRqusPpJVj91VddtT7WyITfMXFzcti2-tktz6IP4JRDIgtt7e_Z3VAxcJZR1tGhQO5OIO0JYdqE2QBRWnhxS19Afc99NCVmi8pDf18NCwuE3Y3UVywBZU/w640-h480/IMG_3487.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The Coffee Bomb in Garston (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was an interesting display of photos and information about Garston and the geology – John took photos of most of it. Garston is the most inland village in NZ. Village is a big word for this place, there is just the main road with about three buildings, a loop of road that goes behind it, and a school! I suspect a school bus collects kids from the surrounding farms.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirATqBZYpYuJd1SQMh_iidM9qJHHJQysDGJUQF6z_L9pnlmi-Sq0dr3e5nbOG8x_R0vfyw_6wKLWT-JvjvS5bk_WxnsupY8zFhTNLTfQTaJwE8Omi0F9c6KI4DXGdJcum-E2tdoV1UVYr9id4fqnMXbya5ff7TSddfpdRSxQLHehjhKPkVqr8f2Y/s2306/IMG_5222.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirATqBZYpYuJd1SQMh_iidM9qJHHJQysDGJUQF6z_L9pnlmi-Sq0dr3e5nbOG8x_R0vfyw_6wKLWT-JvjvS5bk_WxnsupY8zFhTNLTfQTaJwE8Omi0F9c6KI4DXGdJcum-E2tdoV1UVYr9id4fqnMXbya5ff7TSddfpdRSxQLHehjhKPkVqr8f2Y/w640-h426/IMG_5222.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of eight information boards about Garston</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As we headed back to Queenstown, the rain stopped. On the way back, the scenery was even more magnificent than on the way down. We stopped near an outcrop of rocks to take photos of the “Devil’s Staircase”.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLQGsBmeOHWc7F96RdCdJS-HwTNckEf-r_-8Pr9W7sbDbApNlF5CRDBfmy-aymETj7JNMDS7MOgwCvvBqUd8YEWLPQOqAZj6ooyXa-D1ep0YOL-mz5FT8zgd-OLcUJ2k3jLC4d6Nug0sOkrnYC1NQrNbV199EZ3asLZR6FlUyLBfWY-TKdrYD2HE/s4032/IMG_3489.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLQGsBmeOHWc7F96RdCdJS-HwTNckEf-r_-8Pr9W7sbDbApNlF5CRDBfmy-aymETj7JNMDS7MOgwCvvBqUd8YEWLPQOqAZj6ooyXa-D1ep0YOL-mz5FT8zgd-OLcUJ2k3jLC4d6Nug0sOkrnYC1NQrNbV199EZ3asLZR6FlUyLBfWY-TKdrYD2HE/w640-h480/IMG_3489.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Devil’s Staircase (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfvzBL5dG8LqoNS8wy05z6s2fdW2Uvma-bg4MQak503TbK8wPH6_RsL5WGXnfex9uOgYSSXtS4Vs4Jmx3tNzoBJu4hyG1dIEMoc7LaNjVdeMyfdmddVZyrq3_PVbAWq_ypwtxjr8b7abwziMwUlS0HovmbwoTTboZ6KwITI1jOplhqgRJpETRSwc/s3923/IMG_3490.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2942" data-original-width="3923" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfvzBL5dG8LqoNS8wy05z6s2fdW2Uvma-bg4MQak503TbK8wPH6_RsL5WGXnfex9uOgYSSXtS4Vs4Jmx3tNzoBJu4hyG1dIEMoc7LaNjVdeMyfdmddVZyrq3_PVbAWq_ypwtxjr8b7abwziMwUlS0HovmbwoTTboZ6KwITI1jOplhqgRJpETRSwc/w640-h480/IMG_3490.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the lake from the Devil’s Staircase (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYSZHI-jQqX7I8tZk_DCKHmPqQWou8P1bv_TIvNVPBT2kuo91-v1sH-NX6-2PSbSnemsBnDiwI__9oyZ14EOaZ-lDG32TshcoFt1OjEtJI53Wtq-5L3r2P7Y2rKbr0ykbqfquRzjwLOatMlc7SXuuXoW70PjeyFuV4Zi-ItM4xi_mrefZ8pwX5Fo/s3963/IMG_3491.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2972" data-original-width="3963" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYSZHI-jQqX7I8tZk_DCKHmPqQWou8P1bv_TIvNVPBT2kuo91-v1sH-NX6-2PSbSnemsBnDiwI__9oyZ14EOaZ-lDG32TshcoFt1OjEtJI53Wtq-5L3r2P7Y2rKbr0ykbqfquRzjwLOatMlc7SXuuXoW70PjeyFuV4Zi-ItM4xi_mrefZ8pwX5Fo/w640-h480/IMG_3491.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road snaking along the edge of Lake Wakatipu from the Devil’s Staircase (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Before going back to our cottage, I stopped in Arrowtown to buy a book I had spotted the day before. We were heading to Ohau the next day, and if it was going to be raining while we were there, I wanted something decent to read!</p><br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-36262331335349893972023-05-25T16:38:00.000+12:002023-05-25T16:38:11.869+12:00<p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Manawatu River Pathway – Palmerston North <br /></h2><p>To continue my catch-up on the out-of-town rides we did last year … </p><p>On the weekend of 13 to 15 August 2022, we spent a couple of days in Ashhurst and Palmerston North. The impetus for this trip was the 50th Anniversary Dance of the Ashhurst Scottish Country Dance Club on Sunday 14 August. But of course, we figured we could make it into a weekend trip and do some cycling. The Manawatu River Pathway in Palmerston North appealed. It is described in the Kennetts’ book “Short Easy Bike Rides”. It is a sealed shared pathway, which goes for about 10 kms alongside the Manawatu River. </p><p>Saturday was a lovely fine, but cold, day. We left home about 9:10 am, as planned. John had loaded the bikes into the car the night before, and the car was charged to 100%. Ready to go.</p><p>We stopped at Otaki River Cottage Café for coffee and a scone. We sat in what we thought was the best spot to sit – an old couch under the veranda, catching the lovely sun. But later in the day, when we got to our accommodation, John discovered that the back of his jacket was covered in long furry hair. We wondered how he’d got that. On inspection of my jersey, it was also covered in fur. It had been on the couch at Otaki – Yikes! Someone had obviously been sitting there with their large, long-haired pooch! It took ages to get it all off. </p><p>We got to Palmerston North just before midday. We turned off on Fitzherbert Ave, and there was an access to the track from the the Manawatu Riverside Park. So we parked and unloaded the bikes. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT3zakcu3A6bBnXnDr1hg7xCKVI2gxOgS-pHPpnw40tMhXxcqx3b-jR1wxivAUHYwoKnkwhzcf4QhOoqPwDW0e9hqLxfwecIICUbl3QUDE3ffMhm7w0W7yFRxMi3O1XtSMwwJzMmSRKU563Ms5eG-THpe7oEg1LsRQtksGKMtByGRJhpqjRFUSWI/s2306/IMG_5138.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT3zakcu3A6bBnXnDr1hg7xCKVI2gxOgS-pHPpnw40tMhXxcqx3b-jR1wxivAUHYwoKnkwhzcf4QhOoqPwDW0e9hqLxfwecIICUbl3QUDE3ffMhm7w0W7yFRxMi3O1XtSMwwJzMmSRKU563Ms5eG-THpe7oEg1LsRQtksGKMtByGRJhpqjRFUSWI/w640-h426/IMG_5138.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We unloaded the bikes in Fitzherbert Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLwBjK9eTO-IOEUrkKh6_6cDdgYeb3D1N6hZsWLY6MlCDZGoU82eY3w0pXStyspvXxzdHIsQFbm9nAE12nPDIyGtbxbihbqaOuyYjZep6K9pZdPAeL1SFRltG7ZirSHxvcPGOcgYMcqSH_nIUdBYXORHsVrpIllPMxrwN1pg3yyuP7ww35vd9jm0/s4032/IMG_3309.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLwBjK9eTO-IOEUrkKh6_6cDdgYeb3D1N6hZsWLY6MlCDZGoU82eY3w0pXStyspvXxzdHIsQFbm9nAE12nPDIyGtbxbihbqaOuyYjZep6K9pZdPAeL1SFRltG7ZirSHxvcPGOcgYMcqSH_nIUdBYXORHsVrpIllPMxrwN1pg3yyuP7ww35vd9jm0/w480-h640/IMG_3309.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bare wintry trees in the park were beautiful against the blue sky (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>We first biked towards the right, towards Maxwell’s Line. The track was lovely, wide and smooth and mostly flat, and it skirted the river. In the open, it was nice in the sun, but where there were trees and shade, it was abysmally cold. I was glad I had brought my neck warmer. </p><p>Some distance down, we found a footbridge, He Ara Kotahi, which was heading towards another track. It is a commuter link connecting Palmerston North to Linton Military Camp and Massey University. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACPAmQdbm6ZNRmespkJcB-ejDKkJ3bqjoqT75tOngZwy-swmIdzO3UK6QUMsKWEHT4sJt1XH4rYHIHZ3Dm658VZ-j6D2GPu3wNciDbXpzMCOt1MkLWv1dwNIPHF6HfP5S9fA92CUVUmcQhuD47yvvF_F-1OZtK2CoixYCTS__fPUCSZo9rcH3CkA/s4032/IMG_3310.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACPAmQdbm6ZNRmespkJcB-ejDKkJ3bqjoqT75tOngZwy-swmIdzO3UK6QUMsKWEHT4sJt1XH4rYHIHZ3Dm658VZ-j6D2GPu3wNciDbXpzMCOt1MkLWv1dwNIPHF6HfP5S9fA92CUVUmcQhuD47yvvF_F-1OZtK2CoixYCTS__fPUCSZo9rcH3CkA/w640-h480/IMG_3310.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He Ara Kotahi footbridge (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>We went across the bridge, but came back to the main track, which we rode to the end, at the Ahimate Reserve, which was once home to the Ahimate Pā, and there is a series of <i>pou</i> to mark this.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmhM2IEDahTW6x2e6jPljpnewDlucqRziIoH7_bMBmV8H94H_6R-0ldUeCdgWv5UIKPHSAnyREHppkM2knY6nJz-JNQrDWMvHLQMWKHbmH_FynCK5dxDFnnQL6DUHqK-QbSj4PGoNsV74K8x5m_UDikhSQ1vSL3kuldtub-edDq3VmA5i-BsFZX4/s4032/IMG_3312.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmhM2IEDahTW6x2e6jPljpnewDlucqRziIoH7_bMBmV8H94H_6R-0ldUeCdgWv5UIKPHSAnyREHppkM2knY6nJz-JNQrDWMvHLQMWKHbmH_FynCK5dxDFnnQL6DUHqK-QbSj4PGoNsV74K8x5m_UDikhSQ1vSL3kuldtub-edDq3VmA5i-BsFZX4/w480-h640/IMG_3312.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The <i>pou</i> in the Ahimate Reserve (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRtsDX4ZM2QD2m4cplqD627rwx816YOqn-DbBQ30sg0ZiJCQzd5LUQJWKltvYlVRJ4a2sp0k77izKnm8sVIk959yxcg37L8VO3J8LG3etnGAJ7Jq_hV29l426sGqnHam4y4Bi20wcZwZHIkZtHS1elXMg6jFIHjpHLjR06JWdkKv3cy065cfRqVA/s4032/IMG_3313.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRtsDX4ZM2QD2m4cplqD627rwx816YOqn-DbBQ30sg0ZiJCQzd5LUQJWKltvYlVRJ4a2sp0k77izKnm8sVIk959yxcg37L8VO3J8LG3etnGAJ7Jq_hV29l426sGqnHam4y4Bi20wcZwZHIkZtHS1elXMg6jFIHjpHLjR06JWdkKv3cy065cfRqVA/w640-h480/IMG_3313.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wattle trees were in full bloom (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Here, the track deteriorated to a muddy path, so we turned around and biked back, and found our way to Victoria Park, where we stopped for a bite of lunch at the Café Esplanade. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUb1ndDhssCsv6Gsz4F4n3ZSmU8zv2i419MoYI6KKREV0uTX-RjwvmBBVf7D-bYfSUcdYhjArvEGQNKskUYTz1GXh_gEoLv2DOpHb1fatcIqUZFpGUtBSigi0y3gGNE63ebMpyflVjFfxd2XBrfse1pgHvUw9R1AdvHAZBRz19yWtn4LLQzktHKk/s2306/IMG_5139.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUb1ndDhssCsv6Gsz4F4n3ZSmU8zv2i419MoYI6KKREV0uTX-RjwvmBBVf7D-bYfSUcdYhjArvEGQNKskUYTz1GXh_gEoLv2DOpHb1fatcIqUZFpGUtBSigi0y3gGNE63ebMpyflVjFfxd2XBrfse1pgHvUw9R1AdvHAZBRz19yWtn4LLQzktHKk/w640-h426/IMG_5139.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stop for lunch at the Café Esplanade</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After that we headed to the other end of the track. This part of the track had fewer trees shading it, or at least the trees were bare, so it felt much more pleasant in the sun. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywvQULl9ZLyll6tcW1IRS93K1JUrvPPYpSmjK5RmeQxvu7AZP_M3HhkFuS20OMM-rbH4DzWUtMz8F1LmUBfIgkXclL90tJzfYg0mSajluI4uUe8KuYrB9pIiX1QDK6GOjMlmmfsgTEI05MJaGTH_bQrQneGRDULjJKbB-UY0LDNNDJTYX5z4XQ6A/s2306/IMG_5141.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywvQULl9ZLyll6tcW1IRS93K1JUrvPPYpSmjK5RmeQxvu7AZP_M3HhkFuS20OMM-rbH4DzWUtMz8F1LmUBfIgkXclL90tJzfYg0mSajluI4uUe8KuYrB9pIiX1QDK6GOjMlmmfsgTEI05MJaGTH_bQrQneGRDULjJKbB-UY0LDNNDJTYX5z4XQ6A/w640-h426/IMG_5141.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely avenue of winter-bare trees</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>We found an arrangement of tracks, in the form of Māori designs. This, I believe, was a reserve called Te Motu o Poutoa, as a set of display board told us. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Pl890E3aCGdagmJjMZ79IzyWZEdcHNgVi6E7Qp8mA-cO8Llx-w1dc1-tB6uIiBdBEYd7McnOfjr2nVpb6TR50WMzpF-alQyI_Skyol0iuZivmfepS_mZHDMgYeXGm8S--3DUNZaHCQ91mus4eGG607qmscIAiquZ-rXYm4GoTAWciwr4lMl8PhE/s4032/IMG_3317.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Pl890E3aCGdagmJjMZ79IzyWZEdcHNgVi6E7Qp8mA-cO8Llx-w1dc1-tB6uIiBdBEYd7McnOfjr2nVpb6TR50WMzpF-alQyI_Skyol0iuZivmfepS_mZHDMgYeXGm8S--3DUNZaHCQ91mus4eGG607qmscIAiquZ-rXYm4GoTAWciwr4lMl8PhE/w640-h480/IMG_3317.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The display board shows the (planned) design of the track </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I7IIQxdlwVOBKa24jU5rbCBkPJlcTPKFuQLJ1UXWiexYMUQbhT-AnvU4qF6X3RvH72WHNNSfsod8JxFp8_QlfiqhUCmJYA4EP3RiOqGnDzsJ_Tno3zNb7Bl61xhDKPU5ekbjN5FcCHMB02lpps_qDYHW_i_xbrKpp19AHUwwwSBKZKxgcQpmqtI/s2306/IMG_5144.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I7IIQxdlwVOBKa24jU5rbCBkPJlcTPKFuQLJ1UXWiexYMUQbhT-AnvU4qF6X3RvH72WHNNSfsod8JxFp8_QlfiqhUCmJYA4EP3RiOqGnDzsJ_Tno3zNb7Bl61xhDKPU5ekbjN5FcCHMB02lpps_qDYHW_i_xbrKpp19AHUwwwSBKZKxgcQpmqtI/w640-h426/IMG_5144.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the track actually looked like</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We got to the far end of the track, the Riverside Drive end. We sat on a bench in the sun, before returning to the car. We had biked 28 km all up.<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdHA3vJaf9nqOA5lIPxeKeOW8uihPjaLB8xqpStR-cVSgGBLaod87B6zZPUOTHAXTsm3hsmPCHBE7uOb_rWbCpu3BjkeUky6i8JUT1B8EJ2jkMOheQO_ZBFSzSozEbCedYFRFMO-jdAEl3uwGzFJSwEgyiMHEjRnjVdcDHiiHbYhUf0cE9zt80hc/s4032/IMG_3316.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdHA3vJaf9nqOA5lIPxeKeOW8uihPjaLB8xqpStR-cVSgGBLaod87B6zZPUOTHAXTsm3hsmPCHBE7uOb_rWbCpu3BjkeUky6i8JUT1B8EJ2jkMOheQO_ZBFSzSozEbCedYFRFMO-jdAEl3uwGzFJSwEgyiMHEjRnjVdcDHiiHbYhUf0cE9zt80hc/w640-h480/IMG_3316.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Enjoying the sun and the views (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz15niWMpZkMjl9jqQDh2xvW8TwktrI8L5NYpuQKP4hjyHh8MIvTyydtVhAXQEW8Pd1LLa88698foBIU73O04ppNf9q0B8dZwSKKN_4NL0OdWuI_uskibMnUJ8XbqimqwTEkrjvoKkme2HmJNoQ17HUlOZ0adq4YCnq6WlVolhLu-ytFQZAtTEBDA/s2306/IMG_5143.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz15niWMpZkMjl9jqQDh2xvW8TwktrI8L5NYpuQKP4hjyHh8MIvTyydtVhAXQEW8Pd1LLa88698foBIU73O04ppNf9q0B8dZwSKKN_4NL0OdWuI_uskibMnUJ8XbqimqwTEkrjvoKkme2HmJNoQ17HUlOZ0adq4YCnq6WlVolhLu-ytFQZAtTEBDA/w640-h426/IMG_5143.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The return ride – looking towards Te Apiti Wind Farm </td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>John found it quite hard to get the bikes back in the car – he was very tired – but wouldn’t let me help, so I patiently waited in the car. He said he’d been struggling a bit while biking. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98TXK7NBdE0F7aBsd6sfxw5uyz6bdEMDXQDYXrR7UdaLPJoNN4f2fbNRbPEsP7IEHWlb_h_QgK84-UvjZ-LuKt3KyhN9qTG16enbn9mkHR8laUYEIBTR3FRXB_X_cmjm7gL_7Wi1Dj8jatr3Z-yAEHLxJFJh8VD5vx4eLxs90jBnZrilor09e0QQ/s4032/IMG_3320.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98TXK7NBdE0F7aBsd6sfxw5uyz6bdEMDXQDYXrR7UdaLPJoNN4f2fbNRbPEsP7IEHWlb_h_QgK84-UvjZ-LuKt3KyhN9qTG16enbn9mkHR8laUYEIBTR3FRXB_X_cmjm7gL_7Wi1Dj8jatr3Z-yAEHLxJFJh8VD5vx4eLxs90jBnZrilor09e0QQ/w640-h480/IMG_3320.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of a struggle loading the bikes back into the car (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We headed to the AirBnB we had booked in Ashhurst, and after a while headed back to Palmerston North in search of dinner. We walked around The Square looking for a suitable restaurant. It was so-o-o-o cold, walking around. I cursed myself for not bringing along the lovely scarf/shawl I gave myself for my birthday last year – I really needed it here! </p><p>On our walk around The Square, we noticed that the tops of the trees were absolutely covered in birds, settling down for the night. They made a huge racket! <br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRJ6wQN7SrSp4aAEWr67qJ_isUQPEzFmQ3YShj1GMErFyalrvgGlhFnOSNko7psTGVV05rq0WwbD3To45rjh-dt3PtcYbZ7LuPt4IH5r1fMYIrNkVJDmP1LYONH4WfruKDoZyoOr9lMerQlfINE8qCSiSvlnzhaS1h1Pc7-X1RQsTdz6VKq-grv4/s2049/IMG_5981.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRJ6wQN7SrSp4aAEWr67qJ_isUQPEzFmQ3YShj1GMErFyalrvgGlhFnOSNko7psTGVV05rq0WwbD3To45rjh-dt3PtcYbZ7LuPt4IH5r1fMYIrNkVJDmP1LYONH4WfruKDoZyoOr9lMerQlfINE8qCSiSvlnzhaS1h1Pc7-X1RQsTdz6VKq-grv4/w640-h480/IMG_5981.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flock of birds settling down for the night (Click on the photo to enlarge it)</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>After dinner, we walked through The Square, and took photos of the illuminations. Back at our accommodation, John took a photo of the full moon. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeZv1r97cNPOPwjeXtQQKMUWozZZ15x_nMvwSJR84S0RxLcysruJwOFGqRX6ncOZVC1VrD_LF_I5477mijvtDMh8M6NMaGbsmRUFGRwY1UA9_r_eiS7Bumqm2dyt_kce_ryZ7bRNd7TQzzR2PO8ajnAacWqydk6o1BqHL0yEw6YJdWDSUac-bgJ4/s4032/IMG_3324.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeZv1r97cNPOPwjeXtQQKMUWozZZ15x_nMvwSJR84S0RxLcysruJwOFGqRX6ncOZVC1VrD_LF_I5477mijvtDMh8M6NMaGbsmRUFGRwY1UA9_r_eiS7Bumqm2dyt_kce_ryZ7bRNd7TQzzR2PO8ajnAacWqydk6o1BqHL0yEw6YJdWDSUac-bgJ4/w640-h480/IMG_3324.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> John in The Square (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jSrmngE3qaAaPktT3EfGqAurSkiMa-YwdQlxa1uj-vjIB7622UESsbN6OkGOPQA3O8K7E87udlKUP4SNFoWNk2JMvXsSPEDe98w3hey97LsF_a52gSBsmVVt3-WBKA9C4Ra4C8WipAlQZPUUHDyZklCVV2CdyLgohSpynbVSAw-7YCM2MrjQ8CY/s1540/IMG_5150.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1540" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jSrmngE3qaAaPktT3EfGqAurSkiMa-YwdQlxa1uj-vjIB7622UESsbN6OkGOPQA3O8K7E87udlKUP4SNFoWNk2JMvXsSPEDe98w3hey97LsF_a52gSBsmVVt3-WBKA9C4Ra4C8WipAlQZPUUHDyZklCVV2CdyLgohSpynbVSAw-7YCM2MrjQ8CY/w640-h480/IMG_5150.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full moon – a pretty good photo, taken without a tripod, telescope or special lens</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was a freezing cold night, and the heatpump in our accommodation didn’t manage to warm us up properly all evening! It must have been the coldest night of the year! <br /></p><p>On Sunday, we went into Palmy for brunch, then in the afternoon, I went to the Ashhurst Anniversary Dance. John wasn’t feeling up to it, and he was also still worried about the potential of Covid being around, so I went on my own. As usual, I had a lovely time, enjoying the music, the dancing, and the company of other dancers. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaQ-I34E9mNlABUPzra5VoDPanI8qPvOTBViNN43ikl8XDig3a-r_I6CqrzDVDZMAUSSZcPZxNlABjLUoJQ01nWpgzEmwa63_3jr0QyI2Kg-ukQmswElJooh7-vDJibfCLTPr303o4NYIaNku6frS0hlCsNF4M0z7LViVurkvJQCuVugeT12R99A/s3195/IMG_3330.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="3195" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaQ-I34E9mNlABUPzra5VoDPanI8qPvOTBViNN43ikl8XDig3a-r_I6CqrzDVDZMAUSSZcPZxNlABjLUoJQ01nWpgzEmwa63_3jr0QyI2Kg-ukQmswElJooh7-vDJibfCLTPr303o4NYIaNku6frS0hlCsNF4M0z7LViVurkvJQCuVugeT12R99A/w640-h308/IMG_3330.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ashhurst Scottish Country Dance Club Anniversary dance (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On Monday morning, we drove home via Pahiatua. It was very pretty countryside, deep gullies with native bush, and towards the tops of the hills, the enormous wind turbines of the Wind Farms – magnificent! It would have been nice to stop and take photos, but there were no suitable places to stop. </p><p>We stopped in Greytown for lunch, and after a walk around the shops, we pushed for home.</p><p>So that was our trip to Palmerston North and Ashhurst. It was nice for a short while, but I don't think we’ll be going there again in a hurry. It is not the most riveting place, though the Riverside trail would be nice to do in the summer. <br /></p><br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-14267356190712248962023-05-15T23:54:00.355+12:002023-05-16T01:40:06.767+12:00<p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Catch-up – May 2023</h1><p>It’s over a year since I last wrote anything on this blog. </p><p>Generally, our cycling has been much reduced in the past year or so. It has been mainly local rides – regular rides to our favourite café, Café Thyme in Johnsonville (6-8 km), and rides on the Kapiti Coast (30-50 km, both depending on route taken). Other explorations of Wellington Region tracks haven’t happened – for reasons of weather, Covid, or general health and lack of energy. </p><p>As for trips away from Wellington, there have been just a few. </p><p>The last trip I wrote up was our South Island holiday in November/December 2021. Since then, we have had a trip to Palmerston North, to bike the Manawatū River Shared Pathway in August 2022 and another holiday in the South Island in November/December 2022. In addition, we had a trip to Whanganui in February 2021, which I had planned to write up, but never did. </p><p>So let’s start with the least recent – the trip to Whanganui.<br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Whanganui Weekend – 19-22 February 2021</h2><p>Though we had planned to go to Whanganui for some biking <i>some time</i>, it was a last-minute decision when we did go. So on Friday 19 February, we made a late-ish start and got to Whanganui in the early afternoon, and headed straight to <a href="http://www.paloma.co.nz/" target="_blank">Paloma Gardens</a>.</p><p>My sister had told me about these gardens – a vast property consisting of several gardens, each with its own theme and micro-climate, collections of exotic plants, sculptures, pottery, and more. It is near Fordell, some 20 km out of Whanganui, and then another three kilometres on a fairly dodgy road. It was quite difficult to find, but very much worth the effort. </p><p>Once we found the way in – the entrance was not at all clear – we spent nearly two hours exploring the gardens. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3A9-rftpfK6xGd8iSI7W7MV1M-fV7ujER8GN7kPlE0_dsv_FRAtDIWGLIkIbUbyS6ChPH7gWdf6rUzFCGmi7fml-vapE_91HRQ2TkKnCJgVrqPsA78axpUUeZUjYa3jODdTJ5VoLApjadzzV0TX_61NPIXF4ENL-NNW5s6YwCPadfr7unzgDz20/s4032/IMG_2596.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3A9-rftpfK6xGd8iSI7W7MV1M-fV7ujER8GN7kPlE0_dsv_FRAtDIWGLIkIbUbyS6ChPH7gWdf6rUzFCGmi7fml-vapE_91HRQ2TkKnCJgVrqPsA78axpUUeZUjYa3jODdTJ5VoLApjadzzV0TX_61NPIXF4ENL-NNW5s6YwCPadfr7unzgDz20/w640-h480/IMG_2596.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of the gardens was pinned to the wall in the Tunnel House, above an honesty box for our $10 entry fees. (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />First, there was an area of palms of various sorts, and some amazing other plants, a small pond –no, a concrete trough – with enormous waterlilies, a tree with huge leaves and big fruit, and enormous agaves. Every so often there would displays of pottery on plinths or on the ground. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26M5ffwojrTX-Gia4njP5ZRfn1GgJZsxJ2VgqCQlT8q9Rob8x11tYo9uJ8PBGuS_44IPDZicu0dXsVv00vi4_lmOJg5sLa0K-KmYEQ_P3F4ldabX9BqUCg1cSyUtp2EuEPbhp_vzY1qPUgtpOlkqc4EvfYmy0BLDsNnHTiySeofgW6FBu1mEL93U/s4032/IMG_2597.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26M5ffwojrTX-Gia4njP5ZRfn1GgJZsxJ2VgqCQlT8q9Rob8x11tYo9uJ8PBGuS_44IPDZicu0dXsVv00vi4_lmOJg5sLa0K-KmYEQ_P3F4ldabX9BqUCg1cSyUtp2EuEPbhp_vzY1qPUgtpOlkqc4EvfYmy0BLDsNnHTiySeofgW6FBu1mEL93U/w640-h480/IMG_2597.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tree with huge leaves and large fruit … (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkLcyrC0JZLmhhSa2gI5d4p3XxdZGRx6uy8QdgCo7HCdO2HOC9ftOAO64Lh7hYrLwk09tWrlNpFnd_VOGi5n3XRlYHG0044h6wy37YlU-zN75QeLFRrNciSLLBVy5zb-sY3EqiYIGnbGUeeKc5axbz2keyGezIOgKI96w2xiQxLaLwlymRzYXHmM/s4032/IMG_2598.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkLcyrC0JZLmhhSa2gI5d4p3XxdZGRx6uy8QdgCo7HCdO2HOC9ftOAO64Lh7hYrLwk09tWrlNpFnd_VOGi5n3XRlYHG0044h6wy37YlU-zN75QeLFRrNciSLLBVy5zb-sY3EqiYIGnbGUeeKc5axbz2keyGezIOgKI96w2xiQxLaLwlymRzYXHmM/w640-h480/IMG_2598.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… enormous waterlilies in a concrete trough … (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cXAXO_W__RrPcXkKxxJ2shKmWleOEvicva1zVxpWogtpjWhLIwwiGqW_i3YHx85Sugr8yVzWLVFpejqac0w2JDtum1yaiNgIFHzkrXkFghctzs0Uzxi1CG3HM950FGzFQX2J6nioS-aYsIJ2kkpvN91u0VQjHjMjFUAXvsH4wP1axNh2NU6pzlQ/s2304/FCBC0124-BF38-481E-B5C6-B541FB4BDC22.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cXAXO_W__RrPcXkKxxJ2shKmWleOEvicva1zVxpWogtpjWhLIwwiGqW_i3YHx85Sugr8yVzWLVFpejqac0w2JDtum1yaiNgIFHzkrXkFghctzs0Uzxi1CG3HM950FGzFQX2J6nioS-aYsIJ2kkpvN91u0VQjHjMjFUAXvsH4wP1axNh2NU6pzlQ/w640-h426/FCBC0124-BF38-481E-B5C6-B541FB4BDC22.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… whimsical sculptures …</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVCJzbtUPZjqjs0n4fv5TLxFBhkpDXDcqNoSvRW6TtvGxCa41saS_dhwhs7GirqclPH5ya4mZbBM2HZ5hLLi0YU606Vi6CLPlJHXKLLDK9kLE1GyojJFKpi8n9aABQMF96MOuHtUaQ-71rDBgenDi43YXm4dRGUHclaYIamByquJcmdcNE6QiXLA/w640-h426/22D71AC4-91B5-4D78-B80B-AFE84DC28983.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and pottery on plinths</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgdyXMOxEzZzPN2VUg_JjXCuODZB-2aUCspOXtWI_GF6o4Nfd3IpZV3hFgWm4ltet9hkldTgCJogGBFHYQ79F6IQ7Ap4uM9wu76JyjFgSo5lBJGXJKANrrRBkcFUfCpAF7ljVkrPu5G7zAP1l7WyieGv2us10Tdw2HMdLbi9OdJetkiZDkIeQ-bw/s4032/IMG_2600.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgdyXMOxEzZzPN2VUg_JjXCuODZB-2aUCspOXtWI_GF6o4Nfd3IpZV3hFgWm4ltet9hkldTgCJogGBFHYQ79F6IQ7Ap4uM9wu76JyjFgSo5lBJGXJKANrrRBkcFUfCpAF7ljVkrPu5G7zAP1l7WyieGv2us10Tdw2HMdLbi9OdJetkiZDkIeQ-bw/w640-h480/IMG_2600.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shady spot to rest (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>There was a large glasshouse with lots of varieties of cacti and succulents. It was very hot in there so I didn't linger. Another themed area was the G.O.D. – Garden of Death – in which all the plants were poisonous. I recognised oleanders and lantana. It also had some rather lethal looking displays. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn3XRqtCdYrtXnazxfl0pZtaUZbkCdfcw8UV1zyJle44a-_Ul801m77XBqYNs0lKHc8ZPZrdD5Vg8h_H4qBBkkxAJqvVparzUj0yMm4Q4iWgGURGF9et9JujOahYb2_On4gbY6Gp1XYPdXfp8HwQFwxswzXOev-TCQPHnZIWTDM8bZ0JGhJ5JFyI/s4032/IMG_2614%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn3XRqtCdYrtXnazxfl0pZtaUZbkCdfcw8UV1zyJle44a-_Ul801m77XBqYNs0lKHc8ZPZrdD5Vg8h_H4qBBkkxAJqvVparzUj0yMm4Q4iWgGURGF9et9JujOahYb2_On4gbY6Gp1XYPdXfp8HwQFwxswzXOev-TCQPHnZIWTDM8bZ0JGhJ5JFyI/w300-h400/IMG_2614%20(1).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gate to the Garden of Death … (DP) </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lLuWsIbEafd-WQY3FnPihHvXFSjUcyq-SkKfS1AK8wvK93KqJsK6wDW9r9-wvfGjkZb5cWRs6WwZdSj3V7QAr5gXAnqKnauAXY6OuXOXyOQ59O_LIn7cAqte5d_kHNwOK2npS5sHIff7Iv_t7P0HXB--4EEcJPLugl6dlkFqeQzQswTddft3-cM/s4032/IMG_2615.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lLuWsIbEafd-WQY3FnPihHvXFSjUcyq-SkKfS1AK8wvK93KqJsK6wDW9r9-wvfGjkZb5cWRs6WwZdSj3V7QAr5gXAnqKnauAXY6OuXOXyOQ59O_LIn7cAqte5d_kHNwOK2npS5sHIff7Iv_t7P0HXB--4EEcJPLugl6dlkFqeQzQswTddft3-cM/w480-h640/IMG_2615.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and one of its deadly displays (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Much more pleasant was the Wedding Garden. Down some steps and onto a
long, wide, slightly sloping lawn, flanked by huge palm trees. Further
to the right there was a bamboo forest – beautiful, tall, thickly
planted bamboo, in shades ranging from green, through brown and yellow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6CX9yL8qdm2uxE60PBUn36VLSodMdLxdjF8o6IFNKkfRPTncC2r_Abu4ywCgNoilIohesj4OzWnlWJRr8leoCbY809VPpnRg_eL5aKA3u1RkmwFz6ljTtl5tvi6wasqwrjyl9ZXLHy9O8GKWhfyts1gbh7rWpbvwRZASuBd1mmKhEUyjIXg4msM/w640-h426/A5BCFA27-AC5A-4709-BD67-7E8709DCFB73.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wedding lawn, flanked by palm trees, led down to a pavilion by a lake</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJYmwKfi9xmyVKoUoZ8euHjsWGP_Cx_Fq9t0emzDXR1PFr4rwvKLfJQ5-C5hH8Dj7a4Wnkoz3LGL7c-s54RVUYMAdBtJZFlV8L4xBoaTMjM0vgRiS5fnaAZ4zUPv7rnGeNdoR21sVByp5JwXqzpseyxB--jCcllmAUvFKiRxguMsdMeGe6PxGwIE/s4032/IMG_2622.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJYmwKfi9xmyVKoUoZ8euHjsWGP_Cx_Fq9t0emzDXR1PFr4rwvKLfJQ5-C5hH8Dj7a4Wnkoz3LGL7c-s54RVUYMAdBtJZFlV8L4xBoaTMjM0vgRiS5fnaAZ4zUPv7rnGeNdoR21sVByp5JwXqzpseyxB--jCcllmAUvFKiRxguMsdMeGe6PxGwIE/w480-h640/IMG_2622.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bamboo forest (DP) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCIz-QbDK_Zyc4fcLjr4Xb8lDdhRtb8fdFzvO-jrhzsxIm-G6bZFKj2foHmBeTT7ZxtXIOzgSQ_lkiTf5d9BYZJc6kHjXVLfyuOQV4X3aLB8epMvHHbc28aFcgPJIfJcQiUB0ZAXsMdU_lVnC69_ycXW3EfwE4aFqXvyR-GP22lgYAQ39MGp1mwU/s3739/IMG_2624.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2806" data-original-width="3739" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCIz-QbDK_Zyc4fcLjr4Xb8lDdhRtb8fdFzvO-jrhzsxIm-G6bZFKj2foHmBeTT7ZxtXIOzgSQ_lkiTf5d9BYZJc6kHjXVLfyuOQV4X3aLB8epMvHHbc28aFcgPJIfJcQiUB0ZAXsMdU_lVnC69_ycXW3EfwE4aFqXvyR-GP22lgYAQ39MGp1mwU/w640-h480/IMG_2624.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pavilion and bridge (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p> On the hillside across from the lake was a multicoloured stairway, at the top of which were quite a lot of flowering agave, the ones with the very tall stems and sort of pompoms sticking out from them. On the slope, beautiful cacti and other interesting exotic plants. The owners of the garden are “collectors” of plants from all over the world, and all the plants seemed to thrive in this sheltered environment.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd4gMKwXO_osRYBbP0tU7wRjFtXAIaQMAHAwq_o0hZejJp1v-qsOXgwMlJgVBBhFwA3d1YEYNHklpHCmuN5UQELj14n2rLwZ5taS78cn453-ZYQsfA4sm-KXBOG9ukd-IsJZM894148u_5HCRshimVsE20cK6mbCGLBgxJ2Ji0voxGq5YU4QCehU/s2304/E402857B-8191-4C1D-A4A4-917171BEAE39.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd4gMKwXO_osRYBbP0tU7wRjFtXAIaQMAHAwq_o0hZejJp1v-qsOXgwMlJgVBBhFwA3d1YEYNHklpHCmuN5UQELj14n2rLwZ5taS78cn453-ZYQsfA4sm-KXBOG9ukd-IsJZM894148u_5HCRshimVsE20cK6mbCGLBgxJ2Ji0voxGq5YU4QCehU/w640-h426/E402857B-8191-4C1D-A4A4-917171BEAE39.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hillside across from the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNcKOnU6RqmacpK_YuA6r7nf9ycBscLp9n0gr9GYlbpKUi9vZwVdneVYe4a7G8A4S14iLGcX36Mhoe3KAEowyjaZyjDClHht3-UztQZ26AV6xbIEC5bL2PhSVJV8Rppc-vwkPFS-s1zJqOtYK5BHi_iGx49JjU3Tq_pss6GgKc7x-ln_Hk9JE5_U/s4032/IMG_2627.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNcKOnU6RqmacpK_YuA6r7nf9ycBscLp9n0gr9GYlbpKUi9vZwVdneVYe4a7G8A4S14iLGcX36Mhoe3KAEowyjaZyjDClHht3-UztQZ26AV6xbIEC5bL2PhSVJV8Rppc-vwkPFS-s1zJqOtYK5BHi_iGx49JjU3Tq_pss6GgKc7x-ln_Hk9JE5_U/w640-h480/IMG_2627.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these spiral aloe (<i>Aloe Polyphylla</i>)! (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Having spent a good two hours exploring these gardens, it was time for the long drive back to Whanganui. We stopped at Durie, to take look at the Durie Hill War Memorial tower. The view over the Wanganui River from there is gorgeous. There is an elevator that comes up from Anzac Parade at the bottom of the hill, but it was closed for 12 weeks of maintenance. <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3LH4I9q0k_kjtKKv5Di8eGMbnuj30TVnJ97pUM-QdjOfdaxVKpUVYWBIzI8rEaR9OK2U1PDJFgWThhOawY3GMtSe7IUBp2LWbcHw7ttrdkIOKYjMwoxjZX5VRX6ApSqEuMC_Z6PcY5g9s2ph3WFiQvYV3ikm_E1EJtzggZS5GUSx9Iawu1aE7JY/s2304/86CF84F0-2B5D-4316-AA5C-947045A8EC19.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3LH4I9q0k_kjtKKv5Di8eGMbnuj30TVnJ97pUM-QdjOfdaxVKpUVYWBIzI8rEaR9OK2U1PDJFgWThhOawY3GMtSe7IUBp2LWbcHw7ttrdkIOKYjMwoxjZX5VRX6ApSqEuMC_Z6PcY5g9s2ph3WFiQvYV3ikm_E1EJtzggZS5GUSx9Iawu1aE7JY/w640-h426/86CF84F0-2B5D-4316-AA5C-947045A8EC19.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Whanganui River, from Durie Hill</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxvVH4B7F9uULw3h5uCMex4Ia1ntSMDI3HRr7ISzG_UFtGK9Vnl_1HoYoNPn899gSugqPjrKgXt_qJVKWb_4nrur31oaAT6TMnomjmcBVXkboy7FT3yFa8YNgsp-6n7KWiaDYwZ2LPzr737RQEfZHI2Er9RKPgtnUz5N4iwvy_AhQXJ4jj5bILx8/s3851/IMG_2631.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3851" data-original-width="2888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxvVH4B7F9uULw3h5uCMex4Ia1ntSMDI3HRr7ISzG_UFtGK9Vnl_1HoYoNPn899gSugqPjrKgXt_qJVKWb_4nrur31oaAT6TMnomjmcBVXkboy7FT3yFa8YNgsp-6n7KWiaDYwZ2LPzr737RQEfZHI2Er9RKPgtnUz5N4iwvy_AhQXJ4jj5bILx8/w300-h400/IMG_2631.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durie Hill War Memorial (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>From our accommodation on Anzac Parade, we walked across the City Bridge
into town for dinner, and were treated to a lovely sunset on the way
back.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HfvCnkCeAyQePyBT3H_RWhjJyuJGSdRfmyFV5l4nohsinlNlpGMtaSGslzJvJhogErWGPk_sr44M61aH5pEWBr711BwdTn11POars_jTDxZydV5yD0HzaZndDvRZWomJFIIT9t8FurVgBEdY3vQvTmVN_AbUvyKxj8OPaGKKOzgC2ZAF76_G0PQ/s2304/B9CEF945-C820-411C-9ECE-C8555233B738.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HfvCnkCeAyQePyBT3H_RWhjJyuJGSdRfmyFV5l4nohsinlNlpGMtaSGslzJvJhogErWGPk_sr44M61aH5pEWBr711BwdTn11POars_jTDxZydV5yD0HzaZndDvRZWomJFIIT9t8FurVgBEdY3vQvTmVN_AbUvyKxj8OPaGKKOzgC2ZAF76_G0PQ/w640-h426/B9CEF945-C820-411C-9ECE-C8555233B738.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the Whanganui River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Saturday 20 February</h3><p>This was a day for cycling. We set off from our motel, rode across the City Bridge, and turned left to follow the cycle path alongside the river, all the way to “The Mole”, the end of the track where the river ends up in the sea and the beach is to the right hand side. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cPPZOpt2Iemqd5iramRjt2l4lmBlRka1peBql3akjv13_Aaj_vkqTLbn75BTszxUpsgozNRolvWzbLKfShwQ89gefdgMZlL140V-Vu4Hflws-BYAflMzJcT9aD7uN5M-RKMUt4dE6pX9A_b5Tu9dU4qhd2hHyk9s4SUAtYKNh7628EZQxCLNZEU/s2304/DC1FD52A-AD03-448C-A10F-5719ECE8F902.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cPPZOpt2Iemqd5iramRjt2l4lmBlRka1peBql3akjv13_Aaj_vkqTLbn75BTszxUpsgozNRolvWzbLKfShwQ89gefdgMZlL140V-Vu4Hflws-BYAflMzJcT9aD7uN5M-RKMUt4dE6pX9A_b5Tu9dU4qhd2hHyk9s4SUAtYKNh7628EZQxCLNZEU/w640-h426/DC1FD52A-AD03-448C-A10F-5719ECE8F902.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the river</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcE4tTT7eyZxW14xNlGAEZ6aV2WUb_yWM8iwE3Xh2EwxNf3aEjbcYc0WaVhMEMKgSssFFTiqF2y5eXo8kZ5LIlDWPlGae-P_egxP5EjMfAUyKVC6cdtGxhKehTfWlic16tEproiTAlmqQnzJMlpHJpC7Q_wU75PjVhUdtkfa2dARt5PDfC_gprMk/s4032/IMG_2632.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcE4tTT7eyZxW14xNlGAEZ6aV2WUb_yWM8iwE3Xh2EwxNf3aEjbcYc0WaVhMEMKgSssFFTiqF2y5eXo8kZ5LIlDWPlGae-P_egxP5EjMfAUyKVC6cdtGxhKehTfWlic16tEproiTAlmqQnzJMlpHJpC7Q_wU75PjVhUdtkfa2dARt5PDfC_gprMk/w300-h400/IMG_2632.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A novel use for clay roof tiles (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLtScHM5A0u8irRqhjPdmZGVZeIVtDABFua4r3tVoxTD40aA01CMQqIHAFIXZrG_A8C2lFfdeyCfFeZbMR3LbzOC6c1vin-wm8RykattXbWWRg94LTT5lOqmSgfbEa0vY1l0BhWRz4RdmtlAMkLs1cdr_Xd6jpMIk6fbajGiFIs_lnjRk9euUSsY/s2304/9E76CD17-A5A3-436D-B958-948D158A0CCD.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLtScHM5A0u8irRqhjPdmZGVZeIVtDABFua4r3tVoxTD40aA01CMQqIHAFIXZrG_A8C2lFfdeyCfFeZbMR3LbzOC6c1vin-wm8RykattXbWWRg94LTT5lOqmSgfbEa0vY1l0BhWRz4RdmtlAMkLs1cdr_Xd6jpMIk6fbajGiFIs_lnjRk9euUSsY/w640-h426/9E76CD17-A5A3-436D-B958-948D158A0CCD.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riverside track</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa6B0vNTL7gZIWEqz3ma4kzCjPIMQXBBBumXmfpe-yQ8Ps4uRHH0QdjU6_Uk7H1fgy0nd3_K5iBObCSmM59dHJokSSJZ1Hz0twArVUaBoeVxinMnZp83vpYZqo3Y7sQ7WKXArl0H33UgGLLODzHXuCXFQZo0UZoKBFHmTm8o7U26GN1SkNzfve8k/s4032/IMG_2635.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa6B0vNTL7gZIWEqz3ma4kzCjPIMQXBBBumXmfpe-yQ8Ps4uRHH0QdjU6_Uk7H1fgy0nd3_K5iBObCSmM59dHJokSSJZ1Hz0twArVUaBoeVxinMnZp83vpYZqo3Y7sQ7WKXArl0H33UgGLLODzHXuCXFQZo0UZoKBFHmTm8o7U26GN1SkNzfve8k/w640-h480/IMG_2635.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At “The Mole” (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvt5OMyKiMeK2ilf4KKtRCxOIfTDG1Sz6cznFxRr9dXLgIEJ-i1GpobHcUW6A_VWfZMcOWzR15B0zjb4mHtdUoSbfnQ33uPP44C19OHEmlzDvVH7Z3RxGanYJiUwys5BQ4vOi_4EOkjEanlSl30OcdifZ5mceNODqGUy7nY3DUie8qB3QWF2TQCw/s2304/39958FDA-8AE4-4823-A1E7-27661E8618E4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvt5OMyKiMeK2ilf4KKtRCxOIfTDG1Sz6cznFxRr9dXLgIEJ-i1GpobHcUW6A_VWfZMcOWzR15B0zjb4mHtdUoSbfnQ33uPP44C19OHEmlzDvVH7Z3RxGanYJiUwys5BQ4vOi_4EOkjEanlSl30OcdifZ5mceNODqGUy7nY3DUie8qB3QWF2TQCw/w640-h426/39958FDA-8AE4-4823-A1E7-27661E8618E4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach to the north of the river mouth</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We talked a bit to a chap who was loading his surfboard back onto his ute, about the river and the poles sticking out of the breakwater. They are markers for when the river is high. </p><p>John felt the need for a coffee, so he asked the guy if he knew of a coffee shop nearby. “Oh yes, the Citadel, Rangiora Street - awesome coffee”, and he gave us full instructions about how to get there. We duly pedalled along the roads in the suburb called Castlecliffs, and found it. Very nice it was too. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVjAs3hj2sZIfuauFW0uxqy9XrczDJ1s-uIox0KKY-J71UkEw1v9OuFQqSunlNmFcZ480v56HNMuoRzk2toUUgS5R2JwoYbCKr3s4sf0tpACqBl3_u7cd0sHatwkq5Y49h7lAUYNUqoXO8pIruk9N2S7vlv1oj5B6avJ_-EvS91CjN6PWbIS-1ww/s4032/IMG_2636.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVjAs3hj2sZIfuauFW0uxqy9XrczDJ1s-uIox0KKY-J71UkEw1v9OuFQqSunlNmFcZ480v56HNMuoRzk2toUUgS5R2JwoYbCKr3s4sf0tpACqBl3_u7cd0sHatwkq5Y49h7lAUYNUqoXO8pIruk9N2S7vlv1oj5B6avJ_-EvS91CjN6PWbIS-1ww/w640-h480/IMG_2636.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Citadel Café (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Another couple turned up at the next table, with bike helmets, so we had a chat about bikes (she had an e-folder too), and they were able to give us some good information about the riverside track to Upokongaro. </p><p>We biked around the suburb for a bit, then headed back to town, and continued on the track upriver. We biked along the dedicated track along the Somme Parade, as far as the Rail Bridge. It was very pleasant, with quite a lot of trees shading us from the hot sun. Then we crossed the river (on a pedestrian/cycle path on the bridge), rode back along that side of the river till the next bridge down, across and back to the city centre. And finally, back across the City Bridge and back to the motel. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSnkX5cSiy2fXrnmDM4mn2U2IMiAvlrjc_N2TgREFJma9nFXkgAktJQGXa5cfhWBhRKNWeDgwIFGk_h3_azqBL5C_dAmFxl-nTp7bgcQqtdnNjzYkf80m4UYEiDWVPflWhXT1nUWHQg18RHdyP16XrIorrRWJ2j0p8xoy5Les5Wom6zKEjWld07U/s2304/28874DA0-2D57-4571-A409-DF88AB8A7675.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSnkX5cSiy2fXrnmDM4mn2U2IMiAvlrjc_N2TgREFJma9nFXkgAktJQGXa5cfhWBhRKNWeDgwIFGk_h3_azqBL5C_dAmFxl-nTp7bgcQqtdnNjzYkf80m4UYEiDWVPflWhXT1nUWHQg18RHdyP16XrIorrRWJ2j0p8xoy5Les5Wom6zKEjWld07U/w640-h426/28874DA0-2D57-4571-A409-DF88AB8A7675.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The railway bridge, with the ”Waimarie” and several crews of rowers just beyond</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7eUKGUuDrf5_EuZ83nKn5yyhp1J2ifgDpO4S73FzbwMxogZQJJf9Vxzsj3bXcWwMBHOrm7opQtANe5DXDAEElLvYAnFKN5BKROc33rwpOVE7ncNJUYCaip0SYuE2-TqyEozaZJzR4AHlICxpjiTcjMGNr769zLI5w3EptReI4l_oHk0X-2peetQ/s3880/IMG_2640.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="3880" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7eUKGUuDrf5_EuZ83nKn5yyhp1J2ifgDpO4S73FzbwMxogZQJJf9Vxzsj3bXcWwMBHOrm7opQtANe5DXDAEElLvYAnFKN5BKROc33rwpOVE7ncNJUYCaip0SYuE2-TqyEozaZJzR4AHlICxpjiTcjMGNr769zLI5w3EptReI4l_oHk0X-2peetQ/w640-h480/IMG_2640.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coal-fired paddle steamer “<a href="https://www.waimarie.co.nz/" target="_blank">Waimarie</a>” steaming back to town after its excursion upriver (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Later in the day, after John had had a snooze back at our motel, we walked into town for a look around. Unfortunately, the artisan studios I had hoped to visit were already closed, but we walked along the waterfront and took some nice photos.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy52viwBv8HtWIZF25ZQOVdkZZWVA6RMrO5AN7xMXyc2uG4SWIeKr4wFJlHSMDa_YHoQEAWGLVWCbrcw3PyqAmQtR0oCD2SPvF7qxPV5EggHHFy_z1UWz-x2EaiuMFmeJ3iGjwNPJM9vof9e5R2mLM5YJGF8ptbmIceG1dmbdq9ffM-H5SzO-48e8/s2304/D3A3A263-0665-44DA-897C-76346571FB08.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy52viwBv8HtWIZF25ZQOVdkZZWVA6RMrO5AN7xMXyc2uG4SWIeKr4wFJlHSMDa_YHoQEAWGLVWCbrcw3PyqAmQtR0oCD2SPvF7qxPV5EggHHFy_z1UWz-x2EaiuMFmeJ3iGjwNPJM9vof9e5R2mLM5YJGF8ptbmIceG1dmbdq9ffM-H5SzO-48e8/w266-h400/D3A3A263-0665-44DA-897C-76346571FB08.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“<a href="https://coastalartstrail.nz/gallery/kereru-by-paul-dibble-2010/" target="_blank">Kereru</a>” – a sculpture by Paul Dibble</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLlo1MSVmcc1-OUHqCZpYtEi_nffcH64MX5WDgyO2a2o9ZAYtgao4UKhtnpxEk_dJs15efK7dg1macO7Bmfp4Q74DAe0iD-pBdWpZBCYBvWTfV-8qMWxnWtiHNQgKNOqgEyDcgDFPoNEWt3yBitX7myUAkn8YiZOSFpbITVllEPgNOLKrJK_cdn4/s2304/00D757C9-5359-4E47-99D3-B71845E5B8DB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLlo1MSVmcc1-OUHqCZpYtEi_nffcH64MX5WDgyO2a2o9ZAYtgao4UKhtnpxEk_dJs15efK7dg1macO7Bmfp4Q74DAe0iD-pBdWpZBCYBvWTfV-8qMWxnWtiHNQgKNOqgEyDcgDFPoNEWt3yBitX7myUAkn8YiZOSFpbITVllEPgNOLKrJK_cdn4/w640-h426/00D757C9-5359-4E47-99D3-B71845E5B8DB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“<a href="https://coastalartstrail.nz/gallery/bearing-by-david-mccracken-2011/" target="_blank">Bearing</a>” – a 3m high stainless steel sculpture by David McCracken. The
cut-outs represent the sinuous route of the Whanganui River and its many
tributary streams </td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ-Oaycz57k7c7Hr0Cq4KnHHRI0MBNFC5KcCpRhCm5kaTkZE2a0M_30NCbXWfAEoJrfa816zqtJukxzgz7q4-SoVDIh31U5LEMwqrt_DOEEGBbaHjrVFPi9ag1Yc9c0JG9d6Y9Vpn3Gi3Gv26kUvY-SO5JADIkxxrpx49ss7-idHqxjcT1mbsMoI/s2304/61366741-61BB-41D2-ADB0-FCD8E075A316.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ-Oaycz57k7c7Hr0Cq4KnHHRI0MBNFC5KcCpRhCm5kaTkZE2a0M_30NCbXWfAEoJrfa816zqtJukxzgz7q4-SoVDIh31U5LEMwqrt_DOEEGBbaHjrVFPi9ag1Yc9c0JG9d6Y9Vpn3Gi3Gv26kUvY-SO5JADIkxxrpx49ss7-idHqxjcT1mbsMoI/w640-h426/61366741-61BB-41D2-ADB0-FCD8E075A316.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the interesting murals we saw</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oI9eTtGtyVAuBU4RqxjU5jCZZsSgLfnC_CiGYZ8C_ieRAZr3A3aDzInJfLGP40dk3nYYLH1XxBQIpOnkuvKYzOr7Lb3Vkz-5JFyYPhEFEgFcUcaVBmHT3h865dQ2UdcOe6rnbh-SdxXQHVzcP8jgeIBp5oq3nhoXJp3pnUkmqhv5c91HXjbIHX8/s2304/DEC23B80-EB00-42F1-B55E-8D3851C51223.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oI9eTtGtyVAuBU4RqxjU5jCZZsSgLfnC_CiGYZ8C_ieRAZr3A3aDzInJfLGP40dk3nYYLH1XxBQIpOnkuvKYzOr7Lb3Vkz-5JFyYPhEFEgFcUcaVBmHT3h865dQ2UdcOe6rnbh-SdxXQHVzcP8jgeIBp5oq3nhoXJp3pnUkmqhv5c91HXjbIHX8/w640-h426/DEC23B80-EB00-42F1-B55E-8D3851C51223.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm trees in Moutoa Gardens </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sunday 21 February</h3><p>Today we biked up the Somme Parade, right up to the Upukongaro Bridge. It is a lovely track up as far as the Rail Bridge, which is as far as we went yesterday, but after that, we were riding on the road, with a reasonable amount of traffic going by. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2d9UDn0V0h8uR0TUysKOFmIaR64Aie5SNDMw_pMbLOy4IsBajj3IAO0NROPG_W8bHF1fae0YFUWv2CfuKEsf8I111MF0ZuUsS2DMKmPbU0LuE_cn-yFAncLeesDGoxbPmqJRQnmNrBI7l6VxaJ_r6N44LeMLVM9CwSlzHA85bITPEV6GkLXmFro/s2304/65FA5CAD-87DD-4558-B966-9346E77AAD7E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2d9UDn0V0h8uR0TUysKOFmIaR64Aie5SNDMw_pMbLOy4IsBajj3IAO0NROPG_W8bHF1fae0YFUWv2CfuKEsf8I111MF0ZuUsS2DMKmPbU0LuE_cn-yFAncLeesDGoxbPmqJRQnmNrBI7l6VxaJ_r6N44LeMLVM9CwSlzHA85bITPEV6GkLXmFro/w640-h426/65FA5CAD-87DD-4558-B966-9346E77AAD7E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cycle track alongside Somme Parade</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Some of the time there was a bike lane, and then it would revert to the road. Most of the time it was not right by the river either. When we got to the end of the built-up area and the speed limit became 100 km/hr, the dedicated track started up again. It was new, nice and smooth, and under some trees some of the way, alongside the river. From there, It was only a few more kilometres to the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/upokongaro-cycle-bridge-opened-last-wednesday/5HGE666QZIXJ6ISNC55DW67OLA/" target="_blank">Upukongaro Bridge</a>. This lovely foot/cycle bridge had been officially opened only a few months earlier. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrovTL9UUYTzbS81k580LMnQ9_wmqtujXz5RqQyy8WWAfXaIZPKId0-_33ks8eoYRmRBu0qoncgvJtX8nalYfOpiSKm_VUV8-Nfy9QkuDnfDuZ5D5LK9XNaVAM6rpjlEE6Q11-HHFIfl0RVuetaYn2_H7QxX7xl998oQ1tZ_LTS18LwPTp6-IOOw/s2304/25BA2F8A-053C-47A9-BFED-A40C241320D6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrovTL9UUYTzbS81k580LMnQ9_wmqtujXz5RqQyy8WWAfXaIZPKId0-_33ks8eoYRmRBu0qoncgvJtX8nalYfOpiSKm_VUV8-Nfy9QkuDnfDuZ5D5LK9XNaVAM6rpjlEE6Q11-HHFIfl0RVuetaYn2_H7QxX7xl998oQ1tZ_LTS18LwPTp6-IOOw/w640-h426/25BA2F8A-053C-47A9-BFED-A40C241320D6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last stretch of the track before the bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dVSYX4QMDcz1u9Dwmiewq2qSRNxdZwWxLOedjatLTsCMPb8WV0qOoZaLKt-xwqGecBYM2tknHwepuhOhtWvc6hPxd-ED4rXsPeCxHGOe1iCoTLv3PBJlgot_6b9U7RoBezhI4tRskqqv7kdSdJUXvNPdLnAVzdnc3lDA8Hk2AqYqHvOvBZ3UMiI/s2304/6D653794-A114-40E8-AB93-C1831CBC99EE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dVSYX4QMDcz1u9Dwmiewq2qSRNxdZwWxLOedjatLTsCMPb8WV0qOoZaLKt-xwqGecBYM2tknHwepuhOhtWvc6hPxd-ED4rXsPeCxHGOe1iCoTLv3PBJlgot_6b9U7RoBezhI4tRskqqv7kdSdJUXvNPdLnAVzdnc3lDA8Hk2AqYqHvOvBZ3UMiI/w640-h426/6D653794-A114-40E8-AB93-C1831CBC99EE.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upokongaro Bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1Oej7GnrYjStOaNAsQhR1bwlHPZM0B7Nr4iDaZalSIP1qr72KT_5-iw-ya2d4M1S_vWnsoZZoLMzmXQCRbi23L16QYKXoqQCcYj8rAcsz4iZ_4SWVBfRONHMcrrV_69Aj-k-N3uc9NSPH0cp4BoplfBOGGTC1cDHS_d7RA-UkfzVT4wCVOwlHQY/s2304/A212DA31-F7A5-4C44-8092-AC48D0912D6B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1Oej7GnrYjStOaNAsQhR1bwlHPZM0B7Nr4iDaZalSIP1qr72KT_5-iw-ya2d4M1S_vWnsoZZoLMzmXQCRbi23L16QYKXoqQCcYj8rAcsz4iZ_4SWVBfRONHMcrrV_69Aj-k-N3uc9NSPH0cp4BoplfBOGGTC1cDHS_d7RA-UkfzVT4wCVOwlHQY/w426-h640/A212DA31-F7A5-4C44-8092-AC48D0912D6B.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We biked across the bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We biked across. John was all for turning around at this stage, but I wanted to see what the buildings across the other side of the river were, I was sure that there would be an eatery. After the bridge, the track took a loop around, so it could go under the road (the Wanganui River Road – SH 4), and ended up near a smallish settlement.</p><p>Well, of course there was not one, but at least two food places. A very nice café, called “<i>Behind the Door at 4</i>” (the 4 referring to the fact it is on SH4), where we stopped, and there was a bar a bit further up the road. The café was very popular, and there were lots of bikes outside it, as it is one of the stops on the “Mountains to Sea” cycle trail, which comes from Ohakune via the Bridge to Nowhere and the jet boat ride from Pipiriki. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjPZjHO-FEpQfdEMYii5sLjzYdImVRhQXrf4erN8bPZlApgUlbIsnuw7E7B-yQEc423r1XGNYoCRjM4DSJuD-PeGb0DXaxsM7MrMkqot1cmxcJQFZCYu1lbX3RD9IhPs0OH4dvCyApsbPigfSnlrtUghtu3BDMF4AQo-_y5ZikkjP-iedIc3nrDc/s4032/IMG_2645.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjPZjHO-FEpQfdEMYii5sLjzYdImVRhQXrf4erN8bPZlApgUlbIsnuw7E7B-yQEc423r1XGNYoCRjM4DSJuD-PeGb0DXaxsM7MrMkqot1cmxcJQFZCYu1lbX3RD9IhPs0OH4dvCyApsbPigfSnlrtUghtu3BDMF4AQo-_y5ZikkjP-iedIc3nrDc/w640-h480/IMG_2645.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The café was very popular with cyclists (DP)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We had iced coffees - yum - and muffins, and sat on the front deck, in the shade. Very pleasant. When I went in search of the loo, I found that the café was quite large inside, and out the back was a lovely garden with tables and brollies, and playthings for the kids. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoqQbrCqTUW-0NPeAgt3NK4bVw0lKITUIErDxMHmHD3O5buqr4ZhQsKcnooed3Pz2mGrYpjpuE4EEzPW1BWs7YKVF6SOGJ1BWafaGHoQb8agjj4HhD24JEen5vpzMPZ1eieiuOcFohifp0zWoP_9AixaHqayqy9VQQeSHSreu1QQO9SgCjaY2wTs/s2304/1114F7C3-9369-48E8-9ADE-8418D626B534.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoqQbrCqTUW-0NPeAgt3NK4bVw0lKITUIErDxMHmHD3O5buqr4ZhQsKcnooed3Pz2mGrYpjpuE4EEzPW1BWs7YKVF6SOGJ1BWafaGHoQb8agjj4HhD24JEen5vpzMPZ1eieiuOcFohifp0zWoP_9AixaHqayqy9VQQeSHSreu1QQO9SgCjaY2wTs/w640-h426/1114F7C3-9369-48E8-9ADE-8418D626B534.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iced coffees on the veranda of “Behind the Door On 4”</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2WoJZzaUNVr-qKOOogDR8sxj1LzFC5I7gNDlgwkifVrdNv6cLyS9GcfN-dxoObOtXVtkKWU3cVofKpO575wewbTmg8MQMoL0V9UT5mImUjX164kzxXXrnIdG4a5CFgSU02CerkF7E7avxdZCrbFfuLpxixWY7wXdX_z893M7FdGMVhTXSlY1jzU/s3800/IMG_2643.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2WoJZzaUNVr-qKOOogDR8sxj1LzFC5I7gNDlgwkifVrdNv6cLyS9GcfN-dxoObOtXVtkKWU3cVofKpO575wewbTmg8MQMoL0V9UT5mImUjX164kzxXXrnIdG4a5CFgSU02CerkF7E7avxdZCrbFfuLpxixWY7wXdX_z893M7FdGMVhTXSlY1jzU/w640-h480/IMG_2643.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> There was a lovely garden at the back (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Across the road from the café were a couple of life-size moa sculptures, commemorating the fact that in the 1930s, thousands of moa bones had been recovered from mud springs in the Upokongaro Valley. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5Tv12pELRvUtIL1LulDO4cVSwqf-b8eHYzUVHSwvYUi7M3zcoV30ZhRvCimlRXLSaCN6bwsJclwyI1MZaAMfkz-aPMnnFVh_qKfaNrWcdtC2NDVSUWFVipymMtHg9q0K3FhX-IsoMQg-FJCDOKR56ERW-JtACR4Uj36GdGOfFk3zNxpE2fw4oFs/s4032/IMG_2648.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5Tv12pELRvUtIL1LulDO4cVSwqf-b8eHYzUVHSwvYUi7M3zcoV30ZhRvCimlRXLSaCN6bwsJclwyI1MZaAMfkz-aPMnnFVh_qKfaNrWcdtC2NDVSUWFVipymMtHg9q0K3FhX-IsoMQg-FJCDOKR56ERW-JtACR4Uj36GdGOfFk3zNxpE2fw4oFs/w300-h400/IMG_2648.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the concrete moa sculptures (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>As we were crossing the bridge to go back, the paddle steamer Waimarie was also returning to the city. I think it must do its turn-around a little upriver from here. As we cycled back to town, we kept pace with it and were there when it arrived at its landing. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w3Xrcq9UjkecfqwYRqf5CDhMBGxOemE3aUJSqbiqmEs0yiPy8XkFTELuopSDh2240Mqh5DOQfqZYdbyCjIbNGCJTiWi2tpUDbfwWXrfBWX9N_th1G7LnFks8mD48jjYFLqvdg9X56ER3I2HF6RIivZC3OTfoZ5m4fU4NaVDWsce4-Hy63c802zE/s4032/IMG_2650.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w3Xrcq9UjkecfqwYRqf5CDhMBGxOemE3aUJSqbiqmEs0yiPy8XkFTELuopSDh2240Mqh5DOQfqZYdbyCjIbNGCJTiWi2tpUDbfwWXrfBWX9N_th1G7LnFks8mD48jjYFLqvdg9X56ER3I2HF6RIivZC3OTfoZ5m4fU4NaVDWsce4-Hy63c802zE/w640-h480/IMG_2650.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The paddle steamer “Waimarie” viewed from the bridge (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQJRCrrhC88ZdF-AJHUn-fyvPwv_vN_6MrjM8mn0lcu3PxDsEE67YNWNFjtJnBMj-WTMUeacBsbxq08qn_skS2ImF8bxnNd3z7zSNDZ-patGW8AQ_DSbIl8SnG2ysiWKLaU5t7Jxe66onF4x1-v6pGYknORGPAPboHYaTtOOR6_kyFUmxsxDg6vQ/s4032/IMG_2654.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQJRCrrhC88ZdF-AJHUn-fyvPwv_vN_6MrjM8mn0lcu3PxDsEE67YNWNFjtJnBMj-WTMUeacBsbxq08qn_skS2ImF8bxnNd3z7zSNDZ-patGW8AQ_DSbIl8SnG2ysiWKLaU5t7Jxe66onF4x1-v6pGYknORGPAPboHYaTtOOR6_kyFUmxsxDg6vQ/w640-h480/IMG_2654.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The “Waimarie” arriving at its landing (DP)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We watched people coming off the steamer, and then did a little walk around the area. We watched the vintage tram rolling out of its shed and going for a ride. It is very pretty, but I think the track only goes for about 120 metres along the waterfront, and the $5 charge for the ride seems bit steep.</p><p> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxra_5_UKZ4rDbHYsHf5Bl6O8_0GAeUJQ0kQp5eWvvg4-U1MOJT94agVgPEyv_KnsGKI74vhHAIfI_SmnB85hVDHvkDDyfb6tZu33PQPL7_BQQknyAQbLxJezSQzB0xH1P0F-nJprVGjQAOriMBpg7hR0LWZdbo9KW56CbrDIFSFcUbanphqbX4cc/s2304/1C0F0490-58B7-4972-8378-4E42888B5088.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxra_5_UKZ4rDbHYsHf5Bl6O8_0GAeUJQ0kQp5eWvvg4-U1MOJT94agVgPEyv_KnsGKI74vhHAIfI_SmnB85hVDHvkDDyfb6tZu33PQPL7_BQQknyAQbLxJezSQzB0xH1P0F-nJprVGjQAOriMBpg7hR0LWZdbo9KW56CbrDIFSFcUbanphqbX4cc/w640-h426/1C0F0490-58B7-4972-8378-4E42888B5088.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vintage tram</td></tr></tbody></table> <br />Before going back to our motel on the other side of the river, we turned left after crossing the City Bridge, to see how far the cycle track would take us. After a kilometre or so of lovely smooth concrete track, separate from the road, it went into a park-like area, through an arboretum, and ended up at a great playground that I remember taking our kids to when they were little – after a farm holiday in Inglewood (Taranaki). Beyond that was the next bridge, and that was where we had got to yesterday, having come from the Rail Bridge further upstream. So this is where we turned around, and went back to our motel. <p></p><p>We headed home the next day. It had been a lovely couple of days cycling – nothing too strenuous, considering John had not been feeling 100%. I would have liked to cycle up some of the Whanganui River Road – part of the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail. It is an area rich in history, and the surroundings are beautiful. However, it didn’t work out this time. Maybe some other time. <br /></p><br /><br /><br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-18792621295746129232022-02-10T00:43:00.001+13:002022-02-12T00:25:36.823+13:00South Island Trip - Nov/Dec 2021 - Part 3<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part 3</span></span></h1><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arrowtown, Franz Josef, and home <br /></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>This is the third part of the holiday we had in the South Island in November/December 2021. Part 1 is <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2022/02/island-holiday-novemberdecember-2021.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and Part 2 is <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2022/02/south-island-trip-novdec-2021-part-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Monday 30 November </span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We were going on the Earnslaw cruise today, and we parked on the foreshore, beyond all the hideous hotels, in a small carpark on a promontory. The sign said four hours max, and we were going to be there for about six hours, but we just took a chance (no ticket happened). We walked the kilometre or so to the area near the Earnslaw Wharf, where we had ‘breakfast’ at “The Pier” - actually just coffee and muffins, because we knew we would get a big lunch.</span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg369Z4l2yWqfPEBS1w2pzAVKK-bQuZF3xWnbQQu3j51ekQKVl9j2XRg-OcKyOyq0Nd3almnXXD8BdC8ELL2eKp99DhcprRBrPEnJZONV9qvc5T-Tq-bsDHJ1dAJV9zpNR4iJc8JM1kE2wWzv5rg3igoH3N-Tw9LeH-bRO-KOtfb3xn6RBGhBrBYIE=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg369Z4l2yWqfPEBS1w2pzAVKK-bQuZF3xWnbQQu3j51ekQKVl9j2XRg-OcKyOyq0Nd3almnXXD8BdC8ELL2eKp99DhcprRBrPEnJZONV9qvc5T-Tq-bsDHJ1dAJV9zpNR4iJc8JM1kE2wWzv5rg3igoH3N-Tw9LeH-bRO-KOtfb3xn6RBGhBrBYIE=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Along the foreshore</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1xEGZMgF3nIxVflPrwZQH4QliGWBhwfXKb4xnP0HOSmH57iAjfDUfTZjnO7E_EmjCA9vC1UPQZoL8B3iC9LVZnwF5Onb_Fr1T_Xmlh4S4WXrGgX5M5K8kGl51tcvuibQj4xJGbAVccdZnV0CurZflfUvHZhj1jFankEVE5dpX3vrEiL4VkpWuclw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1xEGZMgF3nIxVflPrwZQH4QliGWBhwfXKb4xnP0HOSmH57iAjfDUfTZjnO7E_EmjCA9vC1UPQZoL8B3iC9LVZnwF5Onb_Fr1T_Xmlh4S4WXrGgX5M5K8kGl51tcvuibQj4xJGbAVccdZnV0CurZflfUvHZhj1jFankEVE5dpX3vrEiL4VkpWuclw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Waiting for our coffee at “The Pier” (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We had another hour or so to kill before we had to report at the Earnslaw at 11:40, so we walked along the foreshore, and back. John likes ducks, and he stopped to take a lovely close-up photo of one.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVpNN_-j9L7SXtuXIHq1VHpyqgTe5QH-kT--WzkHBo0GjZ8kuvV-LxPOmVg0Sv3KW-ezM6kapAlw95_-rs_KvakfraglWbpY8hIp8Vg7eFRVUrFC3tj2rqXOxFlSewPCh8Ri8PSqufhWj36GnYpH9MX4iK3VL_bD0yCS9I4ul5WX8skIcccUuszb8=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVpNN_-j9L7SXtuXIHq1VHpyqgTe5QH-kT--WzkHBo0GjZ8kuvV-LxPOmVg0Sv3KW-ezM6kapAlw95_-rs_KvakfraglWbpY8hIp8Vg7eFRVUrFC3tj2rqXOxFlSewPCh8Ri8PSqufhWj36GnYpH9MX4iK3VL_bD0yCS9I4ul5WX8skIcccUuszb8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>John crouches down to take photo of a duck</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4DBo5Su6DO6KEx9TdtpOvCE3eqs-GG_SWDhrQeihyPF1sFEgaWmvFqxkuk6GVkMOpeR_3VXlF0uP-kDTot5yQFCQwBDBdqKFCc7ozwmdU4oZraNii9GgStd_vO1j5T0wctOEoaI3iNPse8utM3QtaCcfF7mEsU-nidbFtefJvilt4HOhUSUKJ3dU=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4DBo5Su6DO6KEx9TdtpOvCE3eqs-GG_SWDhrQeihyPF1sFEgaWmvFqxkuk6GVkMOpeR_3VXlF0uP-kDTot5yQFCQwBDBdqKFCc7ozwmdU4oZraNii9GgStd_vO1j5T0wctOEoaI3iNPse8utM3QtaCcfF7mEsU-nidbFtefJvilt4HOhUSUKJ3dU=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The duck - beautiful plumage</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>At 11:30 we boarded the Earnslaw, and found a seat on the front deck. It was another gloriously hot sunny day. The cruise was smooth, and it took about 40 minutes to get to Walter Peak Station, where we would be having our barbecue lunch.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXiPxk17MMNc4JPweoJEMSW6irpzKF0G6KxafYCScC3W6GPfG_Y37XLkvVz44JbyJJv5gKb02kyAgrRwVtDK-M2GIFzPaOtVpRXJGvbJlA9mzERzYYzj_9SFH3PV_-WMiE8I2hVudrxMfFBkdC2KLwc0558qD_TCyWvi3VaCi0T8Or3NMqt6NYrVA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXiPxk17MMNc4JPweoJEMSW6irpzKF0G6KxafYCScC3W6GPfG_Y37XLkvVz44JbyJJv5gKb02kyAgrRwVtDK-M2GIFzPaOtVpRXJGvbJlA9mzERzYYzj_9SFH3PV_-WMiE8I2hVudrxMfFBkdC2KLwc0558qD_TCyWvi3VaCi0T8Or3NMqt6NYrVA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We sat on the front deck (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikshiqbI0FYcZj7E-bXxtONuj0Pj9DvWib-7Tjdl_TrqVpkyoK02fGrvtcppGxWuIMvd4NIXqFgPHBMYrVRdRRnEGON5k5Gv3UMi3gUOkNzmp9Ce9Zm8AFMoa-10ICXiuVK23MzaIOSsW6YozQKh7ADYcb-E3w4CCuOyqFAB2vsK_J-5DQB5hxQfE=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikshiqbI0FYcZj7E-bXxtONuj0Pj9DvWib-7Tjdl_TrqVpkyoK02fGrvtcppGxWuIMvd4NIXqFgPHBMYrVRdRRnEGON5k5Gv3UMi3gUOkNzmp9Ce9Zm8AFMoa-10ICXiuVK23MzaIOSsW6YozQKh7ADYcb-E3w4CCuOyqFAB2vsK_J-5DQB5hxQfE=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Arriving at Walter Peak Station</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxyPAOwaknypfxK6Sy1utE8l5ny2ntbloz21hQo-ocRCzCc3739rDz_pq0H8ATOyqhAiD4N2OCvXKLmDGVFHIJOof0PZs61jyBkIJOTOrdqjVZU4UzWKiJ4gkfC77wgF2yPT2hJLRQnmdQ-1MYgcoyscxpGdRJPJgZxtYUOeROmXldD1jVvvmLOmI=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxyPAOwaknypfxK6Sy1utE8l5ny2ntbloz21hQo-ocRCzCc3739rDz_pq0H8ATOyqhAiD4N2OCvXKLmDGVFHIJOof0PZs61jyBkIJOTOrdqjVZU4UzWKiJ4gkfC77wgF2yPT2hJLRQnmdQ-1MYgcoyscxpGdRJPJgZxtYUOeROmXldD1jVvvmLOmI=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>A view into the workings of the steamship on our way to disembark</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The lunch was brilliantly organised. We were directed to a table with our name on it. It was just inside the edge of the building, by the flung-open doors, half in the sun, but we shifted it about a foot into the shade. Other people were on the terrace under huge sun umbrellas.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiun36qvdgsdudsBJjN9_HuHYVLUQpcUDwNn6KU4ehZ4KZ09PC6wXRfeQgZKbPolPkj4WoM_YebQ4CgPc6vx4OtLERgM4ZsCqZx63siMBO9Lr_lemBl4vqU7zyipwTtWV_GWsVcar7yBhQekm1AephyGXaSj3biaoLX6VPLFbar8j8caoTyDdLeA4=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiun36qvdgsdudsBJjN9_HuHYVLUQpcUDwNn6KU4ehZ4KZ09PC6wXRfeQgZKbPolPkj4WoM_YebQ4CgPc6vx4OtLERgM4ZsCqZx63siMBO9Lr_lemBl4vqU7zyipwTtWV_GWsVcar7yBhQekm1AephyGXaSj3biaoLX6VPLFbar8j8caoTyDdLeA4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Table number 8</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Breads and two types of salad were already on the table. Someone came to ask if we wanted a drink, and we had a glass of Riesling each. After a while, a plate with several types of meat and sauces was brought to us and a plate of roast vegetables. Because of Covid Level 2, food had to be delivered to tables, rather than people getting up to get their own, which was perfect, as we didn't need to queue up at the barbecue.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>All the food was excellent - best I’ve had so far on this trip. To finish, there was a selection of small sweet items for dessert, and coffee. The serving staff were incredibly busy - and friendly and helpful. When we commented on how busy they were, our waitress said they were short-staffed and over-booked. But she was still very happy to take our picture a couple of times.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI3wZGDgQfKQmsfvYBrmtm3lbd1Txj4ZPTiBYhhKueUhIbNNcKajG_oJ5c5foBbL9RBYVQwMxKlBbW0DhrHTuSJFTmsOWckvnZRw4ZjeF948ReVBsck8RuquPUhhR1T6oO9AcwnuztEDuB1Jo1Pka0xsTM95pZ0HId3-jVpVKQA7zggXd4ZKmvqt4=s2306" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2306" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI3wZGDgQfKQmsfvYBrmtm3lbd1Txj4ZPTiBYhhKueUhIbNNcKajG_oJ5c5foBbL9RBYVQwMxKlBbW0DhrHTuSJFTmsOWckvnZRw4ZjeF948ReVBsck8RuquPUhhR1T6oO9AcwnuztEDuB1Jo1Pka0xsTM95pZ0HId3-jVpVKQA7zggXd4ZKmvqt4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>That was an excellent meal!</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbLdfyn7et6By1PHGWA0Mr_N-98Re3DYz9fjdKKxExc0TnQKrwRkj8V4qCmU2mjOvenEHuGP-HyODNq9GFtO2AjDfgnEHFwi3KHbXNKawcBzRhfJ9oAHEIfqdaWPByA5Wv6VAjzB-DNAlb2XXVSZCdzyb2kR9BDPJhQiVPUwb70X70RyzaonSsXmA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbLdfyn7et6By1PHGWA0Mr_N-98Re3DYz9fjdKKxExc0TnQKrwRkj8V4qCmU2mjOvenEHuGP-HyODNq9GFtO2AjDfgnEHFwi3KHbXNKawcBzRhfJ9oAHEIfqdaWPByA5Wv6VAjzB-DNAlb2XXVSZCdzyb2kR9BDPJhQiVPUwb70X70RyzaonSsXmA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>After coffee and dessert</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>After lunch, I went to watch a demonstration of a sheep dog bringing some sheep down off the hill, by a young woman with her dog - very impressive, and well presented. John stayed somewhere near the homestead, as “he’d seen that sort of thing before”. He was actually not feeling very well, but he still took some great pictures.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> <br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT7XJp1DaieMpBVacm_4VdLPO4k6d0I4ih9iQCYoXww3I9HlEwcK6TANxP-tqdVZyBW1x2Z-46bnYOjS4Zj82TjERgklpjIhQsU0m83sB0baFBtEfWhRDlbvddNgcguPYYvfiVS5n0_mnAu3cg01HO8IB0PTocuGykNsZHG17M2w4-unLyfuDndQw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT7XJp1DaieMpBVacm_4VdLPO4k6d0I4ih9iQCYoXww3I9HlEwcK6TANxP-tqdVZyBW1x2Z-46bnYOjS4Zj82TjERgklpjIhQsU0m83sB0baFBtEfWhRDlbvddNgcguPYYvfiVS5n0_mnAu3cg01HO8IB0PTocuGykNsZHG17M2w4-unLyfuDndQw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The farm dogs, resting in the shade before their working demo (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpQMl9HqIQ1YF01pAzz5dgAJgdqETKn68oMipyvg7AohShj0eEoG7p7Kru3VrSMpMiYs_Qcn_xTyhhiSng8XrvusvYsCkOMLAhKkma1mp7W-TGPAkrvVa2OMO9mOgBG3uh6rvZGZ-nouujw2zkhpw7HzKjAIEaencBjH6fS3osHT6TJQkeHQgFE2I=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpQMl9HqIQ1YF01pAzz5dgAJgdqETKn68oMipyvg7AohShj0eEoG7p7Kru3VrSMpMiYs_Qcn_xTyhhiSng8XrvusvYsCkOMLAhKkma1mp7W-TGPAkrvVa2OMO9mOgBG3uh6rvZGZ-nouujw2zkhpw7HzKjAIEaencBjH6fS3osHT6TJQkeHQgFE2I=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The wharf awaiting …</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgKzUeHr_I_wC-TWOrDDeT_G6BPD3drktd6CL-Loo8P-U3HleXUWbiRKOZo5AmbZHhnuElf15LfwdJvD80Mn6n5ydbxxfpgsN5kw_U1Yqi_X_O_0b8CjbpkMfd0g2NpaBfPPkX1G5sMI2Y3KriqHIF79ZmQ3ym3WyGKZjkr_HoNii9tWruLNHpMGQ=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgKzUeHr_I_wC-TWOrDDeT_G6BPD3drktd6CL-Loo8P-U3HleXUWbiRKOZo5AmbZHhnuElf15LfwdJvD80Mn6n5ydbxxfpgsN5kw_U1Yqi_X_O_0b8CjbpkMfd0g2NpaBfPPkX1G5sMI2Y3KriqHIF79ZmQ3ym3WyGKZjkr_HoNii9tWruLNHpMGQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>… the return of the Earnslaw</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOpoRVfhtkF2C4oPKFpfraTFSCpj8kLFJFnx0jBL0jB1pilzdntuKQru-dhUPejn3HG-BP8z-a_7-VH5p4ovSP1JHrcOzDViEHauW2zoLknXjzBC1ExaOzgUb8lvTLXOioeARFng0cSVHANQwwQw3EI8O-0fT4SxW-6N3A6xzRA4FKpCITAfjCNik=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOpoRVfhtkF2C4oPKFpfraTFSCpj8kLFJFnx0jBL0jB1pilzdntuKQru-dhUPejn3HG-BP8z-a_7-VH5p4ovSP1JHrcOzDViEHauW2zoLknXjzBC1ExaOzgUb8lvTLXOioeARFng0cSVHANQwwQw3EI8O-0fT4SxW-6N3A6xzRA4FKpCITAfjCNik=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Some of the machinery on board - a steam-driven winch</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Before long, it was time to return to the Earnslaw. We got back to Queenstown at about 4pm, and rather than doing other things (we thought of going up in the Gondola, but it didn’t look as if it was running), we just came back to the cottage. John zonked out on his bed, and I dozed a bit too in the lounge, before watching the news, and then having a dinner of toast and coffee.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>In the news today - There is a new Covid variant, dubbed “Omicron”, which developed in South Africa, and the experts are still trying to figure out whether it is more or less virulent than Delta, it seems to be more transmissible. Meanwhile, the new “Traffic Light” system will be coming into force on Friday, whereby you have to show your vaccination certificate to enter premises. Interesting times …</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Tuesday 1 December</span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Today we biked the Arrow River Bridges Trail. We did this on our non-e bikes on our first biking trip eight years ago. It was another brilliantly sunny day, though it was a bit chilly to begin with, as the track runs in the shade under trees, alongside the river, but it was lovely when we got out into the open.</span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR3DjGEJ3UKMKYX-LQ-HSH9ssAn50VuXqTI0WgUakdyBVzPI7julppZJmCci_3C3zJ27LZTk47MkTu3sJSw4MOMEiSg0zopa63ckey6bPhjy924MmOvcrqRzwQgti0IDmo13aCHEpX5BRELd6gpU5eW7CgUJg7xkVBCGtn74lCTT-LO-UJge7aRwA=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR3DjGEJ3UKMKYX-LQ-HSH9ssAn50VuXqTI0WgUakdyBVzPI7julppZJmCci_3C3zJ27LZTk47MkTu3sJSw4MOMEiSg0zopa63ckey6bPhjy924MmOvcrqRzwQgti0IDmo13aCHEpX5BRELd6gpU5eW7CgUJg7xkVBCGtn74lCTT-LO-UJge7aRwA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The track ran under the trees at first</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqo7rhArQfe1yJySzJ34iPkGuFWdbh3iGjlzSPsuJCN0IurQ8rnInq3WXo6-MwABLy558dOxOYXhNfg09tbzM-qy2mc0F4ePITW6lHHiJEAeHkz40A5jfz_-pOTirpZkOk_acP4E9MjhBn37PTDxDIo4-D7ao-2oQXAY3GpF4TGBaHhTp8Wbt_x2Y=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqo7rhArQfe1yJySzJ34iPkGuFWdbh3iGjlzSPsuJCN0IurQ8rnInq3WXo6-MwABLy558dOxOYXhNfg09tbzM-qy2mc0F4ePITW6lHHiJEAeHkz40A5jfz_-pOTirpZkOk_acP4E9MjhBn37PTDxDIo4-D7ao-2oQXAY3GpF4TGBaHhTp8Wbt_x2Y=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The sheep nuts to feed the alpacas were provided in a container tacked to a fence post</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>There were quite a few ups and downs, and we had to cross two big suspension bridges. John biked across the shorter one, but walked the longer one. The first, shorter, bridge I biked across gave me the scares - I did not dare look down, I just had to look straight ahead to where I was heading. The ravine, or gorge, under the bridge is very deep and the river very swift and noisy below. I think I am getting worse, with the primal fear of falling into a void, or ditch (dating back to a childhood event). It is a very real and terrifying, breath-stopping fear - I just can’t help it.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieoXJVvDHOz2jSG8UAZEEkTB0D98uRJCoazBMvxYjQiZutabpibtW_vA26Og-xgNVf731ui3uF64YAFpHg1yF1iSpnWBsPaHV5hM9inja7z2Tsd6JKUQi61_vWX-OrsExwS6uXmCQJVDU0eFU0OqiZTvPktwQ7DX_Srps_c7Ct-DTpHv_ygsvpzpo=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieoXJVvDHOz2jSG8UAZEEkTB0D98uRJCoazBMvxYjQiZutabpibtW_vA26Og-xgNVf731ui3uF64YAFpHg1yF1iSpnWBsPaHV5hM9inja7z2Tsd6JKUQi61_vWX-OrsExwS6uXmCQJVDU0eFU0OqiZTvPktwQ7DX_Srps_c7Ct-DTpHv_ygsvpzpo=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The second bridge did not affect me too much</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>John was not feeling all that well, which expressed itself in the fact that he hardly took any photos. He really needs to concentrate on what he is doing, or he will fall. Mind you, we’d been here before …</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Kawerau Bungy Bridge was only 13.5 km away. The place was open, and two guys were checking equipment at the Bungy jump-off station, but nobody was taking the plunge. In the building, there were only about half a dozen visitors - for coffee - and I think I saw someone signing up to jump, but we didn't wait to see that happening. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhERFUmjumNyrm3vcwGh5hh-_6QZxyoj1GwgW_RbBRkPXuQrFcgGKp_N80UUEq5LVf6HBLQjweuWZRKnhzXH6Pu5DUqsUrLtOfhaDpmBZWZcYzDJHIvgxMagVRUUqMPZmQhB1qIdeaSzqDmyQ_NvHuShnayMDbgyX3sIWsGm3jyfwRYzBuRHqFIj9Q=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhERFUmjumNyrm3vcwGh5hh-_6QZxyoj1GwgW_RbBRkPXuQrFcgGKp_N80UUEq5LVf6HBLQjweuWZRKnhzXH6Pu5DUqsUrLtOfhaDpmBZWZcYzDJHIvgxMagVRUUqMPZmQhB1qIdeaSzqDmyQ_NvHuShnayMDbgyX3sIWsGm3jyfwRYzBuRHqFIj9Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Kawerau River - such an amazing colour!</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNohOYcpjLFZHoar9nEOrAnlbYKRhhHcUZwzh1ZO13eFVr3XkT9RZmpBOVhYgPSL4jitSPRHFLixSLQO6_duEbcnOo5Yxr8ie67zeFvcGwNtgG2lt2xFEbBjARviIubjOSryrNHqTBN6oOVcF52FDGtV1aM1yQhfp3hV8ySw8Hyzwc_adwqSAk1sc=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNohOYcpjLFZHoar9nEOrAnlbYKRhhHcUZwzh1ZO13eFVr3XkT9RZmpBOVhYgPSL4jitSPRHFLixSLQO6_duEbcnOo5Yxr8ie67zeFvcGwNtgG2lt2xFEbBjARviIubjOSryrNHqTBN6oOVcF52FDGtV1aM1yQhfp3hV8ySw8Hyzwc_adwqSAk1sc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Not a lot of people in the Kawerau Bungy building (DP)<br /></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2zWAxxDQoUP2VMGp_ynwvnaT0Q1sGHDSP10tD2C-ZDTbSZryK__njgdIKZCmviXIlcz7gvI5dEk045PL7KCQJAeudcPXsDHY2oiOhgsrrpOE1X82GY31swRhftK-N2GcScUQQ3F6sOPbrtvvloM8-yEir3Vp8il2UREBw7zNNnwEnTgdS65ab_ZQ=s1800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2zWAxxDQoUP2VMGp_ynwvnaT0Q1sGHDSP10tD2C-ZDTbSZryK__njgdIKZCmviXIlcz7gvI5dEk045PL7KCQJAeudcPXsDHY2oiOhgsrrpOE1X82GY31swRhftK-N2GcScUQQ3F6sOPbrtvvloM8-yEir3Vp8il2UREBw7zNNnwEnTgdS65ab_ZQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>I was amused at the signs on the toilet doors (DP)<br /></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We had some coffee and a cookie, and then we were on our way back. When we got back to Arrowtown, we stopped at the Patagonia ice cream shop, for a well-deserved ice cream, and sat in the shade enjoying it.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN9loGJKE1M3CDiyKsDOmPPhT5J8qX1pskvEAj19J3uZu5eiXPWjVfBII_CXFHx4ylscrVxgPnK33pwQnJ94_sC5-frMIiPbrAJbz2yi0m8erabBo1ny9_1CWybTdr8Uo2tk5ym9fpFxTttELiVzjr37CCUJjZ-PNCgw47gwcgAo-FJc8r6O35yg0=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN9loGJKE1M3CDiyKsDOmPPhT5J8qX1pskvEAj19J3uZu5eiXPWjVfBII_CXFHx4ylscrVxgPnK33pwQnJ94_sC5-frMIiPbrAJbz2yi0m8erabBo1ny9_1CWybTdr8Uo2tk5ym9fpFxTttELiVzjr37CCUJjZ-PNCgw47gwcgAo-FJc8r6O35yg0=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>You have to remember that you’re wearing a mask, so you don’t try to lick the melting icecream as it dribbles onto your hand! <br /></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Wednesday 2 December </span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We decided to try biking around Lake Hayes. It is an 8 km loop around the lake, and is supposed to be an easy intermediate track. We sort of knew in which direction to go, but stopped at a place hiring out bikes and asked for directions - the young man was very helpful and gave us a map.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The track took us through the Millbrook Resort - a rather gorgeous, flash-looking place - ‘luxury’ cottages, a huge golf course, dozens of golf buggies all lined up, lovely landscaping, several attractive ponds - all very nice. Then we had to go down ‘Christine’s Hill’, which was gravelly and very steep, so we walked down rather than rode. There was no way I wanted to come back by the same route - pushing a heavy, reluctant bike up that hill - nope!</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We found our way to the lake, and as suggested (in some leaflet), we tried going in an anti-clockwise direction, but it wasn’t long before we saw that the track was going up a steep bit. We stopped at a seat by the water, before the hill, had some chocolate and were entertained by watching a mother duck and her five ducklings.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbhdE_o6QL6lry2WenJSFWCPaCx7bWV7yIqLR3NKcWdUFMhlb5w-uGeHL7qoEdL_dB_QWwf0wCE5HDjA-r_LuLpmPf_47CsQBzgxroWIBAKUTV55ZsTA-DiLEuToSxLiIURx8y7evypS6NhvdF1obdZDswiAaKQxJZk5wBKXznlkhHzhSXZ6y6Mx4=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbhdE_o6QL6lry2WenJSFWCPaCx7bWV7yIqLR3NKcWdUFMhlb5w-uGeHL7qoEdL_dB_QWwf0wCE5HDjA-r_LuLpmPf_47CsQBzgxroWIBAKUTV55ZsTA-DiLEuToSxLiIURx8y7evypS6NhvdF1obdZDswiAaKQxJZk5wBKXznlkhHzhSXZ6y6Mx4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>By the shore of Lake Hayes</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFHKJXPeWMlDbl1x9mFZ5R9EaaeBX3PCKkF-87gZmuTrWFHUz_cnbp98qcE_nBGXf2q-uLKFz29UpTt5z2asvOG-2UOMfqJEDo9iEvE7ha7EhqFIB8xrK-MmxJkbQP6ko2yYU8WSDSavIAzFKkOHshvvyqelGm3m4xHbOlHfdlf3av7oJZksLF43g=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFHKJXPeWMlDbl1x9mFZ5R9EaaeBX3PCKkF-87gZmuTrWFHUz_cnbp98qcE_nBGXf2q-uLKFz29UpTt5z2asvOG-2UOMfqJEDo9iEvE7ha7EhqFIB8xrK-MmxJkbQP6ko2yYU8WSDSavIAzFKkOHshvvyqelGm3m4xHbOlHfdlf3av7oJZksLF43g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Peaceful setting (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTZoMFcXO7nE9rVkCvM6kwilLZT-W7ImCLz0CWS8sCR3z8G4gmk0chFgRbXCDwVjD6b073d-ZMft6QQTmJbxNAQiGvCDCO5hCnpTAz3jnNqi07XcMsPvgAxLsiCcu_o7JXDWxpvG2CFXJwOEFS1Wps9bao7u2NnvaSGxw9YOqAe--xfchJ1u4nS4w=s3958" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2968" data-original-width="3958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTZoMFcXO7nE9rVkCvM6kwilLZT-W7ImCLz0CWS8sCR3z8G4gmk0chFgRbXCDwVjD6b073d-ZMft6QQTmJbxNAQiGvCDCO5hCnpTAz3jnNqi07XcMsPvgAxLsiCcu_o7JXDWxpvG2CFXJwOEFS1Wps9bao7u2NnvaSGxw9YOqAe--xfchJ1u4nS4w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The track beyond is going uphill (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: small;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We did not want to attempt that hill, so we tried going around the other way. After a car park, the track went down a steep bit - which meant having to climb back up coming back - so we piked out and went back to Arrowtown by the road. We came across a lovely café/winery called Akarua, which looked very tempting. We had some delicious waffles - all decorated with caramelised banana, berries and flowers - for brunch (too early to call it lunch) in a garden setting.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9jBtCadrPLttf_-Q3MXujhjW10BS6Z65WosDymQlCpPMWPWnUPhdw46NIadajEtS1PchbFA09XSz4yTCMM6VyWiO_RjIOmhTqRw7z9Cpf5K6UIZcHxQT9lCwFmwRe9BMnxbU_siKzucCDpy9AeZbt6kYKjK2sQi0-LfsLTg0xHITAH1OXDwBXj7M=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9jBtCadrPLttf_-Q3MXujhjW10BS6Z65WosDymQlCpPMWPWnUPhdw46NIadajEtS1PchbFA09XSz4yTCMM6VyWiO_RjIOmhTqRw7z9Cpf5K6UIZcHxQT9lCwFmwRe9BMnxbU_siKzucCDpy9AeZbt6kYKjK2sQi0-LfsLTg0xHITAH1OXDwBXj7M=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>These waffles were magnificent (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>After that, we turned off the main road, and rode on a ‘school bus route’, which was smooth, quiet, and pretty. It eventually took us back to the Bridges track. John steered us to Patagonia again, as we came back into Arrowtown. He felt the need for an ice-cream. I didn’t, so I just sat with him while he had his.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Before going ‘home’ we biked to the Chinese village nearby - the reconstructed remains of the Chinese pioneer miners’ cottages - tiny, made from slabs of stone, with thatched roofs (or corrugated iron now). </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The ground near there and on the Queenstown trail was covered in very fine fluff from the poplars - rather like kapok or cotton. It looked like it had been snowing.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho2Uxs4bfAMV67u5QsWfkhjFEsotuF5QiogAJ1C6GAgLd4yT9mxqk2XLVmfXcSUMrLC4Dl-Tw4fvQFO5Mr3-I00VJi0mkUhwRXSoIeYeu0WQNVp6vDrG6TWseNT6FOk2oUXVSzlqn_ZnDpDCQRZMp9vfsM9PKLrkiXYluPIJ93ixN4FgdbyUCABAg=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho2Uxs4bfAMV67u5QsWfkhjFEsotuF5QiogAJ1C6GAgLd4yT9mxqk2XLVmfXcSUMrLC4Dl-Tw4fvQFO5Mr3-I00VJi0mkUhwRXSoIeYeu0WQNVp6vDrG6TWseNT6FOk2oUXVSzlqn_ZnDpDCQRZMp9vfsM9PKLrkiXYluPIJ93ixN4FgdbyUCABAg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>One of the reconstructed dwellings in the Chinese Village</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEaV-_4eYcahlLmxQXr_PBisyUxS1hiEpC2-xO1XCpS7Kv1bTuEpycVVtkg88cC3msNVQORgCY2_uU2zYaugZG_gE0rLolT3ELMkvR9rlupJdCfngK0e1MeicDbni19vY5RnqI8J3za9b59G6nCbo1XwaZFS5aXypN7JYar3LTQR0fxO_EC0t507U=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEaV-_4eYcahlLmxQXr_PBisyUxS1hiEpC2-xO1XCpS7Kv1bTuEpycVVtkg88cC3msNVQORgCY2_uU2zYaugZG_gE0rLolT3ELMkvR9rlupJdCfngK0e1MeicDbni19vY5RnqI8J3za9b59G6nCbo1XwaZFS5aXypN7JYar3LTQR0fxO_EC0t507U=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Fluff from the poplars made it look as if it had been snowing</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE93Yzc_l0AzCYHxBIbPpZO5idL6tOB244zWouCz6HB7TwW1a6jZ7AJH005f8APKJCvkTus2nZaSda96qpTUDnLPn_VHnZaFnNffOVdTmYUx5NfygLYuhkkdcvH0OL2Ck0ohEb7odRfIn9eOgqHG-C3jQU8yBByxbEedRjlF3Sju49IyLzYumpkSw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE93Yzc_l0AzCYHxBIbPpZO5idL6tOB244zWouCz6HB7TwW1a6jZ7AJH005f8APKJCvkTus2nZaSda96qpTUDnLPn_VHnZaFnNffOVdTmYUx5NfygLYuhkkdcvH0OL2Ck0ohEb7odRfIn9eOgqHG-C3jQU8yBByxbEedRjlF3Sju49IyLzYumpkSw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>A handful of poplar fluff (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We made our way back to the cottage, and just pottered, started packing some of our stuff, as we were leaving the next day. The plan was to drive to Franz Josef despite the threat of rain. It was to be a long drive, with the only opportunity for a charge top-up in Wanaka, so we needed a full charge. John put the car on a long slow charge, to top it right up.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>In the late afternoon we took a wander into the village and spotted an Italian place where we had a very nice pizza - an actual Italian pizza. It restored our faith in pizzas, which had been severely dented by that horrible take-away pizza in Twizel. At the time, I thought that I wouldn’t want to eat pizza again for a very long time. But this was nice, with a glass of wine and some affogato for dessert.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg76GqoDhti_ZDDyaESfUONxYLf-xSlE5Ykfl7RRJXC18LmQIs_RVb2XZPck_GizbV-_S1cPIaO1FBEZRZQx95Sx2HXLmPz26G9Zvt8RJoStE8sw1SdmV_NZ31HT1sx2KKD1XsGMeSaYCp4SgKaiW2RlS2fGw39PDjAnNglQ0TzsS0kMKs0UshNnsQ=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg76GqoDhti_ZDDyaESfUONxYLf-xSlE5Ykfl7RRJXC18LmQIs_RVb2XZPck_GizbV-_S1cPIaO1FBEZRZQx95Sx2HXLmPz26G9Zvt8RJoStE8sw1SdmV_NZ31HT1sx2KKD1XsGMeSaYCp4SgKaiW2RlS2fGw39PDjAnNglQ0TzsS0kMKs0UshNnsQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Our faith in pizzas restored!</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Thursday 3 December</span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We left Arrowtown at about 9:30. We took the road to Cardrona over the Crown Range. A very good road, through quite impressive landscape, but I found Cardrona itself oddly disappointing, somehow. It did not take long to get up to the top/pass, much longer to get back down.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvhGcxRKWGiklI1-KU7kea5BGdfGT0T4ITaAuiYbvJCvtGrX953W7qWufe13n72v7eT2hOxBHBm7Jk7rv5YQoJhIV15Z0h6n64sBr1Ka_vo76WY-RGc2Cj1vB-rsNAi_EuOVa5LlOHb9ELilbd8yDzCv7yaCbSBl8FeLTgx-inVGUnxy__RlIfE98=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvhGcxRKWGiklI1-KU7kea5BGdfGT0T4ITaAuiYbvJCvtGrX953W7qWufe13n72v7eT2hOxBHBm7Jk7rv5YQoJhIV15Z0h6n64sBr1Ka_vo76WY-RGc2Cj1vB-rsNAi_EuOVa5LlOHb9ELilbd8yDzCv7yaCbSBl8FeLTgx-inVGUnxy__RlIfE98=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The ‘iconic’ Cardrona Hotel</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>In Wanaka we stopped at a café along the foreshore and had coffee and scones. It was the first time we had to show our vaccine pass, with the new Covid “Traffic Light” system having come into force today. After this we stopped at the i-Site just a few doors along to find out about the weather and road conditions on the West Coast, as we were still vacillating about whether to go up the West or up the East of the divide. The weather map showed rain forecast for both sides, and all the roads were open. So off we went to the West Coast.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Soon after Hawea, the rain set in, and unfortunately, it got steadily worse as the day wore on. We were still seeing lots of lupins, but once past The Neck - the bit between Lake Hawea and the top of Lake Wanaka - we started seeing foxgloves (just like we saw on our West Coast Wilderness trip). We took some photos there, and managed to get some ‘passengers’ along - sandflies - sneaky little critters, that I eventually was able to deal with.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCaANc9WE97kU9pyJLpi4i_8YyVTGYWKMnNYqD9e3iqcCEy6ZAT_gfSmTck1YQT1X5usAljzd6wD1Q7bUhf0n2Ja4vhzwaM7mh9bBDYAn3dG2yCuAIOLaXAyNrl00Mvsp3EvBF6Nhp0b7Uqc-GAUAX8MjPdVJ22VrMMhXSYJHErzo2V3YPrImO7hE=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCaANc9WE97kU9pyJLpi4i_8YyVTGYWKMnNYqD9e3iqcCEy6ZAT_gfSmTck1YQT1X5usAljzd6wD1Q7bUhf0n2Ja4vhzwaM7mh9bBDYAn3dG2yCuAIOLaXAyNrl00Mvsp3EvBF6Nhp0b7Uqc-GAUAX8MjPdVJ22VrMMhXSYJHErzo2V3YPrImO7hE=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Lake Wanaka from “The Neck”</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We didn’t stop for many photos, but I took some from the car, as we were crossing bridges. I remembered the bridge over the Haast River - from the last time we were there, 48 years ago, in a VW Beetle with four adults and two babies! Those were the days!</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjozG121xIBWV6iC8_YcIWkQS9A3CZ6zpmocFmt8mCMz_yqv7XOmh3mAqsL_mdrUsdudPQJ8es6u0EVVnGd9_9fB4_hKp84xOxTawUGMEy8sfiR__qZQmpZk3o_Q8XzfgXilHGZlgR9rBGnKl4Rrp0tVvX_eG3uG9bjpiXZXfCwosD_6N7spzxy6gA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjozG121xIBWV6iC8_YcIWkQS9A3CZ6zpmocFmt8mCMz_yqv7XOmh3mAqsL_mdrUsdudPQJ8es6u0EVVnGd9_9fB4_hKp84xOxTawUGMEy8sfiR__qZQmpZk3o_Q8XzfgXilHGZlgR9rBGnKl4Rrp0tVvX_eG3uG9bjpiXZXfCwosD_6N7spzxy6gA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>I think this was across the Paringa River (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn08Iz27JhXPzQPFOCHiujrloOdpZId9u1zUZd_8_lQJVzixbwDJRlwFyn1gv9nco5vBP3E5EgeFOwAyNjr_XA1i8tD8R0kIgXCiK9TrGgmNFLKlvwRTnyjrpwQvMHcf-nnkP40VRwBy4paKDBVw15yzupLEi-pc9hjjVtRzyQOLhnGM5UPThYrfs=s3784" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="3784" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn08Iz27JhXPzQPFOCHiujrloOdpZId9u1zUZd_8_lQJVzixbwDJRlwFyn1gv9nco5vBP3E5EgeFOwAyNjr_XA1i8tD8R0kIgXCiK9TrGgmNFLKlvwRTnyjrpwQvMHcf-nnkP40VRwBy4paKDBVw15yzupLEi-pc9hjjVtRzyQOLhnGM5UPThYrfs=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Cook River - getting close to Fox Glacier (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>It is pretty wild country, beautiful but wet, and there is nothing much in the way of habitation - nowhere for a coffee. But we found a ‘miracle’ place, in the middle of nowhere, a <a href="https://salmonfarm.co.nz/" target="_blank">salmon farm</a> with café attached, which was actually open! The place even provided a covered path from the carpark to the café so we didn’t get too wet. Obviously the place was deserted and there were just a few items in the cabinet, but we had coffee and muffins. Also, a toilet stop! What a godsend.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We drove past signs pointing the way to Lake Matheson (famous for its perfect reflections of the Alps in its still waters) and Okarito (famous for its habitat of kotuku, white heron), and it would have been great to be able to go and see these, but not in this weather.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>It was a long day’s driving, and we got to Franz Joseph about 4:30, and found the charging post for the car, quite near the Scenic Franz Josef Hotel where we were staying. The hotel was very nice, but deserted - I think there were only three other couples staying.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjArbJPDRxhhBi9c9JXMk2seAmT8FXSwZ9lsz6msxg7bwBbB7-UgO-c9dDq7Ae_Tcl0tU9FGAjIBQu6Rq8KmotF8Hb8YGR6OGst8UDrvIKXNner0033Q9zb9ySRcNCUXQcc5qUU6bjqf-j87_-J35yUG9QNtDDi4rpWw41Zf4dGgOoGI4EqkZ7tXBU=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjArbJPDRxhhBi9c9JXMk2seAmT8FXSwZ9lsz6msxg7bwBbB7-UgO-c9dDq7Ae_Tcl0tU9FGAjIBQu6Rq8KmotF8Hb8YGR6OGst8UDrvIKXNner0033Q9zb9ySRcNCUXQcc5qUU6bjqf-j87_-J35yUG9QNtDDi4rpWw41Zf4dGgOoGI4EqkZ7tXBU=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>John was amused by these banana skin-shaped signs warning of a slippery surface</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> <br /></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Friday 4 December</span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>It rained all night, and it was still raining hard when we had breakfast at 8:30 am. We pressed on and stopped briefly at Ross, where there is a small museum that we took a peek at.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6rltSyX2S9S3S6w-NE1dawGWcXukK6f2LSC5f_KkBaIG8VZt4-yPqj5wr6Aj4BsaZySNeUrvbSEhStcPb0eTKqSba9gNLqye5qTtZ3BhJdH5M1hD0h0fBlXF8G5hhkSG68CUpCqOtANXM2Po4ISv0F_jeUgjD4l-1umhLQywo8usFibM1eYQ2jV4=s2304" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6rltSyX2S9S3S6w-NE1dawGWcXukK6f2LSC5f_KkBaIG8VZt4-yPqj5wr6Aj4BsaZySNeUrvbSEhStcPb0eTKqSba9gNLqye5qTtZ3BhJdH5M1hD0h0fBlXF8G5hhkSG68CUpCqOtANXM2Po4ISv0F_jeUgjD4l-1umhLQywo8usFibM1eYQ2jV4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We saw this amusing advert in the Ross Museum</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCy9mEs2z3WBKKUD2Wr4oSbFNNumXl1nZl2Tyv3FYx9s4VJ607yYvG6wb9RNVBalmrNFsT2K7FHbUp8Mgnywwl1Ka3fykEPEgY83YYQIkKS59YYhNtFDQGsKnI10-wqJfJG2R_PlQCJll05MA6GB30jd89FLwic1J6objHnOWMNr0epQZuQ7Go9sI=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCy9mEs2z3WBKKUD2Wr4oSbFNNumXl1nZl2Tyv3FYx9s4VJ607yYvG6wb9RNVBalmrNFsT2K7FHbUp8Mgnywwl1Ka3fykEPEgY83YYQIkKS59YYhNtFDQGsKnI10-wqJfJG2R_PlQCJll05MA6GB30jd89FLwic1J6objHnOWMNr0epQZuQ7Go9sI=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>This poster in the Hokitika café says it all!</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We got to Hokitika by about 10:30. By this stage it was still hosing down, so we checked at the i-Site, and found out that there was less likelihood of rain on the other side of the divide, so we decided to cut our losses, cancelled our hotel booking in Westport and headed towards Arthur’s Pass.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The road over Arthur’s Pass was lovely, though wet. We stopped for photos of the Otira Gorge, and got to the Otira Viaduct, just as the cloud made the view very marginal.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8mr18Jc1W7aUKlIMaIGcXf8u75VUorruKvxZmP-R9fU5KPIgCaIutkgfWkEIoBkJhO2psTZdKn2lPEi_UedLAl2aFaBR1pU2yIdtxOqqq5FfClCcxymNwsok3_HQRhoHoGPlJ0W35jtg1oDxCkLAKoaQoK5pfI0PzxyQKTpJKAwbXD29yamkyDNw=w640-h426" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Otira River</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZn7O6LhfSO7cC9bjkIIVsX1GEPc1PFvOnEj5QxJWecP3tJoldil3u_gDxxZIX94J3-JabIvwekBAcvdX-wzdadGWCxt8dfkx1EpxH7lHKwUefp36edtUqKNB5Yi-3CaYBAEpBwGPUrw9t2GGUAiZSjrwutZ42mSOcliOwlU93iuwNTABeIhZjPdM=s3560" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="3560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZn7O6LhfSO7cC9bjkIIVsX1GEPc1PFvOnEj5QxJWecP3tJoldil3u_gDxxZIX94J3-JabIvwekBAcvdX-wzdadGWCxt8dfkx1EpxH7lHKwUefp36edtUqKNB5Yi-3CaYBAEpBwGPUrw9t2GGUAiZSjrwutZ42mSOcliOwlU93iuwNTABeIhZjPdM=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Tunnels protecting the road from water and rocks</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhdHR85qD1KGLnFr0EJUVXYD94IGsDHaUK61oa_JFX4aNKtgS5157gJJgRpFFwUOmZAm-9__XkXhcsHNksjxhYTDs8gYVleVO4AAPPex91hkfMA8Q8BmBrGiLnPfDnyKzfcFO5Q5SPgelqXsWYTJYDYk0JNjRE4Z0cauNai4X9xnPSzNl5HH9eVAw=s3806" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2854" data-original-width="3806" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhdHR85qD1KGLnFr0EJUVXYD94IGsDHaUK61oa_JFX4aNKtgS5157gJJgRpFFwUOmZAm-9__XkXhcsHNksjxhYTDs8gYVleVO4AAPPex91hkfMA8Q8BmBrGiLnPfDnyKzfcFO5Q5SPgelqXsWYTJYDYk0JNjRE4Z0cauNai4X9xnPSzNl5HH9eVAw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Seen from the lookout</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRNQ_kzD9ifVxEKHsxdii4p-Q8NqWkM2eTkZ9iSRgoAW7Bw8MFugonWzg_fos99MXgpOJMC5yxzap7fJhbGsMaTL6XEJMmSrQ79-4yw9RKFzz_vqfjZjKWnLyY8LXVeGo0wIpYY5tWXFrp6nado8oWGLuBLzgPOMEWmB-DRgmH4sgKhDh_ac4xzL8=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRNQ_kzD9ifVxEKHsxdii4p-Q8NqWkM2eTkZ9iSRgoAW7Bw8MFugonWzg_fos99MXgpOJMC5yxzap7fJhbGsMaTL6XEJMmSrQ79-4yw9RKFzz_vqfjZjKWnLyY8LXVeGo0wIpYY5tWXFrp6nado8oWGLuBLzgPOMEWmB-DRgmH4sgKhDh_ac4xzL8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Otira Viaduct, just before it disappeared into the cloud</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Almost as soon as we were over Arthur’s Pass, the rain abated. The scenery was beautiful, very dramatic with high mountains and great shingle slides. And soon we were seeing a bit of blue sky.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBljDhKLg6AIpGnyI3CKlk43_huf4IK9hz7FYUEZ6oJ8Dmp4NJRhgYbFFkNCw3Hw8LBspXJEUaDEMC0L3hMra16aaytIFkots6yy9B-EfEPrdmmHehpqXB8cFBWD9e2_URjq3Vpw5lF0jejPj2PFZWJUpaq_6N5LTxncuM1eGFh1Hom6UCJXeB2Po=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBljDhKLg6AIpGnyI3CKlk43_huf4IK9hz7FYUEZ6oJ8Dmp4NJRhgYbFFkNCw3Hw8LBspXJEUaDEMC0L3hMra16aaytIFkots6yy9B-EfEPrdmmHehpqXB8cFBWD9e2_URjq3Vpw5lF0jejPj2PFZWJUpaq_6N5LTxncuM1eGFh1Hom6UCJXeB2Po=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Dramatic high mountains with great shingle slides (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Once over the divide, we decided to push on until Kaikoura. I managed to book a motel for the night, online, on my phone and we got there by 6:30. The motel was very basic, but it was opposite the beach, and we enjoyed a lovely sunset.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-smj1yCyW-OjjrM8ZKPagd1MO_vvDgV8arY_O5U2-H71IrfCSOpt1dAKhIkgnKwmHNw-vrEKipzuUgv7gd4n3btspSDeeWPnXjJsSN9LJAumAGfOU6HebO31DENAUWRqa90KvGzZ2PlWElGVenDRxbgek4UdKdImCVAoe43cp24vJdywGHaEHF9Q=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-smj1yCyW-OjjrM8ZKPagd1MO_vvDgV8arY_O5U2-H71IrfCSOpt1dAKhIkgnKwmHNw-vrEKipzuUgv7gd4n3btspSDeeWPnXjJsSN9LJAumAGfOU6HebO31DENAUWRqa90KvGzZ2PlWElGVenDRxbgek4UdKdImCVAoe43cp24vJdywGHaEHF9Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Sunset on the beach at Kaikoura</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Saturday 5 December</span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>John woke me at 6:45 am! Much too early for a night owl like me. He decided we would not have breakfast, we would have it somewhere along the road and we left at 7:15. Of course there was nowhere open at that time on a Sunday morning, at a time with very little tourist activity. “Oh, that’s OK, we will have breakfast at Kekerengu”, said John. We got there at 8:30, and it was not open.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>So on we pushed, and got to Picton at 9:30. We went straight to the Bluebridge office, expecting it to still be closed too, but we were in luck. The woman at the counter was very helpful and was able to change our 7:15 pm booking for one on the 2pm sailing. Excellent, report at 1 pm.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Off to have some ‘breakfast’ at last. At a foreshore café, we had coffee and scones, then went for a walk, around, and around, the place while the weather was trying to rain, but never quite making it.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsqfkNaQmROQIDjr3t-8FL3VFh3wjMhE7WMV7JVP1YBiSjMIxgS6rh5QDao9snFnzi1nfRWf5YMGpLobHiOZWZ3gqS3QxmuW6PgeXA25BIjkwkhNNgiznWjaEobq6YJd1xjWfJZAIqUtJrWagxdpiVeM6w0rz2NSCGI7pe_8ugzLdy-CLz2EBYoxI=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsqfkNaQmROQIDjr3t-8FL3VFh3wjMhE7WMV7JVP1YBiSjMIxgS6rh5QDao9snFnzi1nfRWf5YMGpLobHiOZWZ3gqS3QxmuW6PgeXA25BIjkwkhNNgiznWjaEobq6YJd1xjWfJZAIqUtJrWagxdpiVeM6w0rz2NSCGI7pe_8ugzLdy-CLz2EBYoxI=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Picton foreshore (DP)</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbwSlL5BivvKuqKZ3gzgfa8cKTJcIyowd6ohvau-V6g0_gAkq7aDx1YDXX86pAianGDYmHtiamsTiWCrq6jCJMPwXrPCsP5AZDah3fDs33zUzxuNkjq8t0TqF50VcRLhAKCNTo6YU9tC_01sOg-vAh1kxbAx6tYKmGd7Cql1R_DfZ35EqjvD7ubiY=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbwSlL5BivvKuqKZ3gzgfa8cKTJcIyowd6ohvau-V6g0_gAkq7aDx1YDXX86pAianGDYmHtiamsTiWCrq6jCJMPwXrPCsP5AZDah3fDs33zUzxuNkjq8t0TqF50VcRLhAKCNTo6YU9tC_01sOg-vAh1kxbAx6tYKmGd7Cql1R_DfZ35EqjvD7ubiY=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>In Picton</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkH0SKa4rErkSb8D3Qz6KtUOAN2y9s5kz7T_7_in2O7CSEQmWbuY69JOeiqtPUXXor0qzmIhW6qCZIvUmis8wFb5tNlgjcMpkInuSuoDmK0rAf1Y1HeyeGyGqF1csMSViaqvP5KekbBguajMni2l-Q-drE1RQF0AMRD238xlH51a5qhHLhXZsGyLk=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkH0SKa4rErkSb8D3Qz6KtUOAN2y9s5kz7T_7_in2O7CSEQmWbuY69JOeiqtPUXXor0qzmIhW6qCZIvUmis8wFb5tNlgjcMpkInuSuoDmK0rAf1Y1HeyeGyGqF1csMSViaqvP5KekbBguajMni2l-Q-drE1RQF0AMRD238xlH51a5qhHLhXZsGyLk=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Coming into Wellington Harbour - nearly home!</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>It was a smooth sailing, no swell, but it was raining and blowing when we got to Wellington.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>It had been a great holiday, and we were really lucky with the weather, with only one day of rain.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>After we got back, there was very heavy rain overnight, which caused flooding in various places around the Wellington Region. How lucky we were to have escaped such deluges while away. And now, we were quite happy to stay home.<br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-41364241073606439432022-02-09T18:12:00.006+13:002022-02-17T18:03:14.348+13:00 South Island Trip - Nov/Dec 2021 - Part 2<h3 style="text-align: left;">Part 2</h3><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the second part of the holiday we had in the South Island in November/December 2021. Part 1 is <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2022/02/island-holiday-novemberdecember-2021.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and part 3 is <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2022/02/south-island-trip-novdec-2021-part-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /> </span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Clyde to Arrowtown <br /></span></span></h1><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday 27 November</span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The small house we had booked in Clyde was a throwback to the 1950s. Its style was very similar to the Ministry of Works house where we lived in Christchurch in the early 70s - same kind of kitchen cupboards, same kind of interior doors and joinery. We could really imagine ourselves back five decades, as there was no TV, no microwave, and no internet. A minor inconvenience, but there was a shelf of books, and in the three evenings, I managed to get through the best part of a good novel. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It had turned quite cold overnight, and there was a threat of rain, so we thought Alexandra would be our best bet to avoid the rain. So we decided to ride the Clyde to Alexandra 150th Anniversary River Track. This is an alternative way to ride the first section of the Otago Central Rail Trail. When we biked the Rail Trail, way back in 2013, on our original, non-electric, folding bikes, we decided to take the easier, more level option to get from Clyde to Alexandra. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As we discovered today, that had definitely been the right decision back then. The track is certainly very pretty, but I think we would not have enjoyed it very much that early in our first biking adventure. As it was, John wasn’t feeling the best today, and he found the track a bit challenging.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s a very pretty track, but quite tricky, quite narrow in places, and also lumpy-bumpy some of the time. Quite a few ups and downs, lots of little bridges with the track running beside it in a big dip.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMzBjtGVOzdWorn4G4gHwuyg-BbjPouL1-Wpa7pdI7PCKatVHynenq0eVq7CiVRV3pZ87UfTeMGwOMtk-1gBHilx7DRR5KThvgoL4_Nvr84KEgKoEwO6r-urHZRJz-ijFhMYUhDnS8XghVtLUdFHjVq-8vXt52LG3EKPBAe1q__GVi-qkKVXtXN2I=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMzBjtGVOzdWorn4G4gHwuyg-BbjPouL1-Wpa7pdI7PCKatVHynenq0eVq7CiVRV3pZ87UfTeMGwOMtk-1gBHilx7DRR5KThvgoL4_Nvr84KEgKoEwO6r-urHZRJz-ijFhMYUhDnS8XghVtLUdFHjVq-8vXt52LG3EKPBAe1q__GVi-qkKVXtXN2I=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The track was undulating …</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIW4QSlWPb19qZhkq26Q9zNxxfn-YysJZAyFDFc88Ldoc0SjarjrI3ACsDQGNMymtxmCze8kehKAWt6YGjoke9JmTK4Gtpv90zfJlvtf5pJxMnuIgrGTvL9Nekk_y9OGproPbC_cZ9WdjQ0Y3xW3tr0ib5_glXw5GK5B4KdVdG-AwRW8LcPjM9Tzw=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIW4QSlWPb19qZhkq26Q9zNxxfn-YysJZAyFDFc88Ldoc0SjarjrI3ACsDQGNMymtxmCze8kehKAWt6YGjoke9JmTK4Gtpv90zfJlvtf5pJxMnuIgrGTvL9Nekk_y9OGproPbC_cZ9WdjQ0Y3xW3tr0ib5_glXw5GK5B4KdVdG-AwRW8LcPjM9Tzw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">... and a bit rough in places</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This area was gold mining country in the early 1900s, and there is still evidence of the tailings in the shape of the land with its ridges. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhLvieFIKlyOh0hVnR-pxmqKfyOkerCqsSFdj8AMaj4M9cbqv3HQcZYJrB3VJKzIVi_INfYwxd87GwLoDyyVSbOgiOv1Z6xKmFVuUnqbSQVtEYp5KZsF19aDu5MpUyO5W4TkJa1P2UYphEx2hUvXYpTN9H2rdn89_zi2L6RtM8QV5ucKg2Nks8ozw=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhLvieFIKlyOh0hVnR-pxmqKfyOkerCqsSFdj8AMaj4M9cbqv3HQcZYJrB3VJKzIVi_INfYwxd87GwLoDyyVSbOgiOv1Z6xKmFVuUnqbSQVtEYp5KZsF19aDu5MpUyO5W4TkJa1P2UYphEx2hUvXYpTN9H2rdn89_zi2L6RtM8QV5ucKg2Nks8ozw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> A reminder of the gold mining day</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_D42-zshx9O4NbTRLU-ZHlZ6jlEhdfQojJ8UTsxhSn_zEUmqp-Uy26_lItXoHeGmXvF-IoaE0o_JDt2qWcH97NHVA74B8mMmM3PgAb5xzpfRqGjWfRtf0F5INVetSCKPlIsl3P9TUW5VbJPL5OaP1LEBXpujHh0prNZrQyDGknYjK1PuTECDfb1k=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_D42-zshx9O4NbTRLU-ZHlZ6jlEhdfQojJ8UTsxhSn_zEUmqp-Uy26_lItXoHeGmXvF-IoaE0o_JDt2qWcH97NHVA74B8mMmM3PgAb5xzpfRqGjWfRtf0F5INVetSCKPlIsl3P9TUW5VbJPL5OaP1LEBXpujHh0prNZrQyDGknYjK1PuTECDfb1k=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The impressive roots of a pine tree growing on the tailing ridge <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The track skirts the mighty Clutha River/Mata-Au, sometimes it runs quite near the Clutha River, sometimes it is a bit higher up among the gold digging tailings. Lots of yellow lupins and viburnums in flower, and huge willows, some of which reached right over the track. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCkHXi6kVysTZxOSxyLzBoqJ6yxJ-acCSFSHNsK33rvUz3JRr5KCon7WSHZyLvmIocuLHHSFMEUJmEdbdwp58VYpTnFoAq_QPlI-ob3unS-XwL6ryWhrrNyGE18HMNvS8LRe1iugx9Uvl8gO_lD5G_d5jRn65SIN03TxuSMGRYHNywEOn7egZjcDM=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCkHXi6kVysTZxOSxyLzBoqJ6yxJ-acCSFSHNsK33rvUz3JRr5KCon7WSHZyLvmIocuLHHSFMEUJmEdbdwp58VYpTnFoAq_QPlI-ob3unS-XwL6ryWhrrNyGE18HMNvS8LRe1iugx9Uvl8gO_lD5G_d5jRn65SIN03TxuSMGRYHNywEOn7egZjcDM=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The mighty Clutha (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG90vmKtozQ_OF4uLEiXDuqWmEBT-ZOcrwQZZJVN6F7kgZ8r-4oTixoE9_0R0dS2LDmwwd6HDWOibiZY-rE3RjHvFgvOm4gKi4j61MJvq230XR4KNMRo8segL_RcFrJ3ZdNCRg9vnSHiPmo81Rsd8RK5CsCqp0nYTbpzEJMr3BjJBfIJblG9ig_xY=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG90vmKtozQ_OF4uLEiXDuqWmEBT-ZOcrwQZZJVN6F7kgZ8r-4oTixoE9_0R0dS2LDmwwd6HDWOibiZY-rE3RjHvFgvOm4gKi4j61MJvq230XR4KNMRo8segL_RcFrJ3ZdNCRg9vnSHiPmo81Rsd8RK5CsCqp0nYTbpzEJMr3BjJBfIJblG9ig_xY=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trees growing over the track <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In one place we came across some kayakers perfecting their turns on a practise course set out on an inlet. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgExWxklvRLHp9W-tPStA0ELJMVFcgMpxjUAwdZYE58eD75mt1XwSOSNk7bfsRvHfYWdGnXj2SGeyQe_NWioW3QgmfWjeoyMiAFnXKrtDScPKyizUbmARxuElzwQkigl8zabv2OFXjTwSxosy7wvO8nAK3RRP6BU1jzELD9nD6aqHiFzpLf2C3OuAg=s3998" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2735" data-original-width="3998" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgExWxklvRLHp9W-tPStA0ELJMVFcgMpxjUAwdZYE58eD75mt1XwSOSNk7bfsRvHfYWdGnXj2SGeyQe_NWioW3QgmfWjeoyMiAFnXKrtDScPKyizUbmARxuElzwQkigl8zabv2OFXjTwSxosy7wvO8nAK3RRP6BU1jzELD9nD6aqHiFzpLf2C3OuAg=w640-h438" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A kayaking practise course (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW67zeEYpFeUdu55F1ey4H8Qnjxx0cXkPl6omRVOCAaBMtJkO5wCBLAWYeIlgd7vSng6mwkptsMVSTg1-89txRDYHe4EbAWIPZNpurNsQEwTPfOJFJ-jVVC9n27xzI9d2PVA3CxHPaEZ49dT-TozK7Yccnd4yH-VDR5XUebmzOc4wpuVi-UuVuWPI=s2304" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW67zeEYpFeUdu55F1ey4H8Qnjxx0cXkPl6omRVOCAaBMtJkO5wCBLAWYeIlgd7vSng6mwkptsMVSTg1-89txRDYHe4EbAWIPZNpurNsQEwTPfOJFJ-jVVC9n27xzI9d2PVA3CxHPaEZ49dT-TozK7Yccnd4yH-VDR5XUebmzOc4wpuVi-UuVuWPI=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Practising their turns <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John was having quite a bit of trouble with his balance, and was generally feeling rather fragile. He said he needed a coffee, but we had to bike another 10 km before we could get one. He would stop at all the little bridges and walk across. Some of the bridges had no water flowing under them, so we could remain on the track in the dip next to the bridge.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpu0Lkq5I3g0C7NV6wRX4AaMMp7sIzN7EHCPyUU-q0aUmcLeoD6L2ysFthPiOu85mwElZh9nSzjBjXNV9lGoplfLwsq8y3n3K_ULHNlLi3Eevo--RC0azb0v0q6XAB3UjwUsPubc_nncytvzziUbyis3rqEpq1RAVhZ5PFJP1IJ3FqCE_7uCo_Q4M=s3923" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2942" data-original-width="3923" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpu0Lkq5I3g0C7NV6wRX4AaMMp7sIzN7EHCPyUU-q0aUmcLeoD6L2ysFthPiOu85mwElZh9nSzjBjXNV9lGoplfLwsq8y3n3K_ULHNlLi3Eevo--RC0azb0v0q6XAB3UjwUsPubc_nncytvzziUbyis3rqEpq1RAVhZ5PFJP1IJ3FqCE_7uCo_Q4M=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John walked across all the little bridges (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjATRbNtUFAMVC3iJeoNhEHjaS67EtwPd-IIBSixB-Aqjql3HwWZczOIuAX3cmzS20cLx4kWUd-Eb_utjBNxO85RzagL36SxxEX8SgN9_L701Vxcca6zvKeIQGIUSWl_XVdVD1F7vZ7aK5mLuujCXe0A7viXVBEVX0wnmsT__HAqKWqBaRD6WkKuc8=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjATRbNtUFAMVC3iJeoNhEHjaS67EtwPd-IIBSixB-Aqjql3HwWZczOIuAX3cmzS20cLx4kWUd-Eb_utjBNxO85RzagL36SxxEX8SgN9_L701Vxcca6zvKeIQGIUSWl_XVdVD1F7vZ7aK5mLuujCXe0A7viXVBEVX0wnmsT__HAqKWqBaRD6WkKuc8=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Circumventing the little bridge on a dry track <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The last bit of the track, just before the bridge into Alexandra, was very steep and lumpy, and we both had to step off half-way, and walk the rest of the way. We cruised around the streets for a bit, until we found a café that was open (many were not), and John was able to get the coffee he so needed. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3YhLGmCtDSks-aGG9H-kQ3Gk_JpLWhKwqPbhBboa0roqR-lw3EWXHpQ6ATL1iSO1bmlVdNYVzwJRY4IlMRyNypsdESgROGEao017uhpjaUSAWkkZDjAeeGV2l29qCtikKUZSp42A5294kw-6ETE4VKH4ClAA4YBtz32zW19YBAukmjr9RQ1BWYO4=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3YhLGmCtDSks-aGG9H-kQ3Gk_JpLWhKwqPbhBboa0roqR-lw3EWXHpQ6ATL1iSO1bmlVdNYVzwJRY4IlMRyNypsdESgROGEao017uhpjaUSAWkkZDjAeeGV2l29qCtikKUZSp42A5294kw-6ETE4VKH4ClAA4YBtz32zW19YBAukmjr9RQ1BWYO4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bridge into Alexandra. Note the pedestal of the original bridge in the background <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As we were leaving the café, it started to rain, gently at first, but it soon became more persistent, so we put on our parkas which we had brought along in a pannier.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXRrX1Gc1q7ja6bSfoHLnousumsup6AgLwC_zzagSW166APzaIkbJShZx1orXMG_aIWjWRTOze0pEH1JlsyIS-m_GbHKqSO8JjHO18QPg0WQqJGLvHHdGGaN4T331SexWi9boybZD1Q7hai5UlSP_ps3NrrqFiAPP6BS5kLN9GbK8uo7ry7tYdUxc=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXRrX1Gc1q7ja6bSfoHLnousumsup6AgLwC_zzagSW166APzaIkbJShZx1orXMG_aIWjWRTOze0pEH1JlsyIS-m_GbHKqSO8JjHO18QPg0WQqJGLvHHdGGaN4T331SexWi9boybZD1Q7hai5UlSP_ps3NrrqFiAPP6BS5kLN9GbK8uo7ry7tYdUxc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John had brought his rain-proof camera <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We went back via the Rail Trail, as it was straight, smoother and shorter. At one stage we chose to ride on the road, rather than the track to make faster progress, as it was getting rather unpleasant with the rain. When the road diverged away from the track, we went back to the track. After a while the rain eased, and it had stopped raining by the time we got to the Trail Journeys place in Clyde that we had started from when we did the whole trail all those years ago. A bit more, and we were ‘home’.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2dgEZclJzLBOJMEV5-tTtotfpRNgiB8go71lwy5u6PFnlzuN8wAgtvii7IRmn_zI0oq6Nilz1qYdSMhRDXFtMWoFVHHdyAQ54t8lxjb7etkOZzoPgw4i8hgDFlWZgHVo4JTI57aUoFeR9_hPB4tbV_2qSb-lTzEAobYH5oz27qhI3ImpTwQTGeuk=s2021" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="2021" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2dgEZclJzLBOJMEV5-tTtotfpRNgiB8go71lwy5u6PFnlzuN8wAgtvii7IRmn_zI0oq6Nilz1qYdSMhRDXFtMWoFVHHdyAQ54t8lxjb7etkOZzoPgw4i8hgDFlWZgHVo4JTI57aUoFeR9_hPB4tbV_2qSb-lTzEAobYH5oz27qhI3ImpTwQTGeuk=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The start of the Rail Trail - but the end of the ride for us today</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later, before and after dinner at the local pub, The Post Office Bar and Café, we took a walk through the lovely town of Clyde. The streets are wide and quiet, the houses old and quaint, and the gardens pretty, with masses of roses, at this time of year. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8ZPbiobJPaaBMAMuXwsGzxwyDZbIO-oKNndqRnJxb-IeU7RZ08L5DvhG4dKnlaDFwI9Xio7Vlt-pVqHO74ZKChX7lQ6G4_i-uNnJWriToZp2VD-rHYGo_E4UnQh9i3AcuwPjZqgw3w47RhDqHcLjPMRbUb-vpWXjKXZHbwpGyZ3i9NrDAnFOHpZw=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8ZPbiobJPaaBMAMuXwsGzxwyDZbIO-oKNndqRnJxb-IeU7RZ08L5DvhG4dKnlaDFwI9Xio7Vlt-pVqHO74ZKChX7lQ6G4_i-uNnJWriToZp2VD-rHYGo_E4UnQh9i3AcuwPjZqgw3w47RhDqHcLjPMRbUb-vpWXjKXZHbwpGyZ3i9NrDAnFOHpZw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gardens full of roses</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXBMfaXUtrYWDqckEioGguHUd8I0LPjiV1KBzRYrLXh7UNT0GRN01HnB8pAF80T42sop-6FeC51vCv8zNGhmBaq9BbZ4uz83QuGU6D1hWIwEi4liYlhqoaaEGePSx_7sd1YFeHqE04L9EJTPjdYbov7z4tsY5V3so4PnEbp0akOi1uzHCp6fx7I7w=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXBMfaXUtrYWDqckEioGguHUd8I0LPjiV1KBzRYrLXh7UNT0GRN01HnB8pAF80T42sop-6FeC51vCv8zNGhmBaq9BbZ4uz83QuGU6D1hWIwEi4liYlhqoaaEGePSx_7sd1YFeHqE04L9EJTPjdYbov7z4tsY5V3so4PnEbp0akOi1uzHCp6fx7I7w=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Luscious roses</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday 28 November</span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The day dawned fine, and we planned to bike the easy bit of the Lake Dunstan Cycle trial. But we started with a bit of drama. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Breakfast, and getting ready. Got your house key? No, where is it? Key with an orange tag - I dive into my handbag, yes, here it is. I don’t take my handbag when I go biking, I take the “baggie”. I carefully place the key in my biking baggie. Off we go. About 5 km out of Clyde, I realise I have left my phone, sitting on charge. Bugger. We have to go back to get it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two kilometres on the way back, I realise, to my horror, that the key with the orange tag is NOT the house key - it’s a different type of key. But what is this key then? Later it dawns on me that its is in fact the key to the inside door of our garage at home, that I put in the zipped side pocket in my handbag where I always keep the car key and my house key (our home house key). But now, we don't have the key to get into the Book-a-Bach house. Not only that, but my phone, with all the details about contacts, is in the house - that we can’t get into! AAARGH!!!! So what to do?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We get back to the house, John tries to fiddle with the lock on the ranch slider at the back of the house. Meantime, I have found the name of the contact for the house by searching Book-a-Bach on John’s phone, and I find that his name is C... . But no phone number - I could email but he may not answer today or even tomorrow! He may not even be in Clyde …</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps the neighbours know who and where he is. I try knocking on the door at the two houses opposite, where there are cars on the property, so there must be someone around, but there’s no answer to my knocking.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John is still fiddling with the ranch slider door - he’s got all his tools out, and he has half the lock dismantled, but he can’t get at the catch.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I drive down to the bike place, “Bike it Now”, where we had enquired about the track to Alexandra yesterday, and the lady was very helpful. I explain the pickle we are in. Did they know the contact, C...? No, but they know someone called R...(same surname). One of the ladies offers to ring around, only to find out that R... has died and his son C... lives in Invercargill. She tries to ring C ... in Invercargill (from the White Pages), but there’s no reply. So they ring Craig, the local locksmith, who luckily is in Clyde. He’ll be there in 15 minutes! Ah, bless you ladies, thank you so much.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I drive back only to find that John has managed to pick the ranch slider lock, and Craig will come in vain. I sit on the front doorstep waiting for him. Luckily, he’s a nice guy, and laughs when we tell him that John has already managed to pick the lock. “All thanks to your mis-spent youth, eh?” I offer to pay him for the call-out, on a Sunday morning too, but he won't hear of it. ”I wasn’t going to charge you anyway”, he says, and with a smile, he’s on his way.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, where is the bloody key!?! Another search of my handbag, and there it is, in the phone pocket on the front of the bag. Relief! “Now, attach it to your car key!” says John irritably.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I do as told, gather up my phone, and we can get going - first back to the bike shop to thank the ladies for their help, then to Dunstan House for coffee and a cinnamon roll, that we sorely needed. Then, finally, we are on our way.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had thought we could park at Bannockburn Bridge, as we had already biked from Cromwell to the bridge a couple of days ago, but John was reluctant to leave the car there, he thought it would be safer in Cromwell, with other cars around. So we parked by the Heritage Precinct.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The early part of the track, that we did a couple of days earlier, is really lovely. John felt he needed the “easy” part of the track to get himself “stabilised” as he was feeling quite wobbly at first.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCJCyd7KeYdP0ZztizXTOCSAVO9BYmaJIVH7BtX7uEV4C0YrxXP8wvYNLN5UPG4yf01MhBd-4jqVDkzvQDLPGLTorxLsTxwMamMHUO6wFMNeLFHUTquR2ekqIVRguPDq708zWs-pkuegCB5AXVenIVM7ZPShvNoBTDEF5cvVlWAkef89Bxu-NBf-s=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCJCyd7KeYdP0ZztizXTOCSAVO9BYmaJIVH7BtX7uEV4C0YrxXP8wvYNLN5UPG4yf01MhBd-4jqVDkzvQDLPGLTorxLsTxwMamMHUO6wFMNeLFHUTquR2ekqIVRguPDq708zWs-pkuegCB5AXVenIVM7ZPShvNoBTDEF5cvVlWAkef89Bxu-NBf-s=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking across to where the track climbs to the Carrick Winery</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bridge has a separate track below and to the side of the road deck for cyclists and walkers. We crossed and turned left towards Cornish Point.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbl8HPIl7c9Tl3NQhV2wy8gjaOXToynVpYfpAh3oMla-TOxnZBPY3V-V9Tb_VqNA9WUOqK30qpXJloZd7qySJ7Ur1GglRMLlMF-9cG8wDnEoGAjri2hBuV4OfjFb0kOoY4lf47mIWG5tU1j50TnyHbdKE2QE_SlHkuQ6TRh8-4JRKEZbTNFQKxFf4=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbl8HPIl7c9Tl3NQhV2wy8gjaOXToynVpYfpAh3oMla-TOxnZBPY3V-V9Tb_VqNA9WUOqK30qpXJloZd7qySJ7Ur1GglRMLlMF-9cG8wDnEoGAjri2hBuV4OfjFb0kOoY4lf47mIWG5tU1j50TnyHbdKE2QE_SlHkuQ6TRh8-4JRKEZbTNFQKxFf4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cycle track below the Bannockburn Bridge</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIbhRIWtOpJXOrxLx4A13i5-r0MGvD-IUU5kikYi9ycDKZxTr93fut-AVdGKOPKQk-vY5CwBeOQ5eXr1Sro2VukFTVzzfITth6hgJw9b3z4pMi7Snrk_yHSR3Ms61zGPxdNmFG3ibv0hPViw27p6XpBfjhh2XSGO6YNGKXW3QafTgD-L-uMeGdbuc=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIbhRIWtOpJXOrxLx4A13i5-r0MGvD-IUU5kikYi9ycDKZxTr93fut-AVdGKOPKQk-vY5CwBeOQ5eXr1Sro2VukFTVzzfITth6hgJw9b3z4pMi7Snrk_yHSR3Ms61zGPxdNmFG3ibv0hPViw27p6XpBfjhh2XSGO6YNGKXW3QafTgD-L-uMeGdbuc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I did not like this very steep bit with a sharp switchback to get down to the bridge track</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now the track becomes more up and down and winding. We have to negotiate some switchbacks to get to the Carrick Winery, where there is a cafe/restaurant and bike racks provided. The track actually goes through the winery property, but we don’t stop. Lots of bikes are already parked there.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After Cornish Point the scenery becomes wilder, more rocky, and we are in the gorge, where the track gets very narrow, and the rocks loom above us, and the drop is steep on the other side. Some bits I don't much like, steep and narrow, and I worry about John on the narrow bits. There are quite a lot of other cyclists too, in both directions (this being Sunday).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja2f3_deW2R3EfmlPg8mrGA5njXOLG1tbyX98oV8T893tzrN21gblAK6lf_cviOnjNjDUeKru75kvVyJrrjiHh5UuGElD4vAb9oBF2N__xmcJ3e6GT6CfscABEy5iQ63MPyXLaNwIhOfZHyoTdjJ2tk5tC5x4vKKooW_Q2dVrvbv3UNuuhGpWqcyw=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja2f3_deW2R3EfmlPg8mrGA5njXOLG1tbyX98oV8T893tzrN21gblAK6lf_cviOnjNjDUeKru75kvVyJrrjiHh5UuGElD4vAb9oBF2N__xmcJ3e6GT6CfscABEy5iQ63MPyXLaNwIhOfZHyoTdjJ2tk5tC5x4vKKooW_Q2dVrvbv3UNuuhGpWqcyw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The scenery becomes wilder …</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUsFA4BMG5KPKe0gCIvDgCp4JR6MmHyy6YThgzgxg0b3ZOzHfSzQObjgIh6i6MbZ5wckwGip3yp_TqSVX7VOIhQYHlRDLntr0Pysp0Rpn0Aj5zJVy5xPbChqyIUNcU-mOoUDuz_v9kcf78zM8Da2K5tgKCwSZ8CjZTdeiXW4vMx8AvaABUk_rIbrI=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUsFA4BMG5KPKe0gCIvDgCp4JR6MmHyy6YThgzgxg0b3ZOzHfSzQObjgIh6i6MbZ5wckwGip3yp_TqSVX7VOIhQYHlRDLntr0Pysp0Rpn0Aj5zJVy5xPbChqyIUNcU-mOoUDuz_v9kcf78zM8Da2K5tgKCwSZ8CjZTdeiXW4vMx8AvaABUk_rIbrI=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">… and steeper <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are areas where you are not supposed to stop, for fear of rock falls. And we get to the famous sections where the track becomes a boardwalk clinging to the sheer rock wall. Amazing, what a feat of engineering! Despite its apparent precariousness, it feels sturdy and safe.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibA4EZM1Hv5eQW_VOhs0NGb8YJiAOu1zzGvEEJ6AIsxBU8HN-pVZyyf_DBKEMBQd725UhiyMOmOlqS_Rw2RVH23AmpO_yr0xXqH5tp7yhlags5ORfeSJKU0xXxQvAmo-Gg8D4tMK8yIdz6VOQhWDDYGCJIP5stDQ9TEG3rY6wLpkRodae_MwuGz8k=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibA4EZM1Hv5eQW_VOhs0NGb8YJiAOu1zzGvEEJ6AIsxBU8HN-pVZyyf_DBKEMBQd725UhiyMOmOlqS_Rw2RVH23AmpO_yr0xXqH5tp7yhlags5ORfeSJKU0xXxQvAmo-Gg8D4tMK8yIdz6VOQhWDDYGCJIP5stDQ9TEG3rY6wLpkRodae_MwuGz8k=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A feat of engineering (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8azhF4wibPk5UCW0fPwgN5__fSL1UmtbN1gErlOEPVdhM9y1omua2mIUwIFFjAtTPROgKY-CU2cg96f4mqbOhxgjVZ9oThgW6HUMOnwBHGegnLf7pyxFGCKnxDf5PVwFOmaXLx_G84KoLM7GpGxHd6X48KYaACs7DoG0AEg4ZK-IBlaE1VzNRsng=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8azhF4wibPk5UCW0fPwgN5__fSL1UmtbN1gErlOEPVdhM9y1omua2mIUwIFFjAtTPROgKY-CU2cg96f4mqbOhxgjVZ9oThgW6HUMOnwBHGegnLf7pyxFGCKnxDf5PVwFOmaXLx_G84KoLM7GpGxHd6X48KYaACs7DoG0AEg4ZK-IBlaE1VzNRsng=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The boardwalk clings to the rock wall</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eventually we arrive at <a href="https://www.coffeeafloat.co.nz/" target="_blank">“Coffee Afloat”</a> - a floating café, in two small boats, moored in a small inlet. A brilliant venture, 20 km from Cromwell, this is the only place to get a coffee on this 55 km trail. They started with just the coffee boat, and they recently added the food boat, and on a day like today - a brilliant Sunday - they’re doing a roaring trade. There are a good couple of dozen people who have stopped there for coffee and the Belgian waffles and burgers that the second boat is offering.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipoaCgTy830wjtbOeOkcR0YmAXPvzuhoRzyIWdaSuF1m0flrQzxxtn1scaUahsCEOf5AT3paR0N3k6NrK7L0lTh8-5bGh8D75aRxubXT8p4fAx6OCKqt2T8J2cN_16DTs-CiBEkyd-Da0-9ioFm-0uWzcoxs79pkwYjzc7-WPbH0suhFt_rgsZ_Zg=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipoaCgTy830wjtbOeOkcR0YmAXPvzuhoRzyIWdaSuF1m0flrQzxxtn1scaUahsCEOf5AT3paR0N3k6NrK7L0lTh8-5bGh8D75aRxubXT8p4fAx6OCKqt2T8J2cN_16DTs-CiBEkyd-Da0-9ioFm-0uWzcoxs79pkwYjzc7-WPbH0suhFt_rgsZ_Zg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Coffee Afloat” - what a welcome sight!</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkMH4n8AhaoMMn1Q7l528xnP8Z_ZitnG0nwG9_DWb5wR9gAa8wW0bsIfFa-V8-nWAgcXzrxytXMqUVkxsNmB6VC8C7m0arPdvA1Ucy2KMmnwd_LtPGrhRPgav3NEvJUX0rUaHaYjakBNVoZSXXsuvAIw4JdowR1ZhhW0KK_4dtTo87I--Vlm2k_Cw=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkMH4n8AhaoMMn1Q7l528xnP8Z_ZitnG0nwG9_DWb5wR9gAa8wW0bsIfFa-V8-nWAgcXzrxytXMqUVkxsNmB6VC8C7m0arPdvA1Ucy2KMmnwd_LtPGrhRPgav3NEvJUX0rUaHaYjakBNVoZSXXsuvAIw4JdowR1ZhhW0KK_4dtTo87I--Vlm2k_Cw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second boat offered burgers and Belgian waffles</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We try to order some waffles, but we are told they have just sold their last one, so we settle for coffee and a muffin. There is not a lot of room, people sit on the grassy edge, but we manage to score one of the benches while we have our coffee. I prepare to take a photo of John standing by the coffee boat, and a kind chap offers to take a photo of us both. Nice!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgauH2eA9bPLPvPqvsOmKmdEp7pcPGRfM8KvmCsQZHACUXHQzW_Dq1tcLESlRoJtdjg6qg-vVzFrEzmkwNSukZbKgnjBpvXLnNpte8ggYDIH0GSrLxssj4kiDEe0Ue8fLkr3D219XNhTotjSUSuvVZPe5-0xyKB7iGYgj_coCyhQqgp_FHlo52f0g8=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgauH2eA9bPLPvPqvsOmKmdEp7pcPGRfM8KvmCsQZHACUXHQzW_Dq1tcLESlRoJtdjg6qg-vVzFrEzmkwNSukZbKgnjBpvXLnNpte8ggYDIH0GSrLxssj4kiDEe0Ue8fLkr3D219XNhTotjSUSuvVZPe5-0xyKB7iGYgj_coCyhQqgp_FHlo52f0g8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We manage to find a seat to enjoy our coffee</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr6mJd3aeDdszTBCQ9x8b2ejgQF0tawbr9gt6axY3mwDjBebkl_C3UQ3pW2dTtYnqmUKWBlFXIQ61KG3JgnaLUO3Vr_MG270LgGjrnx9-VQ1JZ6AXIIPj-KFgd9pkk0n0HpV-vYddV9riNQN7W2Vfbyyq9cO5TQjMT9YMhQAKRhl7FmmZgS7BE6Go=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr6mJd3aeDdszTBCQ9x8b2ejgQF0tawbr9gt6axY3mwDjBebkl_C3UQ3pW2dTtYnqmUKWBlFXIQ61KG3JgnaLUO3Vr_MG270LgGjrnx9-VQ1JZ6AXIIPj-KFgd9pkk0n0HpV-vYddV9riNQN7W2Vfbyyq9cO5TQjMT9YMhQAKRhl7FmmZgS7BE6Go=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A kind stranger offered to take a photo of us both</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After this pleasant interlude, this is where we turn around to go back. The rest of the track ahead climbs steeply and skinny over the rocks - and the track becomes a Level 3, which we are not prepared to tackle.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm_ckzsZycT8HGk5jorPQ5STZsG64djwK6VnA5Kwdc92ElGT_86pvuwzdSYNWYeFPOFz0tLtsKW-1quKpY0nMepxYX5eR0439_I7H_sFtEyMxm5C19zurdLKwgMdwnZwG0txDjTc_juOEIi06DB7Z-D7-I8u1bxbbAZ0bw2g_QzU78L9ApMrcq8I0=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm_ckzsZycT8HGk5jorPQ5STZsG64djwK6VnA5Kwdc92ElGT_86pvuwzdSYNWYeFPOFz0tLtsKW-1quKpY0nMepxYX5eR0439_I7H_sFtEyMxm5C19zurdLKwgMdwnZwG0txDjTc_juOEIi06DB7Z-D7-I8u1bxbbAZ0bw2g_QzU78L9ApMrcq8I0=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ready for the return trip</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIHue0edmk6GEAinKX_M9aoLwcBfj9RQjp_gBUrTGZP41nw1Q6sFrpP2yqRiuGr8Ses1O__u6OuDgTHRWbok8Sd8s0qOdp5mt4HBZxrepydyL3k4vlByEU52NcxA6FkKPsfcZYjOZYkxwNYgId9IEqGknaPePYigbfqtBz_yhb8EMP8btyEiJMBZw=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIHue0edmk6GEAinKX_M9aoLwcBfj9RQjp_gBUrTGZP41nw1Q6sFrpP2yqRiuGr8Ses1O__u6OuDgTHRWbok8Sd8s0qOdp5mt4HBZxrepydyL3k4vlByEU52NcxA6FkKPsfcZYjOZYkxwNYgId9IEqGknaPePYigbfqtBz_yhb8EMP8btyEiJMBZw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You were not allowed to stop on the boardwalk - for fear of rockfalls</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of the bits that had seemed scary on the way out, were not so bad going back. But it was hot, and by the time we got to Carrick Winery we decided to stop and have a cool drink. I was feeling hot and bothered, and got quite crabby when I had trouble parking my bike so it wouldn’t run downhill. Then, when I wanted to lock it, I found I didn’t have my bike key. AAARGH! More key trouble! John was not impressed, but fortunately he had a spare key.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We went to the caravan selling drinks, and of course this is a winery, so I felt silly asking for lemonade, but they did have it - in bottles, like beer - no glass offered, how barbaric!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The two tables with actual chairs in the shade were occupied, so in order to be able to be in the shade, we had to sit on beanbags - hard enough to get down into, damn near impossible to get out of! And then, as John finished his drink before me, he wandered off, leaving me to struggle to get up out of the beanbag. I could have done with a hand up. I felt cast - like a blooming pregnant ewe!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We finally made it back to the car, by 4:15, having biked 39 km. I was feeling pretty grumpy. Though the bike ride had been great, I do remember this as rather a ‘fraught’ day. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday 29 November </span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today we were heading to Arrowtown, where we would be staying for the next four nights. SH 8, between Clyde and Cromwell runs on the opposite side of the Cromwell Gorge from where we were biking the day before, and it was interesting to see the boardwalks clinging to the sheer rocks from this angle.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDFDBYxcvzYblIEDwfrxZfRXoLxuflBpGI-WiRVzljvGf5raaY8tbo2Oq1zhrfIr7xS5_Q8Y0UBf31iYssh8U9zgpk42BZ5CLGOyqsm81wNozz5BZunLhJY90yAEaTb_9xo1BtCaNNgoxMqYaYkE-fLMvUzRPkk1izrIeiku2v5cuEZqdZCqzwuAo=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDFDBYxcvzYblIEDwfrxZfRXoLxuflBpGI-WiRVzljvGf5raaY8tbo2Oq1zhrfIr7xS5_Q8Y0UBf31iYssh8U9zgpk42BZ5CLGOyqsm81wNozz5BZunLhJY90yAEaTb_9xo1BtCaNNgoxMqYaYkE-fLMvUzRPkk1izrIeiku2v5cuEZqdZCqzwuAo=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The boardwalk we had biked on the previous day</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Further along, we stopped at the Dunstan Gold Rush Memorial, a plaque paying tribute to the miners, who had discovered gold here in 1862.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKlgITy0zHoh2lRxTS-CeFocWJzxwmXP940BSO8P3LvgtWQ92JI7eJClkeBdZ2ZPJZ8TFXKTC8nP16-pwAsfXexsGlrpMruvkNDdxAj3712kLHIn2wWkGmpv7ZtloMg4Y-GhJ9AGVBqDBUaM80MZ5pnpIbLpXBFGwdNtXZ33jHKV0ic-SMFktPReg=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKlgITy0zHoh2lRxTS-CeFocWJzxwmXP940BSO8P3LvgtWQ92JI7eJClkeBdZ2ZPJZ8TFXKTC8nP16-pwAsfXexsGlrpMruvkNDdxAj3712kLHIn2wWkGmpv7ZtloMg4Y-GhJ9AGVBqDBUaM80MZ5pnpIbLpXBFGwdNtXZ33jHKV0ic-SMFktPReg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Gold Rush memorial plaque</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was not very far from Clyde to Arrowtown, and as we could not get into the cottage we had rented until later in the day, we drove to Glenorchy. It’s a beautiful drive, with glorious views over Lake Wakatipu, and out towards the snow-clad mountains. We had a brief stop at Wilsons Bay for a closer look at the lake.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5XraQOj028dkijn89OTdjrREfhK7LZ8Lm2VIbtXZH5CQ1EckbqQ-EXvlEV0BGxx6TofFwFEdT2xcYZDlnyTVGwduRF6ezy8zMBGYb9dH-O73UWceyzAkKDcFd937XX12uVhrYgeK8k_EJnT7aYY1XPoogIqzQNup8TeJzNY7rUX8k1eCDhyakOs8=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5XraQOj028dkijn89OTdjrREfhK7LZ8Lm2VIbtXZH5CQ1EckbqQ-EXvlEV0BGxx6TofFwFEdT2xcYZDlnyTVGwduRF6ezy8zMBGYb9dH-O73UWceyzAkKDcFd937XX12uVhrYgeK8k_EJnT7aYY1XPoogIqzQNup8TeJzNY7rUX8k1eCDhyakOs8=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wilsons Bay</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We stopped at a place called Bennet’s Bluff Lookout, where there is a beautiful, HUGE, brand-new carpark, with room for dozens of cars, and several buses, and a nice little track up to the lookout - all for the almighty tourist boom ... that never happened! It was completed just before Covid kicked in, overseas visitors were banned, and we entered the first lockdown. In the past two years, it has barely been used. There were two cars when we pulled in, and by the time we left there was nobody around anymore.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDQ0Yi67CbeLHQ06hBi7MxEW29y7tHcft-b0J-lRDPpXAcnEqsNmYrOucp9r-EA8udx_li7BvDN4fPXMCQcBDPIwktc_0q7ddGmPB70JmS01EPZRfiZpcyaLK8Z3pf098BxcuqhPFCA2hoHaUDugPs73Z7Tcdd1MGfBXdLmmEQqINV1eMgq14OH4I=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDQ0Yi67CbeLHQ06hBi7MxEW29y7tHcft-b0J-lRDPpXAcnEqsNmYrOucp9r-EA8udx_li7BvDN4fPXMCQcBDPIwktc_0q7ddGmPB70JmS01EPZRfiZpcyaLK8Z3pf098BxcuqhPFCA2hoHaUDugPs73Z7Tcdd1MGfBXdLmmEQqINV1eMgq14OH4I=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The huge carpark at Bennett’s Bluff Lookout</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT8FzciFoBPvYfzVm2ORewUYgm1ny1jDHYLVQF0DE36lf1cJrcvDeeclAGjCsloZgruWWz9glwRMGqfw0uK0F2jYCE_4tjI8OJ5citLRvu5PPusI3uyaxM3sMqj30djL6t8l9zb1_U3zCN4b7agQc96PEx2_DDT9C8qF0eQNUrsRizOLByAMAs9zk=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT8FzciFoBPvYfzVm2ORewUYgm1ny1jDHYLVQF0DE36lf1cJrcvDeeclAGjCsloZgruWWz9glwRMGqfw0uK0F2jYCE_4tjI8OJ5citLRvu5PPusI3uyaxM3sMqj30djL6t8l9zb1_U3zCN4b7agQc96PEx2_DDT9C8qF0eQNUrsRizOLByAMAs9zk=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By the time we left, there were no other cars</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The views over the lake and towards the mountains in the distance were sublime. This lookout is well worth a stop. We were lucky to see it without having to fight our way through masses of overseas tourists!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5dOVPGRIsOR8psXe02EJ8141hZAokULqko8KB9bjPPn1WfwS49w5L0qqrHcdehVNQuDfoKtMTKIfSEh6yn8KIE3XfZBzDgjAtYJ8tLMTIQexTOBxEb956f-Lxo0W-ZF06VTBeg1-VtuECvtg2MvY8sm1QjuA_1xCRomUVHBZicc6HxnW3D8mGSCw=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5dOVPGRIsOR8psXe02EJ8141hZAokULqko8KB9bjPPn1WfwS49w5L0qqrHcdehVNQuDfoKtMTKIfSEh6yn8KIE3XfZBzDgjAtYJ8tLMTIQexTOBxEb956f-Lxo0W-ZF06VTBeg1-VtuECvtg2MvY8sm1QjuA_1xCRomUVHBZicc6HxnW3D8mGSCw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a fantastic view towards the mountains. The islands are called Pig Island and Pigeon Island </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPLoIO_kIKwFhC0KrQO3WDOCj_ifdzIAxwW5Y4BIDU5PeBSS_5_BatE8K-KG4TaGOKXthlkziTIqV83OAdHXTDv1fvPMTbkdzev2YFFB-WIHR7mVO9AnsKmXq1RhpZyKHVgbhJLZCSZOIAvd0f53se2HVaj_Q_QZSI17Jfbn6-Pl_2_gibrsXoKPc=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPLoIO_kIKwFhC0KrQO3WDOCj_ifdzIAxwW5Y4BIDU5PeBSS_5_BatE8K-KG4TaGOKXthlkziTIqV83OAdHXTDv1fvPMTbkdzev2YFFB-WIHR7mVO9AnsKmXq1RhpZyKHVgbhJLZCSZOIAvd0f53se2HVaj_Q_QZSI17Jfbn6-Pl_2_gibrsXoKPc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking across the lake</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7ILwNqgnqshCfiEytDeqBJz-BmeRPJGGNbEjYSF5Lqfg7rjmM_AdjUygP0xSE2QnpMpKKgmMGNh9hoInAlhXFFDwgBwCozAIMHiCAN-iVzO0NJV2-ntl66gjQMj-OIpwjuPavdTpBkZGDt52u3ZhUJqiaK60aib7DCL2fGz1rFbwveRpNv7BgQGA=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7ILwNqgnqshCfiEytDeqBJz-BmeRPJGGNbEjYSF5Lqfg7rjmM_AdjUygP0xSE2QnpMpKKgmMGNh9hoInAlhXFFDwgBwCozAIMHiCAN-iVzO0NJV2-ntl66gjQMj-OIpwjuPavdTpBkZGDt52u3ZhUJqiaK60aib7DCL2fGz1rFbwveRpNv7BgQGA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Down at lake level</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Glenorchy was very quiet, the one decent café - where we had lunch on our last visit here, eight years ago - was all closed up. Another victim of Covid restrictions. But we managed some coffee and lunch at a little place further along. We went for a lovely amble around the foreshore, John took lots of photos. It is such a beautiful place. Someone took a photo of us on the jetty, and we did the same for them.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimR5HDwM5ZBDgAU7JeC_ILU3sQrsXv8vnbGzLeQ912nQRG2OeXPpOT243OskKYDC_Kei2F_IF3QXvycfoUQHPPiesco2pWHW71_s0dSrGUOAe9CQIYDNG_c6gV1mD8OYbGDk4KbwSbV3AxYR_6hPGW_MaCA9T1yqal9nvUkJxsj9QWvTlx04ZFvLg=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimR5HDwM5ZBDgAU7JeC_ILU3sQrsXv8vnbGzLeQ912nQRG2OeXPpOT243OskKYDC_Kei2F_IF3QXvycfoUQHPPiesco2pWHW71_s0dSrGUOAe9CQIYDNG_c6gV1mD8OYbGDk4KbwSbV3AxYR_6hPGW_MaCA9T1yqal9nvUkJxsj9QWvTlx04ZFvLg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the Glenorchy wharf</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiJ-bxHeSxokEiXUqzvHp5zUP2mS2yJQbLcVPurA5riYR0yl6_xD66f_jWAL9022XoEMwx0IeooLnji8hwWf1a7EutqeD0nAba57gd3-18klx9NepXWh-0WjQGrm8nYKsjgQEixDghd6tX-UScoczo2xYqKYdqqXuMkOmLEB3FArdkx1Ty5i5HTIY=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiJ-bxHeSxokEiXUqzvHp5zUP2mS2yJQbLcVPurA5riYR0yl6_xD66f_jWAL9022XoEMwx0IeooLnji8hwWf1a7EutqeD0nAba57gd3-18klx9NepXWh-0WjQGrm8nYKsjgQEixDghd6tX-UScoczo2xYqKYdqqXuMkOmLEB3FArdkx1Ty5i5HTIY=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The well-known
Glenorchy shed was originally built for the NZ Railways as a goods shed
for freight carried on the steamers between Queenstown and Glenorchy</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs4EpI7PXGozWYKlJL9dFbp3OhI9rIzbP-16TG68k5x2kPLIGZCwiGuSzQLgAmeMzx_ck9N3KVhkhUCPvdpgosdQpqkGZbBp9N4cxljrOWBGxl7Fd6ucADTr7sTj5QCXSCsuYaZiqL2DR7T9PPKRUVhlPu70GLYo6a2os-FumtoGoUIV7ohBfbKsc=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs4EpI7PXGozWYKlJL9dFbp3OhI9rIzbP-16TG68k5x2kPLIGZCwiGuSzQLgAmeMzx_ck9N3KVhkhUCPvdpgosdQpqkGZbBp9N4cxljrOWBGxl7Fd6ucADTr7sTj5QCXSCsuYaZiqL2DR7T9PPKRUVhlPu70GLYo6a2os-FumtoGoUIV7ohBfbKsc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The famous willows growing in the water</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLo-sfFDqpP7mJPsH7851uSSz-Ohe0rIC8d127RR2W9KTZBf3perT-UfiUfDZUlcgehx-V0PkBeF6KbZoHNi4S7471Hdgniu0rMMgplGKcDPpqS9EoabRKevatce6vdPKtT6mQS2WPLgpCEU7_mtAWxk-fQCgNo6ic7yYnwr6D16uecjY8cq1ak5M=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLo-sfFDqpP7mJPsH7851uSSz-Ohe0rIC8d127RR2W9KTZBf3perT-UfiUfDZUlcgehx-V0PkBeF6KbZoHNi4S7471Hdgniu0rMMgplGKcDPpqS9EoabRKevatce6vdPKtT6mQS2WPLgpCEU7_mtAWxk-fQCgNo6ic7yYnwr6D16uecjY8cq1ak5M=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here too, lupins abound</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEincOUP7h3QIMv-JzIvQjcK2WopdChGINlay9uXpm0TngFqk_zr3t5VSqWzCZJNmiXhlQmRSEz6loEDFky8V-jTmMu9fPmqyOS8r39nFb47oVJFQMhWqWDZb9LGOvwCupJ_Fzg8TO0w5bvuGxDy6wdJ5enAlzBYlKqPgQ8u2sMWMOcSK2Zu7eqjVpU=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEincOUP7h3QIMv-JzIvQjcK2WopdChGINlay9uXpm0TngFqk_zr3t5VSqWzCZJNmiXhlQmRSEz6loEDFky8V-jTmMu9fPmqyOS8r39nFb47oVJFQMhWqWDZb9LGOvwCupJ_Fzg8TO0w5bvuGxDy6wdJ5enAlzBYlKqPgQ8u2sMWMOcSK2Zu7eqjVpU=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So many different shades of green!</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back in Queenstown, we were horrified at the way the town has developed since the last time we were here. It is quite awful. There are roadworks everywhere, blocked-off streets being made into pedestrian areas. The hotels along the foreshore must have been competing to be the ugliest in the universe!</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it was quite busy in town really, despite all the tales of woe we have heard in the media about how tourism is down and businesses are going to the wall. I hate to think what it must be like when there are actually lots of tourists in town - like full season, with overseas tourists. It must be hell!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We walked around town for a bit, we dropped into an i-Site, and I booked a cruise on the Steamship Earnslaw with barbecue lunch at Walter Peak Station, for tomorrow.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjODTsmDLPwV9SzlD5UrV1yAZO7Exv1N4vW4IWuS9ccGsNFhAYiCl3KYsFWN1bZxNLUm15hV0Ac-JcyW31Tja3AnOAs0VJnNuSbcUinr7btO2vK3QLbrcYerLIttQeqAFi8X7CTFJFtupmTooK2JSctojeuHwOSCasaQ3SOgrCTNaWhMocSScyTHYM=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjODTsmDLPwV9SzlD5UrV1yAZO7Exv1N4vW4IWuS9ccGsNFhAYiCl3KYsFWN1bZxNLUm15hV0Ac-JcyW31Tja3AnOAs0VJnNuSbcUinr7btO2vK3QLbrcYerLIttQeqAFi8X7CTFJFtupmTooK2JSctojeuHwOSCasaQ3SOgrCTNaWhMocSScyTHYM=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking up into a huge sequoia near where we parked</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs7Wdr8PoJI04a5nXrLU3i29eyKWQTqo41x5WbwenitYcoNsIbMnRDNM8rmSfs6e7xFQs2_YrC42w4QerE7H7hpGw0032SUP55tuF0s1bxY2WiIycrxUw8fX4BDQPRg9Ss9EMYwHENM_hJu8VCJKspAMtId5uGYpnJREkCJeNIGUlWCX68TaSgmyQ=s4000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs7Wdr8PoJI04a5nXrLU3i29eyKWQTqo41x5WbwenitYcoNsIbMnRDNM8rmSfs6e7xFQs2_YrC42w4QerE7H7hpGw0032SUP55tuF0s1bxY2WiIycrxUw8fX4BDQPRg9Ss9EMYwHENM_hJu8VCJKspAMtId5uGYpnJREkCJeNIGUlWCX68TaSgmyQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John really liked this tree</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We got to our cottage in Arrowtown about 4-ish. We settled in, then went for a walk to find a supermarket. We should have driven, as it was further than I thought - especially as I thought it was this-a-way, and John thought it was that-a-way, and he said OK, you go your way and I’ll go mine. It took me an awful long time to get there, because of course he was right, and I got lost. He had the map, and I had to invoke my phone map. My feet were sore, and it was so hot in the sun …</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When it came to going out to dinner, I refused to walk to the pub, even though it really was not very far. Dinner at the pub was quite nice, in a shady courtyard. After eating, we walked into the main shopping street and around for a bit - all closed by now of course - then went back to the cottage.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMLYjRDG1fofxQMReau0VpLVm0E0-n2tiKxG6qMS-Z8KpAy1b88IRklamzGS2YQ8ZSqLx9im_xzdzUidLD2fl8VHb6VDRutSfsLJycFr_4cljkQluq_7s7BxpAYHA7GkrfxZokAoXUI-7ySKX4IAFVWJB1upgzgypn5wJMJZM9YcQYfLTEx7TSXbw=s5184" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMLYjRDG1fofxQMReau0VpLVm0E0-n2tiKxG6qMS-Z8KpAy1b88IRklamzGS2YQ8ZSqLx9im_xzdzUidLD2fl8VHb6VDRutSfsLJycFr_4cljkQluq_7s7BxpAYHA7GkrfxZokAoXUI-7ySKX4IAFVWJB1upgzgypn5wJMJZM9YcQYfLTEx7TSXbw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The quiet main street in Arrowtown</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-38495829110332399802022-02-09T01:29:00.009+13:002022-02-11T01:47:43.830+13:00South Island Trip - Nov/Dec 2021 - Part 1<h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><h1><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></h1><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It’s been a long time since I posted anything on this blog. The truth is, we have not done a lot in the way of interesting cycling trips away. We did have a trip to Whanganui in February 2021, which I promised to write up here, but I haven’t yet. Perhaps I will do that later.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, 2021 was another year that was blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In April, we thought of taking a “Round the Mountains” tour with <a href="https://puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz/" target="_blank">Pure Trails</a>, as our tour of the previous year had been cancelled. For various reasons, we decided not to go ahead. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John has not been terribly well for quite some time, and there have been many medical appointments for which we needed to be in Wellington, so we couldn’t go away. But he always ‘rallies’ and is still keen to go biking, even if we don’t go very far.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a while, life was pretty “normal” Covid-wise, but then we had the August lockdown, which stopped people moving around the country. Just before we went into lockdown we had started looking at electric cars, as our little Micra was getting to the point where it would need to be replaced (it was 17 years old!), and the government was offering a financial incentive, which appealed. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John spent much of the time during lockdown researching electric cars online. Of course, the question of whether we would be able to fit the bikes into it was paramount. He created an extensive spreadsheet, with all the details about every brand available in NZ. And so, at the end of September 2021, we became the proud owners of a Kia Niro. The first time we had ever owned a brand new car! It now goes by the name of “Robert<b>a</b>, <b>the</b> Niro” (as opposed to Robert <b>de</b> Niro). <br /> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmrjjZMWuCm8a3CGbJZ9S1XxLFbFfVaNw2if4WL2ZM8I6t9DgWpGjdgWnYJfyFRnIb2bQa2HsJWZGS6nq_Rc4ixsdWafwxCR5Tlw9l3vHowtscZKlwPEcFLUKqcUTYA0KZOfBXBMc68Ps9hYI76DbV0RDBrv7w_kV_GK-Oq6QO3bp1mWPfZF0Z5Q/s2304/E927B84E-EEF5-4875-AC3E-9E0B09E56F6F.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2304" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmrjjZMWuCm8a3CGbJZ9S1XxLFbFfVaNw2if4WL2ZM8I6t9DgWpGjdgWnYJfyFRnIb2bQa2HsJWZGS6nq_Rc4ixsdWafwxCR5Tlw9l3vHowtscZKlwPEcFLUKqcUTYA0KZOfBXBMc68Ps9hYI76DbV0RDBrv7w_kV_GK-Oq6QO3bp1mWPfZF0Z5Q/w640-h426/E927B84E-EEF5-4875-AC3E-9E0B09E56F6F.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Roberta the Niro </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So of course, we just <b>had</b> to go on a road trip! By late November, with spring well established, good weather forecasts, no Scottish dancing commitments for me, and no medical appointments for John, we were finally able to plan a holiday in the South Island. We decided it would not be a cycling holiday, but we would be ‘tourists’ in our own country, with a few bits of cycling thrown in. The fact that the Delta variant of Covid was keeping Aucklanders in Level 3 lockdown, and the country was still closed to overseas visitors, meant that there would be far fewer tourists around than would ’normally’ have been the case. A great opportunity to see the country while it was quiet.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will write up this holiday in several parts. Part 2 is <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2022/02/south-island-trip-novdec-2021-part-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and Part 3 is <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2022/02/south-island-trip-novdec-2021-part-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[Note: Almost all of the photos were taken by John. Just a few were mine, and are marked with “(DP)”]</span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part 1 </span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kaikoura to Twizel<br /></span></span></h1><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monday 22 November</span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The early morning ferry crossing on the Bluebridge was - thankfully - a flat calm sailing, which got us to Picton just after 11am. We planned to go only as far as Kaikoura that day, so had time to dawdle. About half-way between Picton and Kaikoura, we side-tracked to Ward Beach.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a geologically significant area, with interesting limestone formations. Not only that, but in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, the beach was uplifted by 2.5 m, exposing amazing rocks and concretions, similar to the Moeraki boulders, but smaller.<br /> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryFyB0Wv3yvtSOjShB2-B0vH0ca9z_Jq0_FVz2kNDA6R7aadIYF8CyLvIAqvm10OAbddxZ4CsBbB_d61HAR5ACG5bdQNfW7G_wmwFatooT6z84NF0mCT2LHYviMWbFKYbAcajDKsLH9D4_2XhYOORIDvqWc9h7uu9SGHaEgb_hZ_7_5KuFv3Ioq4/s4000/IMG_4887.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryFyB0Wv3yvtSOjShB2-B0vH0ca9z_Jq0_FVz2kNDA6R7aadIYF8CyLvIAqvm10OAbddxZ4CsBbB_d61HAR5ACG5bdQNfW7G_wmwFatooT6z84NF0mCT2LHYviMWbFKYbAcajDKsLH9D4_2XhYOORIDvqWc9h7uu9SGHaEgb_hZ_7_5KuFv3Ioq4/w640-h426/IMG_4887.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Concretions raised to the surface when the beach was uplifted in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake </span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We walked some distance along the beach. It was very heavy going. High up on the beach, the ‘sand’ was very coarse - a bit like ballbearings - a fine, very round, gravel that your feet sank away in. Further along, where the seafloor had been raised, the surface was almost like a moonscape in some places, very corrugated and lumpy. <br /> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qNRcVUIJt3EG5haxM49sebnfi1Rh8vaq68JQrQ66E11zEaGku7IYEzrs0OXM_fqj4zO37xWBKg2tfXIIb1lOIIiJ-aMdKoFqMpyKzWbZhLP3FHaBO3VtAL5FxHGt83l4PQ6ikvbweK56vJUb_dDVzjhl-W4X4h0PsT2xHiJh0NOW0JI0DqoGzDA/s4000/IMG_4868.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qNRcVUIJt3EG5haxM49sebnfi1Rh8vaq68JQrQ66E11zEaGku7IYEzrs0OXM_fqj4zO37xWBKg2tfXIIb1lOIIiJ-aMdKoFqMpyKzWbZhLP3FHaBO3VtAL5FxHGt83l4PQ6ikvbweK56vJUb_dDVzjhl-W4X4h0PsT2xHiJh0NOW0JI0DqoGzDA/w640-h426/IMG_4868.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very coarse ‘sand’ and uplifted rocks</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br />Other rocks had weird and wonderful shapes. John compared them to some of the ventifacts (i.e.rocks shaped by wind-driven sand) he had seen in Antarctica. These rocks here would have been shaped by the action of sand and water. <br /></span></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-qlmCOeV2Em78WBdJHBh3XfuYhoWNPMxW1yqL670un8vmJpNUpXfD-1eBWwHs0J9G0JpMo6qN6-7o3v5vR3YyHhxOM55_bsT9x9dzIauK3LuOHWjmk-S8jA_QWBJEksZuII9_lyVPdh67TWsuBtP0MbB3yAIunl1LUaJVkiNLA7OYRxl4MKHDqQ/s3906/IMG_2898.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2747" data-original-width="3906" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-qlmCOeV2Em78WBdJHBh3XfuYhoWNPMxW1yqL670un8vmJpNUpXfD-1eBWwHs0J9G0JpMo6qN6-7o3v5vR3YyHhxOM55_bsT9x9dzIauK3LuOHWjmk-S8jA_QWBJEksZuII9_lyVPdh67TWsuBtP0MbB3yAIunl1LUaJVkiNLA7OYRxl4MKHDqQ/w640-h450/IMG_2898.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought these rocks looked like a couple of elephants (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLytSSSIlqP9YURFLaGsZ685aNGiKT8OJk9LPeGnKzUoCKkScHXeV7X7Vav7Knt4n7YhVXVYnVHn2a_NvTi1K_edXwiy6v-qWocURRn_f32K8txM6tMHzp1e34ZhEiMKmR42_oORI2KVTfywt4--cmISKWWNiVosyAuqH_4jc9tt7RCNBoOj6D4A/s4000/IMG_4883.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLytSSSIlqP9YURFLaGsZ685aNGiKT8OJk9LPeGnKzUoCKkScHXeV7X7Vav7Knt4n7YhVXVYnVHn2a_NvTi1K_edXwiy6v-qWocURRn_f32K8txM6tMHzp1e34ZhEiMKmR42_oORI2KVTfywt4--cmISKWWNiVosyAuqH_4jc9tt7RCNBoOj6D4A/w640-h426/IMG_4883.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful shapes</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyP8zViJ4OtXF4MBdO9yII68uAXC-M-OlAHw8SwYGnOLrLdnnsqqBG56wmzI1593T7JGtX0x7DAyNUzJvdP88f7HNeJCCIVKhNmQAENKnsgn8hR5Tdq_kRKBbkQbZmRjbN77PZlm5ztj2IKKat1XKvpSWA4EPcG7UTS53h79p7_3gNTLUMepZPk0/s4000/IMG_4877.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyP8zViJ4OtXF4MBdO9yII68uAXC-M-OlAHw8SwYGnOLrLdnnsqqBG56wmzI1593T7JGtX0x7DAyNUzJvdP88f7HNeJCCIVKhNmQAENKnsgn8hR5Tdq_kRKBbkQbZmRjbN77PZlm5ztj2IKKat1XKvpSWA4EPcG7UTS53h79p7_3gNTLUMepZPk0/w640-h426/IMG_4877.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Uplifted beach, with concretions </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We even spotted some banded dotterels, flitting among the rocks. These cute little birds are on the endangered list, and this is the ideal environment for them. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEKmGWaB9azD8FmqxcIfS6Wb952Q1wGpSS3baFFwUlEPjbO0IcTVuxcSXdjKnuNQh27g5upSUFqnyLM86sDTrhrk-Xp_2Ih7i7LPDQ8SBQpFbuMY8-sL1a3TG0R9wpoYALiBus_aCv8QeNakKLZyUleC3acRtJM5t7d8EjSVacSeeWuLt1O1kveY/s4000/IMG_4898.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEKmGWaB9azD8FmqxcIfS6Wb952Q1wGpSS3baFFwUlEPjbO0IcTVuxcSXdjKnuNQh27g5upSUFqnyLM86sDTrhrk-Xp_2Ih7i7LPDQ8SBQpFbuMY8-sL1a3TG0R9wpoYALiBus_aCv8QeNakKLZyUleC3acRtJM5t7d8EjSVacSeeWuLt1O1kveY/w640-h426/IMG_4898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the dotterel, in the top right quadrant, in front of the grassy growth?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tuesday 23 November</span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was a long day, as we were driving to Twizel, where we were going to be staying for the next three nights. It is a 460 km journey, and this was the first time we had driven such a long distance in our new electric car. Our Niro has a theoretical range of 450 km on one full charge.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were impressed during this trip that there were so many places where one could charge one’s EV. We found that many charging posts were near supermarkets. When we arrived in Kaikoura, we charged the car by the New World supermarket, and because you can only charge up to 80% at these rapid charging posts, John topped it up to 100% by using an extension cord through our motel window.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-NM6twzhr9tooR3-OGMjuvgnB4Y9COzBtbG98ZzTjaEGMdaj_aXZfxTqSNsP8vgrsNSHyfneHhOkJ7-lPsErbt1_XQ9DcSYlKxW19RFuNLjmYjWVPR_E8TsTYZ9aryq5RJs1QDvf8MvfpITsZdAOCHHU9zFVaXl_OZagI7BfrkWPfoCWAwfx0Yg/s2048/3531DE08-83FF-47AD-A9EA-082020B5F5BD.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-NM6twzhr9tooR3-OGMjuvgnB4Y9COzBtbG98ZzTjaEGMdaj_aXZfxTqSNsP8vgrsNSHyfneHhOkJ7-lPsErbt1_XQ9DcSYlKxW19RFuNLjmYjWVPR_E8TsTYZ9aryq5RJs1QDvf8MvfpITsZdAOCHHU9zFVaXl_OZagI7BfrkWPfoCWAwfx0Yg/w640-h480/3531DE08-83FF-47AD-A9EA-082020B5F5BD.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Charging the Niro</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We stopped three times to charge the car on the way to Twizel - in Amberley, Geraldine and Tekapo. Although we could have done the whole trip with just one re-charge, John was quite anxious that we should not run out. Obviously running out of charge in the middle of nowhere would be rather awkward. It’s not as if one can hitch a ride or even bike to the nearest charge station and bring some back in a jerry can.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We got to Tekapo by 6 pm, and we decided to have dinner there, before continuing on to Twizel. We found the EV charge station by the new Four Square, and set it going. There are several new buildings along that strip of land, including a flash new YHA (Youth Hostel), only three years old - which I noticed on the news a few days later, was about to be closed, because of the lack of customers during the pandemic - what a waste!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had a walk near the lake first, the lupins were looking gorgeous. Unfortunately none had set seed yet, as I wanted to take some seeds home, but that would need another week or so … </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XDfIWUGO88l7WdrAKwwRM14k6H6yS312yfQENRtrzFuHvAecY3HdVizGb3wtFdYQLArtVohjXyhAfF4fxDjNsygpM5Sk6PZYubwzRQ_JG18zFNwa8y_UjjXTOfidnKYoEPczQyEqlyO5BjrO3rqlOm9ZkEJLhEQ3xTx1s4NE8fRiJbG6xsg8rhA/s4000/IMG_4904.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XDfIWUGO88l7WdrAKwwRM14k6H6yS312yfQENRtrzFuHvAecY3HdVizGb3wtFdYQLArtVohjXyhAfF4fxDjNsygpM5Sk6PZYubwzRQ_JG18zFNwa8y_UjjXTOfidnKYoEPczQyEqlyO5BjrO3rqlOm9ZkEJLhEQ3xTx1s4NE8fRiJbG6xsg8rhA/w640-h426/IMG_4904.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lupins on the Lake Tekapo shore</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZU0O43uSJBdAOoaQ9OFsFpIA76b5RjaufPJRNsg0C4wTkiHxOLqoHKNQ1D_zaSRjWug0tfwebE-mTL6gg7iO_hxVOeIDcB94HpEb7D1ZAo_73pcIBKSLG0kZYtPeMNglAPn8Cs8rVmjsBANDbKW99IqpalzYZ_8mYlQlfoIr_NF1QM-yNDFb-7Y/s4000/IMG_4907.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZU0O43uSJBdAOoaQ9OFsFpIA76b5RjaufPJRNsg0C4wTkiHxOLqoHKNQ1D_zaSRjWug0tfwebE-mTL6gg7iO_hxVOeIDcB94HpEb7D1ZAo_73pcIBKSLG0kZYtPeMNglAPn8Cs8rVmjsBANDbKW99IqpalzYZ_8mYlQlfoIr_NF1QM-yNDFb-7Y/w640-h426/IMG_4907.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Church of the Good Shepherd</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />After dinner, we went to take a closer look at the Church of the Good Shepherd. John wasn’t keen as “we’ve seen it before”. Yes, but not like this - with absolutely nobody around. Amazing - no buses, no camper vans, no tourists polluting the place. The last time we were here, six years ago, the place was overwhelmed with people and vehicles. This time, it was utter bliss. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokmWWjUogoflHfxqK4D5m1pB_fLejqPgCCjyQ0ft1a67r9A1l5V1nZhBwzI6mmV_k2SUwKCbRfQCHjtI6ctfSjgBLAX7WmOgwus71l28neWuyqK1gHbA1kbpKfK-clMYA1qJTm4VMtXaf3IUI_DO2AwY4sTHO6AmlZtP-jRu6PVSfrR2EC-bR1Yc/s4000/IMG_4925.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokmWWjUogoflHfxqK4D5m1pB_fLejqPgCCjyQ0ft1a67r9A1l5V1nZhBwzI6mmV_k2SUwKCbRfQCHjtI6ctfSjgBLAX7WmOgwus71l28neWuyqK1gHbA1kbpKfK-clMYA1qJTm4VMtXaf3IUI_DO2AwY4sTHO6AmlZtP-jRu6PVSfrR2EC-bR1Yc/w640-h426/IMG_4925.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not a soul around!</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqA6eadbDzMJfPAhTskIntwPu3ZbfAXYv2gU7b_Vh_bbBx40PTMBZKGeyXSSy2T8Eshhu-mZc-bj28lA41siKp-t_ANu44deqAYuArN0IVfm4hUchE8QfeNDa_pcGgY_nn3F4DOLgsCDODtmlpMEVtEV8YQjR6Auxj1tp58f2R7GVbr_9jyGFWBw/s4000/IMG_4914.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqA6eadbDzMJfPAhTskIntwPu3ZbfAXYv2gU7b_Vh_bbBx40PTMBZKGeyXSSy2T8Eshhu-mZc-bj28lA41siKp-t_ANu44deqAYuArN0IVfm4hUchE8QfeNDa_pcGgY_nn3F4DOLgsCDODtmlpMEVtEV8YQjR6Auxj1tp58f2R7GVbr_9jyGFWBw/w640-h426/IMG_4914.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This photo is about the view, not about me</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Nothing but silence and the place completely to ourselves! It was wonderful! So beautiful in the early evening light. There was one couple way in the distance, taking selfies among the lupins. So we tried to take some of ourselves with the view in the background! <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrd0DbXr2WuG09F3ObfYA5oS8KLDpnXrikZdBkseNRfwx0s_MzoCU-CyI79piblcwMznxSpeBqNoyofyP_oGHp0vBtRtkhtNsEOg8ZU_0Ja60_EPtyd1lD3oIA9rpx0dqIZ50hn4eiGkTQ84r3-EGyQ1pctOuGokmpXzGD9ijK09IJimed3MroQ8/s4000/IMG_4917.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrd0DbXr2WuG09F3ObfYA5oS8KLDpnXrikZdBkseNRfwx0s_MzoCU-CyI79piblcwMznxSpeBqNoyofyP_oGHp0vBtRtkhtNsEOg8ZU_0Ja60_EPtyd1lD3oIA9rpx0dqIZ50hn4eiGkTQ84r3-EGyQ1pctOuGokmpXzGD9ijK09IJimed3MroQ8/w640-h426/IMG_4917.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>"Selfie"</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />On the road again, heading to Twizel, we stopped at the Lake Pukaki Information Centre, which was closed of course, but we got a beautiful glimpse of Mt Cook. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLVtvT4yXJyVahxdR30irW1-nZdRvaQxvxYEjzHRRAMg2R3pQvETTJTv51Z79yCGpg2t2uNe0TFiDRGHUkALLOjwMITYoAscgXQV5HXL70W0R3afiASSVunmBa4b-9dYt9z-3VPuE8ltOZaKD-oHYxfC89WPIhR0h-RA5SKzkRMKuMS-zv6iJHog/s4000/IMG_4929.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLVtvT4yXJyVahxdR30irW1-nZdRvaQxvxYEjzHRRAMg2R3pQvETTJTv51Z79yCGpg2t2uNe0TFiDRGHUkALLOjwMITYoAscgXQV5HXL70W0R3afiASSVunmBa4b-9dYt9z-3VPuE8ltOZaKD-oHYxfC89WPIhR0h-RA5SKzkRMKuMS-zv6iJHog/w640-h426/IMG_4929.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mount Cook catching the last rays of sunshine</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday 24 November</span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over a leisurely breakfast of pancakes and coffee, we deliberated as to where we would bike that day. We could bike the cycle trail alongside Lake Ohau and have lunch at Ohau Lodge, or we could bike up the other side of the lake, on Glen Lyon Road, where we biked five years ago. I rang Ohau Lodge to see if we could book in for lunch and was very disappointed to be told that they didn’t do lunches anymore. I suppose this was another victim of the toll Covid has taken on hospitality this year.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwtGNUh9vGs8VG2RhQsSypeYWMzi_iTzTSumZCt4m5nEqNVCxuyDzHBaGpdmrSLFpizE5XyaiQAzb58ET0jpQgCbRWtJQWWu2XTtAcT4y2vG1UlWat_FrUJUjkMEC3Zgv2qDve6AqiY-Ay4rpj7qUSZpAD_gBUdnBF0chCtVLSQgj_9q6akMgsfg/s4032/IMG_2936.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwtGNUh9vGs8VG2RhQsSypeYWMzi_iTzTSumZCt4m5nEqNVCxuyDzHBaGpdmrSLFpizE5XyaiQAzb58ET0jpQgCbRWtJQWWu2XTtAcT4y2vG1UlWat_FrUJUjkMEC3Zgv2qDve6AqiY-Ay4rpj7qUSZpAD_gBUdnBF0chCtVLSQgj_9q6akMgsfg/w640-h480/IMG_2936.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span>Breakfast at “Hydro Café” in Twizel (DP)</span></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We decided on the Ohau cycle track (part of the A2O trail). We drove along the Pukaki and Ohau Canals and parked near the dam. We unloaded the bikes and and rode the track along the bottom of the hill. It was as lumpy and bumpy as I remembered it - quite the worst part of the Ohau track. We should have gone “over the top”, but we knew it to be just as bad. The problem is the very round, rolling, quite large stony gravel on the track, that is very skiddy, and makes you feel very unsafe. You also have to avoid getting caught by the matagouri or briar roses.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I found that five years make a big difference as you are getting older. I am less agile, and more fearful of falling. I really felt that I was enjoying it less than the first and second times we biked this (seven and five years ago). Still, I love Lake Ohau. I think it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYK7C2m-__J5dqZtQ7nha1MqNeAxEojWuazVOXdsWm8GO-6udFYLDcsUDstjvcR0jVocl44S9A2ABbMOxY8pyGDkQ7omnqcuXT-B3JSKDjtAT7PGC5E6Y9ItGeNLKCPug6m75bScQnsJWA5qydlqggnLkqvOJ89b-Ub_yIRLLJl2Tt45OO9DHWXc/s4000/IMG_4932.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYK7C2m-__J5dqZtQ7nha1MqNeAxEojWuazVOXdsWm8GO-6udFYLDcsUDstjvcR0jVocl44S9A2ABbMOxY8pyGDkQ7omnqcuXT-B3JSKDjtAT7PGC5E6Y9ItGeNLKCPug6m75bScQnsJWA5qydlqggnLkqvOJ89b-Ub_yIRLLJl2Tt45OO9DHWXc/w640-h426/IMG_4932.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lake Ohau seen from the bit of track we didn’t like</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Eventually we got to the Ohau track proper, by the weir, and from here the track is fine gravel, much easier to bike on, but some sections are very narrow. We only met three people on the whole ride, one of them nearly collided with John as she came around a corner from the opposite direction. Apart from these three people, there was no-one around. We had the whole world to ourselves. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOX0ToUWp56IgSD6IPYSpZHS_H_RD0K_VurOdupQARmkn6jJmSZvm7aHL7fPKYnxeEVLR_GYuSBn2zw9ozYwUeOA3sQa9HYxYdtBhuZ0Eiw8MvjNDv8fH4TYWmTBkv2SVvr-4CQKYxpYIwbdezRCf0QIbqBA9k68kDKzo-I7lrpwl2NIiYhS_dlM/s3747/IMG_2944.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2810" data-original-width="3747" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOX0ToUWp56IgSD6IPYSpZHS_H_RD0K_VurOdupQARmkn6jJmSZvm7aHL7fPKYnxeEVLR_GYuSBn2zw9ozYwUeOA3sQa9HYxYdtBhuZ0Eiw8MvjNDv8fH4TYWmTBkv2SVvr-4CQKYxpYIwbdezRCf0QIbqBA9k68kDKzo-I7lrpwl2NIiYhS_dlM/w640-h480/IMG_2944.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a perfect day (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We stopped when there was a bit of a way down to the lake, and we sat in the shade of a lovely old willow. The “beach” consisted of large round stones - very hard to walk on, especially with my quite unsuitable Sketchers, and my sore feet. But it was lovely sitting there - complete stillness, if you discounted the “racket” the birds were making! The water was flat, and the reflections gorgeous, snow on the mountains beyond the lake, and complete silence. Perfect.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsMZ_ElPpMUXmIAC9T5wVnYUAkMSn9Ee0fEoj6DtAsUmu3xsinP255oY8UNecPcPEXpwmGVMvbG1qFvbKuYXb5y4_be73ZF0_Mlhrli3l5gJ68acyTZLQ6GxvOZjFnVPtKrpm4X_AigyVxP79CpkuGn8GKq-bWZ1aUZG-lI4Y9dJJOidX-FhpNps/s4000/IMG_4944.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsMZ_ElPpMUXmIAC9T5wVnYUAkMSn9Ee0fEoj6DtAsUmu3xsinP255oY8UNecPcPEXpwmGVMvbG1qFvbKuYXb5y4_be73ZF0_Mlhrli3l5gJ68acyTZLQ6GxvOZjFnVPtKrpm4X_AigyVxP79CpkuGn8GKq-bWZ1aUZG-lI4Y9dJJOidX-FhpNps/w640-h426/IMG_4944.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Under the old willow</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9Lv8eQCErSnWlNOM-O6Z69SsHIaOdFvqaJLQGajvJrLRH_ZdeosnDTPHa8FCC2wFxdmEyISJhEiGdNvji8QTWnNMJH05nY7eE8a1b6u1mthccyvCM6Czx8C_A_2ZAygUIzc5r6vZwDOLrjhJtnonSH27kM4rMIEejikATeIOVGhP-EoPxId3GM8/s4000/IMG_4936.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9Lv8eQCErSnWlNOM-O6Z69SsHIaOdFvqaJLQGajvJrLRH_ZdeosnDTPHa8FCC2wFxdmEyISJhEiGdNvji8QTWnNMJH05nY7eE8a1b6u1mthccyvCM6Czx8C_A_2ZAygUIzc5r6vZwDOLrjhJtnonSH27kM4rMIEejikATeIOVGhP-EoPxId3GM8/w640-h426/IMG_4936.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Beauty and silence</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogW7w-fHerxjBpvKcCADqmtVDZEqvUZTBTgojOhsXsUJsoeXjbBhyHHcuPiM-v64HnjK6Ul6zFewh9NYMdseBvuT6UaUBLi951ahYvoPHgmpkIsvfvu9LfYoNHcwMpkD7hQ13McAsOQkwhzt46ybrf3yk_dHUGZ2lhfwPji_CycnpYXgi4RvvSQ4/s4000/IMG_4938.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogW7w-fHerxjBpvKcCADqmtVDZEqvUZTBTgojOhsXsUJsoeXjbBhyHHcuPiM-v64HnjK6Ul6zFewh9NYMdseBvuT6UaUBLi951ahYvoPHgmpkIsvfvu9LfYoNHcwMpkD7hQ13McAsOQkwhzt46ybrf3yk_dHUGZ2lhfwPji_CycnpYXgi4RvvSQ4/w640-h426/IMG_4938.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Glen Lyon Road runs along the bottom of this hill</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <br />We made it to the end of the track, and went on the road as far as Lake Middleton. Beyond, we could see the remnants of the devastating wildfires that had raged in and around the Ohau Alpine Village two years ago. </span><br /></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2Ix223pYSc8KuTS7D4ecSnlgHL5xV3tkH091NItoDwxeZ8P0n_0kuJptaW4e4zK9JTY1G2brjuySMtR2GWAggT-ABVdseRg3pSABv_6rYxKLuQxh9z22LVdIPk55MwlTGqGxrkqOA-SGG5Lvf6wtiCCQwswv6nrGd_PC1984qGCnPdNpgDy-bGs/s4000/IMG_4948.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2Ix223pYSc8KuTS7D4ecSnlgHL5xV3tkH091NItoDwxeZ8P0n_0kuJptaW4e4zK9JTY1G2brjuySMtR2GWAggT-ABVdseRg3pSABv_6rYxKLuQxh9z22LVdIPk55MwlTGqGxrkqOA-SGG5Lvf6wtiCCQwswv6nrGd_PC1984qGCnPdNpgDy-bGs/w640-h426/IMG_4948.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Contrast between the burnt trees and the flowering lupins</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br />We biked back the way we came, and stopped again at the same tree to eat some chocolate. We should have brought a picnic.</span></span></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-6_D1y-GXBSXmN4i87uM8Izg6xY-TDmNUUk2S4rvHXw3TVXph7OU7Vx7360dirpRo8Gl4-Hf-hqmk7AG4pwNJ7arwMNGbSplVesGe8qPYClVN9hXId0Ml7tV_KygEAdshZScbWtsWwGiTR9nAo0imnAWwaWf7kGwB7QjfECLnZOoce3WGYPjVNY/s4000/IMG_4952.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-6_D1y-GXBSXmN4i87uM8Izg6xY-TDmNUUk2S4rvHXw3TVXph7OU7Vx7360dirpRo8Gl4-Hf-hqmk7AG4pwNJ7arwMNGbSplVesGe8qPYClVN9hXId0Ml7tV_KygEAdshZScbWtsWwGiTR9nAo0imnAWwaWf7kGwB7QjfECLnZOoce3WGYPjVNY/w640-h426/IMG_4952.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few minutes later, the wind had ruffled the surface </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br />Going back to the car, we went ‘over the top’, which, as expected, was horrible. The car was very hot, of course, so we had all the doors open while we loaded the bikes in, and it was nice to have a functioning air-con to cool the car down as we drove back to Twizel. </span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For dinner that evening, we decided we didn’t want a big meal, so we went to Razza’s Takeaways, and ordered a pizza, which came as a ‘deal’ with chips and lemonade. That was a big mistake. The pizza was horrible, covered in a rubbery substance that might have been ‘cheese’ and topped with a spiral of a nasty sauce of some sort; and the chips were dreadful too. Oh well, it was an experience in itself. We ate a bit of it, and dumped the rest. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPRBDfB3BOXBQYRvIAZ8Hxjq4GDCde0qBczVYn7NaXs9am64-8n9g6YpzM46_Lo_BYbfPxrny62V-tlcP-N6JylGUG82FackSeBCcA8_jca-GcGtq-dQw23DbIfyk2klPHWH-wzbJyWfeRtdpsTsvnhVkCACuqAzmdIViprgfo1wcYqY6RKIlki0/s2048/F291A78D-72DB-4B9F-B0D9-470392442893.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPRBDfB3BOXBQYRvIAZ8Hxjq4GDCde0qBczVYn7NaXs9am64-8n9g6YpzM46_Lo_BYbfPxrny62V-tlcP-N6JylGUG82FackSeBCcA8_jca-GcGtq-dQw23DbIfyk2klPHWH-wzbJyWfeRtdpsTsvnhVkCACuqAzmdIViprgfo1wcYqY6RKIlki0/w640-h480/F291A78D-72DB-4B9F-B0D9-470392442893.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Razza Takeaways - big mistake!</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thursday 25 November</span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was our last day in Twizel, and we went to Mt Cook. It was a beautiful day, and we wanted to get there before Mt Cook disappeared into the clouds that seemed to be drifting towards it, but luckily, it remained clear all day. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaxRkFGBxplHkF12V57U4EIHkZUPfy2qirFe9U1zd1BXZy9KmTjJ4toJH7v9SxiCWKja3TIEbk9UIlo-K9YbDIROBBcA7gTjYxQjkzCBn_ElgWBhA93ykCwtB7b5TT4qFDdTnKKdRmmhsVEdPTiiwiF7vm71fXgdD7aeWeKLlZm-5eFQ1grDf-lQ/s4000/IMG_4954.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaxRkFGBxplHkF12V57U4EIHkZUPfy2qirFe9U1zd1BXZy9KmTjJ4toJH7v9SxiCWKja3TIEbk9UIlo-K9YbDIROBBcA7gTjYxQjkzCBn_ElgWBhA93ykCwtB7b5TT4qFDdTnKKdRmmhsVEdPTiiwiF7vm71fXgdD7aeWeKLlZm-5eFQ1grDf-lQ/w640-h426/IMG_4954.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqhIRBshDXPOhNAoEJq4j5GHntdHO7zFaWqHRRZJ11qdFytlXZqBmGt5LOOJIdE3yCXvkozFKH1Pqr2oiaAQ9jqKF0txKucHgVE_ribTwGeN6jHkgg-KXnRgTpBJNJJasVQSbObuwbR7-hReckTkAaS2yDr_BnYi9aaJCT9L7AC9cfKf4Lvc3aCg/s4000/IMG_4956.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqhIRBshDXPOhNAoEJq4j5GHntdHO7zFaWqHRRZJ11qdFytlXZqBmGt5LOOJIdE3yCXvkozFKH1Pqr2oiaAQ9jqKF0txKucHgVE_ribTwGeN6jHkgg-KXnRgTpBJNJJasVQSbObuwbR7-hReckTkAaS2yDr_BnYi9aaJCT9L7AC9cfKf4Lvc3aCg/w640-h426/IMG_4956.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The approach to the Hermitage and Mt Cook Village (on the far left)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeCu3cSTMI4JytSsziknvvpliiThKh1hSHyLLmzdRUM8oF9YwLT48qfNYoOYow_BRNK8A628YTkRiSw_WVi7Bhc5e4lsPNlpbLg5i_vM03OZpigoazN_nEIM11IO_jzYahMRlroKZ9Oy9dmMg3Th50xzZBa2q1xCbLg-ILKqJubu9DyNrCKJtdoM/s4000/IMG_4960.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeCu3cSTMI4JytSsziknvvpliiThKh1hSHyLLmzdRUM8oF9YwLT48qfNYoOYow_BRNK8A628YTkRiSw_WVi7Bhc5e4lsPNlpbLg5i_vM03OZpigoazN_nEIM11IO_jzYahMRlroKZ9Oy9dmMg3Th50xzZBa2q1xCbLg-ILKqJubu9DyNrCKJtdoM/w640-h426/IMG_4960.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mt Cook, seen from the Hermitage carpark</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We went into the Hermitage building - posh hotel on the left, plebs on the right. We, of course, went to the right, passing the statue of Sir Edmund Hillary, on our way to the café, where, I regret to have to say, lunch was not much better than last night’s pizza! <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cHirZ0Cdtx9__-B-4Cgbgbl4BGDLKo4HnVjdKad5NF2vIfGio_cFEQ047XML2mMEL0WY1KvN0-smMWAwa71_57Go05nbNQ3amiN8qXlf0aDOATISGSUHTEMdWCEP7qOGvFbJUmu0eYKcJOt3O-Vp5PY4iw0qVisaSDsD45darb-YsQBhsSNs9H4/s4000/IMG_4963.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cHirZ0Cdtx9__-B-4Cgbgbl4BGDLKo4HnVjdKad5NF2vIfGio_cFEQ047XML2mMEL0WY1KvN0-smMWAwa71_57Go05nbNQ3amiN8qXlf0aDOATISGSUHTEMdWCEP7qOGvFbJUmu0eYKcJOt3O-Vp5PY4iw0qVisaSDsD45darb-YsQBhsSNs9H4/w640-h426/IMG_4963.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A young Edmund Hillary, looking towards the mountains where he trained for his later exploits</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikznuzLXaWoA0j1GLLs_CFl_GwFS2evVOl9NQqLQOen2zqPvI8Jj-cBGFunBRqFQNVGN0RjtxbLIQ1X7k6I3JJOoU16VqJ_gzz75R7SIz8lQxNsVwrBlFY0pNkR87w0yO4BIKlhhvA-7bWIamaAEAPfpgfBR_x-lc_jwMYqFVr3CCju-zWmMFfrOs/s4000/IMG_4965.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikznuzLXaWoA0j1GLLs_CFl_GwFS2evVOl9NQqLQOen2zqPvI8Jj-cBGFunBRqFQNVGN0RjtxbLIQ1X7k6I3JJOoU16VqJ_gzz75R7SIz8lQxNsVwrBlFY0pNkR87w0yO4BIKlhhvA-7bWIamaAEAPfpgfBR_x-lc_jwMYqFVr3CCju-zWmMFfrOs/w640-h426/IMG_4965.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mt Cook, 3724 m, in all its glory</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uRllTZ9pbotUanMTZj0CWmrl1wNSHrH1lhoqEI5J6rEJXE0lEsRuNDqh2egDJ-ggaipp27Q-Gr2BaO7rlmzArQ0OUfVtCpDh1hwJttMoo4BFZ8O-kDmdG4Cd9HRs7BQNqIkEr-XBotx8FXN5RrGH2Edkw6IPfoMCYyvsoE3h1kxUVR1mcNGOi30/s4000/IMG_4996.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uRllTZ9pbotUanMTZj0CWmrl1wNSHrH1lhoqEI5J6rEJXE0lEsRuNDqh2egDJ-ggaipp27Q-Gr2BaO7rlmzArQ0OUfVtCpDh1hwJttMoo4BFZ8O-kDmdG4Cd9HRs7BQNqIkEr-XBotx8FXN5RrGH2Edkw6IPfoMCYyvsoE3h1kxUVR1mcNGOi30/w640-h426/IMG_4996.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mountains to the left of Mt Cook - Mt Sefton, I think </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the café one could look down into the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Museum where an Auster airplane, with skis attached to its wheels, was suspended at about our eye level. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzeyJUqWTil7HfL92Knf2Vn4DvHElk0xd8lBbWFuS1KqGQxJKez0NhYDDA88eVObRzmLQWDotabqkN6_vK8xg_rAeZDNHgvOewyOfS8ZtZQzl2D1IDwrjpOy_2DMV4yefSiidCsiMIOb0IyeFze6b5uzOLGG2C7c8-xxvS_N5u-wTbai2umrLAnw/s4000/IMG_4964.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzeyJUqWTil7HfL92Knf2Vn4DvHElk0xd8lBbWFuS1KqGQxJKez0NhYDDA88eVObRzmLQWDotabqkN6_vK8xg_rAeZDNHgvOewyOfS8ZtZQzl2D1IDwrjpOy_2DMV4yefSiidCsiMIOb0IyeFze6b5uzOLGG2C7c8-xxvS_N5u-wTbai2umrLAnw/w640-h426/IMG_4964.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking down into the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Museum</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We had not visited the Museum before - it had been too busy the last time we were here. But today, we were the only visitors. It was very interesting, and we spent nearly two hours there. All about Hillary’s climbing and Antarctic pursuits, lots of photos, memorabilia, and a couple of Ferguson tractors that he used in Antarctica, that really took John’s interest. He was particularly tickled by the “NZ number 8 wire” adaptations that had been used on them. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5BG2_rYf6XtDOqUeqV4cBF4n-v_v0n9QEVg6trIh9g0l8RkSso7bZj_SCkNhmZqSZmPZ5bbDrjB9cYZZrSR9Z0IWLWmvIWW9C6ucJnhbF6Ek2tnUpXMddq0y0_Nb2fPbWgScI6GFdcwlWD7K6ZJyOAwWeWUxB-aTdqUB-Qm8AGsBZW5Gna-W2vY/s4000/IMG_4977.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5BG2_rYf6XtDOqUeqV4cBF4n-v_v0n9QEVg6trIh9g0l8RkSso7bZj_SCkNhmZqSZmPZ5bbDrjB9cYZZrSR9Z0IWLWmvIWW9C6ucJnhbF6Ek2tnUpXMddq0y0_Nb2fPbWgScI6GFdcwlWD7K6ZJyOAwWeWUxB-aTdqUB-Qm8AGsBZW5Gna-W2vY/w640-h426/IMG_4977.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of converted the Ferguson tractors</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m7uAEh__sZPSuUs2AAtHkontFgN4hPxuMbmh1XVviuL3zkFu-5khrgL-PouexGLudb56lxO0yPRC8x0FuIuDuR5eZhjsXCH4-sUEheVJnvrkkytHOKmTDIV9XfXtmsW_NFTixo0i_c3HngUUopZawATLfuaNCmAm8C5VwviHCri0ha_fcAxO1V4/s1800/collage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m7uAEh__sZPSuUs2AAtHkontFgN4hPxuMbmh1XVviuL3zkFu-5khrgL-PouexGLudb56lxO0yPRC8x0FuIuDuR5eZhjsXCH4-sUEheVJnvrkkytHOKmTDIV9XfXtmsW_NFTixo0i_c3HngUUopZawATLfuaNCmAm8C5VwviHCri0ha_fcAxO1V4/w640-h426/collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of the “number 8 wire” adaptations, and the “big boys’ Meccano” Dexion strips at the top of the cab</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were also displays about how the Mt Cook area was accessed in the early days - by horse, then by horse and carriage, finally by cars, and planes, detailing the story of Harry Wigley, who started a bus service and later the Mt Cook airline. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWqNu9Qn1tq7ad4f00eKORIgD3uzw0HC9R0pljCWTNDCPDMrHFGv_BRBxL58TixDv542gDHt7YQUe_6YwzvR-pj0GJq7zwfUOsqmUT00A1NUx4MzJ3yVgnYf-s4UFNfHgbz3zX5u2cB9cVCe4-uJQahQ88lMMjXxbNR3H_vOycpu6xtNjLaG4UB0/s4000/IMG_4982.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWqNu9Qn1tq7ad4f00eKORIgD3uzw0HC9R0pljCWTNDCPDMrHFGv_BRBxL58TixDv542gDHt7YQUe_6YwzvR-pj0GJq7zwfUOsqmUT00A1NUx4MzJ3yVgnYf-s4UFNfHgbz3zX5u2cB9cVCe4-uJQahQ88lMMjXxbNR3H_vOycpu6xtNjLaG4UB0/w640-h426/IMG_4982.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An early Mt Cook Motor Co Ltd vehicle</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We watched a 3D film about Mt Cook and its climbers, with very clever special effects. Some of the images gave me the heebie-jeebies - climbing up a steep ridge in deep snow, nearly falling into crevasses etc. Cripes!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After all that, we looked into the Visitors’ Centre down the road a bit, for a further browse of mountaineering feats by others. We wanted to stop at the café next door for another coffee, but the place was closed. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyBQT07uDhOLm3TxhNRbBnDdtyUioIikiIP7V99ez2YamdaTMYEwWhaqNlNhAJzivjiHH2iDT5CbtywXxFChXzlsPGt4NaSPhQoUb4KFhIbp1ZjvksmnkuNRAY96cSTbmK705StVfVJ_zwpyGa1MZ-IpMgGS26WHR9SKpgJvMmun9LIkTZYp_Y7o/s4000/IMG_4997.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyBQT07uDhOLm3TxhNRbBnDdtyUioIikiIP7V99ez2YamdaTMYEwWhaqNlNhAJzivjiHH2iDT5CbtywXxFChXzlsPGt4NaSPhQoUb4KFhIbp1ZjvksmnkuNRAY96cSTbmK705StVfVJ_zwpyGa1MZ-IpMgGS26WHR9SKpgJvMmun9LIkTZYp_Y7o/w640-h426/IMG_4997.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A perfectly framed view of Mt Cook, through the window at the Visitors’ Centre</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Friday 26 November</span></span></h4><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were heading to Clyde to stay for the next three nights. We were keen to bike some of the new Lake Dunstan Cycle trail, which was opened only six months earlier, and which had received great reviews.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the way to the Lindis Pass, we saw great swathes of colourful lupins, but we didn’t stop to take photos of them this time. I will just have to remember them in my ‘mind’s eye’. We did stop at the summit of the pass, however. There is a newly developed parking area (much improved from the patch of gravel that used to be the summit), where, of course, we stopped to take photos.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVsRa0qtQ6vIAOHDRuPmWw-itv7y8e5SwCpFxhWWiFl8--ik41MJ29f9LnsSzDNgEeqpWRSMgGM5DEhC3IcpAxwzm6ULEMrsgNLd8WOwzEb4PsImBoxkvR67LRkgT4zxCu2T_IfqgWe0ONgmyh-l82VWVEoJgeFbJXG5bPCkfUodN1SUcLyNNr4I/s4000/IMG_5013.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVsRa0qtQ6vIAOHDRuPmWw-itv7y8e5SwCpFxhWWiFl8--ik41MJ29f9LnsSzDNgEeqpWRSMgGM5DEhC3IcpAxwzm6ULEMrsgNLd8WOwzEb4PsImBoxkvR67LRkgT4zxCu2T_IfqgWe0ONgmyh-l82VWVEoJgeFbJXG5bPCkfUodN1SUcLyNNr4I/w640-h426/IMG_5013.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Lindis Pass summit car park</span></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ED3sc41FD62fAkeLG4jPRghN60HGeHtHwu_O4EWsoX88qfJnsuNaYnFLCFk2MSVaAZ0mrnmBrE_EOfSZqz7l1MuSoXIpd8mNNaqtfYa4kw8O1rnPH4XgLS45HpNQCkojlnEzP2xEvGvk-xzqQk4HyyMBb46Xv-LzFlSc7zDmyX44tmFySjG7TOQ/s4000/IMG_5012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ED3sc41FD62fAkeLG4jPRghN60HGeHtHwu_O4EWsoX88qfJnsuNaYnFLCFk2MSVaAZ0mrnmBrE_EOfSZqz7l1MuSoXIpd8mNNaqtfYa4kw8O1rnPH4XgLS45HpNQCkojlnEzP2xEvGvk-xzqQk4HyyMBb46Xv-LzFlSc7zDmyX44tmFySjG7TOQ/w640-h426/IMG_5012.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Such a remote and wild landscape</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is such a beautiful, remote and wild-looking landscape. I love the bronze-green colour of the hills, the stubbly texture of the tussocks, and the drama of the ridges. The hills were looking much greener than we have seen them before - gorgeous greys, yellows, browns and greens, as the ridges changed colour with the light. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNeuV_--coNBpShxOoepw1smO9buYqp3VnVM-wIexAwp3QCuEYM_gYEBgXaQlGKa4zIUy5Xd9Kz63LpCRInhAh7BTT5Oaq0HzDlSXMCx4MqAXxIqR9CvsEpgR1XURRkOVgohs73iI-HMv8PdY_O9H-10wlyTkE-PUdls0rYVY-4Sx4rF3AYF5iCE/s4000/IMG_5017.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNeuV_--coNBpShxOoepw1smO9buYqp3VnVM-wIexAwp3QCuEYM_gYEBgXaQlGKa4zIUy5Xd9Kz63LpCRInhAh7BTT5Oaq0HzDlSXMCx4MqAXxIqR9CvsEpgR1XURRkOVgohs73iI-HMv8PdY_O9H-10wlyTkE-PUdls0rYVY-4Sx4rF3AYF5iCE/w640-h426/IMG_5017.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The drama of the ridges</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkJXhHK8KxkbwGGMfcjZhv8ifdZhisMDHSqD5WDOzCeOYaeXJQgQ51HPBgJlx6Y_E5ty-vsymEt_IiMRUSTQ2QYL26VOU6GCb8xpYAk-OfYkrFX_L1NQTby-WNK_3f2DJFuyLZKj1dxuYiVMeOcNMzPmh4hsOTbJ4SFGjTFTy2jrKcXuYk-6MTXs/s4000/IMG_5020.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkJXhHK8KxkbwGGMfcjZhv8ifdZhisMDHSqD5WDOzCeOYaeXJQgQ51HPBgJlx6Y_E5ty-vsymEt_IiMRUSTQ2QYL26VOU6GCb8xpYAk-OfYkrFX_L1NQTby-WNK_3f2DJFuyLZKj1dxuYiVMeOcNMzPmh4hsOTbJ4SFGjTFTy2jrKcXuYk-6MTXs/w640-h426/IMG_5020.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The moody sky added to the drama</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We stopped for coffee at the Tarras Country Café - always a welcome stop on the way south. A few days later, we were surprised to hear that the café would be closing it doors because of the owner’s stance against the Government Covid vaccine mandate for hospitality premises, which was to come into effect on 3 December. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlJTvZTUFhwPzvQNcTizIiG_y95pjyatpgtlu8ajjLpOqHGySrFEDl7kBEgahJT49CxhxIms_L4yR6-RVVIx4A2HbJMv3WGvnFwuct4HInjkLsw-GXzIyzQtCFgePfV4U3-v955RFwJLe_b7BzY3XEz0Ub_K0dqNnlN65jtEQTQiNrX1DR7PmKAg/s2048/A65BCB4E-3E82-46FE-AB7B-5867524BB440.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlJTvZTUFhwPzvQNcTizIiG_y95pjyatpgtlu8ajjLpOqHGySrFEDl7kBEgahJT49CxhxIms_L4yR6-RVVIx4A2HbJMv3WGvnFwuct4HInjkLsw-GXzIyzQtCFgePfV4U3-v955RFwJLe_b7BzY3XEz0Ub_K0dqNnlN65jtEQTQiNrX1DR7PmKAg/w640-h480/A65BCB4E-3E82-46FE-AB7B-5867524BB440.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Tarras Country Café</span> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we got to Cromwell, we found it was blowing a gale, so we thought biking would not really be an option. We wandered around the Heritage Precinct, which consists of lots of old stone buildings which were saved and transported from the original main street of Cromwell, before it was flooded to create Lake Dunstan when the Clyde Dam was built in the 1980s. The reconstructed buildings now house a variety of cute, twee little shops, artisan studios and cafés. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOv8kG-NnNlZaiLoPsblunXXWwVekdC_wdnvzwKRRdcWcrL18JQykSQtPrEguysrfUQ3IoQMyMygBVgU8JV1j8Lu_gWS9xFJViYbeDTts4sZzq0g5GRKs7rkuRJ8carOPvTOxy6m0jPn2emvH1RvsxrmW-Vqv_D4m0CSK-gS67USLsUvYil_SBDso/s4000/IMG_5024.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOv8kG-NnNlZaiLoPsblunXXWwVekdC_wdnvzwKRRdcWcrL18JQykSQtPrEguysrfUQ3IoQMyMygBVgU8JV1j8Lu_gWS9xFJViYbeDTts4sZzq0g5GRKs7rkuRJ8carOPvTOxy6m0jPn2emvH1RvsxrmW-Vqv_D4m0CSK-gS67USLsUvYil_SBDso/w640-h426/IMG_5024.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cromwell Heritage Precinct</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB1AQ_rY4XY6mQPGnAPHhK38vig-Lx7FDM6Jsu1lZaYCEqlJoNKFCmo25HNwawjM6X8vF1rHDCq988x1FksNKCcNxmmHd4bMoBeZH-vgB4cWIeuqh8ZGS6pgg1ccOWDvVP3tkD4YjN6W42OfEoJcczZSIiKN7XAL3H3u9qNGairla0p0XksV9lvI/s4000/IMG_5032.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB1AQ_rY4XY6mQPGnAPHhK38vig-Lx7FDM6Jsu1lZaYCEqlJoNKFCmo25HNwawjM6X8vF1rHDCq988x1FksNKCcNxmmHd4bMoBeZH-vgB4cWIeuqh8ZGS6pgg1ccOWDvVP3tkD4YjN6W42OfEoJcczZSIiKN7XAL3H3u9qNGairla0p0XksV9lvI/w640-h426/IMG_5032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The old Post and Telegraph Office is now a restaurant …</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xMSIu1dQFJEg-iYWcCzWcsFRZ4ws7AlXdyy8sWplOiEBl4GXLTVvy-tcvoVW4YfaE-eFeUU6DqMF7fHhcB-xQRjc-AyrPJZ3BzmgHZDL2-d0GQd7pCwc-hyAkZb4rqJmW4jrmeGe3ctxFHJYOv7NVqyY1yBm9ivjmX_fHeImr_HT9aE9I5m3Y4/s4000/IMG_5034.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xMSIu1dQFJEg-iYWcCzWcsFRZ4ws7AlXdyy8sWplOiEBl4GXLTVvy-tcvoVW4YfaE-eFeUU6DqMF7fHhcB-xQRjc-AyrPJZ3BzmgHZDL2-d0GQd7pCwc-hyAkZb4rqJmW4jrmeGe3ctxFHJYOv7NVqyY1yBm9ivjmX_fHeImr_HT9aE9I5m3Y4/w640-h426/IMG_5034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">… the Globe Hotel houses a gift shop, and the Blacksmiths offers bike rentals</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeXTaYSrPlmxXq7B9h1X1jHWmtEuSS3ol94luEp96sJDuTVWxESOFN0h-KVDOqjnK4wcZtuq1eLaZq-ZuxzMsONjp31PLGj--mccrMKdAHDb9hVTF4elewY_ZF_lVWy4wJe_Dh_AQivt-qW2HSrCGsC-CwiPDjRqBub85ZXx6DfFn-Pahde6zxbM/s4008/IMG_2980.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3006" data-original-width="4008" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeXTaYSrPlmxXq7B9h1X1jHWmtEuSS3ol94luEp96sJDuTVWxESOFN0h-KVDOqjnK4wcZtuq1eLaZq-ZuxzMsONjp31PLGj--mccrMKdAHDb9hVTF4elewY_ZF_lVWy4wJe_Dh_AQivt-qW2HSrCGsC-CwiPDjRqBub85ZXx6DfFn-Pahde6zxbM/w640-h480/IMG_2980.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">A model of the smithy (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjGbn1clkpKS8dJqHvKi6qT3008z1sQYRkNCSMq6VkVOzWIKwPWP-4WocmEfE37FRS1Z34pQfYHVYnx5uOnGLTs9dJEgcDvoOIcw0zHjRFhJzQdClwRLhNh19-JOcZtidU0zgdg8_kdbv_bH_Lo5Y_gEMhyi7a8NBzWhS6jV_HGoKFTABWDli-gg/s4000/IMG_5040.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjGbn1clkpKS8dJqHvKi6qT3008z1sQYRkNCSMq6VkVOzWIKwPWP-4WocmEfE37FRS1Z34pQfYHVYnx5uOnGLTs9dJEgcDvoOIcw0zHjRFhJzQdClwRLhNh19-JOcZtidU0zgdg8_kdbv_bH_Lo5Y_gEMhyi7a8NBzWhS6jV_HGoKFTABWDli-gg/w640-h426/IMG_5040.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gold mining machinery </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Heritage Precinct is also the starting point for the Lake Dunstan Cycle trail.<br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqAJYVZkgD2nxyTKxLvbQfwfkgSzo1W3adNB8ku7wY_MSiw5VpJjiWDEDJWEC3IzGJPvr1T3UYJLZwWUCTu_aiIr8jyfak3GwzoJMM7AixNSL90T06_9GOTVIsC5-AOsJlnP4s43VqAYCYm4hvgB-5l3AUzII11OnoQA1rdomMNwhIMigghXQuUE/s3936/IMG_2984.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqAJYVZkgD2nxyTKxLvbQfwfkgSzo1W3adNB8ku7wY_MSiw5VpJjiWDEDJWEC3IzGJPvr1T3UYJLZwWUCTu_aiIr8jyfak3GwzoJMM7AixNSL90T06_9GOTVIsC5-AOsJlnP4s43VqAYCYm4hvgB-5l3AUzII11OnoQA1rdomMNwhIMigghXQuUE/w640-h480/IMG_2984.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The map of the trails</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the wind, John thought we could just take a short bike ride as the track seemed to be more sheltered than the carpark. We started out going towards Smiths Way, in the opposite direction from the track I wanted to do. But we had not gone very far, when we got to a place where the wind was really strong, and John would not go any further. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So we went in the other direction, along the Kawerau River, towards Bannockburn Bridge - 5.5 km away. A really good track, smooth sandy gravel, and very lovely surroundings - varying between riverside, to hillside, to forested area, to open fields of yellow lupins and California poppies.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5UBuYLN1A1x3rjkszVJQKC1_KuE2cKSKrXyzMSk2ns9g1GUiYOwfggAsVHetjl_UNq6f00-KQ8gezVnsSNj8Jeayx6IPYZVzN44slxniWplO2yJFGmE1aO-iHqE1fK9uc-3CYdCieRUsNUXeoBLPVXhJ71qPUaC4NY_iihsc2EDEDZk7ThryQkU/s4000/IMG_5045.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5UBuYLN1A1x3rjkszVJQKC1_KuE2cKSKrXyzMSk2ns9g1GUiYOwfggAsVHetjl_UNq6f00-KQ8gezVnsSNj8Jeayx6IPYZVzN44slxniWplO2yJFGmE1aO-iHqE1fK9uc-3CYdCieRUsNUXeoBLPVXhJ71qPUaC4NY_iihsc2EDEDZk7ThryQkU/w640-h426/IMG_5045.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A lovely, smooth track, alongside the Kawerau River …</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjC8w2z9sNz5-kzWXABG9iDj5gd5H3bUsmetgEVaNqcPhBB_bw14hZ7kgqvVoPtzq2sM5ipY495LKUyZB6iFt2vb8XusN6LCgjemXTMy4KyiTShH8v_Bdm-1AGElAYDxD_Cecf0JPFJ_VvAezDskhy-_J07Vojqc_Q_1F7XckPjxAhAyEjF4Mw4k/s4000/IMG_5048.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjC8w2z9sNz5-kzWXABG9iDj5gd5H3bUsmetgEVaNqcPhBB_bw14hZ7kgqvVoPtzq2sM5ipY495LKUyZB6iFt2vb8XusN6LCgjemXTMy4KyiTShH8v_Bdm-1AGElAYDxD_Cecf0JPFJ_VvAezDskhy-_J07Vojqc_Q_1F7XckPjxAhAyEjF4Mw4k/w640-h426/IMG_5048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">… wild thyme and views of vineyards …</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1jF6vn40pYMK-7YckNx3ARDGrWiyyt-RASVtSOR5sEE89OQhk8uXz3Ct5xqVJ_J5HdTPA3JlayudJ_-ttXfpC0Los8ub5MUW_wBf_9aX5IeIr4z_VoBZmzzpFRgT-aBjGJz12ybZ2vHzNh_ooKh8dVusxYiluyXJdd1Y7rHriqlsFahiaO_B3so/s4032/IMG_2989.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1jF6vn40pYMK-7YckNx3ARDGrWiyyt-RASVtSOR5sEE89OQhk8uXz3Ct5xqVJ_J5HdTPA3JlayudJ_-ttXfpC0Los8ub5MUW_wBf_9aX5IeIr4z_VoBZmzzpFRgT-aBjGJz12ybZ2vHzNh_ooKh8dVusxYiluyXJdd1Y7rHriqlsFahiaO_B3so/w640-h480/IMG_2989.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">... forested areas ... <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP13m8djQFYYOHIlY11SDTc1EzupCHayzMeMbhzNV1xEb_08oGb9O4TAzAlshQW5vyfaqnQ3G4NWmxThxTZdyDcYfMvfOJU8Os6zXWxJ3yLp_0WfU73ijcJ0UyDgcdWJ1yC0lRyjeJmREpv03vYM2lZsY4QYXWO5U1J40VQVOg37A3A-V3S1dgwSY/s3945/IMG_2986.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2958" data-original-width="3945" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP13m8djQFYYOHIlY11SDTc1EzupCHayzMeMbhzNV1xEb_08oGb9O4TAzAlshQW5vyfaqnQ3G4NWmxThxTZdyDcYfMvfOJU8Os6zXWxJ3yLp_0WfU73ijcJ0UyDgcdWJ1yC0lRyjeJmREpv03vYM2lZsY4QYXWO5U1J40VQVOg37A3A-V3S1dgwSY/w640-h480/IMG_2986.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">… yellow lupins … (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDP7o8qHru2wEr_Y1ESUARqFkzw2aX72OsaVqnMY5z8iKecZRykX9FvjoVWXWLGL1gWFmYfj_tuDuViTQiKZn5upc_aUGZqUJw0vx7SLqZm1KZs8b9ZytPNcdEbwIOoao1kkddoL7UG5MLCcl1r4x5UJxsyaKvn_UQRRgjwwio8lPCqXY1oWHdbU/s4032/IMG_2987.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDP7o8qHru2wEr_Y1ESUARqFkzw2aX72OsaVqnMY5z8iKecZRykX9FvjoVWXWLGL1gWFmYfj_tuDuViTQiKZn5upc_aUGZqUJw0vx7SLqZm1KZs8b9ZytPNcdEbwIOoao1kkddoL7UG5MLCcl1r4x5UJxsyaKvn_UQRRgjwwio8lPCqXY1oWHdbU/w640-h480/IMG_2987.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">… and California poppies (DP)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a very pleasant ride - and not too windy on this part of the track. A total of 11 km, just right for an afternoon ride. We got back to the Heritage Precinct at 3 pm, and treated ourselves to an iced coffee at one of the cafés.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then a search in the modern part of Cromwell for the local EV charging post, after which we headed towards Clyde, where we had booked a small house for the next three nights. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXI5P3pzgvvyh7bi5NyQIHPy3_dprSurxFFKXInYZObprsG9mPIYTd7xnTO_Tlb8cJeJ5IDGIA-CNtfYwqOe2PCYZtJ26nwDLD9oZ3WL8bVC0urEIWTEk-DavVA71fLMOmokdDRo8yJyv7h_9o82VHE9vSzA7jMTPTa_BZMsfU6EHSgdQv4hMCNgI/s4032/IMG_2992.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXI5P3pzgvvyh7bi5NyQIHPy3_dprSurxFFKXInYZObprsG9mPIYTd7xnTO_Tlb8cJeJ5IDGIA-CNtfYwqOe2PCYZtJ26nwDLD9oZ3WL8bVC0urEIWTEk-DavVA71fLMOmokdDRo8yJyv7h_9o82VHE9vSzA7jMTPTa_BZMsfU6EHSgdQv4hMCNgI/w640-h480/IMG_2992.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John is getting to grips with the EV rapid charger. Note Cromwell’s giant fruit sculpture in the background</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-74365051277328496152021-04-07T03:08:00.015+12:002022-02-09T02:06:49.836+13:00A trip to Hawke’s Bay<p>
</p><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: left;"><br /></h2><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: left;"></h2><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: left;"></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Before I start
on my story about our Hawke’s Bay trip, please note my updated distances biked
(in red, on the left side of this page) – over 10,200 km! Since the last update, in November
2019, I have biked about 1,500 km on my e-bike, so we haven’t been completely slacking.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* * * * * * * * * * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">On Saturday 7
November 2020, we planned to attend a Scottish country dance evening in
Carterton, and we decided to follow it with a few days in Hawke’s Bay, since we
would already be halfway there, and we hadn’t been anywhere to bike since seemingly
forever! At least since the lockdown.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">We left Wellington
in the morning, and once over ‘the hill’, we had a great browse in the
second-hand bookshops in <a href="https://www.booktown.org.nz/" target="_blank">Featherston</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>, which is becoming a destination for book-a-holics,
it seems. We scored a couple of books each – which came in handy later in the
weekend, as it turned out …</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">We had a very
leisurely lunch in Greytown, and then headed for our accommodation. I had
managed to book what I think may have been the last available room in the Wairarapa.
There was a Garden Tour on that weekend, which obviously had attracted a lot of
out-of-towners. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">I had planned for
us to bike the Woodside Trail in the afternoon, but John wasn’t feeling the
best and didn’t really want to bike, so I went on my own. Our motel was only a
few streets away from the entrance to the trail, so off I set – map in hand. We
had been there before, so I knew more or less where I had to go. But my sense
of direction is hopeless – I still managed to overshoot the turn-off, and
arrived at a dead-end, that was obviously not the right place. I back-tracked,
and found my way to the start of the trail.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkHzxybvmeJvQ65J4-goRaa_917hO-p7tGzy3G792UoZHM6eKKUHggqj0VA7mh64vMr0iA-r_UMQFVHVEYMZYloM8xsRVZURKGogmLckCqf8YLZz7FJeEcmcYnRR3-0TUyjwU6DCw0ck/s2048/IMG_2402.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkHzxybvmeJvQ65J4-goRaa_917hO-p7tGzy3G792UoZHM6eKKUHggqj0VA7mh64vMr0iA-r_UMQFVHVEYMZYloM8xsRVZURKGogmLckCqf8YLZz7FJeEcmcYnRR3-0TUyjwU6DCw0ck/w640-h480/IMG_2402.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Entrance to the Woodside Trail</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">We <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2013/08/greytown-to-woodside-trail.html " target="_blank">biked this trail </a>when we first started biking again in 2013, and it had only recently been
opened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>At that time, an early part of the
trail had just been planted, and what looked like mere sticks on each side of
the path, are now beautiful trees. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0chPrNR451OdTNr-YGj7agusxQw59OXuew21B-Xc-K0kL3zSNkFzvX3sF0n1_EbSkDqQAK6H4z6gP9CpHtS7M_ouhpjxbUuE1mYNY_zj1w6y6hKKjaTlmqjzz2t0gCd0qt3WTsmJqxFw/s2048/IMG_3262.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0chPrNR451OdTNr-YGj7agusxQw59OXuew21B-Xc-K0kL3zSNkFzvX3sF0n1_EbSkDqQAK6H4z6gP9CpHtS7M_ouhpjxbUuE1mYNY_zj1w6y6hKKjaTlmqjzz2t0gCd0qt3WTsmJqxFw/w640-h480/IMG_3262.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">This is what it looked like in August 2013 …</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-VWILhm_y4yEweISb0B1h0fJ28QIbdlTV56pMU7DIRvKJYbIpb4-XynqHUi3BPBwn76IM4fEOHEHUPtSN5rHk9RRn8eRCE6esTBrhW0jloMENWF9dCb_h0tfA4cZMr4e4ufYVyKjEHw/s2048/IMG_2403.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-VWILhm_y4yEweISb0B1h0fJ28QIbdlTV56pMU7DIRvKJYbIpb4-XynqHUi3BPBwn76IM4fEOHEHUPtSN5rHk9RRn8eRCE6esTBrhW0jloMENWF9dCb_h0tfA4cZMr4e4ufYVyKjEHw/w480-h640/IMG_2403.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">…
and this is how the trees look now</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Part of the
trail is lined with magnificent old oak trees, which apparently were planted when
this trail was a railway track. Their timber was to have been used for the
sleepers. Fortunately it didn’t come to that, as the line was closed in 1953. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXWbj4ugDDMkEijAAvY6t6zB6fi9ZR7R4ufaBByl2Qmgp5DuS_BLbYbp-y4hrr3V-Us35B0TUdNc1HtXIj8dSEuMWhhuh5DKpKKm7vThKAkujmex1SYVebpvzWO0OqnJzRUEEKlmNX_w/s2048/IMG_2411.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXWbj4ugDDMkEijAAvY6t6zB6fi9ZR7R4ufaBByl2Qmgp5DuS_BLbYbp-y4hrr3V-Us35B0TUdNc1HtXIj8dSEuMWhhuh5DKpKKm7vThKAkujmex1SYVebpvzWO0OqnJzRUEEKlmNX_w/w640-h480/IMG_2411.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Some of the track meanders between rows
of old oak trees</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">I am not as
prolific a photographer as John, so I didn’t take too many pictures, but I did take
this photo of a gnarly old tree trunk.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_4mEI-7hXGtVkTGlT_HGYujkIFYLtqy9uw4gP2rp7qzEMm01vJFMQwn6xWOHjlGLQHcfuynzJTisUW3PZUvYk7cA0eO3dVowQkKu8pO4mPWoWtp_YR_Sy1rXcclmjnpiGQeFvImSFms/s2048/IMG_2408.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_4mEI-7hXGtVkTGlT_HGYujkIFYLtqy9uw4gP2rp7qzEMm01vJFMQwn6xWOHjlGLQHcfuynzJTisUW3PZUvYk7cA0eO3dVowQkKu8pO4mPWoWtp_YR_Sy1rXcclmjnpiGQeFvImSFms/w640-h480/IMG_2408.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"> What a gorgeous old tree</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The track ends
at the Woodside railway station. I noticed that the old goods shed, that had been
abandoned and was in quite a sorry state with weeds growing inside and creepers
climbing over it when we saw it in 2013, had now been restored and looked quite
respectable – though not nearly as photogenic. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAdJP_LxsbIQ6Vqz6QhPePrqQUsWP0qhHpUWiCQLOA8ofc8or7fXngAgVIbJHOMPPSH1az2ZQg5SrT6yLqNk_xACVwAlEHFa5X0vq3uiEo1EJtpoWC-rjyZ4MOfRn6RE3sfz2OUy3Jko/s2048/IMG_2483.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAdJP_LxsbIQ6Vqz6QhPePrqQUsWP0qhHpUWiCQLOA8ofc8or7fXngAgVIbJHOMPPSH1az2ZQg5SrT6yLqNk_xACVwAlEHFa5X0vq3uiEo1EJtpoWC-rjyZ4MOfRn6RE3sfz2OUy3Jko/w640-h480/IMG_2483.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">The old goods shed in 2013 (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">I wanted to
know when this restoration had been done, and looked for information online. I
found an <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/railway-shed-restored-to-former-glory/EOFUQIZBQDN75XEKB67GMLQQBQ/" target="_blank">article in the NZ Herald</a>, reporting its official opening in November 2015.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Interestingly, during
my search, I found <a href="https://walkingnewzealand.co.nz/the-greytown-trail/" target="_blank">this website</a>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>written in 2020, which, in some places,
uses the exact same sentences that I wrote in my 2013 blog post. Well, it’s good
to know that someone has found my blog interesting enough to quote me (or plagiarise my words), even if
it’s not acknowledged … </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB">Having biked to the end of the trail and
back, I enjoyed riding through some of Greytown’s quiet back streets with their beautiful gardens. It was
spring, the sun was shining, and the fragrance of jasmine and honeysuckle was
everywhere.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I would have liked to explore
some more, but I thought John might get worried if I stayed out too long. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">That
evening, I went to the dance without John, who was still not feeling up to
anything strenuous. But I had a great time anyway, as there were lots of people
there that I knew. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* * * * * * * * * * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
next day, Sunday, we woke to torrential rain. We watched as a bunch of
middle-aged ladies, who were obviously there for the Garden Tour, started to
pack up their van, ready for a day of traipsing through soggy gardens. I felt
sorry for them – a Garden Tour that they had probably looked forward to for
weeks, and then it had to rain! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We set
off towards Hastings, and the rain had eased when we got to Woodville. We
stopped for coffee and a wander around a most amazing “2nd hand Antiques” shop.
Huge, and incredible ‘collections’ of stuff – innumerable salt and pepper sets,
old glass bottles, fancy glassware, tools, doorknobs, and odds and sods, all
very neatly displayed and categorised and labelled.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOzVaj_XlHw0-6WKjj9yef412anqKu2S58n89a3Hf1VIsK_JguuAnT6sNg-0fvR4YMvJn5l3fn8NTUoFAmxnIDGcR_VwdzQb236Jgk_b7x_ykmirrmdp3XVQUiqQRrL5_L0vR8A__VeM/s2048/IMG_2413.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOzVaj_XlHw0-6WKjj9yef412anqKu2S58n89a3Hf1VIsK_JguuAnT6sNg-0fvR4YMvJn5l3fn8NTUoFAmxnIDGcR_VwdzQb236Jgk_b7x_ykmirrmdp3XVQUiqQRrL5_L0vR8A__VeM/w640-h480/IMG_2413.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">An incredible place to browse through
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBKFWVarfmkkGWrrEyJyfsvNZuIO4okN3NeA6gA9zZCpM753Mn3TckfZWZL5D_bZ37tXxPfagigIKX1unYHeveA1aWWYmG2GoF0TaGdGP2OPrXGYzhAHHuy1TkpbtImnBfpg-c_q074E/s2048/IMG_2415.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBKFWVarfmkkGWrrEyJyfsvNZuIO4okN3NeA6gA9zZCpM753Mn3TckfZWZL5D_bZ37tXxPfagigIKX1unYHeveA1aWWYmG2GoF0TaGdGP2OPrXGYzhAHHuy1TkpbtImnBfpg-c_q074E/w640-h480/IMG_2415.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">John admires the neatly organised hardware bits and bobs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">By the
time we got to Hastings, the sun was shining again, and we found our way to the
cottage we were staying in, on an orchard property, at Tukituki Flat. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4baRGUnxqK57lo4S1c_DNPIsMQEkJfcQPO4l0LV944j6qnU-7SWuBtemMwrqLl0DvnolYFKiRemjW_whGUx3hrR__08W3VLUFwCiYUaj7-SQiBwf_YSaScbKJDmBFMEKKd22Ht4w9HMQ/s2048/IMG_2418.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4baRGUnxqK57lo4S1c_DNPIsMQEkJfcQPO4l0LV944j6qnU-7SWuBtemMwrqLl0DvnolYFKiRemjW_whGUx3hrR__08W3VLUFwCiYUaj7-SQiBwf_YSaScbKJDmBFMEKKd22Ht4w9HMQ/w640-h480/IMG_2418.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The cottage at Tukituki Flat</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYJXS3LyrPbv8Y2szxvkybQ0gzyQ8e-dGbOIjkPqPTvBJhCJUhNLMfOw6a0UEH4fAu3uaSzxyXAnpIUAvLdxe54Op2WuD0eveUHiIll4Be695i5d09hyMdXP0tVxcMC0JROL1zrcIiB0/s2048/IMG_2421.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYJXS3LyrPbv8Y2szxvkybQ0gzyQ8e-dGbOIjkPqPTvBJhCJUhNLMfOw6a0UEH4fAu3uaSzxyXAnpIUAvLdxe54Op2WuD0eveUHiIll4Be695i5d09hyMdXP0tVxcMC0JROL1zrcIiB0/w640-h480/IMG_2421.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The view from the cottage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
owner welcomed us and told us that the riverside cycle trail ran just past their
gate. Being aware that it would be raining again some time later that day, we thought
we might go for a bike ride that afternoon. But while we were still having our
coffee, we heard rumbling thunder in the distance, and before long, it started
to rain. In fact, it was quite a thunder storm – flashes of lightning, thunder
and heavy rain. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
rain did not last too long, and at 6:30 we set out towards Havelock North in
search of some dinner. Our cottage, at Tukituki, was about half-way between Black
Bridge (near Clive) and Red Bridge (near Havelock North). Havelock was more or
less across the Tukituki River from us, but we had to drive to one of the
bridges to get across – quite a distance. At the end of Moore Road, we turned right, towards Red Bridge. We had biked here on <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2013/12/hawkes-bay-cucle-trails-day-3.html " target="_blank">our very first cycling trip</a>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with the original (non-electric) folders.
That was a 50 km ride, up and down hills. Now, driving that route, I was amazed
that I had actually biked that on a non-e bike back then. It went on for miles,
and it was up and down, and up and down! Very pretty countryside, but wow! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* * * * * * * * * * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Monday -
It rained all night, and it was still raining when we got up. So we drove to
Napier and went to the Museum. We enjoyed looking at some very interesting
exhibitions – one about the 1931 earthquake, a good Māori section, some art collections,
and a quirky exhibit about the Māori alphabet, which I really enjoyed. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After
the Museum, we had planned to go into town to browse the shops and have lunch,
but it was still hosing down, and we didn’t want to wander around town getting
wet, so we headed back to the cottage, where we spent a pleasant afternoon
reading the books we’d got in Featherston, while the rain kept on coming down. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We thought
we might cut our losses and head home the next day. If it was still going to be
raining, there would be no biking, so no point in hanging around. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In the
evening we saw on TV that the relentless rain had caused </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/430190/flooding-in-napier-as-heavy-rain-sweeps-across-north-island" target="_blank">serious flooding</a> in parts of Napier<span style="color: black;">. Floods, slips, cars floating around in the streets, power cuts, flooded houses,
leaking roofs, and people having to be evacuated out of their homes. Napier had
more than more than four times the November average rainfall in one day – 237
mm! A good thing we didn’t stay in town!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* * * * * * * * * * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday
– Surprise, surprise! We woke to a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight. So we
did not pack up and go home. Instead, we went for a bike ride, leaving at 8:30
am! We took our parkas in a panier – just in case it decided to rain again, but
they were not needed. We got onto the trail at the end of the driveway. Through
orchards, past vineyards, and fields planted in beautiful rows with something I
could not identify – pumpkins perhaps? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTT-xrlZUczMs6rNlxplZNbRYSLw1lIdF-Rhr0Nt6YxEfYTGlsRDupWhPYEGgXPEoejxcxPCtlF4mFvnPANb_JtGSRAX11RuGR9qvQhdL0vpqLEXGmNLmIb4e-AGVcnP9JYa53f4gmzg/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4718.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTT-xrlZUczMs6rNlxplZNbRYSLw1lIdF-Rhr0Nt6YxEfYTGlsRDupWhPYEGgXPEoejxcxPCtlF4mFvnPANb_JtGSRAX11RuGR9qvQhdL0vpqLEXGmNLmIb4e-AGVcnP9JYa53f4gmzg/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4718.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Beautiful rows of vegetables (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
track took us through several gates, where there were puddles – John put his
foot in the middle of one, without even noticing it, until I mentioned it! The
track itself seemed not to have suffered from the deluge of the previous day.
The lime sand seems to drain well. As we got closer to the coast, and the
wetlands, there were flooded paddocks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrXEz5slEkdeU-sP1OsZvSZB98SQP3OJg7rzRhAevXepjlaqXpSIY7aaUVqhIVMtzew9hM6YCZ2yiTAOlcpKE5n-5jh5HAd714YG1Nu55qNAnWJptekKOAghhgNpAjmV1cbmekSTztaU/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4716.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrXEz5slEkdeU-sP1OsZvSZB98SQP3OJg7rzRhAevXepjlaqXpSIY7aaUVqhIVMtzew9hM6YCZ2yiTAOlcpKE5n-5jh5HAd714YG1Nu55qNAnWJptekKOAghhgNpAjmV1cbmekSTztaU/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4716.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There were puddles near the
gates, but not many on the tracks (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPrJJ5YOlwcvrQWEjnKV7Slpivoyd0laU4DC6j7k-ovC6YzkmukbHDzGlM2QTxqOlFuS6nh6i23rmgXsO3CkPIqhh4u58LtB0fhnXEfT54qm-2wUPLZEOJp2yvGmEBfmcbRVYLSoKWmg/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4719.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPrJJ5YOlwcvrQWEjnKV7Slpivoyd0laU4DC6j7k-ovC6YzkmukbHDzGlM2QTxqOlFuS6nh6i23rmgXsO3CkPIqhh4u58LtB0fhnXEfT54qm-2wUPLZEOJp2yvGmEBfmcbRVYLSoKWmg/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4719.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Flooded paddocks (photo by
John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We came
to the wetlands leading to Haumoana, and rode along the foreshore,
through Te Awanga, and ended up at Clifton, at the start of the Cape Kidnappers
beach track – which is now not useable because of some serious cliff collapses
onto the beach a few years ago. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzv-iwphARyIYvKhiEHHfXmxEpoJtnKYdTfe_mz06VGEx1vIfiRJj08kcBh2RHoQJMtrUBZJhadhDRAr9mr8lBkgh7U-ELapSRpAXCc8bV1PtiU4ijFrFH8L52tsD0DcmF0SNmielkQ/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_5444.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzv-iwphARyIYvKhiEHHfXmxEpoJtnKYdTfe_mz06VGEx1vIfiRJj08kcBh2RHoQJMtrUBZJhadhDRAr9mr8lBkgh7U-ELapSRpAXCc8bV1PtiU4ijFrFH8L52tsD0DcmF0SNmielkQ/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_5444.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Cape Kidnappers (photo by
John) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCcr62o_CY8W_HTHI8AZALwB-ZJEb0e1EZy4Hg7LWLLjpe9-xwOPZTdsLbEUNdsN3W-hB_XQJZ19FlszFHfwttvwfuJeyWfnw5VYG2lLO8AHNRfe36TL2pITo88tad49vrWE70AkAiUM/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_5445.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCcr62o_CY8W_HTHI8AZALwB-ZJEb0e1EZy4Hg7LWLLjpe9-xwOPZTdsLbEUNdsN3W-hB_XQJZ19FlszFHfwttvwfuJeyWfnw5VYG2lLO8AHNRfe36TL2pITo88tad49vrWE70AkAiUM/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_5445.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The view towards Napier (photo
by John) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We stopped
for coffee and scones at the café. It was lovely, sunny and warm, though John
chose to sit in the shade of a brolly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtWciiMeh-vb7YbM1p-AO1fdIB4XGe_VTukRxbGX_-L6NPkQypk1hntQ2DIY7HCBFLWJADDlRCXpXsvfWllr0X7-RDCDl00xm6rha1CrQMMAAdr900QV0z_emr1qn9DO_ewaZ2NwGL40/s2048/IMG_2436.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtWciiMeh-vb7YbM1p-AO1fdIB4XGe_VTukRxbGX_-L6NPkQypk1hntQ2DIY7HCBFLWJADDlRCXpXsvfWllr0X7-RDCDl00xm6rha1CrQMMAAdr900QV0z_emr1qn9DO_ewaZ2NwGL40/w640-h480/IMG_2436.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Coffee and scones at Café Hygge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIHLWVU0DXzl6fW56GJYXH4IayDOfR_Dyfroqv3OVRiEa3Ev6vZkbfZ5wURG7hUA73eXUYcD1i1L7Q_946LojZ2DJmt6qC9N0n68CB7PevoGked2qL8oF6n1f85zHox_HTMPYfVETZGk/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_5442.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIHLWVU0DXzl6fW56GJYXH4IayDOfR_Dyfroqv3OVRiEa3Ev6vZkbfZ5wURG7hUA73eXUYcD1i1L7Q_946LojZ2DJmt6qC9N0n68CB7PevoGked2qL8oF6n1f85zHox_HTMPYfVETZGk/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_5442.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The view from the café (photo
by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After a
pleasant break, we returned to the cottage the way we had come. We were back at
the cottage by midday, having biked 34 km. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Sk49Ejy-MzONVL90DBWd3rEYsySEEQclxAJ_oVqVslUB17fwZ7aPTJWRqmz6QLEQ17va5oIX37b9s54Ca6O3jOcYMqTC7wxFr8w8oa0AvmVop9blqFEA3LiKahQ1HiqYbZJUDPPIKw/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4725.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Sk49Ejy-MzONVL90DBWd3rEYsySEEQclxAJ_oVqVslUB17fwZ7aPTJWRqmz6QLEQ17va5oIX37b9s54Ca6O3jOcYMqTC7wxFr8w8oa0AvmVop9blqFEA3LiKahQ1HiqYbZJUDPPIKw/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4725.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">John liked these drifts of purple weeds – Viper’s bugloss, I think (photo
by John) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVFl0WzkZBK6ZVvD6VkRLFvM8mmp6UitAhyphenhyphenm3EnMCIHvNRobPyg_z4gYTVVPwb0D42nfzIcoBjCENf8rPAhviJoNYu78iALsjAWyzQVKxpQp8ShRfme-vXCa4myCzRGrcWS7oCj9xZzw/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4727.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVFl0WzkZBK6ZVvD6VkRLFvM8mmp6UitAhyphenhyphenm3EnMCIHvNRobPyg_z4gYTVVPwb0D42nfzIcoBjCENf8rPAhviJoNYu78iALsjAWyzQVKxpQp8ShRfme-vXCa4myCzRGrcWS7oCj9xZzw/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4727.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The driveway to the cottage (photo
by John) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Back at
the cottage, the view of the Tukituki River was quite changed from two days ago
– the water level was much higher, and came further up the banks, and it ran
much more swiftly, as a result of all that rain. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_LGISdb-wb_fKVuJQw9Ailr2h-Qc_LL-OoXRWEQMA_snuc7j92C3ZPwB-1l-l9fBlRqDLzekw0JYFAENYt7VLMVtV4kapSCiv7XPtvyzekZnOs757yoA95OTrixHE2VM9U5WntEK-iI/s2048/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4732.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_LGISdb-wb_fKVuJQw9Ailr2h-Qc_LL-OoXRWEQMA_snuc7j92C3ZPwB-1l-l9fBlRqDLzekw0JYFAENYt7VLMVtV4kapSCiv7XPtvyzekZnOs757yoA95OTrixHE2VM9U5WntEK-iI/w640-h426/20201110HawkesBayTripIMG_4732.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Impressive clouds were
building up again in the afternoon (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
spent the afternoon reading, and the next day, we headed home. It had been a
nice break, despite all the rain. </span>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style> <br /></p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-30071471307151976092021-04-05T18:18:00.025+12:002022-02-09T02:08:12.308+13:002020 – The year of Covid-19<p>
</p><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The last time I
posted a story on this blog was in November 2019 – 16 months ago. Much of that
time has been rather uninteresting with regard to cycling. Of course, there was
COVID-19 in 2020 and the resulting lockdown, during which nobody got to go
anywhere. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">We had planned
a trip to Central Otago, and booked an <a href="https://puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz/bike-tours-nz/around-the-mountains-cycle-trail/">“Around
the Mountains”</a> tour with Pure Trails for April 2020, but of course, sadly,
that was cancelled because of the lockdown. It was a tour I had really wanted
to do for some time, and we were hugely disappointed when it didn’t eventuate.
We thought of booking the same tour again for April this year (because I love
the autumn colours in Central Otago), but for various reasons, we decided
against it, and it turns out that was the right call. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Since then, we
have had two trips away which involved some cycling, one to Hawke’s Bay in November
2020, and one to Whanganui in February 2021, and I will write up those trips separately.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">But apart from
these, we’ve only done local rides, which are not worth reporting on separately.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">However, some
rides have resulted in interesting photos, so this post is a bit of a summary
of the last 16 months. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>* * * * * *
* * * * * * </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">In December
2019, I attended the annual Scottish Country Dancing Summer School (yes, I am
still heavily involved in SCD), which was held in Cambridge. Our accommodation
was at St Peter’s School, which is right by the Avantidrome and the cycle trail
alongside the Waikato River – part of Te Awa cycle trail. Our daily classes
were in the Cambridge township, a 5 km ride from the school.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">A great
opportunity to do some cycling, as well as dancing, so a friend and I took
along our folding bikes (she borrowed John’s), and biked to class each day. On
the first day, we had a bit of trouble finding the entrance to the cycle track,
which turned out to be tucked in behind the Velodrome. The start of it is
a glorious descent down to almost river level. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsSu9WFV98rXj-J4o8nn4mYwGUu5TT8q7Ybu9lPxhkLTksTEMqqwRGKFEVpwx8akwIVOy8lKD4vw_tzhhhshGvEOTQR61UjltKBoGnndNb7c2AxXI4_WDwcKL8kPR3X6oPNh09OAlr_k/s2048/IMG_2260.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsSu9WFV98rXj-J4o8nn4mYwGUu5TT8q7Ybu9lPxhkLTksTEMqqwRGKFEVpwx8akwIVOy8lKD4vw_tzhhhshGvEOTQR61UjltKBoGnndNb7c2AxXI4_WDwcKL8kPR3X6oPNh09OAlr_k/w423-h564/IMG_2260.jpeg" width="423" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Overlooking the Waikato River, from the Te Awa cycle trail</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">It was quite
exhilarating to zoom down the winding track, which flattened out after a long
downhill. Little ups and downs along the way went through farmland, with some
cattle and lots of pukekos. But at the back of my mind was the thought “we went
down such a long way, we will have to start climbing soon”. And so it was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">I usually ride
an e-bike because I am not good at climbing hills. But we had brought the
non-electric bikes, so I would have to rely on my own internal motor and
leg-power to get me up the hill. As we approached the town, I could see that it
was a long way above us, and that I would definitely have trouble getting up
the hill. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The road up to
town level was relatively short, but steep! I think I managed to pedal up for
about three metres, before I stalled and had to walk the rest of the way. But
even walking and pushing my bike was a mission. I maintain that I am a Dutchie,
and was never designed to climb up hills! My friend managed fine, and patiently
waited for me to come huffing and puffing up the hill. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">After a physical,
hard-working class, we had the prospect of biking back. Knowing that the lovely
long downhill at the St Peter’s end would translate into a horribly long uphill
slog going back, we were not keen to go back the way we came. So we found our
way to the main road, and biked home along the flat! (you can read more about
it <a href="https://www.johnsonvillescd.org.nz/2020/04/14/cycling-summer-school-2020/">here</a>, as I was asked to write about it for our club website.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>* * * * * * * *
* * * *<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">In February
2020, we biked from Mana to Pauatahanui, along the Camborne Walkway and Te Ara
Piko, which skirts the Pauatahanui Inlet. There is/was a section between the
end of the Camborne Walkway and Motukaraka Point where one has to ride on the
road – Grays Road – which can be reasonably busy with cars going quite fast. We
were delighted on this ride to find that a <a href="https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1902/S00356/te-ara-piko-takes-a-big-step-towards-milestone.htm">new
section</a> of the track had been completed. The 400 m section before Motukaraka
meant that cyclists could avoid the narrowest and most hazardous part of riding
on the road. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb2blNADGfsuEm83507oyJ82f9p35qAu4NI1bvVeBtKxDy1bkcgEdP6sgjq1fV0P0N6RC-k5pg9dX_w58o_gHSmj24WhcPLHcfNG8H3qlLqfeC7wlyuKKEJ3xGUT1G_KjKRPT0subSmQ/s2048/IMG_5351.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb2blNADGfsuEm83507oyJ82f9p35qAu4NI1bvVeBtKxDy1bkcgEdP6sgjq1fV0P0N6RC-k5pg9dX_w58o_gHSmj24WhcPLHcfNG8H3qlLqfeC7wlyuKKEJ3xGUT1G_KjKRPT0subSmQ/w640-h426/IMG_5351.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">The new part of Te Ara Piko <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(photo by
John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICf0XDCdbM3feTF2qCsbk0iSu3o7tCyj-vj2W1uJgvYW-aVes8zbylbg-dQyaOIaCst8ysXyq5jel8jg1fBdjXZKLG3xOTfPWTLFsCCjevSwWm7H6929-38BIVIEgu3cE0aIpWhvl-CU/s2048/IMG_5352.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICf0XDCdbM3feTF2qCsbk0iSu3o7tCyj-vj2W1uJgvYW-aVes8zbylbg-dQyaOIaCst8ysXyq5jel8jg1fBdjXZKLG3xOTfPWTLFsCCjevSwWm7H6929-38BIVIEgu3cE0aIpWhvl-CU/w640-h426/IMG_5352.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Te Ara Piko – looking towards Motukaraka Point (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">There is a lovely
section that takes riders on a boardwalk through the wetlands, and avoids the narrow
road bridge, which was always a bit dodgy to negotiate if there was a lot of
traffic. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBNmhMoJ5eDMGr0evdEskZEPP6PpT29UhzG0t2_NljW0k9vz9PNvqMWcVAXrjxrzVm4LWdjzAo1l09iSsA2pndA3oj-ikxT8V-tR1qfuNO_KAymsYI127-kooYpkGL9eypAaT8hSCWXk/s2048/CD37A8FE-8FC5-4554-9C87-82AEFC36B427.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBNmhMoJ5eDMGr0evdEskZEPP6PpT29UhzG0t2_NljW0k9vz9PNvqMWcVAXrjxrzVm4LWdjzAo1l09iSsA2pndA3oj-ikxT8V-tR1qfuNO_KAymsYI127-kooYpkGL9eypAaT8hSCWXk/w640-h426/CD37A8FE-8FC5-4554-9C87-82AEFC36B427.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"> A new boardwalk section of Te Ara Piko (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">This is an ongoing
joint project between Porirua City and Plimmerton Rotary. A year later, in
February 2021, we again rode this track, and found that yet another section had
been completed, from the end of the Camborne walkway, alongside Grays Road.
There is now only <a href="https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/news/te-ara-piko-pathway-almost-complete/?fbclid=IwAR26FJobHXgf6obltf8V4QsClK6hB1HUq01D_dDkfAoFv2O30a4dgut0LT0">another
500 metres</a> to complete the whole track. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VXlrd8j7si6XIiXIVvvo-zK8U06wI43ND-f6pUluBpPO-IJCM3hzymUCs-O-MHE0sWzNhIwrH1zkaQDoow4tCAdr2TBDkFq7z3qWKlQR8wRs_C1Wg4EoAtqJ6p-tuaGye2T4loeGHLA/s2048/IMG_2554.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VXlrd8j7si6XIiXIVvvo-zK8U06wI43ND-f6pUluBpPO-IJCM3hzymUCs-O-MHE0sWzNhIwrH1zkaQDoow4tCAdr2TBDkFq7z3qWKlQR8wRs_C1Wg4EoAtqJ6p-tuaGye2T4loeGHLA/w640-h480/IMG_2554.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Te Ara Piko – much better than biking on the road! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgsuNhbESYob9GvSJzRTu9Hv-6lOQnnv10cN545-jCUA2WvAC6g_XRBlPfIojJ9_h9HfxG6_31uj0hdnsiLte4MrMe5NYIIaipbYPjr58_Fu2OVjsBdKBPRlJLMSXCCDgoNZR5-aGwmE/s2048/F5DF2E68-3641-4AA4-8072-F2F1FA10E8FC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgsuNhbESYob9GvSJzRTu9Hv-6lOQnnv10cN545-jCUA2WvAC6g_XRBlPfIojJ9_h9HfxG6_31uj0hdnsiLte4MrMe5NYIIaipbYPjr58_Fu2OVjsBdKBPRlJLMSXCCDgoNZR5-aGwmE/w640-h426/F5DF2E68-3641-4AA4-8072-F2F1FA10E8FC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">The latest part of Te Ara Piko –
Camborne Walkway end (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>* * * * * * * *
* * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">7 March 2020 –
A bike ride we do quite frequently is Te Ara Tawa, which goes from the Takapu Road
train station to Porirua. On this occasion we found a pipe band practising their
bagpipes on the lawn below the Bucket Tree Lodge. As this was around the time
that people were becoming aware of a nasty virus looming, John thought that playing
bagpipes was a good means of keeping ‘social distance’.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QdcrWbpcmTSV6KiBSmIUEhw3Kizx-Gv65TnMYywyR9Le89LqhTsGjgZgu5u7rODcF_FYwMVy_rzjxeozDb-RCQCn26t6MdewfwEIMDzeNCTSjlyAf3oUzPw9kEN8Y_3-dZ4-LNfbaO4/s2048/IMG_4497.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QdcrWbpcmTSV6KiBSmIUEhw3Kizx-Gv65TnMYywyR9Le89LqhTsGjgZgu5u7rODcF_FYwMVy_rzjxeozDb-RCQCn26t6MdewfwEIMDzeNCTSjlyAf3oUzPw9kEN8Y_3-dZ4-LNfbaO4/w640-h386/IMG_4497.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Practising bagpipes in the park (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB">On 18 March, we did what turned out to be
our last bike ride before NZ went into Covid Alert Level 4 – total lockdown. We
biked </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">from Oriental Parade to
Shelly Bay, for lunch at the Chocolate Fish, then carried on around the peninsula
to Seatoun. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It was
a gorgeous day, and while biking along, I was thinking that even if we were all
going to have to self-isolate, we would still be able to go for bike rides so
long as we didn’t go close to others, and though we might not be able to go to
a café, we could just take a thermos of coffee and something to eat instead. How
different things turned out to be. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NUmqRK0urFvDe_fgwLfjrX58NRNkOVjQnpZKphfhMAqfOdnG4I9fOz9cYkwljLbR-8cqwxVXuy2XQu3IZl-cflQ79p9eN5hbtMNUtWPMS8WQbeRbgT_XGjp-cYsXlx80-TJYT-G0S0M/s2048/P1070772.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NUmqRK0urFvDe_fgwLfjrX58NRNkOVjQnpZKphfhMAqfOdnG4I9fOz9cYkwljLbR-8cqwxVXuy2XQu3IZl-cflQ79p9eN5hbtMNUtWPMS8WQbeRbgT_XGjp-cYsXlx80-TJYT-G0S0M/w640-h426/P1070772.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I was thinking we would still be able to bike, even if it came to
having to ‘self-isolate’ (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At that
time, a new cycle track was being built from Oriental Bay to Evans Bay. It was looking
good, though some sections were not yet completed (and at the time of writing,
it is still not completely done). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsmoqWSKF4mR4tiEfH-c-D8d0XoXYy6JIoqWNLyQPeLjLrZcTNHN62k4gW0Q8jMkxH7uObXw2_jQTl8WUS6DKZmrx5iNq7vZW_BjiXjbScwVpLO95IbqCdFVk1i6457keedkjTKktxpc/s2048/P1070749.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsmoqWSKF4mR4tiEfH-c-D8d0XoXYy6JIoqWNLyQPeLjLrZcTNHN62k4gW0Q8jMkxH7uObXw2_jQTl8WUS6DKZmrx5iNq7vZW_BjiXjbScwVpLO95IbqCdFVk1i6457keedkjTKktxpc/w640-h426/P1070749.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The first bit after Oriental Parade had been completed … (photo
by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1fqQbpnmlfx520O4mjSQiAJhqodyBtVTaBqrphUQ3g6t8oNy5ZiDabmRIyFyC6nxO1IG17eZA_RLpx9Nd0AL5cfOi0l9dB2GNYJX1xGUFP0qZOk10kbKxPvJBdLIaWdoI3l7Xm4W308/s2048/P1070750.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1fqQbpnmlfx520O4mjSQiAJhqodyBtVTaBqrphUQ3g6t8oNy5ZiDabmRIyFyC6nxO1IG17eZA_RLpx9Nd0AL5cfOi0l9dB2GNYJX1xGUFP0qZOk10kbKxPvJBdLIaWdoI3l7Xm4W308/w640-h426/P1070750.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>… but the next bit was
still a work in progress (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Improvements
were also being made to the cycle track along Cobham Drive. The existing shared
walking and cycling track was being widened, and a separate walking path
installed, with gardens to separate the two. As a project, it has taken a long
time to complete, as it was only <a href="https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2021/03/cobham-drive-to-open">officially
opened</a> a few weeks ago. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsZY4BUBQJA6_LCNHXyPzG8lQ_h7je4bFWEH0DT8i5pCjCBD5siB4PtLR5I7sU9ZyRwbOGoBCc-FXpVHoEZeVAIVEYuamQ1IMPAO8X9j70tCCVVcRxb2EO0Rd_LZ9nZxaPLmfzHFDAhc/s2048/P1070755.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsZY4BUBQJA6_LCNHXyPzG8lQ_h7je4bFWEH0DT8i5pCjCBD5siB4PtLR5I7sU9ZyRwbOGoBCc-FXpVHoEZeVAIVEYuamQ1IMPAO8X9j70tCCVVcRxb2EO0Rd_LZ9nZxaPLmfzHFDAhc/w640-h426/P1070755.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The improved track along Cobham Drive (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>* * * * * * * *
* * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And so,
<b>on 25 March 2020, NZ went into lockdown</b>. At Alert Level 4, we were expected to
stay home, and only go out for essential shopping, and for ‘exercise’ – walking
or cycling – but we were expected to stay in our immediate neighbourhood. Amazingly,
most of NZ complied – later being called “the team of five million” by our Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern, when she thanked NZ for pulling together during the
lockdown. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijewNW7htwlLomlwa5YPrEb12h7fopg6Ts7YQJmS8j6U8CtfodhZsGrDw7prlRvj8uJeGnARt8nZCZKxhqZNOIqNtper9mxdr4gs80Zv0kKZB-lr2uSHFB8I9GmTclpszUTu0Pe5T-JKA/s356/together+we+can.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="141" data-original-width="356" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijewNW7htwlLomlwa5YPrEb12h7fopg6Ts7YQJmS8j6U8CtfodhZsGrDw7prlRvj8uJeGnARt8nZCZKxhqZNOIqNtper9mxdr4gs80Zv0kKZB-lr2uSHFB8I9GmTclpszUTu0Pe5T-JKA/w640-h254/together+we+can.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many government posters<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We only
cycled a few times during this time – just around our suburb, of course. We
could not do our usual suburb ride – going down to Thyme Café on Middleton Road
– since it was closed, so we rode into the new part of Churton Park, which is ever
expanding.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY7KYaFfQqTb7S1jBpTuR6v5uFW34iCnVy0xJtKUquN3VkGOP9xtidy0pgpYY6Iop-jDimHAgTrnoqCG4PAx0mr8jR2D8yFo3ZGrOAK6xjGk_hU-YFhTyrop2lrg0vpDeDegUJPR-MPw/s2048/P1070815.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY7KYaFfQqTb7S1jBpTuR6v5uFW34iCnVy0xJtKUquN3VkGOP9xtidy0pgpYY6Iop-jDimHAgTrnoqCG4PAx0mr8jR2D8yFo3ZGrOAK6xjGk_hU-YFhTyrop2lrg0vpDeDegUJPR-MPw/w640-h426/P1070815.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">New areas being developed on Melksham Drive (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc1xf6eVV0UW13lH4GBJ_p4RWF_6Z5fA7vl6t4CJemm2BZlgBg0nwdKQ-B_GyULj8f4fQg9b0Se9g821LIdFsZdnsSnl4guY_gLaSDbjOFZC4HKeYU6MCjGHrkb2DLz7hoYNFUfHInmY/s2048/P1070817.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc1xf6eVV0UW13lH4GBJ_p4RWF_6Z5fA7vl6t4CJemm2BZlgBg0nwdKQ-B_GyULj8f4fQg9b0Se9g821LIdFsZdnsSnl4guY_gLaSDbjOFZC4HKeYU6MCjGHrkb2DLz7hoYNFUfHInmY/w640-h426/P1070817.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> The hillside has been carved up for more future roads and
housing (photo by John</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Stopping
at the supermarket on the way home was different. They were restricting
numbers, so John had to wait outside while I shopped. Fortunately, unlike at
other supermarkets, there were no queues to get into our local. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB59jacxzi-NeMbQx2ONbMisXVUfbFO9rERBn3upWcWgiLGPhYC6lIAUieh4wNMxIlf0hIdPIktSM2_wb2XtdNB6ld97WywJ3F4KOIA-L0rro_qrt-U4u8DkrjQ9-0fVsVU3CX26jaMk/s2048/P1070835.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB59jacxzi-NeMbQx2ONbMisXVUfbFO9rERBn3upWcWgiLGPhYC6lIAUieh4wNMxIlf0hIdPIktSM2_wb2XtdNB6ld97WywJ3F4KOIA-L0rro_qrt-U4u8DkrjQ9-0fVsVU3CX26jaMk/w640-h426/P1070835.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The barrage of warning posters outside our local supermarket (photo
by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Instead
of biking, we mostly opted for walking around the neighbourhood. I am not
naturally a walker – I would much rather bike, which is easier on arthritic
feet – but it was a good way to discover parts of the suburb I had never been
to. And, like many other families, we counted teddy bears, displayed in windows,
cars and on fences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__CFax1PA2Ou0l3o7RTCgP03OkBQr5dB2LJdPvUJBX4wL3x8olzCCmyeU92IcG277liiFn7_xhlRSAK7_Vq1AYIu3hhaKsLPvr7b5ncgPAQl0n9gQP_PSWk9CcfkBvhZWvtsySpCepSE/s2048/IMG_2308.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__CFax1PA2Ou0l3o7RTCgP03OkBQr5dB2LJdPvUJBX4wL3x8olzCCmyeU92IcG277liiFn7_xhlRSAK7_Vq1AYIu3hhaKsLPvr7b5ncgPAQl0n9gQP_PSWk9CcfkBvhZWvtsySpCepSE/w480-h640/IMG_2308.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">One of the ‘bears’ (koala bear) tacked to a lamppost<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-Ims09bZJwwJsrQk6KjmEImvuO69CqxXxTZxPLeg273OzgxzvFMiTWf1z_4AsGHBMtJ6TdurzANbrRL2l4OsD5VJnKWtOa-I8Z1NZLtj4SE655z3nmzzVxGYH2-C7c1PWujWq9-b5j0/s2048/IMG_2312.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-Ims09bZJwwJsrQk6KjmEImvuO69CqxXxTZxPLeg273OzgxzvFMiTWf1z_4AsGHBMtJ6TdurzANbrRL2l4OsD5VJnKWtOa-I8Z1NZLtj4SE655z3nmzzVxGYH2-C7c1PWujWq9-b5j0/w640-h480/IMG_2312.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Bears on a fence</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IS6Dbhs1e4qnnofJ8sDZleE_cJmx468QOk3sRPzNv8jlqVA6xA8B8cR8cQ688W_Veloaf93j3jgyLnuqvk43So3JMZqT-ymcn8JteWxMDNZyf_Rw61d5BjcWC2OtIB8-eeQ5b3U5ng4/s2048/IMG_4532.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IS6Dbhs1e4qnnofJ8sDZleE_cJmx468QOk3sRPzNv8jlqVA6xA8B8cR8cQ688W_Veloaf93j3jgyLnuqvk43So3JMZqT-ymcn8JteWxMDNZyf_Rw61d5BjcWC2OtIB8-eeQ5b3U5ng4/w640-h426/IMG_4532.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">We had no teddy bears in the house, but we displayed what we had in our
window (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjq5tunGeTHrioNHEiQfyvO-uKFO875IpPZkiumY11XSNPlwU8C20pD9PAkr-60M_UfDyVvOm_jcWBYKDHsrfXhVNYR_hvnd_QA8yrRLPeqNeadi_2nsuNxBG_F6RdK7AEzUUPabOHHw/s2048/IMG_2311.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjq5tunGeTHrioNHEiQfyvO-uKFO875IpPZkiumY11XSNPlwU8C20pD9PAkr-60M_UfDyVvOm_jcWBYKDHsrfXhVNYR_hvnd_QA8yrRLPeqNeadi_2nsuNxBG_F6RdK7AEzUUPabOHHw/w640-h480/IMG_2311.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Schools and playgrounds were closed </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">After five
weeks of full lockdown, the alert was dropped to Level 3, which meant we were
able to go a little bit further afield, while still keeping to our ‘bubble’. So
on 28 April, we biked from Tawa to Porirua, stopping to sit on the steps of the
still closed <a href="https://www.getfixedbicycles.co.nz/">Get Fixed Bicycle Café</a>
to eat some chocolate we had brought along. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cEi92dgMBeEsolhpbv9q6AoejcgCXozx6_Vmzie9w0e-oZ5A8EAjnaMSdOgqtBk5shc26QlPaQGLrNgKoC1OupJooTtxUa2qdxALIu80-32v1317DWCmP-Bf-QdGWiRd-2ZjaIVuqL4/s2048/IMG_4552.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cEi92dgMBeEsolhpbv9q6AoejcgCXozx6_Vmzie9w0e-oZ5A8EAjnaMSdOgqtBk5shc26QlPaQGLrNgKoC1OupJooTtxUa2qdxALIu80-32v1317DWCmP-Bf-QdGWiRd-2ZjaIVuqL4/w640-h426/IMG_4552.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Get Fixed Café was still closed during Level 3 (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">This lovely
little café by the water’s edge of Porirua harbour, was housed in a shipping
container, with a nice outside area provided with seats and beanbags on the
lawn and lots of children’s ride-on toys to keep family groups happy. Of course
during lockdown it was quiet, but still a nice place to stop.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1SYWvB0rpyPHMCjCwz0767kFLuat6M-gIcz8GxXSB6v7VXDtUZHVdZ3w5SRNljbEmQ-b86vGXRo_LPA5-vPRy33uhdwvoIgGaxkXzPp_D0HAcbgWCx1qWxnuq045lwlJOYjrs-e8tgA/s2048/64271D2E-41A1-4E44-939D-9554EBBAEA8B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1SYWvB0rpyPHMCjCwz0767kFLuat6M-gIcz8GxXSB6v7VXDtUZHVdZ3w5SRNljbEmQ-b86vGXRo_LPA5-vPRy33uhdwvoIgGaxkXzPp_D0HAcbgWCx1qWxnuq045lwlJOYjrs-e8tgA/w640-h480/64271D2E-41A1-4E44-939D-9554EBBAEA8B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Get Fixed Café in September 2020 (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Since then, the Porirua Council has made the café move about 100 meters further up the
track, where it is now an expanded café, made up of several containers, with a
larger kitchen, somewhere to sit inside as well as a larger deck, and heaps more
space outside. We enjoy going there for a coffee and something to eat. They
have an interesting menu, but we usually just go for something like a muffin or
brownie. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFhxLdWuoV_yx1rIomAqY4zYu2ZNeFN3RVr2HjdFYlrag5FzUDuNh9Rwg_AHTnpF6PYpUXsyFLx_CtD8hme0RwtBihexk6Gd0zyDqfpffwDnFW5HHC4dJr6lVnQ0E1umddoXQkgbyaPE/s2048/AEC60D35-A8F0-4698-9223-22F5438FCD83.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFhxLdWuoV_yx1rIomAqY4zYu2ZNeFN3RVr2HjdFYlrag5FzUDuNh9Rwg_AHTnpF6PYpUXsyFLx_CtD8hme0RwtBihexk6Gd0zyDqfpffwDnFW5HHC4dJr6lVnQ0E1umddoXQkgbyaPE/w640-h426/AEC60D35-A8F0-4698-9223-22F5438FCD83.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">By January 2021, the expanded Get Fixed Café had moved to a new spot (photo
by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9_jLxblPVJnIKCgz8NTQzH5jK8T-rVKjnCJjTabEGetvIznz0xZhMz1TE6Bds09PXACkjbFtj_LTRC9Za1zRhuCzAYxg7p33Qw_NyeT32RJSkMgMuSfh1qdarcv0IIyF3AKoIUY_cHo/s2048/EA5C54BA-F65B-40C7-B805-586C68835FEB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9_jLxblPVJnIKCgz8NTQzH5jK8T-rVKjnCJjTabEGetvIznz0xZhMz1TE6Bds09PXACkjbFtj_LTRC9Za1zRhuCzAYxg7p33Qw_NyeT32RJSkMgMuSfh1qdarcv0IIyF3AKoIUY_cHo/w640-h426/EA5C54BA-F65B-40C7-B805-586C68835FEB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">View from the deck of the Get Fixed Café (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">On 14 May, the
country moved down to Alert Level 2, meaning that we could now go for a much
longer ride, and cafés were allowed to open again. Yay! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB">I had read that the Chocolate Fish Café in
Shelly Bay was open for business, so we </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">drove to Oriental Pde, and biked to the café and back. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At the
café, we had to check in first – someone took down our names and phone number,
then took us to a table inside. They had spread out the tables, and had a limited
menu. It wasn’t as busy as I thought it might have been, which was good. The
woman serving us, who seemed to be the owner, said that they had been able to
use the lockdown period to paint the place inside and out, and deep clean and
paint the kitchen. They don’t often get such an opportunity to do that when the
place is open seven days a week. We had coffee and scones, which were very
nice. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1JOHUYteX5hrsklfV3MA0DdQU5j4WNUuLi7NwR5E8rIU6yGgWoCy79FhPd5s33gYipDI5Mi0cTRVfxvfVmxRCisXDYUYodreq8Dv6516ceSckzizLiNjzQnTLXzW7vOCvcOWS3uytxw/s2048/IMG_4572.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1JOHUYteX5hrsklfV3MA0DdQU5j4WNUuLi7NwR5E8rIU6yGgWoCy79FhPd5s33gYipDI5Mi0cTRVfxvfVmxRCisXDYUYodreq8Dv6516ceSckzizLiNjzQnTLXzW7vOCvcOWS3uytxw/w640-h426/IMG_4572.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We had to sign in first … (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yBKeU8N9Vow9aVKel8AuAnBKl61h65R9Ocdvy5IkigVhAst1gyxyMuZiKspMdD1J2eEr3y_cBw98K-LHH-asgZaixI0nLaOi1XuW3d3G_KPrVha8MN4hln8iszEi-Z_qQQY2LfTNfUo/s2048/IMG_4575.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yBKeU8N9Vow9aVKel8AuAnBKl61h65R9Ocdvy5IkigVhAst1gyxyMuZiKspMdD1J2eEr3y_cBw98K-LHH-asgZaixI0nLaOi1XuW3d3G_KPrVha8MN4hln8iszEi-Z_qQQY2LfTNfUo/w640-h426/IMG_4575.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">… before we could have our first post-lockdown proper coffee.
Bliss! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">On 8 June,
NZ moved down to alert level 1, effectively ending the lockdown period, but we
still had to remain vigilant, by keeping up with the ‘health hygiene measures’
and keeping track of where we had been, using a “Tracer App”. I got a new phone
for my birthday so that I could scan the tracer app code on it, as my old phone
couldn’t do that.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Since
then, life has pretty much returned to normal, or as normal as possible with
the threat of covid still ever present. But as a country, we are exceptionally lucky,
when we compare ourselves to other countries around the world, where they are
battling second and third waves of the virus and facing further lockdowns. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">On a
ride on the Hutt River trail in August, while we were having lunch at Janus
Bakery, we were reminded that things are not completely back to the pre-covid
days, when we noticed that there was a Covid testing clinic </span><span lang="EN-GB">at the medical centre </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">across
the road from the café. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNZpJGVuWTuKLZEJ4zLaEgUzN2Zn4UoVYL5xbStstD60gAmhNwUUR4kBxoKlsMm30a9_YYsVt3O3i0SdJfR5qe_Z7lLG0rCoHy33PypF9GHBaQC8HDn7U4v239HaJGlJjQxA98JteJOM/s2048/4BFF6703-FE45-4973-A52B-9BF70DA72537.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNZpJGVuWTuKLZEJ4zLaEgUzN2Zn4UoVYL5xbStstD60gAmhNwUUR4kBxoKlsMm30a9_YYsVt3O3i0SdJfR5qe_Z7lLG0rCoHy33PypF9GHBaQC8HDn7U4v239HaJGlJjQxA98JteJOM/w640-h426/4BFF6703-FE45-4973-A52B-9BF70DA72537.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Covid testing clinic on Lower Hutt’s High Street (photo by John)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>* * * * * * * *
* * * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The final entry
for this blog post is nothing to do with rides, or with covid lockdown, but it
is sort of related to cycling …</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">My sister and I
went to see an exhibition at Te Papa, called “Up Close”, of fabulous entries from
the World of Wearable Art. All of the entries were amazing in their designs and
imaginative use of unexpected materials. <br /></span></p><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZv6Xq1VZpQ_yL3ACiHQ2TPVqDVMedD-K0rv9Z8SJFyBpi456i7NMIKy-l25HMr62SYJyvjtvbHrqX88yI4Nuu0kNXBp1hIICx30V2win5wi6rhpbihZ2fB5jLgBmuPwbSfdx6guXW__w/s2048/IMG_2584.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZv6Xq1VZpQ_yL3ACiHQ2TPVqDVMedD-K0rv9Z8SJFyBpi456i7NMIKy-l25HMr62SYJyvjtvbHrqX88yI4Nuu0kNXBp1hIICx30V2win5wi6rhpbihZ2fB5jLgBmuPwbSfdx6guXW__w/w640-h480/IMG_2584.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">The UP CLOSE exhibition at Te Papa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">The exhibit that I want to feature
here was made entirely of bicycle inner tubes! Incredible. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The designer, <a href="https://www.worldofwearableart.com/2019/05/grace-duval-up-cycling-materials/">Grace
DuVal</a>, was the Supreme Award runner-up in 2017, with her entry entitled “Refuse
Refuge”. She had used inner tubes rescued from bike shop trash in her home city
Chicago. </span></p><span lang="EN-GB"></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJo5BNYjS7akWWyKRh7sv_irrmsz-GpzNDk100GyglFXmNvgWr_b811C3v3XIACusOIqEaruk55buly2CkWCTcjuVsAXzFTDlAwf2zjAas2vEonACldpBJNCLp0Hs2JbFpM2rkl1FgHA/s2048/IMG_2571.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJo5BNYjS7akWWyKRh7sv_irrmsz-GpzNDk100GyglFXmNvgWr_b811C3v3XIACusOIqEaruk55buly2CkWCTcjuVsAXzFTDlAwf2zjAas2vEonACldpBJNCLp0Hs2JbFpM2rkl1FgHA/w480-h640/IMG_2571.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>“Refuse Refuge”</i> by Grace DuVal</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4rHznsalhvPpZXciXBcLeaSX083HP5mO2XdlyZPQT1TWS0sGI1XKaKRHT6kLjlZ_9eD_0rZ4DOnQrvJE1K_z6QmIjcZsTtmDaT99tac446ucl_nsFIViYlN5cdxP-vkC0nZSUjUSuxs/s2048/IMG_2583.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4rHznsalhvPpZXciXBcLeaSX083HP5mO2XdlyZPQT1TWS0sGI1XKaKRHT6kLjlZ_9eD_0rZ4DOnQrvJE1K_z6QmIjcZsTtmDaT99tac446ucl_nsFIViYlN5cdxP-vkC0nZSUjUSuxs/w480-h640/IMG_2583.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Back view</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Xv0ZteAgm7vugpSvTbO0LCcuWBQZ-pkXTL73moMhUS4cx38uR83rB96CZ6kwNCIdFNM8DirM20qVPZ4iXhZcAZAyooZellEnlrWrsBfi7EbGbbmWuB5F1xZyjPEY7DyHJXXE3qQSwA/s2048/IMG_2570.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Xv0ZteAgm7vugpSvTbO0LCcuWBQZ-pkXTL73moMhUS4cx38uR83rB96CZ6kwNCIdFNM8DirM20qVPZ4iXhZcAZAyooZellEnlrWrsBfi7EbGbbmWuB5F1xZyjPEY7DyHJXXE3qQSwA/w640-h480/IMG_2570.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Such ingenious use of the tyre valves and wheel spokes <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPNyMfBETYsShGVOzXNRFVuIX7YmTXC-BNnKgWdBOuTQG9HY-sZn8uZZdkXtkMFHf819tbBAliXP9QUZponz_kYNDhHnmpHMukN2kcsWcBZ29gEk5xmXjsuY2QdE-l2tORRVzAs0Z6ig/s2048/IMG_2582.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPNyMfBETYsShGVOzXNRFVuIX7YmTXC-BNnKgWdBOuTQG9HY-sZn8uZZdkXtkMFHf819tbBAliXP9QUZponz_kYNDhHnmpHMukN2kcsWcBZ29gEk5xmXjsuY2QdE-l2tORRVzAs0Z6ig/w640-h480/IMG_2582.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Hard to believe that is made from bicycle inner tubes!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>* * * * * * * *
* * * *</span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style> <br /></p>Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-2330627099105700412019-11-24T16:14:00.004+13:002019-11-28T23:11:49.501+13:00Kapiti Coast ride <br />
On Wednesday last week (20 November), we went on a ride we have done many times before, but John took some interesting photos, so here we are with another blog. It promised to be a lovely warm day – or so the Met Office said – but it was still cool enough to need a jacket. This spring, Wellington has been several degrees cooler than elsewhere in NZ, making us feel hard done by … <br />
<br />
We parked in Paekakariki, had coffee and a scone, and set off down the Parade, along the waterfront, to make our way to the entrance of Te Ara O Whareroa, through Queen Elizabeth II Park. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQenr3xi1v5LDTcn6gMP36w5cSm9hbAjViiWtSZvTWUPmTq9IAGtNWsIJGPGPXuHByLwlHVaqa_6f8qxd1THZ3oTY9LRLZwl_NN-uGVkDlL4Qxga-gZhvpts6ddorX327wc1yQuiRZA7g/s1600/P1070642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQenr3xi1v5LDTcn6gMP36w5cSm9hbAjViiWtSZvTWUPmTq9IAGtNWsIJGPGPXuHByLwlHVaqa_6f8qxd1THZ3oTY9LRLZwl_NN-uGVkDlL4Qxga-gZhvpts6ddorX327wc1yQuiRZA7g/s400/P1070642.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the Parade at Paekakariki (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were surprised at how very brown the waves were, as they were rolling onto the beach. On other days when we’ve been here, the sea has looked a pristine bluish green. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabDU4qiwebKOzf8u-mIsjBCUY-3d_7q5eivXaFCdFxDq05QqmIMu_aLNfjM9bwoy1iHcbfCZuy_lDrGF77X41kd7jogf3GbtmruPQKIShd6WtxZqXszrLjKOmK8rKOfD_eEvWrfwv6bs/s1600/IMG_4399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabDU4qiwebKOzf8u-mIsjBCUY-3d_7q5eivXaFCdFxDq05QqmIMu_aLNfjM9bwoy1iHcbfCZuy_lDrGF77X41kd7jogf3GbtmruPQKIShd6WtxZqXszrLjKOmK8rKOfD_eEvWrfwv6bs/s640/IMG_4399.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waves were unusually brown (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On Te Ara O Whareroa, I was delighted to see, and smell, the flowering lupins. At this stage of their flowering, they exude a gorgeous sweet fragrance that you get whiffs of when you ride past large patches of it. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHSi5_nq9oe0AEIocFojFkXjdPC8fC0_CJT8wpxiPkGo6DcIdiXBo9OkkrTM6ZgC9jX7HutI9pFWXar2MLLMDASpANKb1NPm3EGxalf3F34WogroEBVEgvYZeZ0E3AyRnvXCToCXZv14/s1600/IMG_4401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHSi5_nq9oe0AEIocFojFkXjdPC8fC0_CJT8wpxiPkGo6DcIdiXBo9OkkrTM6ZgC9jX7HutI9pFWXar2MLLMDASpANKb1NPm3EGxalf3F34WogroEBVEgvYZeZ0E3AyRnvXCToCXZv14/s640/IMG_4401.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lupins were in full bloom … (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrMpdRCB3h320SHGdo1IjyGBldAfXJhwTCly7t3qt7hO_8Y62l_QBZilPc4-qs-qVyropfKbKmKJKagjdtfGUYHE87xBUrCzLsYpJf1r4rio0lv-PUwmNhkXF6KcGPXG-jIByY-pIxlw/s1600/IMG_4402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrMpdRCB3h320SHGdo1IjyGBldAfXJhwTCly7t3qt7hO_8Y62l_QBZilPc4-qs-qVyropfKbKmKJKagjdtfGUYHE87xBUrCzLsYpJf1r4rio0lv-PUwmNhkXF6KcGPXG-jIByY-pIxlw/s640/IMG_4402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… punctuated by the occasional drift of purple daisies (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Over the past year, many areas have been cleared of blackberry and bracken, and have been planted with natives. It looks a bit barren for now, but I am sure it will look very different in a year or two. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85JZ_vz647ePSFxiTWaRkoaqdGUaBLitg3Ok5ITNVp4s5I69jHXx08vNZKxhymZ7BXAEJveP4IqY_Fs_xuOqamAq59pyawUCGiXL7agOpwKBenlIOh5dl0up4UASMu-Q4Hc6GiZWYkEQ/s1600/P1070649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85JZ_vz647ePSFxiTWaRkoaqdGUaBLitg3Ok5ITNVp4s5I69jHXx08vNZKxhymZ7BXAEJveP4IqY_Fs_xuOqamAq59pyawUCGiXL7agOpwKBenlIOh5dl0up4UASMu-Q4Hc6GiZWYkEQ/s640/P1070649.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some areas were cleared of weeds, and planted with natives (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B3Wyz6tIkBXppknsxpYyXgyKmkNSolwlUxlwoeNwysFcL1KyVYXvaj2AqZPo3ZwKZfpiNEiMYNrFn0utorORXX8XmRbn-sFv9N0G6XXnAg-DaVmLZw_HdplGLkC-xohjKQXedDgRYdY/s1600/P1070652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B3Wyz6tIkBXppknsxpYyXgyKmkNSolwlUxlwoeNwysFcL1KyVYXvaj2AqZPo3ZwKZfpiNEiMYNrFn0utorORXX8XmRbn-sFv9N0G6XXnAg-DaVmLZw_HdplGLkC-xohjKQXedDgRYdY/s640/P1070652.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding through the lupins – to the tune of <i>“Tiptoe through the Tulips”</i> … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We biked all the way to Pekapeka. Near Paraparaumu, we stopped to look at the activities of the “world's most famous” Moscow Circus. Four big poles, which were to support the big top, had been erected with the tent still lying on the ground. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz3h0XRsrl3PcjXmoDhBkQo79BzSaJfunjfbbnUr6Iqnvtz3cMirvt3kJ3xY6EsnfBzwlF7qCzykgfjx6gzxiAyfAPppCv0N_Ir0Hrq6nAzyxTLCvW61nqGr48uUMoe-fzGddS-srFEs/s1600/IMG_4405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz3h0XRsrl3PcjXmoDhBkQo79BzSaJfunjfbbnUr6Iqnvtz3cMirvt3kJ3xY6EsnfBzwlF7qCzykgfjx6gzxiAyfAPppCv0N_Ir0Hrq6nAzyxTLCvW61nqGr48uUMoe-fzGddS-srFEs/s640/IMG_4405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The centre cone of the big top is being attached to the cables to raise it (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRwHCLRNUoy97hDVDQibW-jS5fvIKTc7ptbOslKZ46n0QDuqrvl0b-IB5J9JoeZV_LnQBs-_z8z3cumy-yrf1h0Dgz9FHy3zf-3maxrvabbuTYFKpO-d9antVySMp3mybbVCJcryf_XU/s1600/IMG_4406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRwHCLRNUoy97hDVDQibW-jS5fvIKTc7ptbOslKZ46n0QDuqrvl0b-IB5J9JoeZV_LnQBs-_z8z3cumy-yrf1h0Dgz9FHy3zf-3maxrvabbuTYFKpO-d9antVySMp3mybbVCJcryf_XU/s640/IMG_4406.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The caravans of the circus people are lined up along the edge of the site (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By the lagoon just before the Expressway turn-off to Waikanae, we came across this goose, on the edge of the path, doing a lot of head nodding – stretching and contracting his neck – at another goose hidden in the grass. He looked quite threatening when we biked past, hissing at us. On our way back, we found out why … <br />
<span id="goog_594607724"></span><span id="goog_594607725"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_rtyaG3iYm0SPBGLE6PBhj2k-REPYOYSQyooEchwNmOkhU190muVkv8RuQ1Fw5CDrfmaX4GXtDth4pW64ZuWvbtPQEs2aCSrk7BQxZAfDZ0YqvD-o3rAccbGJSeo1zxO0E5kz9rYCeA/s1600/IMG_4407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_rtyaG3iYm0SPBGLE6PBhj2k-REPYOYSQyooEchwNmOkhU190muVkv8RuQ1Fw5CDrfmaX4GXtDth4pW64ZuWvbtPQEs2aCSrk7BQxZAfDZ0YqvD-o3rAccbGJSeo1zxO0E5kz9rYCeA/s640/IMG_4407.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goosey, goosey, gander … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We made our way to Pekapeka, where we had a very satisfying lunch at Harrison’s Garden Centre café – chocolate waffles with ice-cream for John, and sautéed mushrooms for me. <br />
<br />
At the corner of Pekapeka Road, there is a cyclepath with a sign post pointing towards Otaki, and before our return trip, we thought we would see how far it would take us. We biked up about 100 metres, but then decided we should do that on another day, setting off from perhaps Waikanae or Paraparaumu, so as not to add too many more kilometres to today’s 52 km. <br />
<br />
On our way back past the geese, we saw why the one we saw earlier was acting threateningly: he was there with his mate and a couple of downy goslings, which he was obviously wanting to protect. John took a series of photos of them, slowly moving a little closer each time, without panicking them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv026Fg0VfpT1S0N_QAURUDUNSivRIGRwnOvDT4RJs1nShOoQTaA6rqLl_E2unNRWBMlnNlZJsTjr2OThMkpUylKMRu5zQqpXrXr9vx51QtgiYMm8PJaOtbrd3Y34UH_SnD7zgoUGrS2M/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv026Fg0VfpT1S0N_QAURUDUNSivRIGRwnOvDT4RJs1nShOoQTaA6rqLl_E2unNRWBMlnNlZJsTjr2OThMkpUylKMRu5zQqpXrXr9vx51QtgiYMm8PJaOtbrd3Y34UH_SnD7zgoUGrS2M/s640/IMG_4412.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The geese were still at the same spot as we saw them before … (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbrxegakSzE0PqDVs91fo0PlLwPyWyJ51kvba__y8gEIrtTn4gVwHbBXb_-ld-Xzr2c-ErIkQIy8-kB6N8SJGn6MqBlF8pm0fdBJCoGdJzq8B5N2jSzQMZM2QBcvehN61ces0PW7phEg/s1600/IMG_4417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbrxegakSzE0PqDVs91fo0PlLwPyWyJ51kvba__y8gEIrtTn4gVwHbBXb_-ld-Xzr2c-ErIkQIy8-kB6N8SJGn6MqBlF8pm0fdBJCoGdJzq8B5N2jSzQMZM2QBcvehN61ces0PW7phEg/s640/IMG_4417.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… but now we saw something else – they were protective parents … (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyTI0b7k7z5LYG9E8HEu1RAv-eEap-5M27hzaHkBfE2mcETnJfFyQH_nAoIct6CdvLPPP-9c-hW7VQlQfAep-_c-NvdjdioJWsOPFGz70GbO1a9e5qjKi-A6DRKTg3T3Ioa_TGDv_vT4/s1600/IMG_4420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyTI0b7k7z5LYG9E8HEu1RAv-eEap-5M27hzaHkBfE2mcETnJfFyQH_nAoIct6CdvLPPP-9c-hW7VQlQfAep-_c-NvdjdioJWsOPFGz70GbO1a9e5qjKi-A6DRKTg3T3Ioa_TGDv_vT4/s640/IMG_4420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… of two fluffy goslings (photo by John) </td></tr>
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When we got back to the circus, the big top was in the process of being raised. We stuck around to watch proceedings until the four corners of the tent were fully at the top. While the whole canvas was probably being hoisted by some motorised means under the tent, there were men stationed at intervals around the outside of the tent, hand-winching the guy ropes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRVPBaM1o1pcfDLfUtoOxrs-rmMZstDpTvi_j7UuaaDX2q4qAGBp4dFs7yuynZX1jrDFY8nkkf7OncHzbIO0s8FM5EPi_G4ls-y8e_KLrea3K5Xjn68yQlGflb5vvJqkMCm7a4sXLvBM/s1600/IMG_4422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRVPBaM1o1pcfDLfUtoOxrs-rmMZstDpTvi_j7UuaaDX2q4qAGBp4dFs7yuynZX1jrDFY8nkkf7OncHzbIO0s8FM5EPi_G4ls-y8e_KLrea3K5Xjn68yQlGflb5vvJqkMCm7a4sXLvBM/s640/IMG_4422.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big top is making its way up (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYuC-EV9nEvJBqdKr5iKG1PTv6Ivt_NntfmheYTw4zm1Q2rHmMMCZC-FctvhYOK3NFO1omyEo1JLkPoAeZTvGYqendWhFLtj73z5GBBW6a205I06AVsTpVSpSpPPCzNwaRnEi9bqf9J8/s1600/IMG_4423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYuC-EV9nEvJBqdKr5iKG1PTv6Ivt_NntfmheYTw4zm1Q2rHmMMCZC-FctvhYOK3NFO1omyEo1JLkPoAeZTvGYqendWhFLtj73z5GBBW6a205I06AVsTpVSpSpPPCzNwaRnEi9bqf9J8/s640/IMG_4423.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway there. Note the chap in the orange vest in the bottom left of the photo and two men in front of the tent, who are hand-winching some of the guy-ropes (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfxaWpT7uxkHf9JtkjK9CRj7EzCy0AHmr9WxAuXivV0M2vvKwJH4j9R4EvC-ec2T7wl0MmrdRrXu-Ff_kV1HQ2lOAD-1_VzkuQkzurZ6y2dH93s_5xocEMAn-FOx9uUz5g0nVylECcCQ/s1600/IMG_4432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfxaWpT7uxkHf9JtkjK9CRj7EzCy0AHmr9WxAuXivV0M2vvKwJH4j9R4EvC-ec2T7wl0MmrdRrXu-Ff_kV1HQ2lOAD-1_VzkuQkzurZ6y2dH93s_5xocEMAn-FOx9uUz5g0nVylECcCQ/s640/IMG_4432.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done! (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSttu72Wko4Y04ffZfZnyE8_YDoA8Xn96PuU5zO2FH3B47N81QdtpNS_l_AM4cryaT9Wr3jbJ-OudBDSxl31yqxP-Kw-YlWARckoRha6fcyX8_u3QG1Y6v_Ans1xpJkO_VdaflY0TB9BQ/s1600/IMG_4434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSttu72Wko4Y04ffZfZnyE8_YDoA8Xn96PuU5zO2FH3B47N81QdtpNS_l_AM4cryaT9Wr3jbJ-OudBDSxl31yqxP-Kw-YlWARckoRha6fcyX8_u3QG1Y6v_Ans1xpJkO_VdaflY0TB9BQ/s640/IMG_4434.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An advertisement for the circus, on a truck at Raumati (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Finally we rode back to Paekakariki. The wetlands along Te Ara O Whareroa seem to be changing in size and shape every time we go past. The hills are still wonderfully green and lush. Towards the end of summer, they will probably be all brown (hoping we will get a nice warm summer …).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubLIDV4xHBCdZScZm4fJ9n3yWjTmkaGstO0EC-mijtWvTnjD1xZ8TQGR8pvfRfwDDPWLXHQIqsHhXpETTVG6Nv9lxVuYehFlD-UZwxZ4xxenMAizShy2z70oESWcnglu2uuZk3PB8ZuQ/s1600/IMG_4435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubLIDV4xHBCdZScZm4fJ9n3yWjTmkaGstO0EC-mijtWvTnjD1xZ8TQGR8pvfRfwDDPWLXHQIqsHhXpETTVG6Nv9lxVuYehFlD-UZwxZ4xxenMAizShy2z70oESWcnglu2uuZk3PB8ZuQ/s640/IMG_4435.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wetlands below Te Ara O Whareroa (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-30463705878375259482019-11-20T23:58:00.000+13:002019-11-24T16:24:57.084+13:00Alastair Smith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This afternoon I received the sad news that Alastair Smith, the leader of the Folding Goldies Group, and staunch Wellington cycling advocate, had passed away today, 20 November 2019. <br />
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I first “met” Alastair online, in August 2013 when I found a website called <a href="http://www.greatharbourway.org.nz/2013/08/" target="_blank">Great Harbour Way</a>, on which he was one of the main contributors. On this website he was advocating for a continuous cycleway to go all the way around Wellington Harbour, from Eastbourne, around the Miramar Peninsula and as far as Sinclair Head. <br />
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We had recently got our folding bikes, and started this blog, and I was trying to find more areas to cycle. I contacted him and sent him a link to my blog post about a recent ride along the <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2013/08/wellington-waterfront.html" target="_blank">Wellington Waterfront</a>. He replied, saying he was interested in folding bikes too, and he sent me a link to <a href="http://alastairgsmith.blogspot.com/2013/08/" target="_blank">his blog about a trip in Europe</a>, during which he and his partner had used folding bikes, because they were easy to take on the train. <br />
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We met Alastair in person during the <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2014/02/miramar-peninsula-ciclovia.html" target="_blank">Cyclovia</a> in February 2014, where he was one of the organisers, and I recognised his folding bike. I introduced myself, and he actually remembered my name and my email. <br />
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A few months later again, we met him and a cycling friend on the cycletrack along Cobham Drive, where we had a brief chat. This must have triggered something in his mind, for a week or so later, I got an email from him proposing a group called "The Folding Goldies”. The idea was that people who were in possession of both a Gold Card (entitling them to free public transport) and a folding bike, would be able to take the folded bikes on the train to a more distant destination than one would normally bike, and bike back to another station along the line. <br />
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The<a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2014/07/inaugural-ride-of-folding-goldies_22.html" target="_blank"> inaugural ride</a> of the Folding Goldies took place on 18 July 2014, on a very cold and somewhat damp day. Five of us took the train to Upper Hutt and biked back to Lower Hutt. It was the start of nearly four years of mostly monthly Folding Goldies rides, organised by Alastair. We got to meet a good number of other folding bike owners, as well as some of Alastair’s longtime cycling buddies (who came along on regular bikes). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alastair on that first Folding Goldies ride (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at Janus Bakkerij at the end of our inaugural FG ride. (photo by John)<br />
From left: Desiree, John Baldwin, Alastair, Russell Tregonning </td></tr>
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By May 2018, the group had grown to more than a dozen participants, when we took the train to Waikanae, and rode back to Paekakariki to catch the train back to Wellington. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbO_7YrCg_S5XshxHHztdbD7k8zxhp-JRtjGZn51-1ixUl6IxaZ4B5gmK5qBqA0NOdFt4TkFpQMXECMAqcaCiJ7QnXxnoACdhXtnGKywIv4Zyx5Ig7Vhg4Ejhs_qynegtTIT8Lfh2l_g/s1600/P1060256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbO_7YrCg_S5XshxHHztdbD7k8zxhp-JRtjGZn51-1ixUl6IxaZ4B5gmK5qBqA0NOdFt4TkFpQMXECMAqcaCiJ7QnXxnoACdhXtnGKywIv4Zyx5Ig7Vhg4Ejhs_qynegtTIT8Lfh2l_g/s400/P1060256.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alastair on our last Folding Goldies ride – 10 May 2018</td></tr>
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Sadly, that was our last Folding Goldies ride, because soon after that Alastair’s health started to deteriorate, and he was no longer able to take on the responsibility of organising further rides. <br />
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During the time we knew him, he was a real inspiration to us. He introduced us to not only many local rides, but also inspired us to travel around New Zealand and bike in many wonderful places. <br />
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Many thanks for the good times, Alastair. You will be missed by many. Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-29029499744050702952019-11-11T17:31:00.000+13:002019-11-11T22:31:55.089+13:00A Wairarapa weekend It’s been a busy year for me with lots of Scottish country dance activities, but not quite so many bike outings. We have been biking, but only short local rides – not worth blogging about. Also the weather has not been very conducive to getting out on the bikes. <br />
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But this week I got a nudge from a friend, who complained that she hadn’t had any interesting blog reading to go with her morning cup of coffee. So since we had an interesting couple of days in the Wairarapa last weekend, here we are with another blog! <br />
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The prime reason we went to the Wairarapa was that we wanted to attend a dance in Carterton, at which special Scottish musicians were going to be providing the music, on the Saturday night. Also happening in Carterton that weekend was the <a href="https://www.wairarapashow.co.nz/wairarapa-show/" target="_blank">Wairarapa A&P Show</a>, and I love an A&P show. And we had never yet biked around Masterton, so we decided to stay overnight and bike on the Sunday. <br />
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We set off nice and early on Saturday 2 November, to get to the A&P show by 10 am. For readers outside of New Zealand – an A&P show is a region’s Agricultural and Pastoral (and nowadays Industrial as well) show, where the farming communities get to show off their skills in various fields, and related industries show their wares. <br />
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Right near the entrance to the large Clareville showgrounds were the miniature horses and their little carriages. Delightful, dapper little horses were being driven around the field and being judged on their driver’s skills, the appearance of horse and rig, speed, behaviour and the like. I watched as a carriage pulled up near their supporters, and used baby wipes to clean down the harness, reins and the horse’s shoulders, ears and face. It was obviously very important to look perfect! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApdJhXatRmvVChC2GpZbvRdK1mQ25VPRI3kPUGycPf2CbEPEzSPes_iLlEF4UWSL_eSWmq4Y0C8-F8bRN44X-9miVttijTf6YB5WwfpdEoK7ZrpB_crDtfh9c7yguNsHzVVtGgTBVsdM/s1600/IMGP7866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApdJhXatRmvVChC2GpZbvRdK1mQ25VPRI3kPUGycPf2CbEPEzSPes_iLlEF4UWSL_eSWmq4Y0C8-F8bRN44X-9miVttijTf6YB5WwfpdEoK7ZrpB_crDtfh9c7yguNsHzVVtGgTBVsdM/s640/IMGP7866.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful miniature horses and their drivers compete for skills and looks (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Then it was off to see the dog trials. Farmers and their special sheep dogs compete to manoeuvre three often very willful and obstreperous sheep around a course involving gates, a bridge and finishing being herded into a pen – all within a timeframe of nine minutes. The teamwork between man and dog is wonderful, and watching the dog anticipating the sheep’s break-outs and the man’s commands is supreme entertainment. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif_Zn1OK-9CGSVxbOyU0FI8G_zLFhAXhv0Sn1LNuV0o700Y-DpYmOOU9xWZqkMF5zr5UqLVXRFggIdw_TjTnvOaxvtr25FJuCbX4jhadKplMve1UiCZraGSSc5rlsz6g0pwiYS288mJk/s1600/IMGP7873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif_Zn1OK-9CGSVxbOyU0FI8G_zLFhAXhv0Sn1LNuV0o700Y-DpYmOOU9xWZqkMF5zr5UqLVXRFggIdw_TjTnvOaxvtr25FJuCbX4jhadKplMve1UiCZraGSSc5rlsz6g0pwiYS288mJk/s640/IMGP7873.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There’s always one that tries to escape! (photo by John) </td></tr>
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The next stop was the “Strong Man” and “Strong Woman” competition. They had to lift a big dumbbell-type object, into which extra weights could be threaded in the ends. They had to lift it up onto their shoulder using both hands – an enormous effort in itself – and then had to lift it above their head with one hand until the arm was at full stretch. Some had to have several goes at this last effort, not all of them successful. We watched some women lifting unimaginable weights, cheered on by their coach, co-competitors and supporters on the sidelines. Impressive! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1U3TAUpkLYFQR_4rC-8tvQ3kc3K9pNcOwvlwmWpxDlidBhTE1xJ4Ve89TkW9_Qhvii_09pX7oS_OM94c0h9KU4GeeYz_WmAr0IqaYWnl1LefXCh8w9sGR-AaELOKfujqXwlHKbPFuIU/s1600/IMGP7879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1U3TAUpkLYFQR_4rC-8tvQ3kc3K9pNcOwvlwmWpxDlidBhTE1xJ4Ve89TkW9_Qhvii_09pX7oS_OM94c0h9KU4GeeYz_WmAr0IqaYWnl1LefXCh8w9sGR-AaELOKfujqXwlHKbPFuIU/s640/IMGP7879.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yesss! (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Shearing is always a favourite with the crowd. There are two simultaneous competitions going on: one for the shearers, who have to shear five sheep in a minimum of time, ensuring they do a clean job, with no skin cuts, of course; the other is for the woolhandlers who take the fleece, fling it onto the sorting table, clear all the mucky bits off it, roll it up and place it in the right basket while racing against the clock. There is lots to look at and it's really exciting to watch. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zG_Vk-oT0mvnuvvVtnXaxJbLYCAMokLYlSieq35RiI8s2IFNifQo-6VjLQawO8GGSopONYT2xEZs2XSipO6hh7sK9uisK9_lsq7AqfPeY50I-YyBe2i5eSS4iIJvouFW3AwGAK_jj48/s1600/IMGP7889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zG_Vk-oT0mvnuvvVtnXaxJbLYCAMokLYlSieq35RiI8s2IFNifQo-6VjLQawO8GGSopONYT2xEZs2XSipO6hh7sK9uisK9_lsq7AqfPeY50I-YyBe2i5eSS4iIJvouFW3AwGAK_jj48/s640/IMGP7889.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shearers and their time-keepers (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaElpebJIcWSrStvLwqomlUnpiFlbEzDfqId8lE4B8ts3Nw83aW98M-mfKjFK1ogW6i3Lu3wJy5kFyqrS-KtGgzxu3DP0bHappopB90UIBD_KgoqIhq_o_Fuacpr3yTUoF4ab1KUtsNcY/s1600/IMGP7893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaElpebJIcWSrStvLwqomlUnpiFlbEzDfqId8lE4B8ts3Nw83aW98M-mfKjFK1ogW6i3Lu3wJy5kFyqrS-KtGgzxu3DP0bHappopB90UIBD_KgoqIhq_o_Fuacpr3yTUoF4ab1KUtsNcY/s640/IMGP7893.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a magical moment, when the fleece is thrown onto the sorting table (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P8x7wUdFNQEZ_nvRo5bJrSPiFexuPFD74tf4mQcsz4Mg8ILYAVwNwyfsjM3A5Yd-VMBei4h6VhG6mn2cxvMARz_k6x28N4wWmxD0JiKoW-abL6S0Kl4n7l7v9JMsJf1Zb-Yju-71EGw/s1600/IMG_2746+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P8x7wUdFNQEZ_nvRo5bJrSPiFexuPFD74tf4mQcsz4Mg8ILYAVwNwyfsjM3A5Yd-VMBei4h6VhG6mn2cxvMARz_k6x28N4wWmxD0JiKoW-abL6S0Kl4n7l7v9JMsJf1Zb-Yju-71EGw/s640/IMG_2746+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The woolhandlers remove the ‘daggy’ bits in record time </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All that walking around and watching people work so hard makes one hungry, and it was a long time since breakfast, so we stopped for a French crêpe – with lemon curd for me, and sugar and cinnamon for John – yum! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJaWokeVOV4VvgCePrJeLJPDVMf3EZbjGUlXuGQs86uBgfZV5v1cCNdCb0eDJUQEIaoM18bBElQQQpKxXHhEtK0UbRWkbYpU6soy_C031WIV-vykSZRrGfFBupmEnH18o-T2Cydvai78/s1600/IMGP7894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJaWokeVOV4VvgCePrJeLJPDVMf3EZbjGUlXuGQs86uBgfZV5v1cCNdCb0eDJUQEIaoM18bBElQQQpKxXHhEtK0UbRWkbYpU6soy_C031WIV-vykSZRrGfFBupmEnH18o-T2Cydvai78/s640/IMGP7894.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The skill of the crêpe maker (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With crêpes in hand we wandered around the agricultural machinery on display – huge tractors, even bigger tractors, farm-bikes, both adult-size and child-size (well explored by the kids!), electric farm-bikes and more. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJvXO6DwC-BGRV4EyXVJRniqp932BQdPMGtr3OXiJR-n2DVZncv6CLtgcP3tyaey7ATehBQtvMtZ0Erbv0cvxC_osuUFwKhJXiU7IxhuH6cBJpJJKKI4ePtnMO871YKSeJn5iO9lq_7o/s1600/IMG_2752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJvXO6DwC-BGRV4EyXVJRniqp932BQdPMGtr3OXiJR-n2DVZncv6CLtgcP3tyaey7ATehBQtvMtZ0Erbv0cvxC_osuUFwKhJXiU7IxhuH6cBJpJJKKI4ePtnMO871YKSeJn5iO9lq_7o/s640/IMG_2752.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the huge tractors </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Other delights to be had were a children’s ‘train’ ride, show jumping competitions, ride-on lawnmower races (very noisy and smelly!), and livestock in pens – ponies, Clydesdales, Highland cattle, alpacas, coloured ewes with lambs, pigs with piglets, and fancy chooks. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt14ngRkHFQ1SeEgtqpePbC3QYqAK0vSXOI53HcN4-6VlixTLOOzSZS62Su2nqegZO6I1hHXhShJcACUm9c3tUOtggNe8iTu_yc8OQHNygVWY54o45eBxw8Dv0t7PgHiJtG6YtK6d_h68/s1600/IMGP7896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt14ngRkHFQ1SeEgtqpePbC3QYqAK0vSXOI53HcN4-6VlixTLOOzSZS62Su2nqegZO6I1hHXhShJcACUm9c3tUOtggNe8iTu_yc8OQHNygVWY54o45eBxw8Dv0t7PgHiJtG6YtK6d_h68/s640/IMGP7896.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train ride (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv8RgF0_DuL8G_38ajsK5Gbbki4e51W-rGTLNkcG0LJ0p0WSEbsD8ba_a-wV9OCuujDoxZHNegS3meaRu030VBLVmvgBobCVpfqYh3MLYtS99iwG2206mNYDNjjIw3t-NMmtgLUpmR7k/s1600/IMGP7898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv8RgF0_DuL8G_38ajsK5Gbbki4e51W-rGTLNkcG0LJ0p0WSEbsD8ba_a-wV9OCuujDoxZHNegS3meaRu030VBLVmvgBobCVpfqYh3MLYtS99iwG2206mNYDNjjIw3t-NMmtgLUpmR7k/s640/IMGP7898.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTbF1z_PnpKgcjDEMlIhTGcs6MdCdZDHP_-V5700gFJ9u3wA2h_gmh97RYR7ItixGVcHRwn7GkmX-TJ_s1m6q5HW5Nz0lWOmUkFNKjAp5i6NxqBFBV6X_4eKjTinBHsEK5e5smLd8GgI/s1600/IMG_2758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTbF1z_PnpKgcjDEMlIhTGcs6MdCdZDHP_-V5700gFJ9u3wA2h_gmh97RYR7ItixGVcHRwn7GkmX-TJ_s1m6q5HW5Nz0lWOmUkFNKjAp5i6NxqBFBV6X_4eKjTinBHsEK5e5smLd8GgI/s640/IMG_2758.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coloured sheep - mum and her offspring </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCAjdW6sK6WyNzGpGZYgKpuDG75EiFeKjbf3H07XsSxG0dohnP5gxrDDdsRrkoQfL6-ETrpXzvOqMsS4R3pZ3spTvfF63IN7R7z3BuGt3LizKwTz6hHhVpSXznZqCl6xL9lr2PGlmkh8/s1600/IMGP7907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCAjdW6sK6WyNzGpGZYgKpuDG75EiFeKjbf3H07XsSxG0dohnP5gxrDDdsRrkoQfL6-ETrpXzvOqMsS4R3pZ3spTvfF63IN7R7z3BuGt3LizKwTz6hHhVpSXznZqCl6xL9lr2PGlmkh8/s640/IMGP7907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little girl won a ribbon for her handling and presentation skills
in showing off her beautiful Highland calf (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By 2 pm, we’d seen all we wanted to see, and we headed to Masterton for some lunch and a wander around the town centre. Eventually we made our way to the motel where all the other units were also occupied by Scottish country dancers, so we met up with lots of people we knew. <br />
<br />
In the evening, we all headed off to the dance, which was being held in the Carterton Event Centre – a very nice venue. The dance had been dubbed “The Scarecrow Caper”, because another Wairarapa event that happens in early November is the <a href="https://wairarapanz.com/see-and-do/gladstone-scarecrows" target="_blank">Scarecrows’ Big Day Out</a> in and around Gladstone, a short distance away from Carterton. <br />
<br />
In keeping with the theme, the stage had been decorated with small scarecrows, which had been named after dances. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmebmu59rrpH535ZhkwdiJhQsnRDP48HqpZfV7rq0ZKgmPhkStZxMQ1rJ2-8cKgiGC_RgREScNZobjWlwxNZA_oGNpVj1kwyAT9vcA1IwhlevJXJh91ogQJBHJ9Bp3mVBo68Sc6pgacc/s1600/IMGP7918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmebmu59rrpH535ZhkwdiJhQsnRDP48HqpZfV7rq0ZKgmPhkStZxMQ1rJ2-8cKgiGC_RgREScNZobjWlwxNZA_oGNpVj1kwyAT9vcA1IwhlevJXJh91ogQJBHJ9Bp3mVBo68Sc6pgacc/s640/IMGP7918.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish duo Marian Anderson and Max Ketchin share the stage with a bunch of scarecrows (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPibmL_l7i9HRhSe7Wo6cnts5piLZZ3IOCENpvjJmONzvdGpHqFhToTIZ2iDWyVRfGaVWQuHyvlUi2PXy1L7W5rRlc5ziUmtpRSm-CSZ_wnL_hn_xIcychGEjFPa5OuXMXJ7GaLcsvUfQ/s1600/IMGP7916+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPibmL_l7i9HRhSe7Wo6cnts5piLZZ3IOCENpvjJmONzvdGpHqFhToTIZ2iDWyVRfGaVWQuHyvlUi2PXy1L7W5rRlc5ziUmtpRSm-CSZ_wnL_hn_xIcychGEjFPa5OuXMXJ7GaLcsvUfQ/s640/IMGP7916+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The venue had plenty of room for the 80 or 90 dancers (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was an excellent dancing night, with a great programme of dances and wonderful music. We got back to our motel tired but satisfied. <br />
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<br />
The next day, Sunday, we planned to bike around Henley Lake in Masterton in the morning, and in the afternoon, we thought we would ride the Woodside Trail in Greytown. We drove to Queen Elizabeth II Park, where we started our ride. <br />
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After having suffered the coldest and wettest October for several years in Wellington, this was the first time we were able to ride in short sleeves, and without jackets. It turned out very warm indeed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS4QsY00g6iXqFBlTp4_fxrR0CqKVhgJjJdyv8xGj25mLaCOvyL0-L91sPGJ2eYQnGzQVZf73y3LK2ShYWZu1ZJ9s17XRKnAz5_IHOVm1kKgZm5nYM5DEUcaCgg1lwig7LgjSBgDYNz4/s1600/P1070581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS4QsY00g6iXqFBlTp4_fxrR0CqKVhgJjJdyv8xGj25mLaCOvyL0-L91sPGJ2eYQnGzQVZf73y3LK2ShYWZu1ZJ9s17XRKnAz5_IHOVm1kKgZm5nYM5DEUcaCgg1lwig7LgjSBgDYNz4/s640/P1070581.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We parked near Queen Elizabeth II Park to begin our ride (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We had a vague idea of which direction Henley Lake was – through QEII Park and out – but were not sure how to get there. Anyway, we rode off into the park, past a children’s playground and a bowling club, and ended up riding on wide paths through a cemetery. We were obviously not going in the right direction, so we asked a gentleman walking his dog, and he told us to go across a large field to Colombo Street, and across the road and bridge to the Henley Lake track. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M9KoHMFlNf6KU9paVua-MtYVX1XUia_iYc184rnumb3N6S8BRmuyaBTX-NrSw-BvS3ds8Dr8L2vWLk0AFXkJusJSn8DaMdgyWZIGWxiaiQA23TCCsD9NaTd7_-jg5QvpndjaFOHgrXo/s1600/P1070588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M9KoHMFlNf6KU9paVua-MtYVX1XUia_iYc184rnumb3N6S8BRmuyaBTX-NrSw-BvS3ds8Dr8L2vWLk0AFXkJusJSn8DaMdgyWZIGWxiaiQA23TCCsD9NaTd7_-jg5QvpndjaFOHgrXo/s640/P1070588.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track to Henley Lake (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We arrived at Henley Lake just in time to see three dragon boats arriving to line up for the start of a race. What luck! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76sMqsPMhBuXirAEXQivk_DVuXDBtDMaz8HuBKTPC74xGSERQ1Cn0dR_xtwTW1bDWScFuqYs-N3Pi502LXavDmNtC2EsjLk72IyAtfvC25Uh6SfE7iSehbl33sucATOhDPGxkinBk_qU/s1600/IMG_4388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76sMqsPMhBuXirAEXQivk_DVuXDBtDMaz8HuBKTPC74xGSERQ1Cn0dR_xtwTW1bDWScFuqYs-N3Pi502LXavDmNtC2EsjLk72IyAtfvC25Uh6SfE7iSehbl33sucATOhDPGxkinBk_qU/s640/IMG_4388.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dragon boat crew receive instructions to paddle backwards into place </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBedhSrLSFQzm4do_npRCvCFSNztzhRPBR7kDqmlPZ6R7bHvZsEIZACjhli1ydb7sVOCBykEYQu6WH6Yf4tiEZ1qrmlN7Dz70I6BW21xNCQKUsOyYKWsBumJcfrkoqhiyWJSTfd2x-EgY/s1600/IMG_4389+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1600" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBedhSrLSFQzm4do_npRCvCFSNztzhRPBR7kDqmlPZ6R7bHvZsEIZACjhli1ydb7sVOCBykEYQu6WH6Yf4tiEZ1qrmlN7Dz70I6BW21xNCQKUsOyYKWsBumJcfrkoqhiyWJSTfd2x-EgY/s640/IMG_4389+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three crews line up for the start of the race </td></tr>
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We watched the start of the race, then pedalled as fast as we could around the lake (which is not very big) to see them arriving at the end, then turning around to go back to the launching place. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp5qv8dfH0TAnqDWzve4iGhpZnHWg5_OsjXhLEddAP7FtLhdvDiJCoPrKuVlNPjXAgO0v6fvtibJnncr67d95AGk80t8XqZlNJzJBYDQc1IW9PrfM3L-qfeLfAgVjv2BCLf82oNXfnlI/s1600/P1070591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp5qv8dfH0TAnqDWzve4iGhpZnHWg5_OsjXhLEddAP7FtLhdvDiJCoPrKuVlNPjXAgO0v6fvtibJnncr67d95AGk80t8XqZlNJzJBYDQc1IW9PrfM3L-qfeLfAgVjv2BCLf82oNXfnlI/s640/P1070591.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rode around the lake to the other end (photo by John)</td></tr>
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At the launching place we found several crews awaiting their turn – all kitted out in team t-shirts and matching life jackets. There was also a coffee cart, so we got ourselves a coffee and stayed for a while to watch proceedings. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQO-yIp7yPrCZonnrEH5tDoBaPjVfEVXsdTXAiGNhSYDnKNaJhCfLtHge7BLN-5T5xyOaM6L93l_R40WiwtW-qfZMespZ7KJMJzLkYVHd2-hdjuM_CqAZmalTXwPtuUXIKEYZrzVLcfg/s1600/IMG_4391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQO-yIp7yPrCZonnrEH5tDoBaPjVfEVXsdTXAiGNhSYDnKNaJhCfLtHge7BLN-5T5xyOaM6L93l_R40WiwtW-qfZMespZ7KJMJzLkYVHd2-hdjuM_CqAZmalTXwPtuUXIKEYZrzVLcfg/s640/IMG_4391.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bow of one of the dragon boats, adorned with the head of a dragon … (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsw8yJ-LuAH90FfgfKppeufaBXwvybjxvm-d-4r3NGKI_I77aBcvBUKTyHxAEROszxEnyCPIIfiQBnY66x9jZ8GXHuoNl7qupxwvTRPjQ9R1rlHZErAMCNBOU9h6jYlay2l_Lpc4lJTo/s1600/IMG_4392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsw8yJ-LuAH90FfgfKppeufaBXwvybjxvm-d-4r3NGKI_I77aBcvBUKTyHxAEROszxEnyCPIIfiQBnY66x9jZ8GXHuoNl7qupxwvTRPjQ9R1rlHZErAMCNBOU9h6jYlay2l_Lpc4lJTo/s640/IMG_4392.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and the rear, the tail of the dragon (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI59bw791IOlt3cA7KCjrX0lqMPBk5RUf7hU4DWwd0KYmeY7_3xrR32DimawrftmGaOrHIGtKfacHHyNL4IQoUSgHhM06CWvPat4VKK1idD6mx8O1TnTgzaOUgsIEEs2nDHnQENj41Xek/s1600/IMG_4393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI59bw791IOlt3cA7KCjrX0lqMPBk5RUf7hU4DWwd0KYmeY7_3xrR32DimawrftmGaOrHIGtKfacHHyNL4IQoUSgHhM06CWvPat4VKK1idD6mx8O1TnTgzaOUgsIEEs2nDHnQENj41Xek/s640/IMG_4393.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a cup of coffee in the sun (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmN0yXdFimlDQ3rQl1-vxatAHG7muyLUaq_4JFFL2gC8b5l-fZoMLqAEqi0nllLWB5joz6m8UKGbR7Cz5ZfxY4uC_r_RVmjo9IU04hdjSBhnmQ3MzGUcQO40S2w2PmydbdPwFupjLtIs/s1600/IMG_4395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmN0yXdFimlDQ3rQl1-vxatAHG7muyLUaq_4JFFL2gC8b5l-fZoMLqAEqi0nllLWB5joz6m8UKGbR7Cz5ZfxY4uC_r_RVmjo9IU04hdjSBhnmQ3MzGUcQO40S2w2PmydbdPwFupjLtIs/s640/IMG_4395.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next lot of competitors arrive back (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreQalIEOLqgTnxhmR-2gvVDfTErwmoOq28LIrqag9QOFjQXiFBuaJ9CemuBmzmSDB5WHlRzaFQ5s7ukD2Q3ofW5zAkdV6m15e4aflYIWnXbbW-98avZQ2GHh0VMgNhq6On1xopUvFdTA/s1600/P1070601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreQalIEOLqgTnxhmR-2gvVDfTErwmoOq28LIrqag9QOFjQXiFBuaJ9CemuBmzmSDB5WHlRzaFQ5s7ukD2Q3ofW5zAkdV6m15e4aflYIWnXbbW-98avZQ2GHh0VMgNhq6On1xopUvFdTA/s640/P1070601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on the bikes, leaving the excitement of the dragon boat racing behind us (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL8zFHmdoUh8Keywu1BTdwI5cT2vjb77QbZybhOzHXP6Ro4Oi1c2eIpwpXlvTX1Uaj5r7SUCYJnJagP3035D6gNBGTGRVj9TO5jqCpKC_sbDAhy_Qn0TO2j70lefNX4imd_k9d2w385c/s1600/IMG_4397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL8zFHmdoUh8Keywu1BTdwI5cT2vjb77QbZybhOzHXP6Ro4Oi1c2eIpwpXlvTX1Uaj5r7SUCYJnJagP3035D6gNBGTGRVj9TO5jqCpKC_sbDAhy_Qn0TO2j70lefNX4imd_k9d2w385c/s640/IMG_4397.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A final look at Henley Lake (photo by John) </td></tr>
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On our way back to the car, we found another track alongside the Waipoua River, and we ended up on Opaki Road, and back to the entrance to QE II Park, on Dixon Street. We had biked just 10 km. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQHfN6g_395IwM-9HY9s7tr5KAl7oAF9fIIB7J7B6w3pS6Wo5CiV2jQ9HtZ36ryDnopLgU_WAEcDD9TklEdFcjLEHQ5VQ6iyStd6MUY2i_S3E6FQzjonMPDDW-txmhCRieQvgGKwEv9A/s1600/IMG_2225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQHfN6g_395IwM-9HY9s7tr5KAl7oAF9fIIB7J7B6w3pS6Wo5CiV2jQ9HtZ36ryDnopLgU_WAEcDD9TklEdFcjLEHQ5VQ6iyStd6MUY2i_S3E6FQzjonMPDDW-txmhCRieQvgGKwEv9A/s640/IMG_2225.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Waipoua River </td></tr>
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By the time we got back to the car, it was very hot. Although we had originally thought we would do more biking on the Woodside Trail in Greytown, we decided that it was too hot for that. So we had lunch in Greytown and headed off home. <br />
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It had been a lovely weekend, with lots of variety. And it was so good to have fine and warm weather – but we're now back to the less than wonderful Wellington climate. While the rest of New Zealand had been basking in temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s during that weekend, Wellington had barely made it to 16 degrees! <br />
<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-77440060929436758372019-06-04T17:40:00.000+12:002019-06-04T22:01:27.630+12:00World Bicycle Day − 3 June 2019<br />
Yesterday, 3 June, was World Bicycle Day, so declared by the United Nations in April 2018. The resolution recognises <i>"the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation."</i> <br />
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World Bicycle Day has not been widely publicised, but I found out about it on Facebook. I follow several bike-related FB pages, one of which is <i><b>The NZ Cycle Trail</b></i>, which listed <a href="https://www.un.org/en/events/bicycleday/?fbclid=IwAR15wIOoF9OdWITM5pw60OWSjLKGzNJnnVU1xsGnBuGebFTpZrbi0tce79k" target="_blank">this United Nations link</a>. <br />
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Being Dutch (by origin, at least), I also look at two Dutch Facebook pages relating to cycling, and both mentioned World Bicycle Day today. <br />
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<i><b>“Fietsen123”</b></i> had a link to an amusing little <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fietsen123/videos/893669617644455/" target="_blank">video </a>about the development of the bicycle. The commentary is in Dutch, but some of the images are interesting or amusing. There is a picture from an exhibition about cycling in a Rotterdam Museum, which shows an African version of the <i>vélocipède</i>, in which the chain consists of a rope with knots that engage with the chainwheel. Also interesting is the clip of the pre-war Netherlands Army bicycle battalion, complete with the band playing while cycling. The thousands of bicycles in towns caused parking problems, resulting in police removing offending bikes, which, if not claimed, ended up being crushed (ouch!), and eventually becoming an “art” exhibit in that Rotterdam Museum. Bikes have inspired artists, and many bicycle variations have been invented. Check out the water-bike with 15 peddallers, which made a “serious” attempt to cross the Channel from Holland to England! <br />
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The other Dutch Facebook page, <i><b>“Nederland Fietsland”</b></i> ("the Netherlands, Bike Country") had this <a href="https://s23705.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2017-SO-BN17-Timeline-200-Years-FINAL-F03v1.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1lbqV6JG1X3OWOXiwSyww0YD_Cd4_jQ8_eLoqoiqCYFVq4NFSTTIIGR4Y" target="_blank">timeline</a> of the development of the bicycle since 1817. I was interested to see that the first folding bikes were developed in the 1890s for military use, and the e-bike dates back to 1992. <br />
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<a href="https://www.hollandcyclingroutes.com/" target="_blank"><i><b>Nederland Fietsland,</b></i></a> by the way, is a great website about exploring the Netherlands by bike. The brilliant network of cycle paths and suggested cycle routes would make any cycle tourist drool. I would love to take John biking in the Netherlands, if only I could get him onto a plane! <br />
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Finally, I regularly look at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/cyclewellington/" target="_blank">Cycle Wellington</a> Facebook page. It is a source of interesting information on the bicycle front in Wellington, though I think it is too often a forum for people (mainly cycle commuters) grizzling about the status of Wellington cycle lanes/tracks and attitudes of motorists. <br />
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Personally, not being a commuter, I usually have no problem with the behaviour of motorists because we tend to avoid biking in places where the car is king. Having said that, we also do use our bikes to get around our own suburb – down to the supermarket or the local café – and we do have to be wary of cars trying to overtake where there isn’t enough room, especially when cars are parked on both sides of the road on streets that are too narrow for this. <br />
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The battle between motorists and cyclists rages on, as discussed in yesterday’s article in the Dominion Post, <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112846799/road-rage-and-bikelash-the-battle-for-our-city-streets?fbclid=IwAR0SKpgl-" target="_blank">“Road rage and bikelash: the battle for our city streets”</a>. Some of the comments make for interesting reading. It <b>does</b> seem like a battle − how much better would it be if everyone would try to see things from the other person's point of view and be a little less selfish. <br />
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<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-38029916380986098322019-05-23T01:40:00.000+12:002019-05-30T00:21:39.813+12:00Clutha Gold Trail and other adventures – Part 4 <br />
Here is Part 4 of our recent trip to the South Island. This covers the last few days of the trip, travelling from Lawrence to Dunedin, Ashburton and home. <br />
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We were away for 13 days all up, so I have written up this story in four parts. Here are the links to <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_19.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> and <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_23.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>. <br />
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<h4>
Friday 26 April – Lawrence to Dunedin </h4>
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We had planned to stay in Dunedin for two nights so that we could do some biking around Dunedin. We like Dunedin, having walked around most of it twelve years ago, when we spent time there for John to get radiation treatment. We had arrived without a car as we were expecting to be there for only two weeks, but we ended up being there for seven. We got to know Dunedin quite well. <br />
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It’s only about an hour and a half to drive from Lawrence to Dunedin, and we were there by about 11 am, even taking the scenic coastal route. We couldn’t get into our accommodation until 2pm, so we stopped at The Customhouse, a very nice café/restaurant near the port, right next to where the Monarch ship is moored. We had coffee and scones, and looked out to the harbour. Very pleasant. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDNjWKg1B3dNdPwqWon56F285n5l2DfYHPh_pT13OkKyZ2SbQaL1O3dAudNrCltdF8f9gCCbtHZQQd-QJzczAgQB8c-NrMcq21vP7XS8mUKoESgf4fyyvqOvDyuMO9TDlB430Mv8DJRA/s1600/IMGP7284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDNjWKg1B3dNdPwqWon56F285n5l2DfYHPh_pT13OkKyZ2SbQaL1O3dAudNrCltdF8f9gCCbtHZQQd-QJzczAgQB8c-NrMcq21vP7XS8mUKoESgf4fyyvqOvDyuMO9TDlB430Mv8DJRA/s400/IMGP7284.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Customhouse (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We decided we would cycle the Port Chalmers side of the harbour. We knew there was a new cycle track along there but weren’t sure where it started. We were told it might be somewhere near the new stadium. So we found our way to a quiet street near the University. The University was on holiday also (like the schools) so it was easy to find a park. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmEMGl9X2dHXfRihhAO0-wmeqiYGtJdVsbk-20NlFAaR_Gnb3QizEpgKKu7tJ8DmD8TyRbutGzbNlOnNpg7y948T-huIETinL3L-OWoNOBj582i1GTTSd_YiJl1ZTM0o5N9XUDE25EgE/s1600/IMGP7287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmEMGl9X2dHXfRihhAO0-wmeqiYGtJdVsbk-20NlFAaR_Gnb3QizEpgKKu7tJ8DmD8TyRbutGzbNlOnNpg7y948T-huIETinL3L-OWoNOBj582i1GTTSd_YiJl1ZTM0o5N9XUDE25EgE/s640/IMGP7287.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quiet street near the Stadium and University (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We unloaded the bikes, and pedalled off towards the roundabout on the way to Port Chalmers. At first the cycle track seemed very good, nice and wide. After several crossings to get to the other side of the roundabout, we headed off towards Port Chalmers, but then the cycle track disappeared, there was just a narrow footpath, which we rode on, but didn’t like it much. Then at a gap in the shrubbery I noticed that the track we should have been on ran well below the road we were on, alongside the water’s edge. So we turned around, and eventually found the place where the track proper started. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM6U0Eqi4P506uYst7brzxiS-BILfF0k6_sLYP75EUlJH5PiOOXNUDb5kvEJfOPNZKxp6388RsEB9PvMiqgBdvzrGFGcAr202Is0Qb-Wk2BfK2rIij2_GdT-p-hJVBno7flv49gklmOw/s1600/IMGP7288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM6U0Eqi4P506uYst7brzxiS-BILfF0k6_sLYP75EUlJH5PiOOXNUDb5kvEJfOPNZKxp6388RsEB9PvMiqgBdvzrGFGcAr202Is0Qb-Wk2BfK2rIij2_GdT-p-hJVBno7flv49gklmOw/s640/IMGP7288.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the Harbour Cycleway (photo by John) </td></tr>
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The Harbour Cycleway had been opened almost exactly a year ago, and was wide and sealed, running between the water and a railway line, for some distance, then later on the other side of the railway tracks. There were parklike areas with gym-style fitness machines in several places. We went under a ramp of the Ravensburg Factory (fertiliser, we think) which had a long jetty into the harbour. <br />
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A strong easterly wind was blowing, and though the track went as far as St Leonards, the headwind was getting so fierce as we came around the point about a kilometre short of there, that we decided to turn around and go back. This was where you could see the end of the harbour, out to sea, hence the strong wind. <br />
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Back at the beginning of the Harbour Cycleway, we continued on another track towards the central city, through the University. We ended up riding up George Street and turning into Union Street, and back through the University grounds, back to the car. We did 14.5 km. <br />
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The motel I had booked was in Musselburgh, on the Otago Peninsula side of the harbour, as we thought we could ride the cycle track skirting that side. It was a bit of a disappointment all round, because the motel was a dump. They put us into a unit behind the office, in the shade, through a carport with a hazardous surface and filled with building materials! If I hadn’t already paid for two nights, we would have left the next day, as the weather turned to rain, and we weren’t able to bike anyway. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf21yI8yy2ENxshEHt0Ailjib98eP_ZDHZmCtzfHOc2AfLsLiZPYnvvB-Qw4JU2BaEFH8hvBxCLrVk4PTVxfOaizUpgxYkJkB1FT1LWDFjWUCfPeU8Lm8pnLYzNR5ob48rySYptt1m2Q/s1600/IMGP7305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf21yI8yy2ENxshEHt0Ailjib98eP_ZDHZmCtzfHOc2AfLsLiZPYnvvB-Qw4JU2BaEFH8hvBxCLrVk4PTVxfOaizUpgxYkJkB1FT1LWDFjWUCfPeU8Lm8pnLYzNR5ob48rySYptt1m2Q/s640/IMGP7305.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access to our abysmal motel unit (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
Saturday 27 April – Dunedin </h4>
<br />
It was raining quite hard when we got up, so no biking today. Instead we went to the Otago Museum. An excellent place to spend a few hours. <br />
<br />
The rain abated a bit in the afternoon, so instead of biking around the Otago Peninsula, we drove out to Taiaroa Head, where the Royal Albatross Centre is. It is a beautiful area, but it was a bit bleak on this rainy day. <br />
<br />
On the way there, we noticed that the cycle track is intermittent, with some sections looking really good, others still being constructed (lots of roadworks) and some sections where there is no shoulder, let alone a cycle track. So it was perhaps just as well we didn’t try cycling there. Maybe in a year or two, when the track is completed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_-OqExECl5ef2VPKERqT95W0CZPCGh-SuSZGxNADz6ayBcd1NfPpeZy5VWZZ4UMblJ9z3oMekJNMbZ4dCAxqbQdWgWJ_PEaM8OxWUF0_OriHcIvlXCjyPzvOX0iBAK8-XEatuxH4WaU/s1600/IMGP7311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_-OqExECl5ef2VPKERqT95W0CZPCGh-SuSZGxNADz6ayBcd1NfPpeZy5VWZZ4UMblJ9z3oMekJNMbZ4dCAxqbQdWgWJ_PEaM8OxWUF0_OriHcIvlXCjyPzvOX0iBAK8-XEatuxH4WaU/s640/IMGP7311.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lighthouse at Taiaroa Head (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5iX1rfDhNj64tnwG653rYZ2XhYlTHph8ZYBHgiQfQPwVDum4bXVbqxJJac449-hrafqsSPAKw7__Mb1frK8z1uFwXG6EMrxvEhyphenhyphenvPnFUvufPOh7-GBoo_WKnnqTGFtEZkZghsBDP1jQ/s1600/IMGP7312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5iX1rfDhNj64tnwG653rYZ2XhYlTHph8ZYBHgiQfQPwVDum4bXVbqxJJac449-hrafqsSPAKw7__Mb1frK8z1uFwXG6EMrxvEhyphenhyphenvPnFUvufPOh7-GBoo_WKnnqTGFtEZkZghsBDP1jQ/s640/IMGP7312.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilot’s Beach is home to some <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/little-penguin-korora/" target="_blank">Little Blue Penguins (kororā)</a>, but we didn’t go down there (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Speaking of pilots (Pilot's Beach, above) − John’s grandfather was a pilot (the seafaring kind) at Taiaroa in the early 1900s. His mother recalls that when she was a child, the local school had to close, when the lighthouse keeper was transferred. He had eleven children and without them, the school was no longer viable … <br />
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<h4>
Sunday 28 April – Dunedin to Ashburton </h4>
<br />
The only interesting thing that happened on our way from Dunedin to Ashburton, was our stop in Oamaru. Because it was Sunday, all the little shops in the historic precinct were open, and we explored the bookshops and other shops. <br />
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At one of the bookshops, <a href="https://www.adventurebooks.co.nz/" target="_blank">Adventure Books</a>, there was a large collection of books on Antarctica, which was of interest to John. He has been to “the ice” on four occasions, on scientific research programmes, and like many people who have been there, fell in love with the place. He has a reasonable collection of books about Antarctica and its early explorers. <br />
<br />
While we were there browsing, the owner of the shop came and introduced himself − <a href="https://thisnzlife.co.nz/the-bookshop-at-the-end-of-the-world-discover-the-rare-treasures-of-adventure-books-in-oamaru/" target="_blank">Bill Nye</a> − and asked if John was an “OAE”. A what? An “Old Antarctic Explorer”. We had quite a long conversation – American, he had been an engineer on the <a href="https://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Ice-Snow/ANDRILL" target="_blank">ANDRILL drilling project</a> (to do with geology). He asked John what his connection to Antarctica was, and asked if he knew so and so, or such and such. John knew some of them. <br />
<br />
In the shop was a full-scale replica of the <i>James Caird</i>. The original<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_James_Caird" target="_blank"> <i>J</i><i>ames Caird</i> was a 23-foot lifeboat</a> in which explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, his captain Frank Worsley of Akaroa, and four other men made a voyage of 800 nautical miles in tempestuous open seas to summon help for the rescue of 22 men left behind on Elephant Island off the coast of Antarctica after their ship was crushed by pack ice on the Endurance expedition. The replica was used in the filming of the TV movie “<a href="https://www.makingmovies.co.nz/portfolio/shackleton-captain/" target="_blank"><i>Shackleton’s Captain</i>”</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMedv2wPENn1X13ME_Xlz6yc5uqBCs3z1Anm27yCv4Toui6WpfbCYTs8JmkNvz5skPjmcOpuOMJSMHycp9jBvHM6iSlstBPUdOXb26zir5ofLDqumY0C11WFj5MPqkrbsCT_Rfl7psII/s1600/IMGP7320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMedv2wPENn1X13ME_Xlz6yc5uqBCs3z1Anm27yCv4Toui6WpfbCYTs8JmkNvz5skPjmcOpuOMJSMHycp9jBvHM6iSlstBPUdOXb26zir5ofLDqumY0C11WFj5MPqkrbsCT_Rfl7psII/s640/IMGP7320.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A full-scale replica of the <i>James Caird</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
John had picked out a book of beautiful photos by Elliott Porter. When we went to the counter to pay, Bill showed us his “book of explorers”, a visitors’ book, and insisted that John should sign, and say something about his project or favourite thing about Antarctica. [PS - when we got home, John found that he already had a copy of that book!] <br />
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After that visit, we drove through to Ashburton, where we arrived in the mid-afternoon. The plan had been to bike the Lake Hood Trail – 9 km each way, beside the Ashburton River to Lake Hood. However, it was pretty windy, and we were tired, so we didn’t bike in the end. <br />
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<h4>
Monday 29 April – Going home </h4>
<br />
The trip home stands out for two reasons: visiting the Milltons of Waipapa in the Clarence Valley, and a dreadful ferry crossing. <br />
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From the Kaikoura Coast road, John wanted to have a “quick look” at the Clarence Valley, to see if we could find the people who owned the farm where, in the 1950s, his Uncle Charlie worked and had a <a href="http://www.jepspectro.com/htm/Hesperus_the_Pack_Cow.htm" target="_blank">pack-cow called Hesperus</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjOkARIYLZN7jiWWiPGATVF4nhWfRPe-2ZgZxfZDdKIw7JrdnRqedoMTjLStVqaCaYiyMCMspCjbLpmytKOy5PD8tGprHjtlhW4AX-6SjbvLliG0ubUNJYpPqsQux_byUKI8Xt64ysf4/s1600/Scan-180228-0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjOkARIYLZN7jiWWiPGATVF4nhWfRPe-2ZgZxfZDdKIw7JrdnRqedoMTjLStVqaCaYiyMCMspCjbLpmytKOy5PD8tGprHjtlhW4AX-6SjbvLliG0ubUNJYpPqsQux_byUKI8Xt64ysf4/s640/Scan-180228-0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hesperus, the pack-cow (photo by Charlie Patterson)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There is quite a back-story to this. When John was a boy, his shy and solitary Uncle Charlie used to send photos of his life on the farm on the Clarence River, and of his holidays at the back of the farm taking his pack-cow, Hesperus. John and his sister had always been fascinated by this story. <br />
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When the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake struck, there was a news item about some <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/world/hero-farmers-rescue-the-kaikoura-cows-earthquake-stranded-bovines-that-captured-new-zealands-heart" target="_blank">cows that got marooned </a>on an “island“ of grass that had slid down the hill, while all the rest of the paddock had disappeared from around them. <br />
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Subsequently, Jane Millton, on whose farm this had happened, wrote a children’s story about this – <i><a href="https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/picture-books/Moo-and-Moo-and-the-Little-Calf-too-Jane-Millton-illustrated-by-Deborah-Hinde-9781877505928" target="_blank">“Moo and Moo and the Little Calf too”</a></i>. John’s sister Diane (resident in Germany), who had been researching Uncle Charlie, suspected that this was the same area where Charlie had worked, and got in touch with Jane, who confirmed that this was indeed the same farm. <br />
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John was keen to meet these people. So we turned off SH1 just before the Clarence Bridge, and drove down the valley road. We met a man in a ute, whom John asked about where to find the Milltons. He told us to follow him, and then pointed out their homestead. <br />
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When we drove onto the property, Jane was picking up walnuts and Derrick was blowing autumn leaves in the courtyard. John introduced himself - <i>“I’m John Patterson, the nephew of Charlie Patterson, who worked on this farm in the 50s”</i>. Yes, they immediately knew what it was about, and even said that John looked like Charlie. John said he would like to show them some photos of Charlie. They invited us in, made tea/coffee, cheese toasties for lunch, and we were there for about two hours! <br />
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John showed them his website, which they were very interested in. Jane had known Charlie when she was a girl, and pointed to a corner of the house “<i>we still call that Charlie’s room</i>”. She showed us the letter she had received from Diane, and the photos she had sent – some of which John had never seen – and she had a photo of Charlie and her father. John took photos of the photos, and Jane gave us photo-copies of Diane’s letter and her German translation of “<i>Moo, Moo and the little Calf too</i>” – it’s a very nice translation, I think. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXUbCh_0jPtNGBFc9oMP6BQx4PybJTiJtnLc029L2nPCxR0XoU1z8IfRa43MDCZeTMM6U_RtN55jx3_GEVTGlm2F7eokvcy3BCQrSG52oHocBv0_XYFYFwMVa-4IZVJQWiY-QgbUMdGg/s1600/IMGP7328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXUbCh_0jPtNGBFc9oMP6BQx4PybJTiJtnLc029L2nPCxR0XoU1z8IfRa43MDCZeTMM6U_RtN55jx3_GEVTGlm2F7eokvcy3BCQrSG52oHocBv0_XYFYFwMVa-4IZVJQWiY-QgbUMdGg/s640/IMGP7328.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane Millton checks out John’s photos of Charlie and Hesperus (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHce2znwfWRmqdTTiy3ITkrbMqdNPOQCAS83DHedYKSClZsNVPkBPGEy1n4MORkBKFqFHYYYw6_qXWIOv1CiNiDdIHGWU_SXhESvlRy2Rc8atJ0_iAmzj3qJo9AJA60J_Dlc9z1dW0wQI/s1600/IMGP7346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHce2znwfWRmqdTTiy3ITkrbMqdNPOQCAS83DHedYKSClZsNVPkBPGEy1n4MORkBKFqFHYYYw6_qXWIOv1CiNiDdIHGWU_SXhESvlRy2Rc8atJ0_iAmzj3qJo9AJA60J_Dlc9z1dW0wQI/s640/IMGP7346.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derrick and Jane (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While Jane was making copies of the letters, Derrick told us about the earthquake − how scary it had been, and the damage that had been done to the farm. He was actually in Blenheim when the quake struck, on a business trip, and when he heard that the epicentre of the quake was 41 km north of Kaikoura, he knew that was their place, so he returned in a hurry, over damaged roads, and had to walk the last few kilometres because of a slip on the way. He said that before the quake one could see the top of the roof of a building above the trees, but when he got back “<i>there was something wrong, I could see the whole roof. The land had risen by 10 metres!</i>”, and other bits had dropped. Some paddocks had been split apart, and plastic drainage pipes had been stretched to a very small diameter. Some of his neighbours whose land had risen said that it had felt like going up in a lift! The farm land sustained a lot of damage, which after months of work is now almost back to usable land. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmABpqe0Xb69neZPEX9OWPxODPE7Ee79EOSwKygP7V5vWgfvlsB8Opwno0ULJG3_YBoWdXQeXbbBXqzK4a2CVhP6Ay_ez2fsT-VogV_KN2UexfQddfiPwvK8Sut97z3y26qEV0lXOmg0/s1600/IMGP7352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmABpqe0Xb69neZPEX9OWPxODPE7Ee79EOSwKygP7V5vWgfvlsB8Opwno0ULJG3_YBoWdXQeXbbBXqzK4a2CVhP6Ay_ez2fsT-VogV_KN2UexfQddfiPwvK8Sut97z3y26qEV0lXOmg0/s640/IMGP7352.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The farm seen from the homestead, extends into these hills. The white hillsides are limestone (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Jane and Derrick were absolutely lovely people, so welcoming, and so interested in Charlie. They showed us Charlie’s room – the outside is the same, the inside now different, of course – and around their garden, pointed out various features of the landscape, and the hills where Charlie had worked, and taken his “holidays” with Hesperus the pack-cow. Jane thought that he must have trained Hesperus from a calf, that had possibly been “mis-mothered”. She was a Hereford cow, and still had horns. Horns were later bred out of the Hereford breed. <br />
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After a good two hours, we had to leave as we had a ferry to catch. Jane gave me a large box full of walnuts to take away. It had been a lovely visit. Since we came home, John has updated the <a href="http://www.jepspectro.com/htm/Hesperus_the_Pack_Cow.htm" target="_blank">Hesperus story on his website</a>. <br />
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Back on the road, and we arrived in Picton with enough time to have a coffee and muffin at a café, before lining up for the Bluebridge. <br />
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I had figured that driving all day, we would be tired, and since it was an option on this particular ferry, I had booked a cabin for the trip, even though it was supposed to be only three and a half hours long. I thought it would be nice to have our own private space to be able to stretch out and perhaps sleep. At $40 for a two-berth cabin with ensuite, clean linen and towels, this was very good value. <br />
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And, boy, was I glad we had booked that. It turned out to be a very rough crossing. <br />
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As we pulled up to boarding queue, I looked for my sea-sick pills (I'm a very poor sailor), but couldn’t find them. It was a flat calm in Picton, and it had generally been a calm day, no wind, so I didn’t worry too much about not having them. BIG MISTAKE! Because we hadn’t seen or heard the <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/112307548/winds-in-wellington-could-hit-110kmh-metservice-says?rm=m" target="_blank">weather forecast</a> … <br />
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We were among the early cars to board. Our little car was dwarfed by the huge double-decker trailer trucks full of cattle, in front and on either side of us. We immediately went to our cabin. It was lovely – small, but with two (low) bunks with crisp clean sheets and duvets, a small drop-down table between them, a window, and an ensuite with a toilet, basin and shower. White robes on a hook, and clean towels on the beds. Perfect. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tneTaovSF3GQvIwUkSxDS1lNHJJHU-aXu6lbiXQLRJwdkCBL8HK0AmsWEHSZcH0FsLgcYJwzoRETHDFufgs8TyR51yYLKyQo-_l26AhZtMO6_uhiOpt7KXOR5oUqei0QNux_fHVNXJg/s1600/IMGP7359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tneTaovSF3GQvIwUkSxDS1lNHJJHU-aXu6lbiXQLRJwdkCBL8HK0AmsWEHSZcH0FsLgcYJwzoRETHDFufgs8TyR51yYLKyQo-_l26AhZtMO6_uhiOpt7KXOR5oUqei0QNux_fHVNXJg/s640/IMGP7359.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cabin on the Bluebridge ferry (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We didn’t wait for the ship to leave, but immediately lay down and I tried to sleep, but sleep didn’t come. I think we left later than scheduled. The journey started out quite nice and smooth – while we were in the Sounds – but as soon as we hit Cook Strait, it started to pitch and roll. I managed to stave off seasickness for perhaps an hour, but then it got so bad that I had to rush to the toilet to throw up. Yuck! Feeling terrible, I went back to lie down, but not for long … I was sick several times during the trip. Thank goodness I was able to be sick in the privacy of our own bathroom! It must have been mayhem up in the public areas ...<br />
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Even when we were in Wellington Harbour, it stayed rough. The trip took much longer than it should have. We were supposed to arrive in Wellington at 10:30, but it was after midnight before the ferry had docked. It seemed to take an inordinately long time to dock. We had been called to return cabin keys, but it was another hour before we could go down to the car to disembark. <br />
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When we were told we could go down to the cars, the announcer said <i>“We hope that at least <b>some</b> of you have enjoyed your journey with us”</i> … Yeah, right! <br />
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We finally got home at 1am. Aaah, my own bed – bliss! It had been a great holiday, but what a finale!<br />
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<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-4015666893347495602019-05-23T00:34:00.005+12:002019-09-28T14:13:29.642+12:00Clutha Gold Trail and other adventures – Part 3 <br />
<br />
Here is Part 3 of our recent trip to the South Island. There were two reasons for the trip: one was to attend a three-day Scottish Country Dance school during the Easter weekend in Owaka, in the Catlins; the other was to bike the Clutha Gold Trail, from Lawrence to Roxburgh. We also did a bit of cycling around Owaka, and some touristy drives around the Catlins. On the way down we biked in Christchurch, and on the way back we biked in Dunedin. <br />
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We were away for 13 days, so I have written up this story in four parts. Here are the links to <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_19.html" target="_blank">Part 2 </a>and <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_26.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>. <br />
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<h4>
Wednesday 24 April – Clutha Gold Trail: Millers Flat to Lawrence </h4>
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Today we were biking part of the <a href="https://www.cluthagold.co.nz/" target="_blank">Clutha Gold Trail</a>. The full trail goes from the Roxburgh Dam, via Millers Flat and Beaumont to Lawrence. It is a total distance of 73 km, and could be done in one day, as the track is easy and mostly flat, but the recommended time is two days. <br />
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We wanted to stay in Lawrence, and not have to organise accommodation half-way, so we arranged for a shuttle to take us to Millers Flat, from where we would ride 45 km back to Lawrence. Then the next day we would drive to Roxburgh and do an out-and-back ride for the rest of the track. <br />
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Well before the trip, I had contacted <a href="https://www.cluthagold.co.nz/lawrence-bike-hire.html" target="_blank">Lawrence Bike Transfers</a>, and arranged for the shuttle to pick us up from our cottage at 9am. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRdC0H-8q7geD892l4bJ63bDyKQURKaZ0iAYIE_ZdXJUfShBQ_ZE911eOqBbDGc3otw6ntdkjpgnisIqcrZ4GII-gmAA4IVY-LffxozyRGNo82xtWt7EyFcpecjGO00Ca7XV0H4uNKZs/s1600/IMG_5275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRdC0H-8q7geD892l4bJ63bDyKQURKaZ0iAYIE_ZdXJUfShBQ_ZE911eOqBbDGc3otw6ntdkjpgnisIqcrZ4GII-gmAA4IVY-LffxozyRGNo82xtWt7EyFcpecjGO00Ca7XV0H4uNKZs/s400/IMG_5275.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bikes are ready, waiting for the shuttle to pick us up (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Jude Gamble duly came to collect us in her van. She wisely had thought that the folding bikes would not fit on the trailer (because of the wheel size). And since there were no other passengers, we managed to put the bikes in the van without having to fold them. <br />
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We drove to Beaumont, where Jude had to pick up her partner, Mouse, from a house they are building as tourist accommodation. Jude told us they used to own a shearing business, employing 50 people, but they sold out of that and are now into the accommodation and shuttling business. <br />
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They dropped us at Millers Flat, outside Faigan’s, the local café, where we had been told the coffee and scones were excellent. And they were. While we were there a whole lot of people arrived − the local community get-together, we suspect. We managed to get there just in time, before them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eI76nWxZC2kC6pQgaDpuJSnehJNoCNxj5CLMyphUIBCUtbYpIIQuMreCE1TCMQnXgfeK2zBa6QIVnG4HMoeuVkm5DiQjCnxskRVaPG5XFcQ_BPkUS-wb79wtySzhQ6sGOVsV5VvbtK0/s1600/IMGP7176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eI76nWxZC2kC6pQgaDpuJSnehJNoCNxj5CLMyphUIBCUtbYpIIQuMreCE1TCMQnXgfeK2zBa6QIVnG4HMoeuVkm5DiQjCnxskRVaPG5XFcQ_BPkUS-wb79wtySzhQ6sGOVsV5VvbtK0/s640/IMGP7176.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jude and Mouse dropped us in Millers Flat (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLAHULEtIR0O9iTRk4gFtsou5itpQFAe0n6GxMAF0SPov0NMaETU5SfJ2XoSY47AS0sYIEPBh92Cxnm8Zuk6tTxls0ATTuZSxvgWGnoHKMk13HY8a2HNiLJCLVqVrdFQDBoGbb1yHxTo/s1600/P1070260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLAHULEtIR0O9iTRk4gFtsou5itpQFAe0n6GxMAF0SPov0NMaETU5SfJ2XoSY47AS0sYIEPBh92Cxnm8Zuk6tTxls0ATTuZSxvgWGnoHKMk13HY8a2HNiLJCLVqVrdFQDBoGbb1yHxTo/s640/P1070260.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coffee and scones were excellent (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We started biking the Trail. The first section from Millers Flat to Beaumont was absolutely stunning – it follows the Clutha River, on the left bank (when facing down stream). It is a very fast flowing river, quite wide, and the water is a beautiful turquoise colour – amazing. The track was undulating – sometimes, we were high above the river, and other times we were almost at river level – but it was never steep. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRB0UDVNgv3MOG8zAQxou-46D1dSWgkFGMlgwFHUAmPFYo_rEx4VDCSh427DVGVDz6W_v-6VMDk0ewafsQPS7xh3Y8gt5csqCI0DjXhHSyLg16KuYH7zGXiZQzuR0gm6i6iuT_tfw8eb0/s1600/IMGP7188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRB0UDVNgv3MOG8zAQxou-46D1dSWgkFGMlgwFHUAmPFYo_rEx4VDCSh427DVGVDz6W_v-6VMDk0ewafsQPS7xh3Y8gt5csqCI0DjXhHSyLg16KuYH7zGXiZQzuR0gm6i6iuT_tfw8eb0/s640/IMGP7188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes we were high above the river … (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ISLiAJEA_dArBzyI7lk-WVEXZUWv1GwE3zYk3rxn8EvbV-kMReMyEWj74zU4FGkFsfS1wBwgh_xGNdL17Zq8ePwdaKjvw9j75Nj20BDIqr4z_OdNsixZe0bc7pD3ZI9NfV-3iiU5fUM/s1600/IMGP7183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ISLiAJEA_dArBzyI7lk-WVEXZUWv1GwE3zYk3rxn8EvbV-kMReMyEWj74zU4FGkFsfS1wBwgh_xGNdL17Zq8ePwdaKjvw9j75Nj20BDIqr4z_OdNsixZe0bc7pD3ZI9NfV-3iiU5fUM/s640/IMGP7183.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… other times we were quite close to it (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Everywhere beautiful trees in autumn colours, the poplars in glorious gold, the willows with their smaller leaves looking more green and gold, sycamores in gold and brown, and then there were the berries. I love the fragrance of the poplar leaves – earthy and kind of sweet. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qd8RgZ0fO3eeFR5tD_AGEClsG_-lEj79LRLGZkHzgKEwCiBGUMcvvvF2X0hu_y95F_HDhoDjjT0n0T-gk3K943vOZqhgFvQdpacPwdvwsBcDoefbBcrmjVY5sD6u45EHXQpIdsWrwRw/s1600/IMGP7181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qd8RgZ0fO3eeFR5tD_AGEClsG_-lEj79LRLGZkHzgKEwCiBGUMcvvvF2X0hu_y95F_HDhoDjjT0n0T-gk3K943vOZqhgFvQdpacPwdvwsBcDoefbBcrmjVY5sD6u45EHXQpIdsWrwRw/s640/IMGP7181.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glorious golden poplars (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sj_5-clgB80WIpOngH1hYlIFsBeC5gzZwj4AtP4sViSKMthPO0r_di8kYvn0MR31wr1NTnjCTZGzjsiPM8zGzR-Ei4yJUMADC2EDgI-mWBXBCm2l9tfHab9u-Xm-N8Xv9lyckgJV5OU/s1600/P1070268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sj_5-clgB80WIpOngH1hYlIFsBeC5gzZwj4AtP4sViSKMthPO0r_di8kYvn0MR31wr1NTnjCTZGzjsiPM8zGzR-Ei4yJUMADC2EDgI-mWBXBCm2l9tfHab9u-Xm-N8Xv9lyckgJV5OU/s640/P1070268.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The green and yellow of the willows (photo by John)</td></tr>
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I was very taken with trees that look an all over reddish colour from a distance, but when you get close up, you see that the colour is actually millions of deep red berries. I’m not sure what these berries are − I think they may be elderberries. [PS - I have since found out that they are <a href="https://herbs.org.nz/hawthorn/" target="_blank">hawthorn</a> berries]. I found it surprising that the birds, of which there seemed to be plenty around, appeared not to be interested in the berries. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxBK6wCy3JJ9nVCkZHt2IJ3NfTWbehIJ9JnAKZnA_6JAz4dKU26RQASrnCRPBDeFU47B5o-wGox-Z6tv4cB7A1QDY2z0CEN-q6_-4lrgHOhxtcQVbmWzgRCpE_w9KHIhqWXOcqgRtmww/s1600/IMGP7185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxBK6wCy3JJ9nVCkZHt2IJ3NfTWbehIJ9JnAKZnA_6JAz4dKU26RQASrnCRPBDeFU47B5o-wGox-Z6tv4cB7A1QDY2z0CEN-q6_-4lrgHOhxtcQVbmWzgRCpE_w9KHIhqWXOcqgRtmww/s640/IMGP7185.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were lots of hawthorn trees laden with millions of berries (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We stopped often to take photos. Here is a selection – it was really hard to choose from the dozens of photos we took. John had no fewer than three cameras with him, plus his phone, all of which he used. He was really glad that he took his big Pentax K-5 this time. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NAqF41KeYBlepGnezxH5YFuOq72Wk2MVQxNRYOEciT0U-ZA3SS6Fwc1Z2wT_EavoMVffElFN1EukXWyzav0mdAQUTKmJyZXYC89LbMsel66BFtrsR2_eCVuuyy9RMdBbipFxh2e4FEc/s1600/IMG_2662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NAqF41KeYBlepGnezxH5YFuOq72Wk2MVQxNRYOEciT0U-ZA3SS6Fwc1Z2wT_EavoMVffElFN1EukXWyzav0mdAQUTKmJyZXYC89LbMsel66BFtrsR2_eCVuuyy9RMdBbipFxh2e4FEc/s640/IMG_2662.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky outcrops </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcCBoYmV9ixgLitCYBrSS9SloQ_q6ZGGw0L8MMnSNhxgxDCm3up-LXh1awAh4EgXGaCEXLCjbBi8wTLrHrNw38Zu61FjatvYlhwXuxtssKSISPD8yLq9i_fZb1Z_NACb3dH5HulGl3RA/s1600/IMGP7192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcCBoYmV9ixgLitCYBrSS9SloQ_q6ZGGw0L8MMnSNhxgxDCm3up-LXh1awAh4EgXGaCEXLCjbBi8wTLrHrNw38Zu61FjatvYlhwXuxtssKSISPD8yLq9i_fZb1Z_NACb3dH5HulGl3RA/s640/IMGP7192.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a lot of information boards along the track, detailing historical features, or plant and bird life (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElhaXmcC1K-W2YOutMnL2Qcl0AG3KOS8hZBnLrB0Sf6FEWxLvI91i2a4EDWNgQ83Q2ASWPUfZjZEiWXHj0j1HtwtOU2qmT-RX9VRPq9OD-MhmJ7oxE1gNOpzQkjtQ6628j-CQuxZVwa8/s1600/P1070273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElhaXmcC1K-W2YOutMnL2Qcl0AG3KOS8hZBnLrB0Sf6FEWxLvI91i2a4EDWNgQ83Q2ASWPUfZjZEiWXHj0j1HtwtOU2qmT-RX9VRPq9OD-MhmJ7oxE1gNOpzQkjtQ6628j-CQuxZVwa8/s640/P1070273.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No further explanation needed (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3HY7F9PZKjAC2R58sjs0mVttAhBszSZPQ-HO81LP9NgpRnlMcN1KfWrfi9f_RH8_l5C55dxocQVaJaGqCtTtcvR44xCSYm6gMgbbBZzSY7uTXObMAnWta8yqRuJF9bX3hma_MCmIktE/s1600/IMGP7193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3HY7F9PZKjAC2R58sjs0mVttAhBszSZPQ-HO81LP9NgpRnlMcN1KfWrfi9f_RH8_l5C55dxocQVaJaGqCtTtcvR44xCSYm6gMgbbBZzSY7uTXObMAnWta8yqRuJF9bX3hma_MCmIktE/s640/IMGP7193.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A disused shed on farmland … (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPekPDh8ZzmTX5DpcFzDYYZuXD8nfWdbk20u7_CkRCdUnypfY6u8tQd5YP1Lu-dhmcAg_xGVXx7zWWYWr-E34qGAr_vzDcMrVg4vFTIB0KNVq5IGk_0FubeR4J3T9c01nOh-EQQqTZIBY/s1600/IMGP7194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPekPDh8ZzmTX5DpcFzDYYZuXD8nfWdbk20u7_CkRCdUnypfY6u8tQd5YP1Lu-dhmcAg_xGVXx7zWWYWr-E34qGAr_vzDcMrVg4vFTIB0KNVq5IGk_0FubeR4J3T9c01nOh-EQQqTZIBY/s640/IMGP7194.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and a disused old car nearby (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH37jT2m2eXGfs_aDs_0uYlAvIuUf1BUqW9ltJakQTwdPkDccmKJcQA2JtBXchVuejhfFhcyeesoaf9caKdNQln_zy2ISRbKgq-t-cUH4B1bynHLDVvc7JndAy_jCnRgWI7DO6rIvm6qI/s1600/IMGP7197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH37jT2m2eXGfs_aDs_0uYlAvIuUf1BUqW9ltJakQTwdPkDccmKJcQA2JtBXchVuejhfFhcyeesoaf9caKdNQln_zy2ISRbKgq-t-cUH4B1bynHLDVvc7JndAy_jCnRgWI7DO6rIvm6qI/s640/IMGP7197.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tallaburn bridge (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KSfPcUCZ7G5fB9CwUNhoZrnGxSTgVVAYq1HoQfD_9V19sYkx9bVvU2LqMCSOZilkaGqY2ZBf6YeEDw7bGy8G8oKncZODE6ZUvDNmqdPoOv2n7rW-gXKHIMMYY_4mbLdM-lAJlYGgp9o/s1600/IMGP7202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KSfPcUCZ7G5fB9CwUNhoZrnGxSTgVVAYq1HoQfD_9V19sYkx9bVvU2LqMCSOZilkaGqY2ZBf6YeEDw7bGy8G8oKncZODE6ZUvDNmqdPoOv2n7rW-gXKHIMMYY_4mbLdM-lAJlYGgp9o/s640/IMGP7202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful rocks (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S80qmLcx1ZZS19QkmGjtWYTVJFN7eUsTAfp22lgGQd9n_C0DWFhOx4BZtlTAzIlhQQLfALudB8Ay8bd1lO624B4rfAUg3j_WLhmBA8XqnD7fKtI8A7epjhUb8gmBWaCtYsnSU9TH6NY/s1600/IMGP7203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S80qmLcx1ZZS19QkmGjtWYTVJFN7eUsTAfp22lgGQd9n_C0DWFhOx4BZtlTAzIlhQQLfALudB8Ay8bd1lO624B4rfAUg3j_WLhmBA8XqnD7fKtI8A7epjhUb8gmBWaCtYsnSU9TH6NY/s640/IMGP7203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The landscape away from the river (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qrMZEv5iwmqBnmH5nA23jeN8rqEOpz2dOT1jWnkEZIeffBHAU54qfcDVWRNL4mRCElBFv7dhqM0d_iWRjiJrsH3DvR_JNzlF1h1ShrE98JvqY64Urgg0XZ64GaC-SBXtN57plMCZZrw/s1600/IMG_2687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qrMZEv5iwmqBnmH5nA23jeN8rqEOpz2dOT1jWnkEZIeffBHAU54qfcDVWRNL4mRCElBFv7dhqM0d_iWRjiJrsH3DvR_JNzlF1h1ShrE98JvqY64Urgg0XZ64GaC-SBXtN57plMCZZrw/s640/IMG_2687.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is John photographing a dead elephant? … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe7nkCIWoVliWAy01BhbT92cTBVWHhwPIbaQEsw4IAl2Qjegs7eIA9a49RiAZ4miiejY4F2cOhA0mhJS2Vl2kJe1qhaevt1mJfbKsMqCv20IfvdREAQPO6egNbebEuRTRtbcl35KmEbY/s1600/IMGP7204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe7nkCIWoVliWAy01BhbT92cTBVWHhwPIbaQEsw4IAl2Qjegs7eIA9a49RiAZ4miiejY4F2cOhA0mhJS2Vl2kJe1qhaevt1mJfbKsMqCv20IfvdREAQPO6egNbebEuRTRtbcl35KmEbY/s640/IMGP7204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… no, he was photographing this gorgeous rock (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At about halfway, we met a young Frenchman who was biking alone, all loaded down with front and back panniers and a tent on top. He had spent nearly a year in NZ, working in Auckland for six months and biking when he could. His name was Gaël, and he had biked from Balclutha that day. He seemed to have covered every interesting bike trail in NZ, though he missed out on the West Coast Wilderness Trail, as he was there after the heavy rains that caused the track to be closed. He even got across the Waiho River (near Franz Josef) on the <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111852077/dump-truck-ferry-carries-up-to-100-each-day-across-bridgeless-waiho-river" target="_blank">back of a truck</a> (because the bridge was damaged by floods). He started his journey in Paris nearly two years ago, biked through Asia to NZ, and had biked nearly 20,000 km. Impressive! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqLXTNUQZqVd_W1MYC2KQ9CKFQ36Qmzf6ItgO72Ib1B5QE-bay9UaQ9eG5i-Prnk9I59I_6-ddfYJnwxM_q7C4p0zQw1Vk2zZhCkNRf68GtOaFZUG6csNdn5_aXUfRLIga1I_Jmxz0e8/s1600/IMGP7208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqLXTNUQZqVd_W1MYC2KQ9CKFQ36Qmzf6ItgO72Ib1B5QE-bay9UaQ9eG5i-Prnk9I59I_6-ddfYJnwxM_q7C4p0zQw1Vk2zZhCkNRf68GtOaFZUG6csNdn5_aXUfRLIga1I_Jmxz0e8/s640/IMGP7208.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We met a young Frenchman, Gaël, who was touring NZ by bike (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Just there, where we stood and talked, there was a picnic area with a couple of tables, so that is where we stopped to eat the picnic lunch that we had brought along. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_9WKZJ69vYnWT6MiP6m_aca-a3sYdFks_wn2A8kGr3XbLncINJ-bTquM5DizZJH51FrwbFcjYp7VMvXjGkPpHJfBeh9hq_-RQv7MYM_lcrkvuqBS3I559HYt3NtdTcK03pPfasKcIMA/s1600/IMG_2691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_9WKZJ69vYnWT6MiP6m_aca-a3sYdFks_wn2A8kGr3XbLncINJ-bTquM5DizZJH51FrwbFcjYp7VMvXjGkPpHJfBeh9hq_-RQv7MYM_lcrkvuqBS3I559HYt3NtdTcK03pPfasKcIMA/s640/IMG_2691.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ate our picnic lunch here </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n_A09tWVdq6nI0eJoJhfUBgQ1i2Zbqom52K_FLI0Dkvl1jSZYBZinWmDZqFk0DueUjj9Cw5fb4Tis8scoefue7TXcxUm52a9JPdyBd2lucp5hBYDVgFgJK6oRd65XCsZMGZdV3v5Sn0/s1600/IMGP7212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n_A09tWVdq6nI0eJoJhfUBgQ1i2Zbqom52K_FLI0Dkvl1jSZYBZinWmDZqFk0DueUjj9Cw5fb4Tis8scoefue7TXcxUm52a9JPdyBd2lucp5hBYDVgFgJK6oRd65XCsZMGZdV3v5Sn0/s640/IMGP7212.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful spot for a picnic (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We pedalled into Beaumont soon after, and we crossed the bridge to have coffee at the pub. I must say the coffee was terrible, but at least we were able to use the loo. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg532PH43mSyDV92FS3e4_Yy1tG65EDwYK4bUaMrsQWeua8dVmhj-kdhyphenhyphen01KO-U3TomWmkDd0I0hos8pVcHchPhIe759meLjw7fdfsAsxUvUR-IV-mrslyEr8-qXxGsydQNICL9uuuc0zM/s1600/P1070280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg532PH43mSyDV92FS3e4_Yy1tG65EDwYK4bUaMrsQWeua8dVmhj-kdhyphenhyphen01KO-U3TomWmkDd0I0hos8pVcHchPhIe759meLjw7fdfsAsxUvUR-IV-mrslyEr8-qXxGsydQNICL9uuuc0zM/s640/P1070280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Beaumont pub (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The track from Beaumont back to Lawrence was quite different from the earlier section. It veered away from the river, and ran mostly through farmland, alongside the main road, which it crossed several times. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWQ_gM1Co2S1rM0HBpjay4qM4ANlh0VjHxEqpkcVyoulRlrW-l34lLboGHmFz2q4au_bq4S8z1eCRCcq0WO-r61UIKDXP2_3I9TB-OVfwIro0RlGMI7Z4j1b3h0F0-FFUtJkUIjlS0RI/s1600/P1070281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWQ_gM1Co2S1rM0HBpjay4qM4ANlh0VjHxEqpkcVyoulRlrW-l34lLboGHmFz2q4au_bq4S8z1eCRCcq0WO-r61UIKDXP2_3I9TB-OVfwIro0RlGMI7Z4j1b3h0F0-FFUtJkUIjlS0RI/s640/P1070281.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail now ran mostly through farmland (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6POOLhJZ89KbhPzO9-FEjYYzcqZOiIQgCB_EQC4zj2Q_VN7jRBnBn_y6KxBUWFwlEaKUFYW1gZalkmxSwgT4pT5HToUUd702HoKAdAGSnf_GtWr-lWd25YW3CSUdnAEb4gsUgCGC3n-s/s1600/P1070284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6POOLhJZ89KbhPzO9-FEjYYzcqZOiIQgCB_EQC4zj2Q_VN7jRBnBn_y6KxBUWFwlEaKUFYW1gZalkmxSwgT4pT5HToUUd702HoKAdAGSnf_GtWr-lWd25YW3CSUdnAEb4gsUgCGC3n-s/s640/P1070284.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the slightly steeper bits of track alongside SH8 (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Across a paddock, I was struck by the colours of the trees – yellow in the front row, red in the middle row and dark green of the pine forest beyond. The red trees were not autumn leaves – they were red berries.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcVsg4DQL2oHIviSmEr_7BeL-qrKDkYoe5rkDEw9XeoRTrr20FxoWPUG4YaJy5VYMxz5HYeuoCpsBid_onQKPtoI2Kb852w7VjggsdFs_bUr_wtkx_ZjdkpzyZekk9YX9di5CQe0M2-c/s1600/IMGP7215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcVsg4DQL2oHIviSmEr_7BeL-qrKDkYoe5rkDEw9XeoRTrr20FxoWPUG4YaJy5VYMxz5HYeuoCpsBid_onQKPtoI2Kb852w7VjggsdFs_bUr_wtkx_ZjdkpzyZekk9YX9di5CQe0M2-c/s640/IMGP7215.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contrasting colours (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
We stopped to talk to a couple of people on SmartMotion bikes (full size). They were interested in my blog, and wanted to know if we had ever taken the bikes overseas, and how to deal with the batteries (which can’t be taken on the plane) as they were going to bike in Europe. No, we hadn’t taken the bikes overseas, we are happy to stay in NZ and explore as much of it as we can from the bike trail. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgib96tFKJ0HQupXJaDJqAppOiei7buGaaP-fTd78Cd2hvcTU9Cnio-sYCTizsoLeMUAFnTG0RYY0ZXRs-De1NsnHaj0ed5J9y9kB3HaA5P8DPF6FSzDDy-1nORXUMrzZ-oAkhyphenhyphenbiXYk80/s1600/IMGP7217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgib96tFKJ0HQupXJaDJqAppOiei7buGaaP-fTd78Cd2hvcTU9Cnio-sYCTizsoLeMUAFnTG0RYY0ZXRs-De1NsnHaj0ed5J9y9kB3HaA5P8DPF6FSzDDy-1nORXUMrzZ-oAkhyphenhyphenbiXYk80/s640/IMGP7217.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kindred spirits on SmartMotion bikes (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Along the way, there is a tunnel, but it couldn’t be used, because of a slip just outside of it on the Lawrence side. So there was a diversion, where we had to ride on the road. The tunnel went <b><i>through</i></b> the hill, but we had to get <b><i>up and over</i></b> it, of course. Luckily the steep uphill bit of road had a slow-vehicle lane, that was all ours, and there wasn’t much traffic anyway. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuTdXnR-3xeg0EpuC8-VJOwR2W49wF54Yw55rtUK3AIZI9mTsZL44uzWeW-qblb8pYcQIRvcifeDKSG4Q4cCjfyUJwFQGHawZ4uNclN8MRIWmEmLdtZUDpewjQ6M-O7tK0pIUqbMqNn0/s1600/P1070283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuTdXnR-3xeg0EpuC8-VJOwR2W49wF54Yw55rtUK3AIZI9mTsZL44uzWeW-qblb8pYcQIRvcifeDKSG4Q4cCjfyUJwFQGHawZ4uNclN8MRIWmEmLdtZUDpewjQ6M-O7tK0pIUqbMqNn0/s640/P1070283.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing up to the road, because we couldn’t use the tunnel, I was glad of the “walk-assist” on my bike (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9J4cFGjQuu4FOpIHOprGkmNZCdbmuz7ZGeZC1RF1fB8F-OVMjq2CFdEMUXUV4ig1KuHOS4DWJCP4QujrZ_ATSqaIqXddf3LcLnqLR819pNaSiVTLiSMV-Oa9Z_naoGltmurnS2VqWQOw/s1600/IMGP7221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9J4cFGjQuu4FOpIHOprGkmNZCdbmuz7ZGeZC1RF1fB8F-OVMjq2CFdEMUXUV4ig1KuHOS4DWJCP4QujrZ_ATSqaIqXddf3LcLnqLR819pNaSiVTLiSMV-Oa9Z_naoGltmurnS2VqWQOw/s640/IMGP7221.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hereford cattle near the track (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was just on 4pm when we arrived back in Lawrence, having biked 48 km all up. We treated ourselves to an ice cream at the corner dairy, and enjoyed it at a convenient picnic table by the side of the road. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj23gy7HDdvTxpRnqOw8_l5vy5W2UVYrnQqVlCB6sOhMQsT6eKXK0v5HwOeUW2-kT_je9wf0PnSuhwQfLkXn0seKgL3ylb9aY62iUfGUd4ukt8llUPh4xNkRUXkHvXlKI_5IbpvGEA0o4/s1600/IMG_2696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj23gy7HDdvTxpRnqOw8_l5vy5W2UVYrnQqVlCB6sOhMQsT6eKXK0v5HwOeUW2-kT_je9wf0PnSuhwQfLkXn0seKgL3ylb9aY62iUfGUd4ukt8llUPh4xNkRUXkHvXlKI_5IbpvGEA0o4/s640/IMG_2696.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving back in Lawrence </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
Thursday 25 April – Clutha Gold Trail: Roxburgh Dam to Millers Flat </h4>
<br />
Having biked the Millers Flat to Lawrence “half” of the trail, today we set out to see how much of the other half we could do as an out-and-back ride. This section was in two parts – Roxburgh Dam to Roxburgh, and Roxburgh to Millers Flat. <br />
<br />
So off we went to Roxburgh. We pulled into Millers Flat first to see if that nice café was open, but it wasn’t. It was Anzac Day and nothing opened till midday. So on we went to Roxburgh. The closer we got, the more glorious the colours on the trees – lots of fabulous golden poplar trees, and after Ettrick (a place neither of us had ever heard of), lots of orchards with leaves turning orange and red. Fabulous. This is orchard country, growing stonefruit – cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums – and apples. <br />
<br />
We had decided to bike from Roxburgh back to Miller’s Flat and back (19.4 km each way), but we wanted to have a look at the Roxburgh Dam first. It is quite impressive. We drove across the dam, and saw where the Clutha Gold Trail starts, but we were not starting there. So we drove back, stopped in the middle of the dam to take photos. The wind had got up, it was quite strong coming down the gorge. And it became more cloudy, so we thought we’d better get on with it. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxqbPXWzLC0F28rGFbRhVAvMCnhDh4Y9-Tsa5WO-C3xiKQFkK9ICiS2wUE7CmFC2Lx1gdiKGDBBJFOhEs-YjgjWenpVcod_IEcDE6o_oEPCB-N3TCoWjowqYl0PoF268RYi7WKwbIRrA/s1600/IMGP7228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxqbPXWzLC0F28rGFbRhVAvMCnhDh4Y9-Tsa5WO-C3xiKQFkK9ICiS2wUE7CmFC2Lx1gdiKGDBBJFOhEs-YjgjWenpVcod_IEcDE6o_oEPCB-N3TCoWjowqYl0PoF268RYi7WKwbIRrA/s640/IMGP7228.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roxburgh Dam, seen from downstream (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAJUq_Rwx8QzZv8TMMRPS3lp87NeG2QZtvqId8ocR8xC2OPGeV8QqT-IJtADVj4PeKD7Jfi10hnpxGvHjaO58W7ppKhIiocwB5UdBD3iaPKp9H8nOgmoEk7vxAwJ60rgO0sYyorde1fc/s1600/IMGP7232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAJUq_Rwx8QzZv8TMMRPS3lp87NeG2QZtvqId8ocR8xC2OPGeV8QqT-IJtADVj4PeKD7Jfi10hnpxGvHjaO58W7ppKhIiocwB5UdBD3iaPKp9H8nOgmoEk7vxAwJ60rgO0sYyorde1fc/s640/IMGP7232.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dam works, seen from the hill above (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
We stopped at a café in Roxburgh to have lunch, then off, across the bridge to get to the cycle trail. There was only a small carpark, and there were two other cars there. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsKsAq2T0hUx1D4WTPYafpP1keIHYzPonvNtjmlgxmqKmTjl2sX5SOh8QOHsCwVXh76mwHhrIDLhFH5001ySAze4Z_798tU_0InrwbPQqLv2e-ItMmN96Gt_1OumC971-zPqSgi9kwYg/s1600/IMGP7235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsKsAq2T0hUx1D4WTPYafpP1keIHYzPonvNtjmlgxmqKmTjl2sX5SOh8QOHsCwVXh76mwHhrIDLhFH5001ySAze4Z_798tU_0InrwbPQqLv2e-ItMmN96Gt_1OumC971-zPqSgi9kwYg/s640/IMGP7235.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roxburgh Bridge (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ-sm_gOTE65ZW9CtMLorvq4ECaGZ8MRMI1a0INK2gUAsfAbXRu81dtkxN2x9kPU2R2pqzSErihrqF-P1d-9XBp2o7wwxvlCx4qxt75Is9U6v8oL5bsVUGy2b4OLUV1YAbVEFTxpzc3s/s1600/IMG_2699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ-sm_gOTE65ZW9CtMLorvq4ECaGZ8MRMI1a0INK2gUAsfAbXRu81dtkxN2x9kPU2R2pqzSErihrqF-P1d-9XBp2o7wwxvlCx4qxt75Is9U6v8oL5bsVUGy2b4OLUV1YAbVEFTxpzc3s/s640/IMG_2699.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John heaves the bikes out of the car </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first bit of the trail went alongside the road, but soon there was a series of quite steep switchbacks to get down closer to river level. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ0RkpDP9aQH7foAxN7a7_2LPdORosY3K8Da9A8JF4Dtgfjm8nj3jWiuvgM-R8yM4GLxd0aFGByG6Ar10u5pTAfREDlmamdhp3d9d9eqvtP7Owap_xWP-7O054w30SQV-eTazk3caP0U/s1600/IMGP7236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ0RkpDP9aQH7foAxN7a7_2LPdORosY3K8Da9A8JF4Dtgfjm8nj3jWiuvgM-R8yM4GLxd0aFGByG6Ar10u5pTAfREDlmamdhp3d9d9eqvtP7Owap_xWP-7O054w30SQV-eTazk3caP0U/s640/IMGP7236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great spot for a picnic table on a huge slab of rock (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mf-f9LnxBkKdUwMIEGFsSNrojGavfzsKVVJ6-LI9JC9FRUWulZcKEaJmE-0M1fwlVFxEYunzq4aokl7kHMX0ywjh_wGg0XJToArhisj_eyst7x9ONbGvPTx7Pq0nXpxV1YQk4iZG8sY/s1600/IMGP7240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mf-f9LnxBkKdUwMIEGFsSNrojGavfzsKVVJ6-LI9JC9FRUWulZcKEaJmE-0M1fwlVFxEYunzq4aokl7kHMX0ywjh_wGg0XJToArhisj_eyst7x9ONbGvPTx7Pq0nXpxV1YQk4iZG8sY/s640/IMGP7240.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down to the switchbacks (… photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvBtB7sBV7Mbm6m4keRtmPOOffsXSPl-xMj2qebI99X6m4k4ebaYBuXo9AHI5uqpzcUWXyKFJBZ0OpK5S7SzUDGSvwTbMf6HI8l7TIhph9tN7XEveII9Yx5shmT9Pw2viPupWKT9inXs/s1600/IMGP7241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvBtB7sBV7Mbm6m4keRtmPOOffsXSPl-xMj2qebI99X6m4k4ebaYBuXo9AHI5uqpzcUWXyKFJBZ0OpK5S7SzUDGSvwTbMf6HI8l7TIhph9tN7XEveII9Yx5shmT9Pw2viPupWKT9inXs/s640/IMGP7241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… to get down to river level (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The track was very good, quite wide in most places, though there was a narrower trail through the middle through the fallen leaves where people had biked. The views over the Clutha River were spectacular, with golden poplars on the other side in rows or clumps. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TZBEpFxZ90-VhW3a8Hchm5nidCSLIt_rkCyclawW-Qd9PrcQhlhlNvpEKdGbUZA7CSSCheg23mqikSkMcMtUys3XDgi0W3VagpMuQ-UJsxA0UKopVXhX8AM7van3YlHmvnyMPyWnDLY/s1600/IMGP7243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TZBEpFxZ90-VhW3a8Hchm5nidCSLIt_rkCyclawW-Qd9PrcQhlhlNvpEKdGbUZA7CSSCheg23mqikSkMcMtUys3XDgi0W3VagpMuQ-UJsxA0UKopVXhX8AM7van3YlHmvnyMPyWnDLY/s640/IMGP7243.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track was wide, and covered in fallen leaves (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQmjLhNrX4Wv3TIjWR1Wqm8l8fChDAMHxQCVggRL3LJWxyLC4lfXANL8FZ1HbLfGXVg4oz4-k6AVM06wAsmHrX2LYKHzum4u-eSLBWyh4pO71ItDqGVmL507cEYrOn5r0SVm1HfaovXA/s1600/IMGP7244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQmjLhNrX4Wv3TIjWR1Wqm8l8fChDAMHxQCVggRL3LJWxyLC4lfXANL8FZ1HbLfGXVg4oz4-k6AVM06wAsmHrX2LYKHzum4u-eSLBWyh4pO71ItDqGVmL507cEYrOn5r0SVm1HfaovXA/s640/IMGP7244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a spectacular view! (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sometimes the track went through stands of poplars and sycamores, the smell of the fallen leaves so distinctive. I biked through taking big sniffs of fragrant air. Other times the area was quite open, without trees but great views on the river. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRO9_tP8JFoM7nJI9UVdlZ7pHxwa51b3P4hpXPI_9xT6jvjye3ijSCbPV6xnNgBal_HFF_rrcBlsnrEP7QS3lY-YbR_H8qQmNQVzdZSWzMO35_zd7WXDO6zmGDORdV6H37q9ZAUY9IZY/s1600/IMGP7246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRO9_tP8JFoM7nJI9UVdlZ7pHxwa51b3P4hpXPI_9xT6jvjye3ijSCbPV6xnNgBal_HFF_rrcBlsnrEP7QS3lY-YbR_H8qQmNQVzdZSWzMO35_zd7WXDO6zmGDORdV6H37q9ZAUY9IZY/s640/IMGP7246.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stands of sycamores (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It wasn’t all golden poplars and sycamores: we went through patches of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunzea_ericoides" target="_blank">kānuka</a>, a NZ native similar to, but different from, mānuka. An information board explains that it was once the dominant native tree in this shrubland. Māori consider kānuka as “nursery trees”, as they protect the young of larger trees because they cope with wind, drought, frost and flood. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Euj2YszdZaEgfqEL2lSyBY6VsrZbnKl_oV_2Jr0ehcV53z_C6OJK_2hvtSJrjiEmS4sxOJbEHaYIbWuyxln4T-l1nibuzK5vytHnOcbjF_cpnhoXGSG9R59Hous2AhZK9uhZQVvUdf8/s1600/P1070288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Euj2YszdZaEgfqEL2lSyBY6VsrZbnKl_oV_2Jr0ehcV53z_C6OJK_2hvtSJrjiEmS4sxOJbEHaYIbWuyxln4T-l1nibuzK5vytHnOcbjF_cpnhoXGSG9R59Hous2AhZK9uhZQVvUdf8/s640/P1070288.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stand of kānuka (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zCrtEkZFh7UybEO35x6G-ABmc4J-tR9wScX2oOkJ9-QDC48ujXv_hMPUcnDMXWEIQ8BbCj9qKjuKWDt0mKRUxTzJPTxmsOW7uaCBmXoP8q3d5EEpjhI_sa0DYac8nrS4ZHCkafbbL3U/s1600/IMG_2706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zCrtEkZFh7UybEO35x6G-ABmc4J-tR9wScX2oOkJ9-QDC48ujXv_hMPUcnDMXWEIQ8BbCj9qKjuKWDt0mKRUxTzJPTxmsOW7uaCBmXoP8q3d5EEpjhI_sa0DYac8nrS4ZHCkafbbL3U/s640/IMG_2706.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the hawthorn trees laden with fruit </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After 5.4 km, we came to a place called Pinder’s Pond. We didn’t stop on the way out, but kept going. The full length of the section from Roxburgh to Millers Flat was 19.4 km, but we had decided we would do 15 km out and then turn back. But at about 13 km, the track crossed the road, so we thought we might as well turn around right there. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R7ffLuR68pRNqXyknLii8gEu56IwRS2Nvg6A2vsVU8f1vyfq2XjZ73PGvhjq07UZz31u68qT4bHuK2U5JNSWopftn9StoK8ZTLo6IwQpzxCEsc8g2NHlbYHWx5pkBMtx4EDsG49ku7g/s1600/IMG_2707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R7ffLuR68pRNqXyknLii8gEu56IwRS2Nvg6A2vsVU8f1vyfq2XjZ73PGvhjq07UZz31u68qT4bHuK2U5JNSWopftn9StoK8ZTLo6IwQpzxCEsc8g2NHlbYHWx5pkBMtx4EDsG49ku7g/s640/IMG_2707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back upstream </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This time, we did stop at Pinder’s Pond. It is a lovely small lake, with trees all around – in various stages of colouring – half a dozen camper vans parked. Some kids were playing on a swinging rope to land in the water, and with a kayak pushed off the steep bank to land in the water with a big splash. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOgoblOJobqDE2t0GS8ErMtPlRA_BNhLkjHDwTH2LDlMc6VZ_Qs153NZr9_Ych48aoBeSIXVso1kKjq8wN_nsu9-aNldYP-ac5LZdbKTW0fA6ldXMVGmfYbUt1SdZqT50x7IeosI31OY/s1600/IMGP7248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOgoblOJobqDE2t0GS8ErMtPlRA_BNhLkjHDwTH2LDlMc6VZ_Qs153NZr9_Ych48aoBeSIXVso1kKjq8wN_nsu9-aNldYP-ac5LZdbKTW0fA6ldXMVGmfYbUt1SdZqT50x7IeosI31OY/s640/IMGP7248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinder’s Pond (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvfvauQ8-mLOfdVRqjzDFddwwRNJCs3eY7O7tN8JVTVqB6xsn66q588W7CV93Qkg7AhKVZiVojsMWa_RRywvjyH9q7u2OXOvd5B3OIzRD2_Q4sapeBa3srsMk-b1tqq4O4lafLTTs_P4/s1600/IMGP7250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvfvauQ8-mLOfdVRqjzDFddwwRNJCs3eY7O7tN8JVTVqB6xsn66q588W7CV93Qkg7AhKVZiVojsMWa_RRywvjyH9q7u2OXOvd5B3OIzRD2_Q4sapeBa3srsMk-b1tqq4O4lafLTTs_P4/s640/IMGP7250.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trees glow in the sunlight (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We munched some of the biscuits we had brought and enjoyed the moment. Then on we went. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKlKAuzlAVA6xa_RoaVTOTrTvXRMtHB1l7pTC4sw3khDkoMLfmm1dZ4DZZdZvNY2FTN8RS4fbcxzrIqw_lDeBzOALcFqE51Et3T_GVosESYTjSVN7OAKDlmZlYMuO3k0DfZpf64SOMNE/s1600/IMGP7259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKlKAuzlAVA6xa_RoaVTOTrTvXRMtHB1l7pTC4sw3khDkoMLfmm1dZ4DZZdZvNY2FTN8RS4fbcxzrIqw_lDeBzOALcFqE51Et3T_GVosESYTjSVN7OAKDlmZlYMuO3k0DfZpf64SOMNE/s640/IMGP7259.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun shining through the sycamore leaves (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81gDH5GnUXfwR7WIHudtL1oyNRNMEAsei4TlbZ60Nf77blVYxWVvQx5EV1wBntw5p4OQfUQWVPYct9erEVc6b36JbMRsYDhYrliox2yH6mmotqbwMUSsxeR-kMOis_gz1pD6imVpfm-8/s1600/IMGP7267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81gDH5GnUXfwR7WIHudtL1oyNRNMEAsei4TlbZ60Nf77blVYxWVvQx5EV1wBntw5p4OQfUQWVPYct9erEVc6b36JbMRsYDhYrliox2yH6mmotqbwMUSsxeR-kMOis_gz1pD6imVpfm-8/s640/IMGP7267.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There weren’t many orchards close by the track, but this was one of them, showing off all its gorgeous autumn colours (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was a strange phenomenon – on the way out, I remember quite a few downhill undulations, but when we turned back, none of those downhills seemed to have become noticeable uphills. I had been dreading the steep uphill switchbacks to get back to the carpark, but they didn’t turn out to be very bad at all. They had seemed so steep when we went down them − very deceptive … <br />
<br />
When we got back to the car, having done 26 km, I suggested we keep going in the direction of the Dam, just a little way, to see what it was like. It was lovely, along the Teviot River − a side river to the Clutha – for a short distance, before returning to the Clutha. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07oZ3gvp4Gnc2JWjneRMFP_ajvR3x8MRYjgSZ-tlIU16jkmt-WfTUbDtudIsqVPIzg-PQZ80-J2nYx64wCMWwlQLzhTHwPA52vPr4MND1Box_zuxjuFD2cbrY9xMbIMVlrsCFoYu7OBQ/s1600/IMG_2716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07oZ3gvp4Gnc2JWjneRMFP_ajvR3x8MRYjgSZ-tlIU16jkmt-WfTUbDtudIsqVPIzg-PQZ80-J2nYx64wCMWwlQLzhTHwPA52vPr4MND1Box_zuxjuFD2cbrY9xMbIMVlrsCFoYu7OBQ/s640/IMG_2716.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous golden poplars </td></tr>
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I had said to John that anytime he wanted to turn back, that would be fine, but we ended up going all the way to the dam. The wind had got stronger as we went along, and I was thinking that at least we would have a tailwind going back. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLEHP__cIFPB7EAZxg-9Vcl7IxtlrT15Dsrj5mVZXzDutkiSNoeFL9AsyGFsQA4yiKqBZ-OZmvy3CUCzmJiE8zcU-GV3FwYEUELYiw_MWTH-FdyM9_WjSuyAnDSsk6fH_d1VaX-7cJdc/s1600/IMGP7268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLEHP__cIFPB7EAZxg-9Vcl7IxtlrT15Dsrj5mVZXzDutkiSNoeFL9AsyGFsQA4yiKqBZ-OZmvy3CUCzmJiE8zcU-GV3FwYEUELYiw_MWTH-FdyM9_WjSuyAnDSsk6fH_d1VaX-7cJdc/s640/IMGP7268.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading upstream, towards the Dam (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyy3TokPryAFWeKjYN-EiHllKCGGSzFlbh16BVokB8OvCWRmjc7VYDTiLZd5s_-ieT0a7O_EYdJTR1cralGJ8Qz4yV-I4LBaWJZLzljgknBk9afPA2w3B8AiLffwjUtuqo7l1w3eUK_9M/s1600/IMGP7271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyy3TokPryAFWeKjYN-EiHllKCGGSzFlbh16BVokB8OvCWRmjc7VYDTiLZd5s_-ieT0a7O_EYdJTR1cralGJ8Qz4yV-I4LBaWJZLzljgknBk9afPA2w3B8AiLffwjUtuqo7l1w3eUK_9M/s640/IMGP7271.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roxburgh Dam, seen from below (photo by John) </td></tr>
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When we got to the carpark at the start of the trail, at Commissioner’s Flat, John suggested exactly what I had been thinking – that we should go back across the dam and ride back to Roxburgh (where our car was parked) on the road, rather than turning around on the trail, as it was getting late, 4:30. <br />
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Biking from the Commissioner’s Flat carpark, on the road, up the hill to the dam was the hardest part of the ride – it was just a short distance, but it was quite steep, and by now there was a fierce headwind. I had to use all the assistance my bike would give me (lowest gear, level 5 assist, plus throttle!). <br />
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After taking more pictures of the dam, we beetled down the main road (SH8) towards Roxburgh (about 9 km). Luckily there was not much traffic, but for a couple of stretches, we crossed the road to bike on a bike track. However, some of it was not very good – a bit too gravelly – so we crossed back. I would have liked to get some apples from one of the orchard stalls, but it was getting too late. <br />
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When we finally got back to the car, I suggested we go to Alexandra (another 40 km up the road) for dinner, but John was not keen. We tried a place on the corner near the bridge in Roxburgh, but all we could have got there was a “bacon buttie”, which didn’t appeal, so we headed back to Lawrence. John was keen to drive this road in daylight rather than in the dark. We got to Lawrence just on dusk, and had dinner at the Lawrence Pub, which was very nice. We even treated ourselves to a glass of Riesling − we felt we had deserved that. <br />
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We’d had a great day, biking 47 km all up, and apart from the 6 km that we didn’t do before Millers Flat, we had done almost all of the Clutha Gold Trail, and some of it in both directions.<br />
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<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-42806526238340359832019-05-19T23:43:00.001+12:002019-05-24T22:35:20.251+12:00Clutha Gold Trail and other adventures – Part 2 <br />
Here is Part 2 of our recent trip to the South Island. There were two reasons for the trip: one was to attend a three-day Scottish Country Dance school during the Easter weekend in Owaka, in the Catlins; the other was to bike the Clutha Gold Trail, from Lawrence to Roxburgh. We also did a bit of cycling around Owaka, and some touristy drives around the Catlins. On the way down we biked in Christchurch, and on the way back we biked in Dunedin. <br />
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We were away for 13 days, so I have written up this story in four parts. Here are the links to <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_23.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> and <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_26.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>. <br />
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<h4>
Friday 19 April – Christchurch to Owaka </h4>
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As we were driving from Christchurch to Owaka on Good Friday, a day on which all (most) businesses are closed, I had taken the precaution of booking lunch at The Riverstone Kitchen, on SH1, just south of the Waitaki River (about 20 minutes north of Oamaru). This excellent restaurant was recommended to us by our daughter, after she and her husband visited Dot’s Castle during a NZ Home and Garden tour in February. <br />
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“<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/houses/107559614/inside-dots-incredible-oamaru-castle" target="_blank">Dot’s Castle</a>” is the dream castle of Dot Smith, which she achieved after many years of dreaming, planning and hard work. We saw a TV programme about this amazing and highly original woman some time back, and we were intrigued. The restaurant, <a href="https://www.riverstonekitchen.co.nz/" target="_blank">Riverstone Kitchen</a>, is on the same property, and is run by chef Bevan Smith, who is Dot’s son.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkP2J6UdTK6d7LVU1GAQto4uh44dEvbJxtta1RmRVnvdTld9fhQk3seeTdwJJr9Y94eWx25QkZnYYewCmdc7DcrDGEe6g4zuDi0ETB656peJKK3ifazUSIkuieI0Yec8_8rg20e9a2ow/s1600/IMGP6951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkP2J6UdTK6d7LVU1GAQto4uh44dEvbJxtta1RmRVnvdTld9fhQk3seeTdwJJr9Y94eWx25QkZnYYewCmdc7DcrDGEe6g4zuDi0ETB656peJKK3ifazUSIkuieI0Yec8_8rg20e9a2ow/s400/IMGP6951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a delicious lunch (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqTUe8viMwmGVVAA5cBRp4WFma33asLLXMwlkTmQCqcMyHbPgAX4ubuBfVVqzq_rw6ZI4fMn2xUs80vdHIrPF4u1JhfbDElR6m3e2Y8bV01gjy0vwSsp2qbtBuzp4WR4nE_6awAqIh4o/s1600/IMGP6941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqTUe8viMwmGVVAA5cBRp4WFma33asLLXMwlkTmQCqcMyHbPgAX4ubuBfVVqzq_rw6ZI4fMn2xUs80vdHIrPF4u1JhfbDElR6m3e2Y8bV01gjy0vwSsp2qbtBuzp4WR4nE_6awAqIh4o/s640/IMGP6941.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dot’s Castle – there is no moat, but there is a lake … (photo by John)</td></tr>
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After the best meal we’d had since I don’t know when, we took a wander around the impressive potager (fresh vegetables for the restaurant) and flower gardens. Also on the site was a series of little shops selling all manner of “designer” bric-à brac, crockery, dried flowers, artificial flowers, gardening paraphernalia, and masses of “wacky” stuff. I had a lovely browse, while John cooled his heels and took photos. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOwNUct9uQxawLCJzdr_v7OnODsrlA8xat5q4zr5tOzs27jmb9Z0wLnC-4DnOoyRzyx3_pyB__j2ciwRxAlCRt2_uGt4SlDlMyOf84Yj9OUCYc0bmSDoFsXtJ9pEjN5GwhjAFKpTw3NY/s1600/IMGP6954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOwNUct9uQxawLCJzdr_v7OnODsrlA8xat5q4zr5tOzs27jmb9Z0wLnC-4DnOoyRzyx3_pyB__j2ciwRxAlCRt2_uGt4SlDlMyOf84Yj9OUCYc0bmSDoFsXtJ9pEjN5GwhjAFKpTw3NY/s640/IMGP6954.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A row of little shops (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ1OWCC5HxrcC3Yd5vkTMkt9hH2XV58COxiqHsHgUa_iFo2AFtr9A1WNqecSrwW-73EkPu5ttsnDH6KqpkLsi0IsN4NMvPJ50mJsMArmQ2aQ9veC_59qhKKIHf4HdIH5ipzKsWcxUJlo/s1600/IMGP6956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ1OWCC5HxrcC3Yd5vkTMkt9hH2XV58COxiqHsHgUa_iFo2AFtr9A1WNqecSrwW-73EkPu5ttsnDH6KqpkLsi0IsN4NMvPJ50mJsMArmQ2aQ9veC_59qhKKIHf4HdIH5ipzKsWcxUJlo/s640/IMGP6956.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don’t think it’s viable, but it looks good in the garden … (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw4srLnj5ytWE1BucApm-3bozC6trwOjB9f2f8KLrw0OpwhLos29Ca65ShUNE1c_qvrjJtiby0SRzej-gSuVLlpw3N5Vx9EevBmcCjIHdYmxHkMS9RB7GC8_HyksVC1CT4XaKC0tUXiE/s1600/IMG_2601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw4srLnj5ytWE1BucApm-3bozC6trwOjB9f2f8KLrw0OpwhLos29Ca65ShUNE1c_qvrjJtiby0SRzej-gSuVLlpw3N5Vx9EevBmcCjIHdYmxHkMS9RB7GC8_HyksVC1CT4XaKC0tUXiE/s640/IMG_2601.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fancy cottage behind John is the chook house </td></tr>
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After this pleasant interlude, we made our uneventful way to Owaka, a small township 35 km south of Balclutha, on the Southern Scenic Route. We were going there for a Scottish Country dancing weekend school, which started with a dance social on the Friday night. <br />
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We were staying in a motel in an even smaller settlement called Pounawea, on the edge of the estuary of the Catlins and Owaka Rivers. <br />
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<h4>
Saturday 20 April – Owaka and Pounawea </h4>
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On Saturday morning we attended the SCD class, and in the afternoon we went for a bike ride. Unfortunately it had rained in the night, and the road we wanted to ride on, to Surat Bay, on the other side of the inlet and estuary, was a muddy gravel road and looked very slippery. We didn’t want to tempt fate this early in our holiday by going for a spill, so we biked on the sealed road from Pounawea to Owaka instead. <br />
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We rode alongside a tidal inlet – the tide was in, and it was very still, so there were some lovely reflections. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnwezzNTuHUm4dtS2ase_K5obOZVgfl9xyrehPuCiskcxqWj2IP_bev7d9TclyWSDfuBQDgB6iZAvH91z65pPUHwR0i_JJ91KSMgLHQjj6SbK6YaEA64k-69ErLp1mSx_ZICNAeXmAKU/s1600/IMGP6976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnwezzNTuHUm4dtS2ase_K5obOZVgfl9xyrehPuCiskcxqWj2IP_bev7d9TclyWSDfuBQDgB6iZAvH91z65pPUHwR0i_JJ91KSMgLHQjj6SbK6YaEA64k-69ErLp1mSx_ZICNAeXmAKU/s640/IMGP6976.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful reflections on the tidal inlet (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi3I9lChdaGtZlsGh2oPRP9UYvfjj8sffz0fLG4wiYChRRcLhME99oDD8s7YX5DqUrcBxD7wCgrZ2X3tZ4kplDtwZA8Fd_iSX2CMu_pZuqGv5gM4081l9B8jd4ms6LYwXsHf9NQNGj6Q/s1600/IMGP6977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi3I9lChdaGtZlsGh2oPRP9UYvfjj8sffz0fLG4wiYChRRcLhME99oDD8s7YX5DqUrcBxD7wCgrZ2X3tZ4kplDtwZA8Fd_iSX2CMu_pZuqGv5gM4081l9B8jd4ms6LYwXsHf9NQNGj6Q/s640/IMGP6977.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John liked the precision with which these bales of silage had been laid out (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We rode around <a href="https://southlandnz.com/the-catlins/owaka" target="_blank">Owaka</a> – it really is quite small, with just a handful of streets and only about 300 residents. But it does have a very nice small museum with some interesting displays. Outside the museum is a sculpture of a stylised Māori canoe, as the township Owaka, “Place of the Canoe”, is named after the traditional Māori canoes which were built on the banks of the Owaka and Catlins Rivers. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5MkBS9CHXC9q8FM2TPLJUKy6rgV8Unp7kpG8OBcZdP14I2pGohY6Uvs7AN9F-gv0cLANRvdhFhk6GEfhEbAjtC7Z7K43O7wLLgvgSBu0r21zTmT90djtwYoQnVxDTcRrQPNStfoKHsk/s1600/IMGP6965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5MkBS9CHXC9q8FM2TPLJUKy6rgV8Unp7kpG8OBcZdP14I2pGohY6Uvs7AN9F-gv0cLANRvdhFhk6GEfhEbAjtC7Z7K43O7wLLgvgSBu0r21zTmT90djtwYoQnVxDTcRrQPNStfoKHsk/s640/IMGP6965.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stylised Māori canoe – a sculpture by Russell Beck (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUANRNXY0al07Oj6gJdaMRmchvQZdjPLvRkMipxiOA58qCOz_h72WFdQPKaZZFosIWlCUjicPXGccpHuWU4d0JabIppPrANc4OABGuC1SD7gLb5CPEhtxHPotV4qmlxaNJ2AVflI5H-M/s1600/IMGP6966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUANRNXY0al07Oj6gJdaMRmchvQZdjPLvRkMipxiOA58qCOz_h72WFdQPKaZZFosIWlCUjicPXGccpHuWU4d0JabIppPrANc4OABGuC1SD7gLb5CPEhtxHPotV4qmlxaNJ2AVflI5H-M/s640/IMGP6966.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information board about the sculpture (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<h4>
Sunday 21 April – Surat Bay and Jack’s Bay </h4>
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On Easter Sunday, the SCD class was in the afternoon, so during the morning we first took a walk to the end of the road near our motel, and found a holiday park and camping ground. Being the school holidays, there were lots of families in residence, and lots of kids running around and cycling around the settlement. There was a nice little bushwalk as part of the park too. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY4NNC70iJhb1YW6Yqk1zFDtrFPce8z488ik-QOXYF7N5hTrCAY3gc6wUIZHrxmqLSOw6YQMXijUgMDkij2-Zs8HdVi5Je6zicUPRvHUcn4NJhfaJsPBjvt7EqSE8kT1TK0vpslSlmB4/s1600/IMGP6983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY4NNC70iJhb1YW6Yqk1zFDtrFPce8z488ik-QOXYF7N5hTrCAY3gc6wUIZHrxmqLSOw6YQMXijUgMDkij2-Zs8HdVi5Je6zicUPRvHUcn4NJhfaJsPBjvt7EqSE8kT1TK0vpslSlmB4/s640/IMGP6983.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bushwalk in Pounawea (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Our next destination, Surat Bay, is a beautiful wide beach (while the tide was out), on which there is reputed to be a large colony of sealions at certain times. We went for a short walk on a track through the sand dunes, which ended on the beach. We walked for quite a distance along the beach, out around a point where the beach was very wide. I think John was hoping to see some sealions, but we were out of luck. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Vaf23ThbCrJH5px-DbAN_UcBASC5EL3bB-oKk-0WwZ4zTy-eKNiRVVvsQy4VbAaSmnMSYPsC87N0L_lG1icqDXE2hAdf8BP35kezc04HgL0H_BaSdRdGEBXaxqA_PV_indS1lNaFaA/s1600/IMGP6985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Vaf23ThbCrJH5px-DbAN_UcBASC5EL3bB-oKk-0WwZ4zTy-eKNiRVVvsQy4VbAaSmnMSYPsC87N0L_lG1icqDXE2hAdf8BP35kezc04HgL0H_BaSdRdGEBXaxqA_PV_indS1lNaFaA/s640/IMGP6985.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach on the estuary of the Catlins River at Surat Bay at low tide (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uXj9-wzgGXVoiD5Co8GIQi-G5HesDCx-uR9XCCrTzVZ8Vz7CpYmwCUpPkoDXs5u3ms_WZlRhFwdl4EU2CQKvn-EymFJMumL-4AW5nRI0wYk9mnRqY9d24qwOBbVvGjbzNyTdDxY2iQA/s1600/IMG_2604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uXj9-wzgGXVoiD5Co8GIQi-G5HesDCx-uR9XCCrTzVZ8Vz7CpYmwCUpPkoDXs5u3ms_WZlRhFwdl4EU2CQKvn-EymFJMumL-4AW5nRI0wYk9mnRqY9d24qwOBbVvGjbzNyTdDxY2iQA/s640/IMG_2604.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach is very wide, and a popular place to walk, judging from all the footprints </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After our afternoon SCD class, we diverted off the Pounawea Road to go to Jack’s Bay. It took us over a bridge across the Catlins River. Upstream from the bridge was the Catlins Lake, and downstream the Catlins River (this, according to the names on the map). Upstream, the water in the lake seemed very tranquil, but below the bridge it was making wonderful patterns as it flowed around the bridge piers. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9UR-9O5dCWvW02k1MwY1hEF1x2lfwyMw_osXtbSqwCuG_-RwgLrNIHZIk3aS_B_A0XdVisiLIBzUm8HcqUFOHas1z7T3HXo-_1zbRcljezR_gBkz2Xwgg8nRE-nXPQvoaztJ18Ahyphenhyphen2s/s1600/IMGP7007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9UR-9O5dCWvW02k1MwY1hEF1x2lfwyMw_osXtbSqwCuG_-RwgLrNIHZIk3aS_B_A0XdVisiLIBzUm8HcqUFOHas1z7T3HXo-_1zbRcljezR_gBkz2Xwgg8nRE-nXPQvoaztJ18Ahyphenhyphen2s/s640/IMGP7007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge across the Catlins River, looking upstream (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C2uhmgFChss_2vyTDGNH2_hBrgmYETn1iMBl-KYweTyHsL6jBKk5t1r2f6cLw_l8h3dH4TNA1vJ5bRMvCdRK5qcxsWKQpKERmhz0_bTwT_5neVGp9e344Mc_wWmryVc__47mA6_GeD8/s1600/IMGP7013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C2uhmgFChss_2vyTDGNH2_hBrgmYETn1iMBl-KYweTyHsL6jBKk5t1r2f6cLw_l8h3dH4TNA1vJ5bRMvCdRK5qcxsWKQpKERmhz0_bTwT_5neVGp9e344Mc_wWmryVc__47mA6_GeD8/s640/IMGP7013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting patterns in the water flowing around the piers (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICnZ45QUVNiBQ2I0PUtn5UYD1KV-vKzhiBoHbOe-6Wzix4o7Vq6gu3eNH2uTRBFwJmGy29HI9v8p8a6WzQFlnsWvc1jFQZeOdXODW1qxkWNjEw9cAPgEf2kVHFbO0HkVnVN7JR6PijFo/s1600/IMGP7011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICnZ45QUVNiBQ2I0PUtn5UYD1KV-vKzhiBoHbOe-6Wzix4o7Vq6gu3eNH2uTRBFwJmGy29HI9v8p8a6WzQFlnsWvc1jFQZeOdXODW1qxkWNjEw9cAPgEf2kVHFbO0HkVnVN7JR6PijFo/s640/IMGP7011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving water (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Jack’s Bay is lovely beach with holiday cribs (baches) along the foreshore. It is also the starting point of an hour-long walk to Jack’s Blowhole, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to do that, as we had to go back for the SCD formal dinner. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_iyGvMFLZFwbtDI0WigGPFQzKNfdAUT__97oQzrgRsR7eJsnLvDccwTN5WQ5E7v3GH0sGOoGeZKkQskSG571YOo_nEhsmKea305Vo1jjtK2UfBGt5qIXWmPM4CrtQUcgJiRLNNLs29U/s1600/IMGP7016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_iyGvMFLZFwbtDI0WigGPFQzKNfdAUT__97oQzrgRsR7eJsnLvDccwTN5WQ5E7v3GH0sGOoGeZKkQskSG571YOo_nEhsmKea305Vo1jjtK2UfBGt5qIXWmPM4CrtQUcgJiRLNNLs29U/s640/IMGP7016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack’s Bay (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzZDp3z02_pG4qdiWbgcfOL8SLc5kU-2gAlZLx2r2RH2m1U-JtFenPZqFjSQoAeku79HMjsKrnxdc1LjdnTh4atTul0hZbu-Pef2I4IcmFle4x6lUl8dkxX-iHRdzrKqO33XXHlVWnKQ/s1600/IMGP7020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzZDp3z02_pG4qdiWbgcfOL8SLc5kU-2gAlZLx2r2RH2m1U-JtFenPZqFjSQoAeku79HMjsKrnxdc1LjdnTh4atTul0hZbu-Pef2I4IcmFle4x6lUl8dkxX-iHRdzrKqO33XXHlVWnKQ/s640/IMGP7020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a lot of kelp on the beach (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<h4>
Monday 22 April – Owaka and Nugget Point </h4>
<br />
The first couple of days in Owaka had been either rainy or overcast, so we were delighted to see blue sky and bright sunshine when we emerged from our final SCD class. Time to become tourists! <br />
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First we stopped at Owaka’s own “Teapotland” – a small garden on the main road, absolutely packed with ... yes, teapots! All shapes and sizes – ordinary, extraordinary, pretty, silly and beautiful. Arranged on small terraces, or on posts, and in a display window. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQ8RfMHpIZZWzM773t23qpZfcZ9goS7XWNbe_dNI42kYxm31FvFuJLA2p-Odq6GLWAFn4PizEy5ZoPD7c7clQVZHjNKDisEW5TqpCorm3TaZM3BWoXuGHmuSInbE0BNqKDFj-7dai9u4/s1600/IMGP7069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQ8RfMHpIZZWzM773t23qpZfcZ9goS7XWNbe_dNI42kYxm31FvFuJLA2p-Odq6GLWAFn4PizEy5ZoPD7c7clQVZHjNKDisEW5TqpCorm3TaZM3BWoXuGHmuSInbE0BNqKDFj-7dai9u4/s640/IMGP7069.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All manner of teapots – on terraces … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkA7MMSLzC1M9rJpqBAogGuGpwWGHwGEsaf-zpfDSTYRxzAsNNf8ppG8EYOswLnzxUTDh84XdD1kbgIc7JlBqX8wKCcsOPcf53870pzh30_gzpNqULwvD0bHOlr8ndidD77x8j8F24wo/s1600/IMG_2610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkA7MMSLzC1M9rJpqBAogGuGpwWGHwGEsaf-zpfDSTYRxzAsNNf8ppG8EYOswLnzxUTDh84XdD1kbgIc7JlBqX8wKCcsOPcf53870pzh30_gzpNqULwvD0bHOlr8ndidD77x8j8F24wo/s640/IMG_2610.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… on posts …</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzCjeRjz-tiEHBSDrSpOsXUs83Aw0deNQGX05Im9FnZ3GLel6ew4zmhzShZdYWO1fUcOZ92ujb8PgrdjPNBMsO9Bg5eG9UiBOElfTj7aIwrxZ7_eMwU_1aaaCCqsjJVK5v834aurvI2w/s1600/IMG_2614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1600" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzCjeRjz-tiEHBSDrSpOsXUs83Aw0deNQGX05Im9FnZ3GLel6ew4zmhzShZdYWO1fUcOZ92ujb8PgrdjPNBMsO9Bg5eG9UiBOElfTj7aIwrxZ7_eMwU_1aaaCCqsjJVK5v834aurvI2w/s640/IMG_2614.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and in a window</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next, we headed out towards one of the most beautiful sites of the Catlins – Nugget Point. <br />
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As you get to the coast, the road splits: to the left it goes to Kaka Point and Port Molyneux; to the right it goes to Nugget Point. We first went left, drove through Kaka Point to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Molyneux" target="_blank">Port Molyneux</a>, which was once a thriving port at the mouth of the Clutha River, but after the Clutha changed its course following severe flooding, the settlement died and there is little left of it apart from a few houses and a beautiful beach. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9cuc5ExgPB8krq9BMnam2HUJzuTQ7BKugVdbJar43P0i8roXiattNCSY7cxupvboTDCbFowmh473oUQwA7lUdr5VVmVVLWzRtaUe9gUKsrg9v6lxGoCeWjrzdby8V3EMiurGEwtze8g/s1600/IMGP7076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9cuc5ExgPB8krq9BMnam2HUJzuTQ7BKugVdbJar43P0i8roXiattNCSY7cxupvboTDCbFowmh473oUQwA7lUdr5VVmVVLWzRtaUe9gUKsrg9v6lxGoCeWjrzdby8V3EMiurGEwtze8g/s640/IMGP7076.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at Port Molyneux (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back to Kaka Point, where there was yet another beautiful beach, and we stopped for an icecream, which we enjoyed while looking out at the beach. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YhzzpXEUKATApacYwP-D53eoEiq_PF8RYJ6384joqIUh-s48EDM3T07atr71F4yurtPGVAN6y86FIwmxS1t9MUMSfnog8vjVmuqyCHxU1sat7sJfJ1y3LFU8vaUUxPB1EnHnSwbJc-8/s1600/IMGP7078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YhzzpXEUKATApacYwP-D53eoEiq_PF8RYJ6384joqIUh-s48EDM3T07atr71F4yurtPGVAN6y86FIwmxS1t9MUMSfnog8vjVmuqyCHxU1sat7sJfJ1y3LFU8vaUUxPB1EnHnSwbJc-8/s640/IMGP7078.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaka Point Beach (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From here the road climbed to a high promontory where there was a substantial carpark. There were more tourists here than we’d seen all weekend. From the carpark there was a 10-minute walk to the Nugget Point lighthouse. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1FXGJHrS0qLKB5Ixu0HvlDirpan3PQnSK-j7-JUlfSbh7Ys4hyphenhyphenaVSdw2I7Q02-qtrbN0L7ISqW0dv7puNdtEjXw6OrU2vtBSCbYf2I1vKNZGMH_NwLEkoY4fQ2BSCkbxUU-N00dCd2c/s1600/IMGP7086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1FXGJHrS0qLKB5Ixu0HvlDirpan3PQnSK-j7-JUlfSbh7Ys4hyphenhyphenaVSdw2I7Q02-qtrbN0L7ISqW0dv7puNdtEjXw6OrU2vtBSCbYf2I1vKNZGMH_NwLEkoY4fQ2BSCkbxUU-N00dCd2c/s640/IMGP7086.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track to the lighthouse (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Along the way one can look down onto a small cove with a narrow pebbly beach. I stood there for a while, watching the waves come in, hit the sheer rock wall, and wash out again. The retreating water made the pebbles rattle and swish. There was no wind, and the rushing and rattling of the pebbles was the only sound to be heard. It was quite mesmerizing. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_QMtnhcnejGfNTLCrTO_E4o7OFkm_LYdNYXvOUJiv2-sbn_hFkjQLlJqo8o5Tw4KM3vJHVbws7i1M9IjqK3uTB_DcFtalqG5Sj2H9eOYszr8bP3Ry-lErODvQlLaWTIjQ7qpXA7dbUc/s1600/IMGP7091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_QMtnhcnejGfNTLCrTO_E4o7OFkm_LYdNYXvOUJiv2-sbn_hFkjQLlJqo8o5Tw4KM3vJHVbws7i1M9IjqK3uTB_DcFtalqG5Sj2H9eOYszr8bP3Ry-lErODvQlLaWTIjQ7qpXA7dbUc/s640/IMGP7091.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sound of the waves on the rattling pebbles was mesmerising (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Below the lighthouse was a platform from where one could view the small rocky islands below (the Nuggets) which are home to a colony of seals. We could hear them, but it was too far down to actually be able to see them, even with binoculars. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSbSBPdaXa6Qd_lQWNEdxCQZM2P5qiqmYVmcZQWBcYlfxRfdhOx1dGcBOB3WSO1Wuq_eqK3_HFtpqNdesPS0TZem13acBhmlklOBEev8RWMDnROISgA8vYbXTbHiwFCiSS23FgJ7XFxM/s1600/IMG_2627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSbSBPdaXa6Qd_lQWNEdxCQZM2P5qiqmYVmcZQWBcYlfxRfdhOx1dGcBOB3WSO1Wuq_eqK3_HFtpqNdesPS0TZem13acBhmlklOBEev8RWMDnROISgA8vYbXTbHiwFCiSS23FgJ7XFxM/s640/IMG_2627.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lighthouse, seen from the platform </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-zcOrmm9EQLrq6jge-5R1THS5QdhxSqa0bPkwr-GVOQbZuwI8KccP-PCQeQX7nxov-JqzWsH-WuYWAeFf06t5wcnm-x_KU2wmGnE6xabWjDh7PIMu-VRYBEuNc9Svi2bwHxhmqQgshU/s1600/IMGP7094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-zcOrmm9EQLrq6jge-5R1THS5QdhxSqa0bPkwr-GVOQbZuwI8KccP-PCQeQX7nxov-JqzWsH-WuYWAeFf06t5wcnm-x_KU2wmGnE6xabWjDh7PIMu-VRYBEuNc9Svi2bwHxhmqQgshU/s640/IMGP7094.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nuggets - the seal colony was on the rocks in the shaded foreground of this photo (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvneOri7FYzdqalNi7cOnznFYiA1wzJCuZHwDuW2R7xSReLw9fMJjQ64U3UrzJq2HyRmc9iei3-1N6r_im0mMVaDqXPwYf5IsgETFNxYY3mBqP29VVjBtRBjeTpi1_bm14s5gqcUWSGX4/s1600/IMGP7104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvneOri7FYzdqalNi7cOnznFYiA1wzJCuZHwDuW2R7xSReLw9fMJjQ64U3UrzJq2HyRmc9iei3-1N6r_im0mMVaDqXPwYf5IsgETFNxYY3mBqP29VVjBtRBjeTpi1_bm14s5gqcUWSGX4/s640/IMGP7104.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north-east towards Kaka Point in the distance (photo by John) </td></tr>
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On the way back to our motel, through lovely countryside, John’s attention was caught by the patterns on the hill – presumably made during grass harvesting for hay or silage. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFxWSmjxSEXgW2wbE4v5_2ftZca-hjOQIPB4yjFNhIsXRyHseMZVrWeYRCpI29raFG4VvDBFRPZaKKuwrXsYqSmRjzyb3cwr90VXA3AMdsMGl4170KZujb6-FqJkG9AOSw31LNRK_GgE/s1600/IMGP7108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFxWSmjxSEXgW2wbE4v5_2ftZca-hjOQIPB4yjFNhIsXRyHseMZVrWeYRCpI29raFG4VvDBFRPZaKKuwrXsYqSmRjzyb3cwr90VXA3AMdsMGl4170KZujb6-FqJkG9AOSw31LNRK_GgE/s640/IMGP7108.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty rural image (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
Tuesday 23 April – Purakanui Falls and Lawrence </h4>
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Before we left Pounawea, John took a photo of the estuary just across the road from our motel. The tide was almost in, but you can still see patches of barely covered mudflats beyond the jetty. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIqU68BsC3kzJ3szOnQX3Ytk78_5K8CBEzO99rz-H3AsCa6Ytcs3XlptoHPgad1sK271gMLvgr13KgGKbFC8-SVTsfyxQUi8rTlJeixrIEqt107tGtMBKgjA0VoV078jIOQMSyYk5Pzg/s1600/IMGP7110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIqU68BsC3kzJ3szOnQX3Ytk78_5K8CBEzO99rz-H3AsCa6Ytcs3XlptoHPgad1sK271gMLvgr13KgGKbFC8-SVTsfyxQUi8rTlJeixrIEqt107tGtMBKgjA0VoV078jIOQMSyYk5Pzg/s640/IMGP7110.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The estuary at Pounawea at nearly high tide (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Today we were travelling to Lawrence, but first we drove to the Purakanui Falls, just a 15-minute drive from Owaka. <br />
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From the carpark it was a 10-minute walk on a well-defined bush track to get to the first viewing platform, from where we could see the top of the falls. A further walk down the hill got us to the base of them. The falls have three levels and when in full flood must be quite a sight. However there had not been much rain in the area in recent months, so while still very pretty, they were not as impressive as they might have been. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan5fN-lF6m5kLKlbRhi-4qURzXcVnQvExJfXvvCl0Hjz3qCZ5ZHGOscD5h1x6jAMMrggLL5HKr1wp1-N5cUkGK80fsh6_O9QIDX_HjyTBH5ACJOa79Arm9T5ZOvHULjQdPBulZx_HRJU/s1600/IMGP7119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan5fN-lF6m5kLKlbRhi-4qURzXcVnQvExJfXvvCl0Hjz3qCZ5ZHGOscD5h1x6jAMMrggLL5HKr1wp1-N5cUkGK80fsh6_O9QIDX_HjyTBH5ACJOa79Arm9T5ZOvHULjQdPBulZx_HRJU/s640/IMGP7119.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bush track to the falls (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKKUEMazhmP9lfPDkahl-S33ryNPewhPLCgA_EpbKYypUCh66ReGg_nYfv-BWwrV_5KygzaooVav-Q_u1ui5M84sq-6xQJXNpGXFifpFldyV6Nx5CUUxBwrvUMpTz4k9KQeQ2BqyHii0/s1600/IMGP7130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKKUEMazhmP9lfPDkahl-S33ryNPewhPLCgA_EpbKYypUCh66ReGg_nYfv-BWwrV_5KygzaooVav-Q_u1ui5M84sq-6xQJXNpGXFifpFldyV6Nx5CUUxBwrvUMpTz4k9KQeQ2BqyHii0/s640/IMGP7130.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three-tiered Purakanui Falls (photo by John) </td></tr>
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A quick stop back in Owaka for a coffee, and we were on our way to Lawrence, our base from where we were going to ride the Clutha Gold Trail. It wasn’t very far to travel, and as we weren’t expected at our accommodation until 2pm, we had a wander around the town’s main street. We saw a couple of “interesting” but not very functional bikes. Signs that Lawrence is making the most of the tourism a cycling trail brings, perhaps. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTIQYd4H8y9jUuWzDhxLCesCETRUtSP6R3Im7Y3PBxcuwVEEv94wqdf2ft-1Bsjv8MtD2GJCAfBSkK_dnPB6NI0H9vnQVUJNkKBjqSqHjhjDQBgEqfFTOes2LMmyiJQHmNhYZmzJ9Gso/s1600/IMGP7137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTIQYd4H8y9jUuWzDhxLCesCETRUtSP6R3Im7Y3PBxcuwVEEv94wqdf2ft-1Bsjv8MtD2GJCAfBSkK_dnPB6NI0H9vnQVUJNkKBjqSqHjhjDQBgEqfFTOes2LMmyiJQHmNhYZmzJ9Gso/s640/IMGP7137.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enough to drive you up the wall ... (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4fD9_3V6KdVideGfwmtc9G3PR-NhbE8nYQwTxgwVLz1ZIkBj8z-wWpURCk8FYUXYG3P1bC2WJlwW0HzdF2AC7gvlAIxE7Qye79ThSZqS4vA4W13yy6cwPXYxPwVK_yd7Vy2aNbBhpg0/s1600/IMGP7139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4fD9_3V6KdVideGfwmtc9G3PR-NhbE8nYQwTxgwVLz1ZIkBj8z-wWpURCk8FYUXYG3P1bC2WJlwW0HzdF2AC7gvlAIxE7Qye79ThSZqS4vA4W13yy6cwPXYxPwVK_yd7Vy2aNbBhpg0/s640/IMGP7139.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting way to mow one’s lawns – if only the pedals worked! (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One of Lawrence’s claims to fame is that in 1893, a young blacksmith, <a href="https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-otago/display-celebrates-towns-historic-links-cycling" target="_blank">Patrick O’Leary built the first bicycle</a> from scratch in NZ (presumably other bikes would have been imported from the “old country”). Not only did he build the bike, but he had to make the tools first! <br />
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Lawrence is also the birthplace of the music of NZ’s national anthem, which was composed by local school teacher John Woods in 1879. <br />
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We stopped at <a href="https://lindychinnery.com/" target="_blank">Lindy Chinnery’s weaving studio</a>. As a former weaver, that was of interest to me, of course. We were there for quite a while talking about weaving and weavers and looms. She had two large looms, one of them the same as one that I once used to have - a Mecchia Dobby. She had belonged to the Professional Weavers group for a few years, and knew a lot of the people I knew too. I enjoyed browsing her shelves of yarns and her completed work. Her colour preferences are the same as mine - vibrant blues, greens, purples, pinks and reds ... Yum!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyG848B_1T8O0EwdM3Ihidm8EXWfK4PhGHapinv4OtqHrnWoryWLjqIrqCryFpcYrQEtSVPrs87O5lwCqmVSwETmCqSKBXSgZymiRH1JJIlFtvbq2yXNusJiXoWXf_TKd75sz4o_xpAI/s1600/IMGP7142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyG848B_1T8O0EwdM3Ihidm8EXWfK4PhGHapinv4OtqHrnWoryWLjqIrqCryFpcYrQEtSVPrs87O5lwCqmVSwETmCqSKBXSgZymiRH1JJIlFtvbq2yXNusJiXoWXf_TKd75sz4o_xpAI/s640/IMGP7142.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindy and her dobby loom – the same type of loom I once used to own (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We called into the Lawrence Museum and Information Office, where we paid our ‘donation’ for the upkeep of the Clutha Gold Trail. A nice little museum to spend some time in. Lots of gold digging implements and photos of the gold rush. Because of course, this is where Gabriel Read discovered gold in 1861 in the gully, just up the road, that now bears his name – <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/gabriels-gully" target="_blank">Gabriel’s Gully </a>– giving rise to the Otago Gold Rush. Within six months after reports of his discovery, there were 14,000 hopeful gold diggers in the gully. <br />
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After some lunch we headed to our accommodation – <a href="https://www.jailbreak.co.nz/" target="_blank">Jail Break Cottage</a>. It was the former town jail – our bedroom was the old prison cell, and the kitchen/lounge must have been the local constable’s office. It was much more comfortable than it would have been back in the day. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI2OugPV-tQDaH52Xk6az_roZt0cyCQ16xzGJ5d4xEhhkqNRnxYHleFjCkzDVJnbUtNZnIzo5aysEnUX7VAtYPlh56hzQpORdAA2TGftH0FD3Y4qWmsKxvi55tiw-8fiVYGE7K8ypiO0/s1600/IMGP7146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI2OugPV-tQDaH52Xk6az_roZt0cyCQ16xzGJ5d4xEhhkqNRnxYHleFjCkzDVJnbUtNZnIzo5aysEnUX7VAtYPlh56hzQpORdAA2TGftH0FD3Y4qWmsKxvi55tiw-8fiVYGE7K8ypiO0/s640/IMGP7146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jail Break Cottage (photo by John) </td></tr>
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After putting our bags inside, we unloaded our bikes and went off to ride to Gabriel’s Gully. A short distance out of town was Gabriel Read's Memorial, which featured a pick and shovel – necessary implements for a goldminer. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dhhGatEqz-1GtdCiEYMPqMMM8ibHE8G3G6-wx4o2gVHsjJ5gLHpKNSesLN0XnM7tyqbP6YKOmmwfJb9UUf54JdZWtza0NauEEokq3FTcOqWxkYUFELNQNtch643HoO6oByk5MbnvJS0/s1600/IMGP7148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dhhGatEqz-1GtdCiEYMPqMMM8ibHE8G3G6-wx4o2gVHsjJ5gLHpKNSesLN0XnM7tyqbP6YKOmmwfJb9UUf54JdZWtza0NauEEokq3FTcOqWxkYUFELNQNtch643HoO6oByk5MbnvJS0/s640/IMGP7148.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel Read’s Memorial was erected in 1961, at the centenary of his discovery of gold (photo by John) </td></tr>
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A gentle 4 km ride took us to Gabriel’s Gully. All that is left now of the gold diggings are the hillocks which were once tailings resulting from the search for gold. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1T5mlOdTpS5I8STeI5MtCc81z_rKa8vDENd-o5hyphenhyphen6FxCTZDiGAUzhLYHoK8S5QhLGp7OlL7u-d48SdW1aGHkcDrj79V7_GSO9U4RVxwzSYr6pVcyOZe0z3ERDYJKTwWXK8OKja1y0Zg/s1600/IMGP7149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1T5mlOdTpS5I8STeI5MtCc81z_rKa8vDENd-o5hyphenhyphen6FxCTZDiGAUzhLYHoK8S5QhLGp7OlL7u-d48SdW1aGHkcDrj79V7_GSO9U4RVxwzSYr6pVcyOZe0z3ERDYJKTwWXK8OKja1y0Zg/s640/IMGP7149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/gabriels-gully-historic-reserve/" target="_blank">Gabriel’s Gully Reserve</a> (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We followed the road in the reserve, and found a pretty pond, and picnic area – Greys Dam. In another area there were three huts that we couldn’t determine the use of. They looked like ‘historic’ huts, with a basic bunk and fireplace, and one looked to be in use, perhaps by people looking after the reserve. The doors were open so we could look in. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeewbJe5dfblzeFl6Mrl8MSMWFaIdZ02SlryfB1BP7gq4__sTR6cn2CoprA_Az7Wj2rjVQCXTV7lLXhr31SvJsB4RMXvt3PzJRHP6n9JLdIGIRGfAPs6Ys87mZ5uDbyorgLXHWetylC0/s1600/IMGP7150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeewbJe5dfblzeFl6Mrl8MSMWFaIdZ02SlryfB1BP7gq4__sTR6cn2CoprA_Az7Wj2rjVQCXTV7lLXhr31SvJsB4RMXvt3PzJRHP6n9JLdIGIRGfAPs6Ys87mZ5uDbyorgLXHWetylC0/s640/IMGP7150.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pond at the end of Gabriel’s Gully Reserve (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOHgejsyDoAgBI-zkCPI72YvaMtrqQhWqUlExTMBMgliAajS4lvlQcRuNmzDmKZtAuB81eWrEym8ALekuOp6c-uLJCTNRQP8TGdZLf32508MsgVI0Nh_k7ejuPVuf2T3FwX9L3_mCe9g/s1600/IMGP7153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOHgejsyDoAgBI-zkCPI72YvaMtrqQhWqUlExTMBMgliAajS4lvlQcRuNmzDmKZtAuB81eWrEym8ALekuOp6c-uLJCTNRQP8TGdZLf32508MsgVI0Nh_k7ejuPVuf2T3FwX9L3_mCe9g/s640/IMGP7153.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We couldn’t decide what these little huts were used for (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka7MBbYmLdwUgBTjtz4D_yGGyeQEYi5d4NXPrY9oYejR4gStVYtkPAEewCG269rqWRFYiz9OO4SLWeet-cRW1z394cl-yjoNl3jO4EptouUQrhUBVGMCYRQwzdwhKimMVW2DRb7sThHw/s1600/IMGP7157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka7MBbYmLdwUgBTjtz4D_yGGyeQEYi5d4NXPrY9oYejR4gStVYtkPAEewCG269rqWRFYiz9OO4SLWeet-cRW1z394cl-yjoNl3jO4EptouUQrhUBVGMCYRQwzdwhKimMVW2DRb7sThHw/s640/IMGP7157.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road back into Lawrence (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When John stopped to take a photo of the gorgeous autumn leaves, I was struck by the silence – the only thing I could hear was a tui, chortling in the distance. It was so quiet that you could actually hear the occasional autumn leaf as it landed on the road! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAeoSuMW8YGURY16GZlLOEOXJvYuqaGoA3GeZ_V9KTETSxd0h9jXMab7PShXfReJy_WTbi1cBsLFnggBB5CLblHGWuOkRtAry-0_rhOaeGHow6UsfDFI3bFke7cmY_bg165s7fJxYj1U/s1600/IMGP7158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAeoSuMW8YGURY16GZlLOEOXJvYuqaGoA3GeZ_V9KTETSxd0h9jXMab7PShXfReJy_WTbi1cBsLFnggBB5CLblHGWuOkRtAry-0_rhOaeGHow6UsfDFI3bFke7cmY_bg165s7fJxYj1U/s640/IMGP7158.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn leaves - green turning to gold (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-8179434450005854602019-05-19T21:43:00.001+12:002019-09-28T13:26:57.668+12:00Clutha Gold Trail and other adventures – Part 1 <br />
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We recently made another trip to the South Island, from 17 to 29 April 2019. There were two reasons: one was to attend a three-day Scottish Country Dance school during the Easter weekend in Owaka, in the Catlins; the other was to bike the Clutha Gold Trail, from Lawrence to Roxburgh. We also did a bit of cycling around Owaka, and some touristy drives around the Catlins. On the way down we biked in Christchurch, and on the way back we biked in Dunedin. <br />
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We were away for 13 days, so I wrote up this story in four parts. Here are the links for <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_19.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_23.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> and <a href="https://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/05/clutha-gold-trail-and-other-adventures_26.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>. <br />
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<h4>
Wednesday 17 April – Wellington to Christchurch </h4>
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On Wednesday 17 April we boarded the Bluebridge ferry to Picton. It was an uneventful crossing (unlike our return trip, but more about that later). Along the Kaikoura coast, we briefly stopped at Ohau Point, where there is now a very impressive new lookout, from where one can view a seal colony.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFRL7ayhQHLBD0TeUeMVQ3zFkCA-TFw2XjtZp9vvB2J79cogqRHeMeiXBlgX2Veuxxpn94x0mvNBT8lS9lCZM1diS4OEayC4dnOdsOgiEChGGaRVBSE6FdspZIXJnk2yLU8eUDiGyURg/s1600/IMG_2542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFRL7ayhQHLBD0TeUeMVQ3zFkCA-TFw2XjtZp9vvB2J79cogqRHeMeiXBlgX2Veuxxpn94x0mvNBT8lS9lCZM1diS4OEayC4dnOdsOgiEChGGaRVBSE6FdspZIXJnk2yLU8eUDiGyURg/s400/IMG_2542.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new lookout at Ohau Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This area suffered some of the worst damage during the Kaikoura earthquake in November 2016, when more than 100,000 cubic metres of rock had come down and covered SH1. The <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/107898521/famed-hau-point-seal-colony-lookout-open-again-after-2016-earthquake" target="_blank">repairs and improvements</a> that have been made since then have been phenomenal. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDsv8Penxrz0OqFKlhMvGguGj4xPnXEi0Eo2P0-v0V_W4X61PsM930CEUX9k_1eAup939IIYLH_HgQwaWbCnLHpnij5TyVrqHCw0kDrMPLmqGNCCWMtFQ57uBB9zYgPHd6fi-cyEc768/s1600/P1070216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDsv8Penxrz0OqFKlhMvGguGj4xPnXEi0Eo2P0-v0V_W4X61PsM930CEUX9k_1eAup939IIYLH_HgQwaWbCnLHpnij5TyVrqHCw0kDrMPLmqGNCCWMtFQ57uBB9zYgPHd6fi-cyEc768/s640/P1070216.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seals basking and swimming. The white parts of the rocks were pushed up during the earthquake (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Along the newly repaired road there is the beginnings of a cycle track. Hopefully it will one day extend from Ohau to Kaikoura, 25 km further south. There are still a lot of roadworks going on along this stretch of coast. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygTCtKPsL_IViVo5a-zCpVmuFf3hFdgc3lJsP5UQtbW879ib3X-R2ptG31u9NdRBGvSRnIvmG_4-U0QVnWefMCXLPsjoe3d1rSxWaq-3U_MFk2-88DBVNAhTGDGNA-H0F2TVB30xy1G8/s1600/IMG_2545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygTCtKPsL_IViVo5a-zCpVmuFf3hFdgc3lJsP5UQtbW879ib3X-R2ptG31u9NdRBGvSRnIvmG_4-U0QVnWefMCXLPsjoe3d1rSxWaq-3U_MFk2-88DBVNAhTGDGNA-H0F2TVB30xy1G8/s640/IMG_2545.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The future cycle track is on the left of this photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
Thursday 18 April – Christchurch </h4>
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We stayed in Christchurch for two nights so that we would have a day to cycle around the city. We set off from our accommodation in Riccarton, and rode through Hagley Park and the Botanical Gardens to the city. At this time of year the trees in the gardens were showing their beautiful autumn colours. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtdrcmDs9aWKTucZUzOItOUy07oegv3QPTo49mmDGA6gULwYQUye4ImRCGpIOrVYKErVl50y6vzQHdzuYFbbDL0DBk_w1hG25vIrPSEWIh01xJdGkH-2Saqtiq2fhDdo0_fs8Gjcj6Fw/s1600/IMG_4231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtdrcmDs9aWKTucZUzOItOUy07oegv3QPTo49mmDGA6gULwYQUye4ImRCGpIOrVYKErVl50y6vzQHdzuYFbbDL0DBk_w1hG25vIrPSEWIh01xJdGkH-2Saqtiq2fhDdo0_fs8Gjcj6Fw/s640/IMG_4231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn colours in the Botanic Gardens (photo by John) </td></tr>
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It is just over five years since <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2014/04/christchurch.html" target="_blank">our last cycling visit to the central city</a>, and much has changed since then. In 2014 there was still a lot of evidence of the February 2011 earthquake, with damaged buildings everywhere, “deconstruction” and rubble clearing still very much ongoing. <br />
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Even now, there are still a few historical buildings that have not yet been repaired, nor pulled down. One of these is the Old Municipal Chambers on Oxford Terrace, a Category 1 heritage building, registered with Heritage NZ. Built in 1885, the building is also known as Our City Otautahi. It is closed, and braced, and still awaiting decisions as to its future. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvGI83D5SZJul233g0xkxHaUa23rGdPiTdMOGoOWxTyQ3mg2j6CwczyVu8tXDuS48MSgjnXJ0i1IcdAb-0JQHwQr4c3Q1dV4XGmhloxxwMrZDzeGnA_1dFx4j1OK-2nyocmNXTkjsygA/s1600/IMG_4235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvGI83D5SZJul233g0xkxHaUa23rGdPiTdMOGoOWxTyQ3mg2j6CwczyVu8tXDuS48MSgjnXJ0i1IcdAb-0JQHwQr4c3Q1dV4XGmhloxxwMrZDzeGnA_1dFx4j1OK-2nyocmNXTkjsygA/s640/IMG_4235.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://ketechristchurch.peoplesnetworknz.info/places_and_streets/topics/show/1900-former-municipal-chambers-159-oxford-terrace#.XNjZiKaxXvc" target="_blank">Old Municipal Chambers</a> on Oxford Terrace (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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However, today, many new buildings have sprung up to replace the damaged ones, and a lot of construction is still happening. There is now a beautiful <a href="https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/anchor-projects/avon-river-precinct/" target="_blank">City Promenade</a> alongside the River Avon, perfect for pedestrians and cyclists, though every so often they have to watch out for the Historic Tram that runs through there on its circuit around the city centre. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzbJSmT4wM-XAu4l9wjg0LAhqqa-zXlw34SRKJriaX1VC0WbPqhLA02suHyb3CXmaY48y2598F0Myc0hQLGfbUQwFSBzDY8CvE8LuPFtOoy2Mn1WyK3Pgkd2c19kSb3rCKrkBom-ZeNM/s1600/IMG_4234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzbJSmT4wM-XAu4l9wjg0LAhqqa-zXlw34SRKJriaX1VC0WbPqhLA02suHyb3CXmaY48y2598F0Myc0hQLGfbUQwFSBzDY8CvE8LuPFtOoy2Mn1WyK3Pgkd2c19kSb3rCKrkBom-ZeNM/s640/IMG_4234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New buildings line the promenade. On the left is the new “state-of-the-art” <a href="https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/anchor-projects/convention-centre/" target="_blank">Convention Centre</a>,<br />
due to be opened in October 2020 (photo by John) </td></tr>
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The City Promenade is on the eastern side of the Avon River, and extends for two kilometres. Towards the end of the Promenade, we carried on along Oxford Terrace. We meandered along, following the river, and looking for the cycle track that would take us to New Brighton. <br />
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We came upon a road closure – a gate across the road, a big sign “Road closed”, but a gap left for pedestrians and cyclists. We had found the beginning of the trail. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePqsmNvma3ptpRFUzRM1tBLcmYtHPquR5KO95jK_O0VxyrdeBbFzEs0GEqRTN1Yner1JO6Xj67Eaj5BrdXf_z-IJ8z1SwX1I0vscqd5Ypau9cQvI0xdBiAfYVGY0X_VlLO2Rw3ldGXho/s1600/IMG_4236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePqsmNvma3ptpRFUzRM1tBLcmYtHPquR5KO95jK_O0VxyrdeBbFzEs0GEqRTN1Yner1JO6Xj67Eaj5BrdXf_z-IJ8z1SwX1I0vscqd5Ypau9cQvI0xdBiAfYVGY0X_VlLO2Rw3ldGXho/s640/IMG_4236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The orange sign says “<i>Pedestrians, cyclists and authorised vehicles access only</i>” (photo by John) </td></tr>
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The reason the road was closed to ordinary traffic was that it was “munted”, i.e. badly damaged during the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. There were stretches of cracked asphalt, and areas of gravel, potholes, footpaths that were broken up and taken over by weeds, a few fences and leaning lampposts. To the left of us was the River Avon, to the right were large areas of grass, dotted with trees. It dawned on me that this must be the <a href="https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/red-zone/" target="_blank">“Red Zone”</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9q_H73zQJtrsiTcBUC4akqFl-A_IVkePej8sWe3pSzlg4eyrucHfEZ2S2oLKXYBHAoIkh683-qN0m_qWjfBwNviNI-WHOwdwiGORcDAFkUtHgK5L8RJX2aWgXwiRdt54ha9tnSAL1fA/s1600/P1070241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9q_H73zQJtrsiTcBUC4akqFl-A_IVkePej8sWe3pSzlg4eyrucHfEZ2S2oLKXYBHAoIkh683-qN0m_qWjfBwNviNI-WHOwdwiGORcDAFkUtHgK5L8RJX2aWgXwiRdt54ha9tnSAL1fA/s640/P1070241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The quake-damaged road (photo by John) </td></tr>
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I stopped to talk to a gentleman walking his dog, and asked if this was the Red Zone. He confirmed that this was indeed the zone that had been abandoned after the quakes. He told me that thousands of tonnes of silty soil had been removed from the area where <a href="https://engage.regeneratechristchurch.nz/ss-snb-information-liquefaction" target="_blank">“liquefaction”</a> had bubbled to the surface. Hundreds of houses were bulldozed, and the damaged land eventually levelled and grassed. Only the trees that were in people’s gardens remain. (There is poignant article about the red-zoned areas in Christchurch <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/canterbury-top-stories/108410698/among-the-ghost-houses-walking-christchurchs-residential-red-zone" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouoz6MQ1XeBq2qYkcva3b7lalm-Jp_jSwKNo9Q-g9z1z7EFd6hjEE1sJ1i8Zciw7ruaC8Kt_TaqtvSZNocguRxGF5yZ3KW8vHDY0n390RuN027iTfJGZ8NmwTUSauj-EwsWJkjSWhKcY/s1600/IMG_4238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouoz6MQ1XeBq2qYkcva3b7lalm-Jp_jSwKNo9Q-g9z1z7EFd6hjEE1sJ1i8Zciw7ruaC8Kt_TaqtvSZNocguRxGF5yZ3KW8vHDY0n390RuN027iTfJGZ8NmwTUSauj-EwsWJkjSWhKcY/s640/IMG_4238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I talked to this gentleman about the “Red Zone” (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Now the abandoned roads alongside the river are being used by pedestrians and cyclists, and is now called the Avon Trail, or <i>Te Ara Ōtākaro</i>. The logo of the trail is very clever – symbolising the river as well as a footprint. Some of the time, the track runs atop a stopbank between the river and the road. There is a good map in <a href="https://www.ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/explore-parks/waterways/avon-river/te-ara-trail/#15/-43.4960/172.6898" target="_blank">this link</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim35_vALoJywdSDqywj3_VqD4Ce5QGMX5Rj6UywNO7UKhGTttqGOm-drFsTtgrDUGRuB50WXGcnkmNKer70I5OYOROFfD2Cr6IgMQhvNrPcYHqPcC7_NiuTZX-vabfTlpq8NVVXCB-x4Q/s1600/IMG_4239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim35_vALoJywdSDqywj3_VqD4Ce5QGMX5Rj6UywNO7UKhGTttqGOm-drFsTtgrDUGRuB50WXGcnkmNKer70I5OYOROFfD2Cr6IgMQhvNrPcYHqPcC7_NiuTZX-vabfTlpq8NVVXCB-x4Q/s640/IMG_4239.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An information board about <i>Te Ara Ōtākaro</i> (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_o2iXzzga15gOvlqPMpU2YdBeSAcSGLj3TwEVGFFS1w1hhdDWXnJ2hCNxW7vf7snA_CjTiLuGnoscnxDKV69S847B_aToVgggFkQ_UBJOcYleYCKXZB93r7RV3o3ae1Oa66clFulK_Hc/s1600/IMG_4240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_o2iXzzga15gOvlqPMpU2YdBeSAcSGLj3TwEVGFFS1w1hhdDWXnJ2hCNxW7vf7snA_CjTiLuGnoscnxDKV69S847B_aToVgggFkQ_UBJOcYleYCKXZB93r7RV3o3ae1Oa66clFulK_Hc/s640/IMG_4240.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i>Te Ara Ōtākaro</i> logo is painted on the road at intervals (photo by John) </td></tr>
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The trail follows Oxford Terrace, at Fitzgerald Avenue, it crosses to the other bank and follows River Road as far as Swann’s Road, where it crosses back onto Avonside Drive. As shown on the logo, Avonside Drive follows two large loops of the river. All the land within the first loop is now red-zoned. Halfway around this loop we came across the twisted remains of the Medway footbridge, which illustrates the devastating power of the quakes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrKcKsD_I6dz_nvX6SInjFbAFtz1HN3SPZjRX_LB-uvoMtbrGHDxtxJ9cYehI88DiHuU9vJBO6mdk_5wUKDbQT8i7Gd3Pgqx9Q8BSCUnGVX7e211TFpTbmmg3JE8fhXuvli99UMCOF8Q/s1600/IMG_2558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrKcKsD_I6dz_nvX6SInjFbAFtz1HN3SPZjRX_LB-uvoMtbrGHDxtxJ9cYehI88DiHuU9vJBO6mdk_5wUKDbQT8i7Gd3Pgqx9Q8BSCUnGVX7e211TFpTbmmg3JE8fhXuvli99UMCOF8Q/s640/IMG_2558.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ‘munted’ remains of the Medway footbridge </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj874XPFEGxF1kxx-CN6lP3Iai0XhU1nLa3_IwWbn3yCr7k3GKN09_lIFcFlBBKmXfUtgQvzmg-3EkoYaG2IXjRBh2BILVXbyYCLPh-zKa-6y6_QDk_sURmPK501NOYAtBnAbhByimhurc/s1600/IMG_2557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj874XPFEGxF1kxx-CN6lP3Iai0XhU1nLa3_IwWbn3yCr7k3GKN09_lIFcFlBBKmXfUtgQvzmg-3EkoYaG2IXjRBh2BILVXbyYCLPh-zKa-6y6_QDk_sURmPK501NOYAtBnAbhByimhurc/s640/IMG_2557.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information board about the bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the second loop, the trail takes a shortcut through Porritt Park, then picks up Avonside Drive again. Round another bend in the river, and the trail crosses Avondale Road and becomes Hulverstone Drive, until you get to Anzac Drive. From here the trail is on cycle paths alongside main roads – Anzac Drive, Wainoni Road and bridge, and New Brighton Road, which leads you to the New Brighton shops and Pier. <br />
<br />
Close to the city, there are lots of trees – oaks, poplars and weeping willows – sporting their gorgeous autumn colours. Further out there are fewer trees. We saw lots of geese, and quite a lot of ducks, but the geese seemed to predominate. Half the time you could see only their white tails up in the air as they dived for food. <br />
<br />
All along the way, there was the sad sight of abandoned side streets. No houses, weeds growing though the cracked surface of the roads and footpaths, all that remains is a few lampposts still standing, the street signs, and the redeeming features – the trees.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Postscript</b></h4>
On 28 September 2019, a beautifully reported documentary about the Red Zone, entitled "<a href="https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/09/christchurch-red-zone-to-green/" target="_blank"><i>Red to Green: The stark evolution</i></a>" was published online. In August 2019, The Government announced a recovery plan, entitled "<a href="https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2019-08/Otakaro%20Avon%20River%20Corridor%20Regeneration%20PlanReducedSize.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Ōtākaro</i> <i>Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan</i></a>", which looks very exciting. I do hope it will all come off as planned, though it may take many years ... <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7v1LcCAjiMD_iJ8LNSonQEGdPsEGuYPQCW0MpNFtTt1glvQVvTN2zZbn5QMn1dHl3TSWKJ16TG0ElpHKIVj04c5ljYceHA5LyZP9GKDqGodwaJCVGgUKP6o_BmdLeNxxNFVKHW-QfIM/s1600/IMG_4245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7v1LcCAjiMD_iJ8LNSonQEGdPsEGuYPQCW0MpNFtTt1glvQVvTN2zZbn5QMn1dHl3TSWKJ16TG0ElpHKIVj04c5ljYceHA5LyZP9GKDqGodwaJCVGgUKP6o_BmdLeNxxNFVKHW-QfIM/s640/IMG_4245.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ogilvie Place, off Hulverstone Drive - one of the many abandoned streets (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At New Brighton, we looked at the Pier, had lunch at the café at its base, and had a wander around the shops. The shopping centre seems fairly depressed – not as bright and breezy as I remember it from over 45 years ago when we lived in Christchurch and this was the only suburb to have Sunday shopping. After that we returned the way we had come. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBSDttvlgWDA6gPKJZcM2Y_a9s-N8UKlc70zjZLjzTVvruG8ECwWRHIbUNR579MV_1Mz9sKqb-jC8piYANqCZuRggwPAGh2Ac0l_CsrM3NJB0hFq7y7SqQYD-h2BDxGcKlBqdv9-jBzQ/s1600/IMG_2561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBSDttvlgWDA6gPKJZcM2Y_a9s-N8UKlc70zjZLjzTVvruG8ECwWRHIbUNR579MV_1Mz9sKqb-jC8piYANqCZuRggwPAGh2Ac0l_CsrM3NJB0hFq7y7SqQYD-h2BDxGcKlBqdv9-jBzQ/s640/IMG_2561.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way back – seven kilometres to the central city (The whole trail is 11 km each way) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bmVSnobNGqgAZpCYQvBKGHfP2SkIl0zSgJjvIEgvekWCn8nn1kb7HFoR_0pVeJvAvjZ3e0SsaXRKNBYlGG9rhOdWpswg7ELb7WcOjiKoNk3HFuRwZbJT3ZagrhZ54nuAd1kqEoSL0yw/s1600/IMG_4252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bmVSnobNGqgAZpCYQvBKGHfP2SkIl0zSgJjvIEgvekWCn8nn1kb7HFoR_0pVeJvAvjZ3e0SsaXRKNBYlGG9rhOdWpswg7ELb7WcOjiKoNk3HFuRwZbJT3ZagrhZ54nuAd1kqEoSL0yw/s640/IMG_4252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several pump houses along the river. The torn-down sign on the
ground says<br />
“<i>Tell us how you would reuse the Bangor Street No 3 pump
house</i>” (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back to civilization, and the City Promenade or <i>Te Papa Ōtākaro</i>/Avon River Precinct. We rode past the new <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/75357812/null" target="_blank">Margaret Mahy Family Playground</a>. Being the school holidays, it was very busy with excited children and parents/grandparents. Opened in December 2015, it is full of innovative play equipment, with some of the designs having been suggested by the children of Christchurch. It is named after the famous Christchurch children’s author, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Mahy" target="_blank">Margaret Mahy</a>. We did not venture into the playground, but I took a photo of the information board. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4b318SNR2_jbs0rapbEnSjpEZOlaVzLTxPwjq9FZPBrbg_EtAzjlzKzkh2EVGC6194KkP8YhOB448ymG3VL1zvcYp6KTtC_Z5K44OYR5BiAF8KTcVyK7-SSsoiKRgZpw6aRu35-vCQA/s1600/IMG_2562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4b318SNR2_jbs0rapbEnSjpEZOlaVzLTxPwjq9FZPBrbg_EtAzjlzKzkh2EVGC6194KkP8YhOB448ymG3VL1zvcYp6KTtC_Z5K44OYR5BiAF8KTcVyK7-SSsoiKRgZpw6aRu35-vCQA/s640/IMG_2562.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Margaret Mahy Family Playground </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All along the promenade there were beautiful mosaics of Māori weaving patterns embedded in the footpath. These are the <a href="https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/assets/Documents/GeneralDocuments/P41650-ARP-Whariki-Mats-Walking-Booklet-FA-web.pdf" target="_blank">“Woven Mats of Welcome – <i>Ngā Whāriki Manaaki</i>”</a>. They refer to the <i>whakamanuhiri</i> process of welcome for all visitors to Christchurch. The weaving patterns were designed by expert weavers and adapted using stone pavers. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFjw0sfIvLVF2y2n8K3cSemxogwQQKU_n1WzAPPOyLcKEHDw-vznq_2qHiYlKzK6Ba00qycrHPBN-R96AdvJ2MZdVEa316_5MOjKcf0M7u4drMu-CkayE0QEMU_0TZJ3TS-WQCr3JB3o/s1600/IMG_2563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFjw0sfIvLVF2y2n8K3cSemxogwQQKU_n1WzAPPOyLcKEHDw-vznq_2qHiYlKzK6Ba00qycrHPBN-R96AdvJ2MZdVEa316_5MOjKcf0M7u4drMu-CkayE0QEMU_0TZJ3TS-WQCr3JB3o/s640/IMG_2563.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is pattern No 12 – <i>“Hapū, from the mountains to the sea”</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Further along, we came to the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial – a beautiful, peaceful area on the south bank of the river, with a wall of pale grey Carrara marble, engraved with the names of the 185 people who perished as a result of the earthquakes. At the base of the wall, small tokens of remembrance had been left by friends or relatives – flowers, stones, shells, chestnuts, photos and a teddy bear. A 50-minute video about the design process and construction of this memorial in <a href="https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/anchor-projects/canterbury-earthquake-memorial/" target="_blank">this link</a> is well worth a watch. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrzVdjXB6ocbV-iZcyMZs6FQljWJumPKS_oMsUxye0ZnTk1lA9_u4sdt51f37AbBgAhOOvV9sxh2KpI6sLJAVwsfWkiou31a2n0QjEr7-AloDxfcYcktDHY7zRxL7uUi3RbYnQJIVjc4/s1600/IMG_2570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrzVdjXB6ocbV-iZcyMZs6FQljWJumPKS_oMsUxye0ZnTk1lA9_u4sdt51f37AbBgAhOOvV9sxh2KpI6sLJAVwsfWkiou31a2n0QjEr7-AloDxfcYcktDHY7zRxL7uUi3RbYnQJIVjc4/s640/IMG_2570.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial <i>“Oi Manawa”</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcF2RhVQQLqqwY7DDAQz956pylCnqkOTb9nL_3iMmudZDGNh67f42lcvSvLeU30rar5u6c5lgbyvoMJKUCv316WzS36P3kRsabi9Y7urhtEBANGd6loz5iYhq7Ci5aUffzlm9ilU7nZc/s1600/IMG_2568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcF2RhVQQLqqwY7DDAQz956pylCnqkOTb9nL_3iMmudZDGNh67f42lcvSvLeU30rar5u6c5lgbyvoMJKUCv316WzS36P3kRsabi9Y7urhtEBANGd6loz5iYhq7Ci5aUffzlm9ilU7nZc/s640/IMG_2568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Names of victims of the quakes and tokens of remembrance </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A special feature at the entrance to the memorial was a large <a href="https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/news/pounamu-placed-at-canterbury-earthquake-national-memorial/" target="_blank">greenstone boulder – <i>kōhatu pounamu</i></a> – mounted on a plinth carved with a with a river design. The <i>pounamu</i> was sourced from the a remote valley in South Westland and gifted by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, a Ngāi Tahu sub-tribe. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAVQsf-CP0Ekk6V2GJkZ7uUFUpmdO8DTuKA55BRI2dZqzD66c3E0M3xWjk_cQZirSjwySZH9n49Ngl20G730FUrGMOj1PbB7qexeLbtVjAvTjkGHucV4VPDn2PSlDRW3x5CPxIeujezY/s1600/IMG_4256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAVQsf-CP0Ekk6V2GJkZ7uUFUpmdO8DTuKA55BRI2dZqzD66c3E0M3xWjk_cQZirSjwySZH9n49Ngl20G730FUrGMOj1PbB7qexeLbtVjAvTjkGHucV4VPDn2PSlDRW3x5CPxIeujezY/s640/IMG_4256.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i>Kōhatu Pounamu</i> has water running over it to show up the beauty of the greenstone (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Finally, we headed back to our accommodation and made our way along Rolleston Avenue, past the entrance to the Botanic Gardens and the Canterbury Museum. There, all along the fence, was another reminder of the ordeals the citizens of Christchurch have suffered – the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_mosque_shootings" target="_blank">shocking mass shootings</a> at two of the city’s mosques on 15 March. The thousands of flowers that had been brought by mourners and well-wishers had been removed, a month on from the tragedy, but other tributes – cards, plants, painted stones and messages – were still there. A very moving display of sympathy and solidarity with the Muslim community. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v4_GK5tuAU3HiDsL8t1CRXexzFXNo11MjT6xA55X5HimLC-Q3Hwq6Avfz1QUQJWAsXblBKs6MS0xlaq5kZiH1HWOY0zZh9oYivbKouKkIDckMPOezPbEuG1YhvvD6AoCxo4BL-8LqcQ/s1600/IMG_4259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v4_GK5tuAU3HiDsL8t1CRXexzFXNo11MjT6xA55X5HimLC-Q3Hwq6Avfz1QUQJWAsXblBKs6MS0xlaq5kZiH1HWOY0zZh9oYivbKouKkIDckMPOezPbEuG1YhvvD6AoCxo4BL-8LqcQ/s640/IMG_4259.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tributes to the victims of the mass shootings at two mosques (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc0gvgH3WVcQD7EfenypAW21eQsfNxHnA4Ib_VLTP6XFUKC_roLR9A3pXW1TTZs7ilUv8SfjCvMXCe5RcXvjFAe0oWB3UslLApBEGQhpzOf_dz_ZK3OaJHu6t9J2lF-ao3LoGZvDonJM/s1600/IMG_2573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc0gvgH3WVcQD7EfenypAW21eQsfNxHnA4Ib_VLTP6XFUKC_roLR9A3pXW1TTZs7ilUv8SfjCvMXCe5RcXvjFAe0oWB3UslLApBEGQhpzOf_dz_ZK3OaJHu6t9J2lF-ao3LoGZvDonJM/s640/IMG_2573.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Messages of love take many forms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Feeling somewhat chastened by all this tragedy, we made our way back to our motel through the tranquil paths of Hagley Park. All up, we had biked 41 km.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-75905078599708981992019-01-17T16:52:00.001+13:002020-04-11T15:30:23.053+12:00West Coast Trip – Part 4: Greymouth, Hanmer Springs, Kaikoura and back to Wellington I have written up this trip in four parts, and here is where you will find <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2018/12/" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-2-west-coast.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> and <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-3-west-coast.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 9 – Thursday 6 December – Greymouth to Hanmer Springs</h4>
<br />
We drove out of Greymouth and took the scenic route to Reefton, stopping at Blackball. We wanted to have coffee at <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21001/formerly-the-blackball-hilton" target="_blank"><i>“Formerly”</i> The Blackball Hilton</a>, but the place didn’t open till midday. That was disappointing, as I had heard that it was quite quirky inside.<br />
<br />
This hotel famously had to change its name in 1990 when the global chain of Hilton Hotels objected to this small hotel, in a tiny community of 300 inhabitants, being called “The Blackball Hilton”, which was obviously tongue in cheek. As if anyone would confuse it with the big Hilton chain! Pathetic, corporate greed on the part of the “big boys” with their American lawyers! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GFTCaiBEEA5zlVzpX9KZFRU_tIzDb7_rnhKM5WNTs8507OiLIiyxlDxaoh9zbluBcejX_ghWi4NIZN_kkWbBUTS81CeAxRpOMaQFbZs_Nj0ryavU-2mRBUzYiqzmYGVHHCeAl6vSliI/s1600/IMGP6696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GFTCaiBEEA5zlVzpX9KZFRU_tIzDb7_rnhKM5WNTs8507OiLIiyxlDxaoh9zbluBcejX_ghWi4NIZN_kkWbBUTS81CeAxRpOMaQFbZs_Nj0ryavU-2mRBUzYiqzmYGVHHCeAl6vSliI/s640/IMGP6696.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Formerly"</i> The Blackball Hilton was closed – quite disappointing (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We walked around for bit – the place looked pretty forlorn, there was nobody around. The most exciting thing was an encounter with a friendly black cat! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IUiFYc4-MlgCu791-M7mConZqZJff4Qp77nsypWAvZ7L2DCJi6WsdzJTr1M5X4pd8JcBCFw4L-Une7lbWQy2-whZ5WUFrUlQ6mt2PJ0ELcGu43HSDg9AZ-j_TUjBSSurEuzo6HaVOkA/s1600/IMG_2317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IUiFYc4-MlgCu791-M7mConZqZJff4Qp77nsypWAvZ7L2DCJi6WsdzJTr1M5X4pd8JcBCFw4L-Une7lbWQy2-whZ5WUFrUlQ6mt2PJ0ELcGu43HSDg9AZ-j_TUjBSSurEuzo6HaVOkA/s640/IMG_2317.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John loves to make friends with cats </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We looked over some displays about the <a href="https://blackballhilton.co.nz/history.html" target="_blank">history of Blackball </a>which is quite interesting: Gold and coal mining, the 1908 Miners’ strike, the beginnings of the NZ socialism and the Labour Party. There was also a display about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_River_Mine_disaster" target="_blank">Pike River Mine disaster</a>, a mine explosion in 2010, which cost the lives of 29 men. Pike River was the next valley over from there. <br />
<br />
Back on the road, and we stopped in Reefton for coffee, followed by a walk around. Reefton is quite an interesting small town. It is reputed to have been the first town in the Southern hemisphere to have a public supply of electricity in 1888. It is also a former mining town in the 1870s, and its main shopping street, The Broadway, is full of charming, quirky old buildings. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY0220dbAqZa8bSHr6Yhm0ymm1xeGnx76wH4LLboBVMA_gPkEWVpDkEHwb_pJPLDLa2nMLkqzoyReWEi1S75K8daXTZmpkPMFnyR5otfGa7QQ2g7dobncJWO_Y0__6iZLQgYXRjst6H4/s1600/IMGP6709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY0220dbAqZa8bSHr6Yhm0ymm1xeGnx76wH4LLboBVMA_gPkEWVpDkEHwb_pJPLDLa2nMLkqzoyReWEi1S75K8daXTZmpkPMFnyR5otfGa7QQ2g7dobncJWO_Y0__6iZLQgYXRjst6H4/s640/IMGP6709.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone will need one, some time … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIWh6QSFUGOdKbMk7MkE3AX0wiAs81CW2_CdsfY4hJdVCvmi1-8RKAl31wb4hGXIx1L4kHGGWeYE5AMWgG2Nff0yLuUHWMHGCc7Ifxcz3aeVAGGhruu116sK7L9t8D3OFapb3xSeAqTo/s1600/IMGP6710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIWh6QSFUGOdKbMk7MkE3AX0wiAs81CW2_CdsfY4hJdVCvmi1-8RKAl31wb4hGXIx1L4kHGGWeYE5AMWgG2Nff0yLuUHWMHGCc7Ifxcz3aeVAGGhruu116sK7L9t8D3OFapb3xSeAqTo/s640/IMGP6710.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main shopping street in Reefton (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqhiHgP5O7xoUa_Ee8c-SDrWLHuEyTGkgaS5d1URr1B3RhY1a121z13DZ36BGT7ARFjFB9Cq8hCBA95847xM7IQuraXrSZiEuIKiA0HYXPOAErhuESqpMIeGXyyKpKqiB1nShRG-rFNk/s1600/IMGP6711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqhiHgP5O7xoUa_Ee8c-SDrWLHuEyTGkgaS5d1URr1B3RhY1a121z13DZ36BGT7ARFjFB9Cq8hCBA95847xM7IQuraXrSZiEuIKiA0HYXPOAErhuESqpMIeGXyyKpKqiB1nShRG-rFNk/s640/IMGP6711.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fairlie R28 Engine, 1878 (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While John walked around taking photos, I looked over the museum display in the i-Site. It was very well done – displays about the mines, flora (especially the southern beech, of which there are four varieties, I learnt) and fauna, pest animals, pioneers, and personal stories. <br />
<br />
Back on the road, and after some time we started looking for a place to have our picnic lunch. We stopped at a lay-by but there was nowhere to sit. It was a lovely spot, with a stream and beautiful bush. But an empty carton printed with a beer brand and other rubbish made us wonder if the place had been used for other purposes, and thought we should be careful where we put our feet … <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ-bu4d-n6UsOBAov_EQ6oaVcWK3cMfK1mGZGazTlmMdyEZGsyDjVqcWoJND8MyaMjWT7DMU7i6CpebT2-Uz-EFi8_1Oo8nWRWaUvAVlGO21oWKoQ-KlQCHSXVR0Y9ZsTDWrl7m4lVkQ/s1600/IMGP6716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ-bu4d-n6UsOBAov_EQ6oaVcWK3cMfK1mGZGazTlmMdyEZGsyDjVqcWoJND8MyaMjWT7DMU7i6CpebT2-Uz-EFi8_1Oo8nWRWaUvAVlGO21oWKoQ-KlQCHSXVR0Y9ZsTDWrl7m4lVkQ/s640/IMGP6716.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty stream … (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYAzdB7Uu8DHZRA6FDB-HQ56dRAcfp3RQlzhMiiaHaTNFINjOPwfGaJQquuz4N4479MCoPETiE0hwCVrhTB5mpTnTHwa2p6xCGXbz2yGLHSYN8H3JFZGw_e9ux00-uGxfy3FFLlApT3g/s1600/IMGP6715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYAzdB7Uu8DHZRA6FDB-HQ56dRAcfp3RQlzhMiiaHaTNFINjOPwfGaJQquuz4N4479MCoPETiE0hwCVrhTB5mpTnTHwa2p6xCGXbz2yGLHSYN8H3JFZGw_e9ux00-uGxfy3FFLlApT3g/s640/IMGP6715.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and beautiful bush on the other side … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYsvK_mAXSaFpMd2uNenfbYe254gqTv1gGC2rqCPD5VMElN24fkFKmlfC1antrivxdBrVc9qqBLyl9y7ZtJEvZcHgccq3v34bz9wGGm8TXhz6nBxA1JyqZlLkyYD5_ENBSF3Sm4LAzag/s1600/IMG_2319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYsvK_mAXSaFpMd2uNenfbYe254gqTv1gGC2rqCPD5VMElN24fkFKmlfC1antrivxdBrVc9qqBLyl9y7ZtJEvZcHgccq3v34bz9wGGm8TXhz6nBxA1JyqZlLkyYD5_ENBSF3Sm4LAzag/s640/IMG_2319.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… but we wondered what sort of other uses the spot had been put to</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So on we went, and a bit further along, we pulled in at Marble Hill Picnic area. John was intrigued by a long, low concrete wall in a paddock, when suddenly he realised that this must be <a href="http://www.map.id.au/seismic/places/evisons_wall.html" target="_blank">Frank Evison’s wall</a>. In this spot, one can see the Alpine Fault, and geophysicist Frank Evison designed this wall across the fault line, in order to see whether it was moving very gradually. It was intended to show that if there was any displacement, it would be sudden, not gradual. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2TvarrNFjdIUVYZG8TGKkMb17L735xtWhP65fWphHrv6oNAmuCWo1eWyyMWIBSoSznLwHcWmEc5OfCSK47uNlBmIcpIAa_7iSLpR3OzetMNZlphrpCL2sbN-W66KdqhHTQBfzEWWcAk/s1600/IMG_2320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2TvarrNFjdIUVYZG8TGKkMb17L735xtWhP65fWphHrv6oNAmuCWo1eWyyMWIBSoSznLwHcWmEc5OfCSK47uNlBmIcpIAa_7iSLpR3OzetMNZlphrpCL2sbN-W66KdqhHTQBfzEWWcAk/s640/IMG_2320.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John walked quite a way through the paddock to take a photo of the wall </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFtk0V0TdIBwp9VzD7cDjE9vhFyeXpOyEqrqYT-AN86fPqm7kYf23CqdnPGwFLNOgrbtT8vGog99a2qUXUqUj8WH-oEzFDz6eDXy90cupLDIbtDryq5EDkkchNjTyLCgRi7O9wi-9PKI/s1600/IMGP6719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFtk0V0TdIBwp9VzD7cDjE9vhFyeXpOyEqrqYT-AN86fPqm7kYf23CqdnPGwFLNOgrbtT8vGog99a2qUXUqUj8WH-oEzFDz6eDXy90cupLDIbtDryq5EDkkchNjTyLCgRi7O9wi-9PKI/s640/IMGP6719.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evison’s Wall (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaZ-DLaw_9fKqmzir6rVaXw-nSO6jqggu50ejKZuDJeH-yEjL40GaJAtE6ReN_m2dU4xXdCbaXB-7lkRsq_YZKh5eOztTOinDuvK8alp_XoW-thnE-V3J6bjRUPfIMcF17qXhAQep98U/s1600/IMGP6720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaZ-DLaw_9fKqmzir6rVaXw-nSO6jqggu50ejKZuDJeH-yEjL40GaJAtE6ReN_m2dU4xXdCbaXB-7lkRsq_YZKh5eOztTOinDuvK8alp_XoW-thnE-V3J6bjRUPfIMcF17qXhAQep98U/s640/IMGP6720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information panel about the wall (click to enlarge) (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Apart from a huge truck and trailer playing “silly buggers” by tailgating us and overtaking with its horn blaring, giving us a big fright, the rest of the journey to Hanmer Springs was uneventful, arriving there in the late afternoon. <br />
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John zonked out on the bed and fell asleep for a while, then later we went into the village to find somewhere to have dinner. Being after 5pm, everything was shut, and it was pretty boring. The only place that seemed to be open was the Thermal Pools and Spa complex, but we weren’t interested in that. We ended up at the Roasted Bean, where we enjoyed our dinner with a glass of Riesling and a shared dessert. <br />
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After dinner, we went for a walk around a largish block, and thought we should have biked around the village, as it was actually quite pretty, so we decided we would do that the next morning before leaving Hanmer. <br />
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<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 10 – Friday 7 December – Hanmer Springs to Kaikoura </h4>
<br />
At about 8:30 we set off to bike around Hanmer, going to the other side from where we walked the previous evening, but that was soon done, so we also biked where we had walked. We had checked out the map of cycle trails around Hanmer, but they were all mountain bike trails – not our style of biking. But we rode 8 km around the township which was quite enjoyable. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIPc2kkRE5Kf-oYFZ_LKoX0SMJmiBd9i_P7cmX1DHwlpN7gM1L046JbdAIeNpw2c4H_UKh4zdWrpUjHV7zRWedKTgOXAro8HyCqjzH5jzjfNJj65knXKyjlUw2rngroNA2ZteVnVUKn4/s1600/IMGP6729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIPc2kkRE5Kf-oYFZ_LKoX0SMJmiBd9i_P7cmX1DHwlpN7gM1L046JbdAIeNpw2c4H_UKh4zdWrpUjHV7zRWedKTgOXAro8HyCqjzH5jzjfNJj65knXKyjlUw2rngroNA2ZteVnVUKn4/s640/IMGP6729.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for a short ride around Hanmer Springs (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJZ30mFMO3tuBqR20HqlCoeflyfQHBy6GGR_I0_cxXNBzF2uFWmAYJCdcejuOlKDh9L7mf7YRUx-3g5_EnuKbqaOXEFWk7V0BR4r1qYIwUVZbnpuuX2u5nyISoRmsk2a7qtHvV4ljHEQ/s1600/IMGP6730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJZ30mFMO3tuBqR20HqlCoeflyfQHBy6GGR_I0_cxXNBzF2uFWmAYJCdcejuOlKDh9L7mf7YRUx-3g5_EnuKbqaOXEFWk7V0BR4r1qYIwUVZbnpuuX2u5nyISoRmsk2a7qtHvV4ljHEQ/s640/IMGP6730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanmer streets are quiet and very pretty (photo by John) </td></tr>
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Back to the unit for a cup of coffee and we left Hanmer at about 9:30, heading for Kaikoura. I had wanted to go via the Waipara Valley, so that we could have lunch at a winery, but upon checking the various winery websites, I figured that most of their menus looked rather “pretentious” (and eye-wateringly expensive), so we decided to flag the idea. <br />
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We drove to Culverden, then Waipara, to join SH1 from there to Kaikoura. There were several places where roadworks were in progress (no doubt still left-overs from the Kaikoura quake), and the road was single lane, with either traffic lights or Stop/Go people in place. <br />
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One such roadwork area allowed us to stop briefly by an interesting limestone formation, which, as I found out later, was called Frog Rock. Using one’s imagination, one can see the frog crouching on the side of the road. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyedPp6uVGgTScUKYMtvMuwSXY3ime0rDlbVnsLbNqULKhYal9Ics865scdShC6FfIufi5NcFm8hr60TzrkfQePO2kKcCbSq3Rx8ZwiHVo0TnJnzeixbfnt1ty7mZOnClJLWeYwo8bhc/s1600/IMGP6734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyedPp6uVGgTScUKYMtvMuwSXY3ime0rDlbVnsLbNqULKhYal9Ics865scdShC6FfIufi5NcFm8hr60TzrkfQePO2kKcCbSq3Rx8ZwiHVo0TnJnzeixbfnt1ty7mZOnClJLWeYwo8bhc/s640/IMGP6734.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frog Rock, near Weka Pass (photo by John)</td></tr>
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A little while later we stopped at Fossil Point, a very nice café. A really pleasant, cheerful and modern-looking place – nice big carpark, pretty garden, seating inside and out. We had coffee and scones. We got talking to the woman who owned the café, and she mentioned that her passion was potting. I asked what her name was – Kim Henderson – and I mentioned my potter sister, Aimée McLeod, asking if she knew her. “<i>Of course I know Aimée, she organised several of the conventions!”</i>, at one of which (2013) she apparently won a main prize for her large vase. She showed us the folder that chronicled how they bought and did up the building, and made it into a café, and she also showed us the folder of her pots, and of the drawings (cartoon-style) she resorted to doing when the traffic bypassed their place for 13 months while the Kaikoura earthquake-hit roads were unusable. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgy-NJ8RU6yL-M4BxgtjZ6PN7hIB3XO4AJhvspr36dVor8U90slNX9QiBl-r10bkZpyUE8h05Lwd33CuMWF7CMkBaJvJi0zXijQjOKtBokNZTE0uW7FychOjwaAz_VtTZgD6pajpBcrA/s1600/IMGP6736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgy-NJ8RU6yL-M4BxgtjZ6PN7hIB3XO4AJhvspr36dVor8U90slNX9QiBl-r10bkZpyUE8h05Lwd33CuMWF7CMkBaJvJi0zXijQjOKtBokNZTE0uW7FychOjwaAz_VtTZgD6pajpBcrA/s640/IMGP6736.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fossil Point (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S3hlYkBhRYxty_L25INtxs1CA_iYJO3J_AYhdp37LA0I_RKD6DVpKDdPgrpUORzG51E4bESC4BogFXAPPJs2a5D7oJ5oSNztoFz6E_5FQW2ee28iPHV2alOkyOWXzdGjmfR1XdId0-c/s1600/IMGP6740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S3hlYkBhRYxty_L25INtxs1CA_iYJO3J_AYhdp37LA0I_RKD6DVpKDdPgrpUORzG51E4bESC4BogFXAPPJs2a5D7oJ5oSNztoFz6E_5FQW2ee28iPHV2alOkyOWXzdGjmfR1XdId0-c/s640/IMGP6740.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim Henderson’s folder (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we got to Domett, I could see on the map that there was a road to the “Cathedral Cliffs”, which eventually looped back to SH1 at Cheviot. I suggested going there to check it out. It was probably a winding road, but we were in no hurry, and we were there now, so why not do it? <br />
<br />
The road was winding, but very pretty, and well worth it when we got to the Cathedral Cliffs, which were quite impressive. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPvDFb1TSsLsc8hbfHxNIlqt9GKty8u-vaKRtJb-oEyiIzHGGYFc95Cb0CDkf9d-ugF-8_x3XAl2KSwAiUJhYQrQkM1Or3LLaTXi7UPd7S-hXdnwP527d6bCIVI2SjGk8O5NuDlQqHBI/s1600/IMGP6742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPvDFb1TSsLsc8hbfHxNIlqt9GKty8u-vaKRtJb-oEyiIzHGGYFc95Cb0CDkf9d-ugF-8_x3XAl2KSwAiUJhYQrQkM1Or3LLaTXi7UPd7S-hXdnwP527d6bCIVI2SjGk8O5NuDlQqHBI/s640/IMGP6742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral Cliffs (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1nJMdGIdxmooh7A6gCUvlWPHETB3H0yyk76xSXiGkImtZ5Lv_TLZdE79her3kBHby3ZIkMinYaQRNnJmzbJXUDkp9Wtm3dyyOCR1IVNNWSiczC17ZgUyAFabwuJa9qy8x96WZ7dAkQE/s1600/IMGP6744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1nJMdGIdxmooh7A6gCUvlWPHETB3H0yyk76xSXiGkImtZ5Lv_TLZdE79her3kBHby3ZIkMinYaQRNnJmzbJXUDkp9Wtm3dyyOCR1IVNNWSiczC17ZgUyAFabwuJa9qy8x96WZ7dAkQE/s640/IMGP6744.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of the Cathedral Cliffs is reminiscent of<br />
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia Basilica (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we got down to the coast, at Gore Bay, it was the most beautiful view, and a beautiful surf beach (apparently one of NZ’s safest surfing beaches, according to the information board near the public loos in Cheviot). <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43_P1DggNShWz0wW5UMmn4IXq2wKkUspTd2yBcfLBfoOg_F7onGPDXDyyqSlpXLGRjz5YNJYGDVpJoq5T4VvQJ5X3f85dfjcO_aGCtSY5OTCTUmzbNA-cjJJAG_MhHEkKsfduFha0CIQ/s1600/IMGP6746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43_P1DggNShWz0wW5UMmn4IXq2wKkUspTd2yBcfLBfoOg_F7onGPDXDyyqSlpXLGRjz5YNJYGDVpJoq5T4VvQJ5X3f85dfjcO_aGCtSY5OTCTUmzbNA-cjJJAG_MhHEkKsfduFha0CIQ/s640/IMGP6746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gore Bay (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMDoA2cSpVqtQj30paOFHOICJ2QnveVsjrOQ7yYURwpHcdniwdEE32lLoGkqAC7hfFT8moiSCSMP2Xt9073dl0qEyhJCt0_C4OjlZKv96eCEcJtV3AZCRuNrPDbUsUlxmPPa8KwdthP0/s1600/IMGP6747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMDoA2cSpVqtQj30paOFHOICJ2QnveVsjrOQ7yYURwpHcdniwdEE32lLoGkqAC7hfFT8moiSCSMP2Xt9073dl0qEyhJCt0_C4OjlZKv96eCEcJtV3AZCRuNrPDbUsUlxmPPa8KwdthP0/s640/IMGP6747.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gore Bay, a lovely wide surf beach (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We reached SH1, the coast road to Kaikoura, and in various places there is still road building – or fixing – going on. <br />
<br />
In November 2016 – at two minutes after midnight on 14 November to be precise – a magnitude 7.8 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kaikoura_earthquake" target="_blank">earthquake shook the Kaikoura region</a>, bringing down huge landslides onto SH1 and the railway line both to the north and to the south of Kaikoura. With both the road and the rail line devastated, the tourist town was effectively cut off from the outside world. <br />
<br />
There were big <a href="https://traveltrade.newzealand.com/getattachment/news-events-updates/news/earthquake-regional-updates/Kaikoura-Update-20-SH1-is-OPEN-15-Dec17-(1).pdf/?lang=en-xx" target="_blank">celebrations in December 2017</a>, when the SH1 was re-opened, although some sections were still being worked on. <br />
<br />
It took a huge effort from vast numbers of workers over two years to restore the road and rail and to get traffic flowing through Kaikoura again. Just a few weeks before our trip (11 Nov 2018) we saw a documentary on <a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday." target="_blank">TV One’s Sunday programme</a> about the re-build and re-opening of the road and railway, so of course we were interested in seeing the progress for ourselves. The documentary is well worth a look, on TVNZ On Demand. <br />
<br />
There were several places where work was still ongoing, and the road was reduced to a single lane, with lights or Stop/Go people managing the traffic. I was able to take several photos from the car as we couldn’t stop. The rail tunnels are being extended – i.e. concrete tunnels are being built to continue from where the original tunnels leave off – presumably to protect the track from further rock falls. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIiIzXTR3lym1NA6BfmJ9eYA3L2QxwRtnunDQguvvk_m72rDBRbQKL4o-OtPCGb9RPTezkkzfwszjbxPWO_aJs0JhG8fZSPmmqx7gpV9IAMzDDpog2odHdb_Kqmz1H6y3QvsSeTadMHU/s1600/IMG_2329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIiIzXTR3lym1NA6BfmJ9eYA3L2QxwRtnunDQguvvk_m72rDBRbQKL4o-OtPCGb9RPTezkkzfwszjbxPWO_aJs0JhG8fZSPmmqx7gpV9IAMzDDpog2odHdb_Kqmz1H6y3QvsSeTadMHU/s640/IMG_2329.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road works were still going on </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLhIVW44-TjPVDIciToZFLGzU4AFw10azwxoJ2tQkvbFFosepuoQWBVbQCrX1Fi0edz8QtG8ysj-eGecy6d_VGY-JrHqAhtMGmL366Dtcuwmg_75pb2ibCnHDecrrI2271DFrfsKqoSw/s1600/IMG_2331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLhIVW44-TjPVDIciToZFLGzU4AFw10azwxoJ2tQkvbFFosepuoQWBVbQCrX1Fi0edz8QtG8ysj-eGecy6d_VGY-JrHqAhtMGmL366Dtcuwmg_75pb2ibCnHDecrrI2271DFrfsKqoSw/s640/IMG_2331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road was reduced to a single lane in places </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29Jejx7lyzgpgGTfAdvcA8Xl1BXZjkid8ZwqhR5fQ00NIJUUckhiv2sFqNnY5nuvpN8zjPB5OswU9jTHijW4ICumwmD5dWAbX2vU3QKLNmHqrkGmg-wuDaVb7wVB7QyLlpDZDXihDCVM/s1600/IMG_2332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29Jejx7lyzgpgGTfAdvcA8Xl1BXZjkid8ZwqhR5fQ00NIJUUckhiv2sFqNnY5nuvpN8zjPB5OswU9jTHijW4ICumwmD5dWAbX2vU3QKLNmHqrkGmg-wuDaVb7wVB7QyLlpDZDXihDCVM/s640/IMG_2332.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge concrete blocks and netting walls protect the road from rock falls </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsYfGy49GAMb62EtDvfLnfgLoZsjeoaPQyKFXuOhzGKN6LjsvDZ5X6w8pqsIbRhAz5gHuluTDKd4CjHI2Vpt13ESKKv_GLMLynyCwKS0mVl8I9CEapW21pVWKvtzOTDnxGVj8yGQgPH0/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsYfGy49GAMb62EtDvfLnfgLoZsjeoaPQyKFXuOhzGKN6LjsvDZ5X6w8pqsIbRhAz5gHuluTDKd4CjHI2Vpt13ESKKv_GLMLynyCwKS0mVl8I9CEapW21pVWKvtzOTDnxGVj8yGQgPH0/s640/IMG_2337.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Existing tunnels were being extended </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We arrived in Kaikoura in the mid-afternoon, and checked in at the Bay Cottages Motel, at South Bay, across the road from the beach – well, the seashore, as it was a fair distance to the beach itself. We got some information from the motel owners about cycling in the area and started biking almost right away. <br />
<br />
First we went to the end of South Bay, where there is a <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/98680647/kaikura-harbour-rebuilt-in-half-the-time-as-businesses-make-it-happen" target="_blank">marina for the whale watch launches</a>. Though it seems that the harbour is back into full operation, we saw no tourist activity there. <br />
<br />
There were some amazing rocks all around the area, where the seabed had been lifted by more than a metre by the earthquake. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAodof8DKCs3E5hGxiJdGNzPQcegBqwPIrWXICOGPYsggy1WPyEQ6vs7C5fwiyfYfQD_tGaQkWhE6e7vMEzjf7CEMO8E42_wsQgAgdYQR_4PipGGGy-oZ3CbvJqSQi2ghEp1yX7Sg0JJk/s1600/IMGP6748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAodof8DKCs3E5hGxiJdGNzPQcegBqwPIrWXICOGPYsggy1WPyEQ6vs7C5fwiyfYfQD_tGaQkWhE6e7vMEzjf7CEMO8E42_wsQgAgdYQR_4PipGGGy-oZ3CbvJqSQi2ghEp1yX7Sg0JJk/s640/IMGP6748.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking from South Bay towards the end of the Kaikoura Peninsula. Most
of the rocks you can see here have been pushed up by the earthquake
(photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHq0BvztZFKNiL1Z8r-Dmmi4O71nMtY75sr9-omVY7I3j3LgUxx40g01KyKdC3lOeyqw9mya7UQr5sll8eAhB35oMsd2AYWBPTCGKnSYWDOcAi151H1AztsSG24DGAjzrsygkHYvwXvI/s1600/IMGP6754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHq0BvztZFKNiL1Z8r-Dmmi4O71nMtY75sr9-omVY7I3j3LgUxx40g01KyKdC3lOeyqw9mya7UQr5sll8eAhB35oMsd2AYWBPTCGKnSYWDOcAi151H1AztsSG24DGAjzrsygkHYvwXvI/s640/IMGP6754.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These amazingly jagged rocks are the raised seabed, pushed up by the quake (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMMJBx28jeEY36jWGlKzM14wW4e4vySSVyca8HFHo8SBDOl-VGCN68VqQ3fEvAfSoKXdhZZkdYYXTmNgqRZvGLFnfYTOUDxEK_Zot20U6x1VgjmL64wIx6itlnJcuV6eYI3vPsdnYtpE/s1600/IMGP6757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMMJBx28jeEY36jWGlKzM14wW4e4vySSVyca8HFHo8SBDOl-VGCN68VqQ3fEvAfSoKXdhZZkdYYXTmNgqRZvGLFnfYTOUDxEK_Zot20U6x1VgjmL64wIx6itlnJcuV6eYI3vPsdnYtpE/s640/IMGP6757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards the Seaward Kaikoura Range (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then we biked around the racecourse at the other end of South Bay, up a very steep path that got us to a track beside the State Highway, leading into Kaikoura. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBfpAQKCEh5g3_vjqz4T4js4RQHy8ZBnEv31UjvStt2qheQ4wqyz3RqpljOIiNp9by8PWHUmYrfEVFFUyCr7FrUG2mVF9k2Y8_Tw9UZN904ujsyOMcGyl1E2n_fGAk9AABdSArXO_e-A/s1600/IMGP6764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBfpAQKCEh5g3_vjqz4T4js4RQHy8ZBnEv31UjvStt2qheQ4wqyz3RqpljOIiNp9by8PWHUmYrfEVFFUyCr7FrUG2mVF9k2Y8_Tw9UZN904ujsyOMcGyl1E2n_fGAk9AABdSArXO_e-A/s640/IMGP6764.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We biked around the racecourse at South Bay (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We biked right into the town centre, and stopped at The Craypot for coffee and Devonshire scones, with cream and jam. Yum! We sat outside on the deck across the footpath so we could keep an eye on the bikes. The town was busy and bristling with tourists, in cars and on bikes. Kaikoura was definitely back on the tourist map! <br />
<br />
We went into the i-Site, where we picked up more info about cycling, then biked along the foreshore all the way to the end of the Peninsula, at Point Kean. At Fyffe Point we saw more amazing rock formations on the shore, all raised by the earthquake uplift. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT5YUNfBTARihjJW9pJzjchBGIVionQLsOl1r4khVtFxcIrYLO1COT3pALcMiPeOumdFXw_y8iabizZTPfNglG060FW9krbxOCIRKyi6hlNHF4nCpFcQ-RZTeFGYsDuMFwTlX_QEgXy8/s1600/IMGP6771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT5YUNfBTARihjJW9pJzjchBGIVionQLsOl1r4khVtFxcIrYLO1COT3pALcMiPeOumdFXw_y8iabizZTPfNglG060FW9krbxOCIRKyi6hlNHF4nCpFcQ-RZTeFGYsDuMFwTlX_QEgXy8/s640/IMGP6771.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Esplanade (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOGGYi39jR5vYFi9pClc6XBCRzZCsHCdD02SL1AXsvfu0CvZVqy1Jr4xJnHLBQxo3iyc41Do18BrfDymHdy-XQY9bXZHZ_BV3h-2FD7BFjrrMIUXm4w46YZwCb6PMfZxAddR3SkyfSns/s1600/IMGP6784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOGGYi39jR5vYFi9pClc6XBCRzZCsHCdD02SL1AXsvfu0CvZVqy1Jr4xJnHLBQxo3iyc41Do18BrfDymHdy-XQY9bXZHZ_BV3h-2FD7BFjrrMIUXm4w46YZwCb6PMfZxAddR3SkyfSns/s640/IMGP6784.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pushed-up rocks at Fyffe Point (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL7dqnQpB5RMpdUoqJydAFmS4ER6WMWpRMCYPero2BhnXJ9ITvpIRfvWXvhlzmJU_sGvL7D4wD7CIVE12E-81iWbRBUPaMEScSG6LSw0DzHRg5kANdRxLvg3bGB79FEvnYRW3NgJ6Nc8/s1600/IMGP6786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL7dqnQpB5RMpdUoqJydAFmS4ER6WMWpRMCYPero2BhnXJ9ITvpIRfvWXvhlzmJU_sGvL7D4wD7CIVE12E-81iWbRBUPaMEScSG6LSw0DzHRg5kANdRxLvg3bGB79FEvnYRW3NgJ6Nc8/s640/IMGP6786.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacular! (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtyxd-OIxsO03vmSOVdECjKnnYrm_sN2NAKCRcJAMnp8UhPjwkwmsqusUN76Ow_ePfRuukIWk3yioNStMNPgx0LHCxAI_14KL2JxIlx8F6O2Wybz_oVTf4GJ4Il0u4iy16PsgMvAKZYs/s1600/IMG_2349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtyxd-OIxsO03vmSOVdECjKnnYrm_sN2NAKCRcJAMnp8UhPjwkwmsqusUN76Ow_ePfRuukIWk3yioNStMNPgx0LHCxAI_14KL2JxIlx8F6O2Wybz_oVTf4GJ4Il0u4iy16PsgMvAKZYs/s640/IMG_2349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All this white rock was raised by the earthquake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKkf80uJIQ_av_zNpevRR-8I5dp-6QYfwgabQfyiB5jk9iohY8swevZsqoOoWsAaAyeGUwKxml4JjX02qmNyCOC3aGKh0vP-ViOsO1nC_uYPaPONe0qVk2sXBXPVCKYQvRLrZwwC3_pg/s1600/IMG_2362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKkf80uJIQ_av_zNpevRR-8I5dp-6QYfwgabQfyiB5jk9iohY8swevZsqoOoWsAaAyeGUwKxml4JjX02qmNyCOC3aGKh0vP-ViOsO1nC_uYPaPONe0qVk2sXBXPVCKYQvRLrZwwC3_pg/s640/IMG_2362.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of the shattered, uplifted rocks </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After dinner in town, we headed back to the motel, but we diverted to the look-out from where we had a great view over both sides of the peninsula. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxegP6yxpOnHP-MUZie4iBhjQgoSiWKKy_celeX66yD1yzZVRm8mTcPk1NudxBAP7O5LLCPYg4hLvC99Fxy3CkkDUQ35S8LINKkdFfgDO_kVDMFMa1ddFvE71Nq86N16EmTPBjuW_b5W4/s1600/IMGP6795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxegP6yxpOnHP-MUZie4iBhjQgoSiWKKy_celeX66yD1yzZVRm8mTcPk1NudxBAP7O5LLCPYg4hLvC99Fxy3CkkDUQ35S8LINKkdFfgDO_kVDMFMa1ddFvE71Nq86N16EmTPBjuW_b5W4/s640/IMGP6795.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the top of the look-out … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbpcorz8kz6PcyLU007PacMxQz6uuA8TmKSzmcJQJdG_lFY9QgU5a7izIbcLNLdZZfGSQddGYtRMsm3y0-5xU628FikuDfvoC3sIHJUdaJdLfd1REyMAnc_O75OCPlrUvw4_LHyw7FFg/s1600/IMGP6792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbpcorz8kz6PcyLU007PacMxQz6uuA8TmKSzmcJQJdG_lFY9QgU5a7izIbcLNLdZZfGSQddGYtRMsm3y0-5xU628FikuDfvoC3sIHJUdaJdLfd1REyMAnc_O75OCPlrUvw4_LHyw7FFg/s640/IMGP6792.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… we could see South Bay on one side … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLdk8qTLJqYKTYv2hnvbFyD533cNydtYQY8jtKVuFe_3aaWe7ltoyglFnVKvDfBDq4uGaL4qELr41nwZ3h4V3a8p-YMkhwRyv98ICV5yIwu06EVumb9tJJvc6JvBz2W2AnGTBHUmEbYo/s1600/IMGP6796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLdk8qTLJqYKTYv2hnvbFyD533cNydtYQY8jtKVuFe_3aaWe7ltoyglFnVKvDfBDq4uGaL4qELr41nwZ3h4V3a8p-YMkhwRyv98ICV5yIwu06EVumb9tJJvc6JvBz2W2AnGTBHUmEbYo/s640/IMGP6796.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and the Kaikoura township on the other (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Later, at around 8:45, we went down to the beach to look at the sunset. Beautiful, with interesting clouds and a vapour trail all lit up in orange and gold. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfloZc0HbDAw1l_Itbp0V5ZLAAC1a41btdEa_8WXpPxf9aQMooLSLmU-mI_ro0kVflez8EUskkP6bDe7F7JMWE7BhQCF2_iuB8gz23dL_5_UoT6Ci7rySGcDqhk11f59AFgMtOP2m9GUo/s1600/IMGP6801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfloZc0HbDAw1l_Itbp0V5ZLAAC1a41btdEa_8WXpPxf9aQMooLSLmU-mI_ro0kVflez8EUskkP6bDe7F7JMWE7BhQCF2_iuB8gz23dL_5_UoT6Ci7rySGcDqhk11f59AFgMtOP2m9GUo/s640/IMGP6801.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunset at South Bay (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 11 – Saturday 8 December – Kaikoura and the Kowhai Trail</h4>
<br />
Having found out about cycling in the region from the i-Site, we set off at about 10 am to ride the Kowhai Trail. We rode to the reserve at the end of South Bay, near the highway, and found the track (it was a bit hard to find, as its entrance was hidden by shrubbery). It ran between the highway and the sea, but we couldn’t see either of them, because of vegetation beside the track. After some distance, the track ducked under a bridge and the highway, and we were into a wooded area – rather nice amongst the pine trees. The track was soft underfoot for a while, and I thought it would be nice to ride a horse there. But later it became very narrow and lumpy-bumpy with either stones or roots to negotiate. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsrNis3eJeRCRnEfJ_6-Dm3VG1csaTQz9W4YOl22isUgoZDwgTKfxmUfNNL46ZMifTnUTh3KnDcBpPgUc_bdnKuKnCZxWLCS8vTEIIuGfAnCQyYuD250tE7rqtI5magbtvZ5cyzwkMl0/s1600/P1070042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsrNis3eJeRCRnEfJ_6-Dm3VG1csaTQz9W4YOl22isUgoZDwgTKfxmUfNNL46ZMifTnUTh3KnDcBpPgUc_bdnKuKnCZxWLCS8vTEIIuGfAnCQyYuD250tE7rqtI5magbtvZ5cyzwkMl0/s640/P1070042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track ducked under the highway bridge (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3ZwvFgePrPm38TsmgQRk5Q1vuPN4_slfxoakLls7AiKO87hEY2b_7I_-UFcJpwQQ8h9YSz-y1_oWOZEwHJ5hIHK0tm50IWC6ZfAvbt4ECdmFZOaO5Gae-O3Jh9R7M3UJhvb8qPlQhHY/s1600/P1070041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3ZwvFgePrPm38TsmgQRk5Q1vuPN4_slfxoakLls7AiKO87hEY2b_7I_-UFcJpwQQ8h9YSz-y1_oWOZEwHJ5hIHK0tm50IWC6ZfAvbt4ECdmFZOaO5Gae-O3Jh9R7M3UJhvb8qPlQhHY/s640/P1070041.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bit of the track was lovely … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf1qsf0x9bcTmkF5uglYjL5rzizQMNxMSudhu55h3A6STVwmq5F0zHyVE4UF6Q5Hlf0CWZ2Iw8KcruoJZLDbhSC-3sOvZ-q8YoRGps6bwXvLXSe0EVvwjFTszR4XjetoRUowaUMaFqIE/s1600/P1070043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf1qsf0x9bcTmkF5uglYjL5rzizQMNxMSudhu55h3A6STVwmq5F0zHyVE4UF6Q5Hlf0CWZ2Iw8KcruoJZLDbhSC-3sOvZ-q8YoRGps6bwXvLXSe0EVvwjFTszR4XjetoRUowaUMaFqIE/s640/P1070043.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… but this is where the track started to be rather narrow and bumpy (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At one stage we had to walk about 50 metres on the, by now dried-out, riverbed edge where the track had been washed out in recent rains. We had heard at the i-Site that there had been flooding on the track the week before. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGahMZ0H1EuLGjSQfP-Zi0BXYP0OPnSJ15IS5zFzCn01Xs4UWmKe7KDygvI5LVc4C4-72oeaEfBDhe_4Z9G-u7mrDFbuVWXalmDsUkJ5bXmncd764hoK4REKgUd7njS209i01Uc0ztNs/s1600/P1070044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGahMZ0H1EuLGjSQfP-Zi0BXYP0OPnSJ15IS5zFzCn01Xs4UWmKe7KDygvI5LVc4C4-72oeaEfBDhe_4Z9G-u7mrDFbuVWXalmDsUkJ5bXmncd764hoK4REKgUd7njS209i01Uc0ztNs/s640/P1070044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the bikes along the riverbed where the track had been washed out a week earlier<br />
(photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMdrsTxPeffXHZCVMbUGcX-Hs3mm4cew99ILD6IdAFkT7Ku7sj6gB5COAxBLlfDiZTA8uL7FXKn-hTynilqESUzALSWaDQDxQvZo59QM769ZxlARlYpwklJjSja0gmbKmZsuJLeaXOgY/s1600/IMG_2371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMdrsTxPeffXHZCVMbUGcX-Hs3mm4cew99ILD6IdAFkT7Ku7sj6gB5COAxBLlfDiZTA8uL7FXKn-hTynilqESUzALSWaDQDxQvZo59QM769ZxlARlYpwklJjSja0gmbKmZsuJLeaXOgY/s640/IMG_2371.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ‘track’ on the riverbed </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After that, the track was quite challenging − narrow, very winding, and lumpy − and went on for about 10 km. It was a mountain bike track really, not our style of biking at all. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQWM3mDLcsq-5bw46ujTXTmNlIOVyQVo1kYnIXR_j7rY3HumgaHZQa5CuAVCNG7ne8ryKsxSEsoWdnKGZuNlSCfmePQIB9Wq12p24ak2iE8X2DaWpQVmBSXq1z_96RHqp-RglFOnUYFE/s1600/P1070049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQWM3mDLcsq-5bw46ujTXTmNlIOVyQVo1kYnIXR_j7rY3HumgaHZQa5CuAVCNG7ne8ryKsxSEsoWdnKGZuNlSCfmePQIB9Wq12p24ak2iE8X2DaWpQVmBSXq1z_96RHqp-RglFOnUYFE/s640/P1070049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track became very narrow, bumpy and overgrown (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FcOp9CcY65M072BKLNstkHA0b6rAfFz3TJadjEbbOkDb21lQS8mvk-t4tDOv4p799dzHSAbhIiPv9Nx0AAuxWduPLlsJ3FezfFi8jurXPZV38qKVeT9RcB3d_D_SVHOq9OaLlhNLyVc/s1600/IMGP6822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FcOp9CcY65M072BKLNstkHA0b6rAfFz3TJadjEbbOkDb21lQS8mvk-t4tDOv4p799dzHSAbhIiPv9Nx0AAuxWduPLlsJ3FezfFi8jurXPZV38qKVeT9RcB3d_D_SVHOq9OaLlhNLyVc/s640/IMGP6822.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By now I was having grave misgivings about this track, and was starting to feel<br />
more than a little brassed off … (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But we persevered, and eventually we came out on a rural road, which took us back into town. There was a topdressing plane doing passes over land to the left of us, and of course John had to stop and take pictures of it. He is very partial to topdressing planes, as his father was an aircraft engineer for a topdressing firm in New Plymouth. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuTdbxnVmK9mdgCfgbAN3WsC7rranxUfdVnfeOkiLEmBooTFTKo5e2mVNo2FzogGL0lwW7gcc4AGtsuQe3ZMplz-AhdjPbBSmtNIAc9Ynpr8ZhuIXJ4VNqdPlphWBINhYAQMYSmFVEpE/s1600/IMGP6828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuTdbxnVmK9mdgCfgbAN3WsC7rranxUfdVnfeOkiLEmBooTFTKo5e2mVNo2FzogGL0lwW7gcc4AGtsuQe3ZMplz-AhdjPbBSmtNIAc9Ynpr8ZhuIXJ4VNqdPlphWBINhYAQMYSmFVEpE/s640/IMGP6828.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The topdressing plane makes its approach (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL95z0gCzOdkPeeKKK6ns-Z4mlma47t4cLHSWEeNix3vcWrlfy8oaVPYQD_Sxy9nEcGnH9tsRcSFZxUxOfPXru4mcoEbnDZk6ct2CEETu2ZhwYzGnuqMLyawd6ffDdEHAs7MingyvMcE/s1600/IMGP6831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL95z0gCzOdkPeeKKK6ns-Z4mlma47t4cLHSWEeNix3vcWrlfy8oaVPYQD_Sxy9nEcGnH9tsRcSFZxUxOfPXru4mcoEbnDZk6ct2CEETu2ZhwYzGnuqMLyawd6ffDdEHAs7MingyvMcE/s640/IMGP6831.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice photo of the plane as it flew over the paddock next to us (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSjv3xKOTEjbLiY7Csk7hG5YpIZHhqcjoMVEBE1ujLvlzmtsm-0ONjssHdU_8_fSmxT9gD2-teGS01AO7PR9o_D6BjhW05boiJz1-y9-G-zOc6tILMOPw9zuEnaoO3CyYoRuQr6PzzB0/s1600/IMG_2373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSjv3xKOTEjbLiY7Csk7hG5YpIZHhqcjoMVEBE1ujLvlzmtsm-0ONjssHdU_8_fSmxT9gD2-teGS01AO7PR9o_D6BjhW05boiJz1-y9-G-zOc6tILMOPw9zuEnaoO3CyYoRuQr6PzzB0/s640/IMG_2373.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camera ready to go back into the bag </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was nice easy riding on the road after that punishing track. It was about another 10 km back into town, but much easier riding on the quiet sealed road. <br />
<br />
After lunch in town, we did a bit of a wander around the main shopping street, and I was pleased to see that the public toilet block had survived the earthquake unscathed. I like the mural on both sides of the block. On a previous visit, I had seen the artists in the process of painting the final part of it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6GmSLmZoGYcQCNLNNbOkCruLifVozm6HEXigPDLOez9LuQB3KpXHw3c9wzFxcrNntXgYyALHmyNZVCEQUeDwbUMU6XdiHqWMnW4I28VMO5hlCEmd3sgNu8zYYoW1Lf8-MdIgBge4aiU/s1600/IMG_2374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6GmSLmZoGYcQCNLNNbOkCruLifVozm6HEXigPDLOez9LuQB3KpXHw3c9wzFxcrNntXgYyALHmyNZVCEQUeDwbUMU6XdiHqWMnW4I28VMO5hlCEmd3sgNu8zYYoW1Lf8-MdIgBge4aiU/s640/IMG_2374.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really like the mural on the Public Toilets block …</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkRffwS5dkIQPrdtTS-f23x8DiHsHcD9sqD3boaYkgEFpSf3ZIENsyLG-kKkt3iqBRjdaSCUmLVa6ivGz5g4VM8kL_32UB5TnC-sn303-aWMFBjJgKUfxCSO0PVvviMU7SUfY8fRZSCY/s1600/IMG_2375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkRffwS5dkIQPrdtTS-f23x8DiHsHcD9sqD3boaYkgEFpSf3ZIENsyLG-kKkt3iqBRjdaSCUmLVa6ivGz5g4VM8kL_32UB5TnC-sn303-aWMFBjJgKUfxCSO0PVvviMU7SUfY8fRZSCY/s640/IMG_2375.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… so I was pleased it had not been damaged by the earthquake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In fact, though there were just a few sites where buildings had been pulled down, there did not seem to be a lot of earthquake damage in the town itself. Most of the damage had been up on the hills on either side of the town. <br />
<br />
We returned to the motel, and as it was hot and we were tired, we both dozed off on the couch for a while … <br />
<br />
Later, at 8:15 in the evening, we drove down to the far end of South Bay, where the whale watch boats were, to watch the sunset. It was such a lovely evening − calm and warm. We were in an area where the rocks were amazing − all sharp, white, up-ended layers, beautiful. And at last we got a good sunset − on the east coast, while we'd had no luck on the west coast − and everyone knows that the sun sets in the west! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQuwUiWmeuKQKK1Hr4onfmI1x4sttzuBXVjYfbfJrf_Mxx8-tfGO8wlb93BxHNGSXWKLWolPiwFInDYHGN02cuYu2bcIkYMia1XmVcTD3LFMLKIBH4vqwz19vkVsgln8cETamvjvzMeQ/s1600/IMGP6832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQuwUiWmeuKQKK1Hr4onfmI1x4sttzuBXVjYfbfJrf_Mxx8-tfGO8wlb93BxHNGSXWKLWolPiwFInDYHGN02cuYu2bcIkYMia1XmVcTD3LFMLKIBH4vqwz19vkVsgln8cETamvjvzMeQ/s640/IMGP6832.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dramatic sunset (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi92I3P2qpM2yRCKuDJOGMsjPRG5tdWcF1-Vi95F3lQ32mE0T6oT-Znr_Wr2spRPLzN5Tqqtkbm2mGJcCIllAb_OBpDDZH6Um1CkWpbjB0_fLsPgBBLhsgnhrQEDW0gbYYlNnPb8hURE/s1600/IMGP6837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi92I3P2qpM2yRCKuDJOGMsjPRG5tdWcF1-Vi95F3lQ32mE0T6oT-Znr_Wr2spRPLzN5Tqqtkbm2mGJcCIllAb_OBpDDZH6Um1CkWpbjB0_fLsPgBBLhsgnhrQEDW0gbYYlNnPb8hURE/s640/IMGP6837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newly exposed rocks, and beyond, the boulders enclosing the new marina<br />
for the whale watch boats (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmBHv0XOAZl938nrpaoyk9FfgJyZxwScy0dyLWVN8PHSdAkYxogybqRcAySU7mggM3s3T9RjtZaNlKm1m9tE4KuyC_tHLKFuhs1Txun386Nfr0KkUN22VPBOcTtDDlSdH1tQvROAn4sg/s1600/IMGP6839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmBHv0XOAZl938nrpaoyk9FfgJyZxwScy0dyLWVN8PHSdAkYxogybqRcAySU7mggM3s3T9RjtZaNlKm1m9tE4KuyC_tHLKFuhs1Txun386Nfr0KkUN22VPBOcTtDDlSdH1tQvROAn4sg/s640/IMGP6839.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The setting sun and the uplifted rocks (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4wLaDTK9Fu6ncqPb_ihr1yq0ioq04ED3-qn93e7Zx405yJ7YNvCEvM_HZ-wvg0-2pKZfaRK4TsJ__l3ciUUv36F72Wjg5uXy-btqH9BveS0CNFs85fzcamOUbOmwICOMy3eBAVlKSMQ/s1600/IMGP6857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4wLaDTK9Fu6ncqPb_ihr1yq0ioq04ED3-qn93e7Zx405yJ7YNvCEvM_HZ-wvg0-2pKZfaRK4TsJ__l3ciUUv36F72Wjg5uXy-btqH9BveS0CNFs85fzcamOUbOmwICOMy3eBAVlKSMQ/s640/IMGP6857.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the sun had sunk behind the hills (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 12 – Sunday 9 December – Kaikoura and back to Wellington</h4>
<br />
We left Kaikoura at about 9:40. It was a smooth drive, though there were several lots of road works to negotiate. I took photos from the car, as one couldn’t stop anywhere. I’m not exactly sure where along the road north these photos were taken, but they show what a huge job was still to be completed. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_9eLAeoacXxr5y20NrGU3FZ201x7yqLWKLLlRXB0MD-CenfiC0Xi9qCYm9-04w4aRE17Zpx09s3aINFgRgRXSMrHyCy8fVarBI94VSD9lNJ74okEhA8TJ2xVwOCybLJu5ACAeGRO3o0/s1600/IMG_2385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_9eLAeoacXxr5y20NrGU3FZ201x7yqLWKLLlRXB0MD-CenfiC0Xi9qCYm9-04w4aRE17Zpx09s3aINFgRgRXSMrHyCy8fVarBI94VSD9lNJ74okEhA8TJ2xVwOCybLJu5ACAeGRO3o0/s640/IMG_2385.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfinished roadworks </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZc_IqbAPW6eQi4MZufcQpaF3288x_6GuA_5kK4k6KTu4QZPlK3qA0iFfWmCbM4m9T9ZwIJxx9RuF3inDCT41ch_gfO-oKKZ2nOgxc4kMUVPekuKUjOfpiQ3uXdNXCllM_r31Ra0EQbk/s1600/IMG_2388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZc_IqbAPW6eQi4MZufcQpaF3288x_6GuA_5kK4k6KTu4QZPlK3qA0iFfWmCbM4m9T9ZwIJxx9RuF3inDCT41ch_gfO-oKKZ2nOgxc4kMUVPekuKUjOfpiQ3uXdNXCllM_r31Ra0EQbk/s640/IMG_2388.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new raised platform on the left for the train track </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZRurfgx6L4PoBFglu5XY2jTJ6dK8O_OEYalAEFoUUSyohllJxVu4RFa-T61AP8LmgUCTyDVT1Khqkh9zgYasl6uWH31n8BP7hFYUuAI213IJkwUEiQ2pGjfyEDS36F2yGbkwV7zi2uE/s1600/IMG_2392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZRurfgx6L4PoBFglu5XY2jTJ6dK8O_OEYalAEFoUUSyohllJxVu4RFa-T61AP8LmgUCTyDVT1Khqkh9zgYasl6uWH31n8BP7hFYUuAI213IJkwUEiQ2pGjfyEDS36F2yGbkwV7zi2uE/s640/IMG_2392.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thousands of tonnes of rock had to be removed to leave this hillside safe enough<br />
to build a road and railway at its base</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhiOv-U6aVp5yYQh-jJqVK_oEuDGnzu1642mVM76q1Nj1l0CBO_jXySzGLImXZj65yEWK_O-WomtJjVXUXrjxmGyhI89LTAzLzgcYh1JkC92wv2eAKaz9LHI2LJ-OmvcY0mh0kLojeyY/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1600" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhiOv-U6aVp5yYQh-jJqVK_oEuDGnzu1642mVM76q1Nj1l0CBO_jXySzGLImXZj65yEWK_O-WomtJjVXUXrjxmGyhI89LTAzLzgcYh1JkC92wv2eAKaz9LHI2LJ-OmvcY0mh0kLojeyY/s640/IMG_2400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bit is nowhere near finished yet </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first place where we were able to stop was at Okiwi Bay (I think). Here too, the shore had been raised by the earthquake, and there was a large sign prohibiting the taking of shellfish or seaweed as a measure to allow the marine life to recover from the devastation wrought by the quake. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3GvCJSwWsVdQXmB8GbUJ05DqvXIbfJoKGllnJwfRD_2m_VEWirF5XvohIZKXB1SKH3kMa480w4-1Mo3EPuDoaN5CriXiiVMLbr5VVwsBEdhoBSFJZHBacnb4ITM8G00SKdLXKv91n4g/s1600/IMG_2397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1600" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3GvCJSwWsVdQXmB8GbUJ05DqvXIbfJoKGllnJwfRD_2m_VEWirF5XvohIZKXB1SKH3kMa480w4-1Mo3EPuDoaN5CriXiiVMLbr5VVwsBEdhoBSFJZHBacnb4ITM8G00SKdLXKv91n4g/s640/IMG_2397.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach is wider than it used to be. The remains of a large landslip is in the background </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp7tluRFbaSK8edIUbRJehprqGRJAb9c8CICzk-qtcOLRKtHtV5vKiSGCodjFO0LLumZutHVgMsIBiDyLaRPC0xOEmgpBSYPpLcx7sZ4hpBL42Ur0X3VEMNyEQtPb4R_alcVmIqYpHNg/s1600/IMG_2399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp7tluRFbaSK8edIUbRJehprqGRJAb9c8CICzk-qtcOLRKtHtV5vKiSGCodjFO0LLumZutHVgMsIBiDyLaRPC0xOEmgpBSYPpLcx7sZ4hpBL42Ur0X3VEMNyEQtPb4R_alcVmIqYpHNg/s640/IMG_2399.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No gathering of shellfish or seaweed (click to enlarge) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We stopped briefly for coffee at The Store at Kekerengu, a nice café overlooking the shore. I asked the woman at the counter whether they had suffered any damage from the earthquake, and she said that a bit of the foreshore had been raised by about a metre, but they had sustained no other damage. The only thing that hurt the business was the lack of traffic coming through. But they were able to stay open for business as they were catering for the road construction crews. <br />
<br />
If you look at the <a href="http://www.thestore.kiwi/the-store-blog/" target="_blank">Kekerengu blog</a> and scroll down past the first few items, you’ll find a blog called “<i>Introducing the Coastal Trail – the best silver lining”</i>. Click on the title and there is a short video, which tells of plans to build a Picton to Kaikoura cycleway alongside the new road. More cycling options, yay! I do hope it comes off. <br />
<br />
We had originally booked to cross back to Wellington on the 6:45 pm ferry, allowing time for a leisurely winery lunch and a visit Peter Jackson’s WWI aircraft museum in Blenheim, but we decided that we would rather try to get to Picton in time to catch the earlier ferry. <br />
<br />
We were in luck – we were able to get on the 2 pm sailing. It was a smooth crossing, and we were home by 6:30 pm. <br />
<br />
It was good to be home. It had been a great holiday, but as always, it's nice to get home again, to my own shower and my own bed. Bliss! <br />
<br />
<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-22443428438348120952019-01-13T03:32:00.000+13:002020-04-11T15:25:45.675+12:00West Coast Trip – Part 3: West Coast Wilderness Trail – Cowboy Paradise to Hokitika and back to GreymouthI've been writing up this trip in four parts, and here is where you will find <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2018/12/" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-2-west-coast.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> and <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-4-greymouth-hanmer.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 6 – Monday 3 December – Cowboy Paradise to Hokitika</h4>
<br />
We were up at 7:15, and went into breakfast half an hour later. It was another fine day! We couldn’t believe our luck. Breakfast was simple, continental – fruit, cereals, yoghurt, toast with different kinds of jam, Marmite or peanut butter. Mike had said he hoped we wouldn't want a full cooked breakfast as he was without staff! In my booking email, I had also requested a “packed lunch”, but Mike said “just make your own sandwiches from what is on the table”, which was fine. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY6-CgSqp3jvVjRtFnvANC7ZW3WHeGYVZmTWVQ3Fc460t6mlE2pZHOtGUeuq6u-6dmjZxgkxr0BGfTjHeE88-DoBXGsbOUGDKwdTC068KiW_9i1ju2k_Vxs2txvSt36JQaA055HwiWNw/s1600/IMG_5173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY6-CgSqp3jvVjRtFnvANC7ZW3WHeGYVZmTWVQ3Fc460t6mlE2pZHOtGUeuq6u-6dmjZxgkxr0BGfTjHeE88-DoBXGsbOUGDKwdTC068KiW_9i1ju2k_Vxs2txvSt36JQaA055HwiWNw/s400/IMG_5173.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go (photo by Stephen, with John’s camera) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXe8Jsv1Xy3noYJX6pcqGrKQa_hWn7u7alUIhAHRldmWb4DkIXBlwQ2EejVNGbxt6swlP6xRW4Kgm9_kzvPacnYTFTbI7MMBTyb8BYuyClAxgacTovLos-RDT0q-3TQ8fzOAszocbrcU/s1600/P1060985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXe8Jsv1Xy3noYJX6pcqGrKQa_hWn7u7alUIhAHRldmWb4DkIXBlwQ2EejVNGbxt6swlP6xRW4Kgm9_kzvPacnYTFTbI7MMBTyb8BYuyClAxgacTovLos-RDT0q-3TQ8fzOAszocbrcU/s640/P1060985.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look at Cowboy Paradise (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We left Cowboy Paradise at 9:40am. The track first went through about a kilometre of bush. Quite beautiful, with great swathes of moss drooping from the trees. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypwDIrcKfuh2EqoUbOALyhTAekAHdFNrWvOS9DEhWq_jbXoaE0HLbpx_pCA2z7V4YhEnvN1jFi2myvVJMyYH5y_9f3DQQYPT5f0CM9YIF1mlBVW9xqm22KCsw4w3qDwEha9h0Vt415oc/s1600/IMGP6601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypwDIrcKfuh2EqoUbOALyhTAekAHdFNrWvOS9DEhWq_jbXoaE0HLbpx_pCA2z7V4YhEnvN1jFi2myvVJMyYH5y_9f3DQQYPT5f0CM9YIF1mlBVW9xqm22KCsw4w3qDwEha9h0Vt415oc/s640/IMGP6601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So lush and green! (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8eZyBmQPlQ1TcWyhhYw_wAQoVU9s3pTwjLSW3nzVXo7cUNAyjycydSU92xtLf40TJZDfV4D6pj20QV2agu7v38hVXYTt0e-O_bRWuOZSrJJuVy7lOzPmmI21GUy9Zu9xQmPu16r2wcI/s1600/IMGP6600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8eZyBmQPlQ1TcWyhhYw_wAQoVU9s3pTwjLSW3nzVXo7cUNAyjycydSU92xtLf40TJZDfV4D6pj20QV2agu7v38hVXYTt0e-O_bRWuOZSrJJuVy7lOzPmmI21GUy9Zu9xQmPu16r2wcI/s640/IMGP6600.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit eerie too … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-5lKfVuFJrkFt7bK9TLmwvNdUbljzK4ZHyvKvto2P5R4kSM2RCFtvb6f2mJ5kLSyhIIfuMlIu-8b_Zpi97AF4oCQ6D6O9z_KiTqFAgMq8SPWaDyk2PLfdrNyWAjb49wSG2_Xc0OY96E/s1600/IMG_2170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-5lKfVuFJrkFt7bK9TLmwvNdUbljzK4ZHyvKvto2P5R4kSM2RCFtvb6f2mJ5kLSyhIIfuMlIu-8b_Zpi97AF4oCQ6D6O9z_KiTqFAgMq8SPWaDyk2PLfdrNyWAjb49wSG2_Xc0OY96E/s640/IMG_2170.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great swathes of moss hanging from the branches </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then we got to the wide, gentle zig-zags that feature on some of the advertising and blogs about the Trail and Cowboy Paradise. We rode down them quite slowly and gently, as John has to watch his balance, but it was nowhere near as challenging as the zig-zag we had done the day before to get into Cowboy Paradise. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL20GR__CgUv41iX9myV8i16Bv0t9A8gI6lw6RXPxYf7setc-6FH7JRusX_LJTiGZtAUNd8skWaJZSq2x50YLbj0P4qh2YsC6JijwfXtowIkcXITxMuGK4aCmAYCS2rjviISptrX6mLo/s1600/P1060988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL20GR__CgUv41iX9myV8i16Bv0t9A8gI6lw6RXPxYf7setc-6FH7JRusX_LJTiGZtAUNd8skWaJZSq2x50YLbj0P4qh2YsC6JijwfXtowIkcXITxMuGK4aCmAYCS2rjviISptrX6mLo/s640/P1060988.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A place to admire the view over the Arahura Valley (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The area was vaguely reminiscent of some places in Switzerland, I thought. There were foxgloves everywhere and lush grass and cattle. This was a working farm, and there were cattle around the track, but they ignored us. We just had to be careful not to fall off the bike if we didn't want to land in a cowpat on the track. <br />
<br />
It turns out that Stephen was just behind us, and he took a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rideacm/videos/353530185405287/" target="_blank">video of us</a> riding down the zig-zag. We met him again the next day, and he transferred the video onto John’s phone. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOF-NrVD8t_hpHIe0LUzWYY5aS1D5CITYxONMeNqIWhog290NjJRHU3b_1aXlPhp37o017zIOdzm3mpjPU3zwikAStQo59G-fNBm7MbTgbP-m_wrg9RQrgY20eW2ZIPBzx1XIBrJ2fZ8/s1600/P1060990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOF-NrVD8t_hpHIe0LUzWYY5aS1D5CITYxONMeNqIWhog290NjJRHU3b_1aXlPhp37o017zIOdzm3mpjPU3zwikAStQo59G-fNBm7MbTgbP-m_wrg9RQrgY20eW2ZIPBzx1XIBrJ2fZ8/s640/P1060990.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cattlestop at the end of the zig-zags (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At the bottom of the zig-zags we ended up near the Arahura River. This river is significant for the local Māori as it is a major source of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounamu" target="_blank">pounamu</a> – NZ greenstone. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QBRloFWxfA-ieSEvLXzDjG1a5nXkWqYp3CNg3tyzc3osw_B509e-RA4wHU7-jCcP3DkRL_YcKvmcCUZA_9_Wly4lxInoYJuZU7Y-tuZetFLiiJgp9kWQkQ4-F4Flgxj4OwaDhvztDvA/s1600/P1060991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QBRloFWxfA-ieSEvLXzDjG1a5nXkWqYp3CNg3tyzc3osw_B509e-RA4wHU7-jCcP3DkRL_YcKvmcCUZA_9_Wly4lxInoYJuZU7Y-tuZetFLiiJgp9kWQkQ4-F4Flgxj4OwaDhvztDvA/s640/P1060991.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arahura River (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we met the track leading alongside the river, there was a sign pointing left to the “Cesspool”– not a very inviting name really, is it? According to the Trail booklet it is a spectacular pool, but it is a very rough 5 km track, with only 2 km rideable, and a good two to three hours’ worth for the return trip. Nah, that’s not us, so we turned right and stayed on the Wilderness Trail. <br />
<br />
After a while, we came to the end of this farm property, which was marked by an “interesting” gate. I think it was designed more to keep people out than to keep cattle in. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrlSmvIJ5PguGKC_Saca4tAKN5O4SYNtd2HaccMIy7TafYYtcESRVk3kdwYxKiAReEGv6-CURjClFOCcwmO9rQc5xxbizKmsJooM38GKsIgh2mEBbF5qaXeWr8dd4t6icLNe6xuu4v5s/s1600/P1060994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrlSmvIJ5PguGKC_Saca4tAKN5O4SYNtd2HaccMIy7TafYYtcESRVk3kdwYxKiAReEGv6-CURjClFOCcwmO9rQc5xxbizKmsJooM38GKsIgh2mEBbF5qaXeWr8dd4t6icLNe6xuu4v5s/s640/P1060994.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting gate, improvised a long time ago, it would seem, but probably effective<br />
(photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From here we were riding on a gravel road, Milltown Road, and we met one or two cars. One of them slowed down to chat, and the driver said there were two vans following her, with people who were going to do a day’s biking on the Trail. We met her again later in the day, in Hokitika, and she told us she had just come from A&E at the local hospital, as she had done a face-plant in the wet (it rained!), and needed three stitches in her lip! Ouch! <br />
<br />
The road climbed for some distance. Mike had warned us there would be one more “big” climb over the hill we could see from his deck (Pyramid Hill), but it was not too bad with the e-bikes. And then it was all downhill after that. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjywJJRcHbsZGpC8_H9TbpflsQ1nao_u9a-C9E6NuJt7y6U5bJv0T-1Kq3Ng2WYFFnbmRfv03qLPN65N_eBNdfx96JYGzO4zwPrlFRwuh_AY7CdQgvuzWUvhFha9wm0OdwcFNCILXJDDU/s1600/P1060997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjywJJRcHbsZGpC8_H9TbpflsQ1nao_u9a-C9E6NuJt7y6U5bJv0T-1Kq3Ng2WYFFnbmRfv03qLPN65N_eBNdfx96JYGzO4zwPrlFRwuh_AY7CdQgvuzWUvhFha9wm0OdwcFNCILXJDDU/s640/P1060997.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last climb … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On Mike’s recommendation, we side-tracked to Hans Bay, on Lake Kaniere. Here the road was sealed, and it ended up in a place obviously popular for boating, camping and holiday baches/homes. Very pretty, but we didn't linger, as John reckoned it was going to rain. Actually, we were lucky, we didn’t get the rain, but some people behind us did. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdkMPqKtKgc7Xe_tOEEKjCJ85PiyK7-3SdYZT4Ipa9PDqL2mWXVGWG8_o3ycpQBPQ0MFp-CDFg6si8lZTTj09RrgN1uTiiQ3OZGXFsVD4bZ7cyeVAqTs8t5DHYsl5wwk2Kmhnj4ASYQk/s1600/P1060999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdkMPqKtKgc7Xe_tOEEKjCJ85PiyK7-3SdYZT4Ipa9PDqL2mWXVGWG8_o3ycpQBPQ0MFp-CDFg6si8lZTTj09RrgN1uTiiQ3OZGXFsVD4bZ7cyeVAqTs8t5DHYsl5wwk2Kmhnj4ASYQk/s640/P1060999.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hans Bay – seen from the boat launching ramp (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXLchsmQGiUsw0oTXtcT3SxQhXyTeGdRvUlx9wGMyPkcq50dgelOfzZGXY9JSTuGI_2-gjYRJYUvC5wprChxVsexkw4hLi1t6CWFrLbyhyfeBitx-zPBqDP4ahNBhl4OvU_Mk2uVmJIg/s1600/IMG_2031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXLchsmQGiUsw0oTXtcT3SxQhXyTeGdRvUlx9wGMyPkcq50dgelOfzZGXY9JSTuGI_2-gjYRJYUvC5wprChxVsexkw4hLi1t6CWFrLbyhyfeBitx-zPBqDP4ahNBhl4OvU_Mk2uVmJIg/s640/IMG_2031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Threatening rain clouds over Hans Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back to the main road, on a dedicated cycle track alongside it. We
stopped a bit further on to take more photos of the lake – it really
is very beautiful. One of the most beautiful lakes in NZ, they say. The Trail booklet tells us that the lake was formed by a
glacier during the last ice age about 12,000 years ago. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrdsCJ_mlFCySFrJjzJu14ZzlGWf_PMW8ecHun5Ij7nYb6kvCnwlepAsr0qYCC6qr3UWM6_cpGsw5csP7Iq6yZ54p4PuI3ZQmiYsPeUsyTMArqUJGSQJuN3q__7xSu5Dza6QgX_Jyoic/s1600/IMGP6605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrdsCJ_mlFCySFrJjzJu14ZzlGWf_PMW8ecHun5Ij7nYb6kvCnwlepAsr0qYCC6qr3UWM6_cpGsw5csP7Iq6yZ54p4PuI3ZQmiYsPeUsyTMArqUJGSQJuN3q__7xSu5Dza6QgX_Jyoic/s640/IMGP6605.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Kaniere (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam6dk6je4lIpZG2F4ozcjnLwlmvTJ8uiYBD1wi57k1tybAkxS5rk7xNGTcG2KgWsQBnxWbu28994oyL1pUy4PITvdfNQAxHtO0RAH0nlHbuqZEgbRucgqJfA4iDWiXLdNNBboLubntRU/s1600/IMG_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam6dk6je4lIpZG2F4ozcjnLwlmvTJ8uiYBD1wi57k1tybAkxS5rk7xNGTcG2KgWsQBnxWbu28994oyL1pUy4PITvdfNQAxHtO0RAH0nlHbuqZEgbRucgqJfA4iDWiXLdNNBboLubntRU/s640/IMG_2033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lake outlet to the Kaniere River </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Just before the Kaniere River Bridge, we crossed the road and we were back in the bush. This was the start of the Kaniere Water Race section. This water race was built in 1875 to supply water for sluicing on the goldfields. At the time, it was 20 km long, but this part of the track followed only 2.5 kms of it. <br />
<br />
The forest is absolutely beautiful, but the track was a little hazardous: very narrow, with the water race to the right and a steep drop to the left of us. <br />
<br />
Because of its narrowness, the track caused John a few anxious moments, but on the whole he coped quite well. There were warning signs reminding cyclists to keep their distance from other cyclists, and to be careful around the blind corners – it would not do to pile into someone else and fall! <br />
<br />
Sometimes the race looked “natural” and in other places it was contained by wooden sides and timber struts across the top, presumably to keep the sides aligned. The water was flowing quite swiftly in the race. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S8jSVG_l87OYyaa-8V7DzxMEv6IACaosx55G6nqRJIu3gO4wj7Ipq0YFeFtUAUwfrs_WZD2KRgAbIR3uZ5tc6ZW1oAN37sgjA_g0DbYDqpwID25qmx3RPnu86ILCfm53JtVd3LON_tw/s1600/IMGP6611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S8jSVG_l87OYyaa-8V7DzxMEv6IACaosx55G6nqRJIu3gO4wj7Ipq0YFeFtUAUwfrs_WZD2KRgAbIR3uZ5tc6ZW1oAN37sgjA_g0DbYDqpwID25qmx3RPnu86ILCfm53JtVd3LON_tw/s640/IMGP6611.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes the race was in its “natural” state … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOJaV5rXHoYI5ile1QpSB3JdIg64wSTX6ipYKuw5hbRya5Wvmyj_JDi3_2whPH6JJ2xFfkMe7VSS6XStXTdq1WR5uwpxxafKiEfdf2q8l7uOjGVvZgvMWt7bZpVu6sZqYcbaJRYYDBug/s1600/P1070003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOJaV5rXHoYI5ile1QpSB3JdIg64wSTX6ipYKuw5hbRya5Wvmyj_JDi3_2whPH6JJ2xFfkMe7VSS6XStXTdq1WR5uwpxxafKiEfdf2q8l7uOjGVvZgvMWt7bZpVu6sZqYcbaJRYYDBug/s640/P1070003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and sometimes it was contained (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPjrNuzOpZoFv4Z_8y-erO360pV8xVFt7kZAQZxcZlF8cYCjRJEDRLS9avgkZVQqMGOPkwXseEsXGlSyo2abJiKcpRexS1yaAI9yw795ijsSu3QdugBs25TKzaQf__7ZskW_1ybyVKHg/s1600/IMG_2034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPjrNuzOpZoFv4Z_8y-erO360pV8xVFt7kZAQZxcZlF8cYCjRJEDRLS9avgkZVQqMGOPkwXseEsXGlSyo2abJiKcpRexS1yaAI9yw795ijsSu3QdugBs25TKzaQf__7ZskW_1ybyVKHg/s640/IMG_2034.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped frequently to take photos </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f7ynjMRwkKqp5OdscCa0yYomkXslm5JLvZ1KYlgGewWKMvi1EOuXWtm79N-_qHeo11gHwqZ-kd8vQZIwgSu9JwrMs_t7Mk5vjiUEBz3jMs3LiA4m8orwQ2rhYxJzU9oEjiEwaqfJot0/s1600/IMG_2186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1256" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f7ynjMRwkKqp5OdscCa0yYomkXslm5JLvZ1KYlgGewWKMvi1EOuXWtm79N-_qHeo11gHwqZ-kd8vQZIwgSu9JwrMs_t7Mk5vjiUEBz3jMs3LiA4m8orwQ2rhYxJzU9oEjiEwaqfJot0/s640/IMG_2186.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were warning signs in several places along the track </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were some skinny bridges across the race, and sometimes the race timber boxing formed a bridge across a dip or a wetland. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELCOexLj2h22lS4SUnUEALKyVg7vO0z8ZSkdE567ueIjR17NYweWPZzmWNlo0bt7Bfx9jqiKrsgT0I2O06fgrtOPxX_4QVyt4FggSvg6B8-Zcdv3mPTjDm3G40o8LMxIYEBv5kffL5cc/s1600/IMGP6612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELCOexLj2h22lS4SUnUEALKyVg7vO0z8ZSkdE567ueIjR17NYweWPZzmWNlo0bt7Bfx9jqiKrsgT0I2O06fgrtOPxX_4QVyt4FggSvg6B8-Zcdv3mPTjDm3G40o8LMxIYEBv5kffL5cc/s640/IMGP6612.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a few skinny little bridges too (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43N_gaJJ_v0JdQAcEUyWW8pAo4s6ItDmoTE2SM86mDM6aIyVSZJNiTBbqUT54R6ET2E8WPyWpZVfTZCTnYV5dDZSr7soQkUos2t-YX-qeT3QtAhjl46ZdRHfwGkRNtNV4uLywzVO55TQ/s1600/IMG_2182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43N_gaJJ_v0JdQAcEUyWW8pAo4s6ItDmoTE2SM86mDM6aIyVSZJNiTBbqUT54R6ET2E8WPyWpZVfTZCTnYV5dDZSr7soQkUos2t-YX-qeT3QtAhjl46ZdRHfwGkRNtNV4uLywzVO55TQ/s640/IMG_2182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The race forms an aqueduct over a wetland </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidjQJ8MIJI4glnKD9O_BNeaW7bXbK1aHe4izFlibzLAavlbfBCNnTxzOJDA0ogky57f-O-jlYFm3_ca7s_9m9cZFvnySz78nM1X758fY7AnNJmeoB0koF5FglB50dMxHgftyB71GfFUc/s1600/IMG_2187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidjQJ8MIJI4glnKD9O_BNeaW7bXbK1aHe4izFlibzLAavlbfBCNnTxzOJDA0ogky57f-O-jlYFm3_ca7s_9m9cZFvnySz78nM1X758fY7AnNJmeoB0koF5FglB50dMxHgftyB71GfFUc/s640/IMG_2187.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bridge was so narrow, John had to get off and walk </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we came to the end of the race, there was a shelter, where we stopped to eat the sandwiches we had brought from the Cowboy Paradise breakfast table. Yum, it was a long time since I last had peanut butter sammies! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOFVV-YmVgDttfxKIgnQ-3McqfCFHTuIzAse7hFQRwt_e4H9_DlsexZWcYgbjED9hLnCvTLwJa1j6GcqLbsarbDHu43OSqgHQaZ91Wmegsh04qTN3QF0HiEysdeNfMxTglV5AsewXNis/s1600/IMGP6614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOFVV-YmVgDttfxKIgnQ-3McqfCFHTuIzAse7hFQRwt_e4H9_DlsexZWcYgbjED9hLnCvTLwJa1j6GcqLbsarbDHu43OSqgHQaZ91Wmegsh04qTN3QF0HiEysdeNfMxTglV5AsewXNis/s640/IMGP6614.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at the shelter by the entrance/exit of the Kaniere Water Race Walkway (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSi5o5iJFJm22-rFpYMkpKO1jGTXzMrBpeAinevwd28rsgyqCDnaLKhsZkE4v1gRVmoddhcLE0rehSWY93sr4qnmBI1nnAXL4SbBn9rzvbrPBM7TaYr4ZkjTMbvlNlaEW6bmadWElMWc/s1600/IMG_2188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSi5o5iJFJm22-rFpYMkpKO1jGTXzMrBpeAinevwd28rsgyqCDnaLKhsZkE4v1gRVmoddhcLE0rehSWY93sr4qnmBI1nnAXL4SbBn9rzvbrPBM7TaYr4ZkjTMbvlNlaEW6bmadWElMWc/s640/IMG_2188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lake Kaniere Reserve is maintained by DOC (Dept of Conservation) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbc15J36qUIhc8bn0aHxzhMpGhnmOJrlVI3X3udjzw3hMEtv3W6jFBe_P3dNoJiKYkTnMOoExLk_eeRg-gpY6sNS8IeAYrgKRR3V5k2RoIFuAXSTfBuTthdtanz2AaTdsDGs6rw-9lKc/s1600/IMG_2037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbc15J36qUIhc8bn0aHxzhMpGhnmOJrlVI3X3udjzw3hMEtv3W6jFBe_P3dNoJiKYkTnMOoExLk_eeRg-gpY6sNS8IeAYrgKRR3V5k2RoIFuAXSTfBuTthdtanz2AaTdsDGs6rw-9lKc/s640/IMG_2037.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wilderness Trail was well signposted </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The trail continued through yet more gorgeous bush, before ending up on the main road leading to Hokitika. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHiF6_jkn21XNpEwE-m_WTSU5DXFAUXss4CSfEutjKKWwM3yJZstaGRmAvFauLetizDmDjrLIdREhnKCF0sQ_-gwFRZa3h2EjXZPoQjIDPDeOCeA8d7qTGiA6RpAhdnj9x0ZZ45ybmLY/s1600/IMGP6619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHiF6_jkn21XNpEwE-m_WTSU5DXFAUXss4CSfEutjKKWwM3yJZstaGRmAvFauLetizDmDjrLIdREhnKCF0sQ_-gwFRZa3h2EjXZPoQjIDPDeOCeA8d7qTGiA6RpAhdnj9x0ZZ45ybmLY/s640/IMGP6619.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were quite a few little bridges like this (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzn6sUxt9dSfdoBetWe_czJ2b20cT9sHUerSgdGzimTzfDap3KupUoWlN3XmI1O3IUgn99p8QTiFwGVm549UrePr8QOoeb9_nCihyphenhyphenJcDP6tbnp18uiKM3fiCXHCH9jW6PMpznazw_tFs/s1600/IMGP6620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzn6sUxt9dSfdoBetWe_czJ2b20cT9sHUerSgdGzimTzfDap3KupUoWlN3XmI1O3IUgn99p8QTiFwGVm549UrePr8QOoeb9_nCihyphenhyphenJcDP6tbnp18uiKM3fiCXHCH9jW6PMpznazw_tFs/s640/IMGP6620.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kaniere River – I think (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnycApMMv9LTWzWGDbj7ltXCk46Yuea2qPxtCEtPL65Tu8VPddeYB5S8AdpCGdla697VF9Y-pJHJIGJ6NhxF7TiJJU1E17OOaXYV_40hacCqHLK0ks9_R_9zmSdrkJe2NQlsuHxSq_cT4/s1600/IMGP6623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnycApMMv9LTWzWGDbj7ltXCk46Yuea2qPxtCEtPL65Tu8VPddeYB5S8AdpCGdla697VF9Y-pJHJIGJ6NhxF7TiJJU1E17OOaXYV_40hacCqHLK0ks9_R_9zmSdrkJe2NQlsuHxSq_cT4/s640/IMGP6623.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towering trees … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazigTf0cyYQ5f3_7hWYc_4qJJgbFEiY8702UgVvbmmBSMAfy5Ryc03pWGT0RsWLPu17jXsy0444UAzg57solKMcwx7GWprKI1utv43KfrB5Cp5cidr8JAKfpdU10XtDsRL_PkAcMlH00/s1600/IMG_2189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazigTf0cyYQ5f3_7hWYc_4qJJgbFEiY8702UgVvbmmBSMAfy5Ryc03pWGT0RsWLPu17jXsy0444UAzg57solKMcwx7GWprKI1utv43KfrB5Cp5cidr8JAKfpdU10XtDsRL_PkAcMlH00/s640/IMG_2189.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and exquisite ferns </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we got back to the road, from Hurunui Jacks – an accommodation place – there was a cycle track alongside the road, and later a sealed road with a good cycling shoulder, as far as the township of Kaniere. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1oHt1Ofz7kOS9TYGhDyO4tEKoOm_1LQt08LE0Y5h0-_EK7NvRtnzqYktwtS_bKnw-A4Qm6HQzVqU5WJ_zb08gCBbjorq2rznlq6sRWcP-sK1f1bLFmlMHCr3xsh9Vhkm0Srt90FxPzU/s1600/P1070011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1oHt1Ofz7kOS9TYGhDyO4tEKoOm_1LQt08LE0Y5h0-_EK7NvRtnzqYktwtS_bKnw-A4Qm6HQzVqU5WJ_zb08gCBbjorq2rznlq6sRWcP-sK1f1bLFmlMHCr3xsh9Vhkm0Srt90FxPzU/s640/P1070011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A marked cycling shoulder on the Kaniere to Hokitika road (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then onto a track which was the Kaniere Tramway back in the day. It was built in 1866 to serve the Kaniere Township, and the horse-drawn tram ran on wooden rails. We biked alongside the Hokitika River, and it took a lot longer than I expected to actually get to Hokitika. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqO4gipznhjc87Oh6fas1Wjx8UMVZu_JEvq4UMZqZ8gyJoNMGjRZsnZmwsZkpuUZRWeNsxNDMXpqC2qyvCM0RVgbXr37uiZq415ozukb3P-Nwqvry_MdhuIua3l48mF3F3sGqHBPyqfY/s1600/IMGP6625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqO4gipznhjc87Oh6fas1Wjx8UMVZu_JEvq4UMZqZ8gyJoNMGjRZsnZmwsZkpuUZRWeNsxNDMXpqC2qyvCM0RVgbXr37uiZq415ozukb3P-Nwqvry_MdhuIua3l48mF3F3sGqHBPyqfY/s640/IMGP6625.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kaniere Tramway track (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We went past a big factory, and from the smell, I wondered whether this was a dairy factory. Perhaps it was the factory that our daughter had worked on. John stopped to take some photos, so I cycled back to where I had seen some women inside the factory fence to ask them if this was indeed the dairy factory. Yes, it was. I mentioned that my daughter had designed and commissioned a part of the plant, and she asked what her name was. She recognised it, having seen it on some of the technical specification documents. Cool! A nice proud Mum moment ...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNyuxDRgqnSUO5mM0OsGV2Og7GloRUvZAdRyD8d0bDuayQ4PwDZF-EPATYIp8dKDf_IvRQxVUOyx-Urr6mcxCWaTJgIHFEBhbew344rRwSJd1MAE04xQFcYvXGj6WPJWGiDyZeJdJV-Q/s1600/P1070014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNyuxDRgqnSUO5mM0OsGV2Og7GloRUvZAdRyD8d0bDuayQ4PwDZF-EPATYIp8dKDf_IvRQxVUOyx-Urr6mcxCWaTJgIHFEBhbew344rRwSJd1MAE04xQFcYvXGj6WPJWGiDyZeJdJV-Q/s640/P1070014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Westland Milk Products dairy factory (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We made it into Hokitika, and found our cottage on Beach Street by 1:00pm. It was a lovely cottage – one among a whole row of early pioneers’ cottages. It was very nicely done up, and as a bonus, it had an enclosed, lockable porch at the back, which was ideal for storing our bikes. <br />
<br />
We unloaded the bikes, then biked into town – not far, in fact we need not have taken the bikes – to try and find somewhere to have coffee. We were amazed to find the place very quiet. The whole town seemed to be closed early! Most shops and cafés were closed, even though it was Monday. “What a bunch of slackers!”, we thought. It turned out that it was actually Westland’s Anniversary Holiday. We eventually found a café that was open and enjoyed our coffee and scones under a brolly on the pavement. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SlM5S0MW5_ZWw70Stzdx9chb1-m338Uomg7B6hH8wpBnSRZKi_vNq207XdPneuxCKgqu5W78dNpGBrivMNiwtuY2nD08fTuidMq7N50krJC3xO7oESbwX9X1fDqesn00sqnLJRnhA6w/s1600/IMGP6628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SlM5S0MW5_ZWw70Stzdx9chb1-m338Uomg7B6hH8wpBnSRZKi_vNq207XdPneuxCKgqu5W78dNpGBrivMNiwtuY2nD08fTuidMq7N50krJC3xO7oESbwX9X1fDqesn00sqnLJRnhA6w/s640/IMGP6628.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We eventually found a café that was open (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thus fortified, we returned the cottage. We put the bikes in the porch, and the batteries on charge, and then went for a walk. Hokitika is an early NZ town which owes its existence to the discovery of gold on the West Coast in 1864. There are a number of interesting old buildings in the town. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQwcXJv_OO5hmHxQgWWNBgJ6MdGy6qJZn8r673DsBeuW6GwKTXn08h2C6w4ha7gRt4LLZp7FzyZWaQ3rVDyZSK454BjgA4VhQT8ny7wlL7NTOq1AzcYmqdtlOk-KR1_gvusc3DwXmV38/s1600/IMGP6647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQwcXJv_OO5hmHxQgWWNBgJ6MdGy6qJZn8r673DsBeuW6GwKTXn08h2C6w4ha7gRt4LLZp7FzyZWaQ3rVDyZSK454BjgA4VhQT8ny7wlL7NTOq1AzcYmqdtlOk-KR1_gvusc3DwXmV38/s640/IMGP6647.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/5011" target="_blank">The Government Buildings/Courthouse</a>
(built 1909). The statue is of Richard Seddon “King Dick”,<br />
former
Premier of NZ, who hailed from the West Coast (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOinFwCPO_KI1cRTApi0Xh2ERt5vfjQYTPd-BIIyl-nazBvlT0v-9xqqgij1Xj3-xTGJefMMc8CKDkL9AfAq203cTQlTjdKWSEt7DP9f-cZT3qWEsSa-5pGQjb1529ZixvKNgAnxq6DM/s1600/IMGP6632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOinFwCPO_KI1cRTApi0Xh2ERt5vfjQYTPd-BIIyl-nazBvlT0v-9xqqgij1Xj3-xTGJefMMc8CKDkL9AfAq203cTQlTjdKWSEt7DP9f-cZT3qWEsSa-5pGQjb1529ZixvKNgAnxq6DM/s640/IMGP6632.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Carnegie Building (1908). Originally built as a library, it now houses the Hokitika Museum<br />
(photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then along to the beach, with the big driftwood “Hokitika” sign. I wonder if they keep rebuilding it every time it gets destroyed by the wind and tide? We watched some guys swimming in the surf, and when they emerged I asked if the water was cold. No it wasn’t, they said, quite warm, in fact. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFyN-Xl5TpGuervv3fJwFkzNjCafxBqIpybWhY55kNE-vKgnqd4ZEESRIYCNvjEG6YJJGPQVPDVko0bH9m_hcmUeRoKzC0sRsdj-NBD7RrbEkmhJmEtttyfGeBIn6f6QQcSLAkK6Zl0I/s1600/IMGP6634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFyN-Xl5TpGuervv3fJwFkzNjCafxBqIpybWhY55kNE-vKgnqd4ZEESRIYCNvjEG6YJJGPQVPDVko0bH9m_hcmUeRoKzC0sRsdj-NBD7RrbEkmhJmEtttyfGeBIn6f6QQcSLAkK6Zl0I/s640/IMGP6634.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The driftwood Hokitika sign (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8_ag05oIO0ZVIS6RDuw7mWz8MsJsnMUyDkli_aJdcggxnoGKoUvGgyt438A2XX7L4CKAxQh4SK-WdGxG_yanjE0c6TsqaOZVhHEfbXRxqUmbuu4XkEnefNJhWZ3UCCzjezldvXca8FU/s1600/IMG_2192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8_ag05oIO0ZVIS6RDuw7mWz8MsJsnMUyDkli_aJdcggxnoGKoUvGgyt438A2XX7L4CKAxQh4SK-WdGxG_yanjE0c6TsqaOZVhHEfbXRxqUmbuu4XkEnefNJhWZ3UCCzjezldvXca8FU/s640/IMG_2192.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The “T” was decorated with an animal (pelvic?) bone </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT8delo2MDhx1gYqAFuc8tqUNoUGIQ4c7fCzLHjSwRZ91sL9quHxXahfXXEBhYUTg2RekE8y0abibVDz5_G7miPTfNrQTKA-FCDjR1iMf49dO1umGI3pEE6RV_FY9AFt0JNxhg-2WxHI/s1600/IMGP6654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhT8delo2MDhx1gYqAFuc8tqUNoUGIQ4c7fCzLHjSwRZ91sL9quHxXahfXXEBhYUTg2RekE8y0abibVDz5_G7miPTfNrQTKA-FCDjR1iMf49dO1umGI3pEE6RV_FY9AFt0JNxhg-2WxHI/s640/IMGP6654.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two people in the surf (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAylKOq3a6Ygn_2zxwm6YVza6kXNOaZhJXbQxNNGY2-XQHT-DEV65psj-FHRf1a42UQjeDVp0Bvj2z61QmOai3dKz1-HuzU6XkwRYZ5xD190Cq-QTJybHU5GHPKtqp4MKjE2nJp5x13Q/s1600/IMGP6637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAylKOq3a6Ygn_2zxwm6YVza6kXNOaZhJXbQxNNGY2-XQHT-DEV65psj-FHRf1a42UQjeDVp0Bvj2z61QmOai3dKz1-HuzU6XkwRYZ5xD190Cq-QTJybHU5GHPKtqp4MKjE2nJp5x13Q/s640/IMGP6637.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A replica of the schooner <i>Tambo</i>, which was wrecked on the notorious
Hokitika Bar in 1866,<br />
now adorns the far end of the beach (photo by
John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After some dinner in town, we went back to the cottage, and while John downloaded photos onto his laptop, I started reading <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Luminaries" target="_blank">“The Luminaries”</a></i>, the Man Booker Prize winning book by NZ author Eleanor Catton, which was on the bookshelf in the cottage. <br />
<br />
The novel is set in Hokitika in 1866, at the time of the goldrush, and I had noticed that the town map of Hokitika, which we picked up at the i-Site, highlighted several<i> “Luminaries”</i> sites – streets and buildings mentioned in this book. So I thought it would be relevant to start reading it. The book had not appealed to me up to then, and I did find it a bit slow for the 30 or so pages I managed to get through. I thought maybe I would acquire or borrow a copy when I got home, maybe not. (Note: I was given a copy for Christmas, and having started reading it this week, I am still trying to get through the first chapter …) <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqVzcHWWqZ_hnTXp0fnGlsbc_6iZLTZZDGh4DBh0qe0JCLgjO6FWtqmdU4g2PzcsoemTb6uftj277SdUQ_EV_bwrz36r5Y4F-t8_6Sk58_QsqZaPJzmSqaDwJfwCEdNgOzuPT4owFbNY/s1600/IMGP6644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqVzcHWWqZ_hnTXp0fnGlsbc_6iZLTZZDGh4DBh0qe0JCLgjO6FWtqmdU4g2PzcsoemTb6uftj277SdUQ_EV_bwrz36r5Y4F-t8_6Sk58_QsqZaPJzmSqaDwJfwCEdNgOzuPT4owFbNY/s640/IMGP6644.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This building is on the corner of Revell and Camp Streets, both of which
are <i>“Luminaries”</i> sites<br />
according to the town map (click to enlarge) (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At 8pm we went to the beach to watch the sunset. We walked to Sunset Point – the place where the beach ends up at the mouth of the Hokitika River – but the sunset didn't happen because of the clouds. However we were very impressed with the waves crashing around the point and into the river. It must have been very scary to come over the bar and into the river mouth in a small boat, as most of the goldminers had to do at the time of the goldrush. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-AfF4yv3PmGcVIHF1QJLn6NQddJ3bvw-EY_ulQpaSfwa03aqvORbfRh-DIFDxLQaPJcaBqJNufX5RtZFBT3XOhOu1jFuYoONxYfc99CRTbFP5nUO7d_4JQ2qv9sa5DbjV0iq1XvkbYI/s1600/IMG_2202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-AfF4yv3PmGcVIHF1QJLn6NQddJ3bvw-EY_ulQpaSfwa03aqvORbfRh-DIFDxLQaPJcaBqJNufX5RtZFBT3XOhOu1jFuYoONxYfc99CRTbFP5nUO7d_4JQ2qv9sa5DbjV0iq1XvkbYI/s640/IMG_2202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waves crashing around Sunset Point </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWStNq4ye19VgRC0qNk39CHu5ApUlhvHoG3K5Ib5XChAb0aAYfBYUV9-0KoCiu_4Khy4blyUx3phMbWEqEmoQSRivQPV7E5PYiGnzrwRq69CUwPq8NJ1lLKx9Tq8MIvdGKeGcU-KQBxk/s1600/IMGP6664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWStNq4ye19VgRC0qNk39CHu5ApUlhvHoG3K5Ib5XChAb0aAYfBYUV9-0KoCiu_4Khy4blyUx3phMbWEqEmoQSRivQPV7E5PYiGnzrwRq69CUwPq8NJ1lLKx9Tq8MIvdGKeGcU-KQBxk/s640/IMGP6664.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the Hokitika River (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCm3QWLulmigkumvhVb2GhfMxh3cTEbyu3tPqHF_OLxTBEJtOswCUYXYiRi1S7HzjGOdlUyms0kPcF6YA_TKBy6CTT1tqJjuf0aDOfdeM1nwaweUGMjLw3nPQexl4R9uwzwUxmC1w1bU/s1600/IMGP6666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCm3QWLulmigkumvhVb2GhfMxh3cTEbyu3tPqHF_OLxTBEJtOswCUYXYiRi1S7HzjGOdlUyms0kPcF6YA_TKBy6CTT1tqJjuf0aDOfdeM1nwaweUGMjLw3nPQexl4R9uwzwUxmC1w1bU/s640/IMGP6666.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the wave from the sea meets the water coming down the river (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We stayed there for quite a while, as did a lot of other people, hoping to see a sunset, but at dusk we walked back to the cottage. <br />
<br />
We had booked to stay here for two nights. Originally, I had thought we would have an extra day here so we could take a tour to the Hokitika Gorge and other touristy sights, before doing the final stretch of the Wilderness Trail to the town of Ross. But when we changed our plans because we couldn’t get a shuttle back from Ross, we decided to use the spare day to visit the Tree Top Walk, which is on the Wilderness Trail, and then instead of continuing on to Ross, we would return to Hokitika, and take the bus to Greymouth the following day. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 7 –Tuesday 4 December – Tree Top Walk and Lake Mahinapua </h4>
<br />
The forecast was for rain. When we got up at 8:30 it was overcast and just spitting. We walked to the Bakery for breakfast – not very inspiring … <br />
<br />
We started biking at 9:30, wearing parkas because of the slight rain. It was very windy on the bridge, as we were crossing the Hokitika River, on a separated cycle track. The cold wind was coming in off the sea, straight into the river mouth, and trying to swipe us off the bridge. Just as well we had good barriers on either side of us, but even so, John couldn’t keep his balance and walked all the way – a whole kilometre! I biked very slowly behind him and took some photos, but it was difficult to keep the camera still. I would always rather bike than walk, as apart from sore feet, I always get attacked by my bike pedals when I walk. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyiXMZiAMFl0qdXdwbuWX5RzA6DJNjKpnceEcGin6PBGF41WDzEEgsV9C_NmXnDpWV2dlo3NIyn0bbWTEAsV0ZiynOfCQO5kGsefyCw9FYjNE_pH1UkE_VBrg5EYtyLSZ0CwwSt6swto/s1600/IMGP6639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyiXMZiAMFl0qdXdwbuWX5RzA6DJNjKpnceEcGin6PBGF41WDzEEgsV9C_NmXnDpWV2dlo3NIyn0bbWTEAsV0ZiynOfCQO5kGsefyCw9FYjNE_pH1UkE_VBrg5EYtyLSZ0CwwSt6swto/s640/IMGP6639.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge, seen from Sunset Point, the previous day. It is 1 km long! (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUO5Lf7AznoEgvp_82K8kH9rsOhcTK_UhAF4IXIpSclcU3UFX-PKferm9b1vWcXgnkglKQk7yTcX8eXRMetox94BhjlxbNEz_GqYyAjAXRnNSCJuDfjUS4l6-WX_016dfKiUPwdCuPlU/s1600/IMG_2206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUO5Lf7AznoEgvp_82K8kH9rsOhcTK_UhAF4IXIpSclcU3UFX-PKferm9b1vWcXgnkglKQk7yTcX8eXRMetox94BhjlxbNEz_GqYyAjAXRnNSCJuDfjUS4l6-WX_016dfKiUPwdCuPlU/s640/IMG_2206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out towards the Hokitika Bar from the bridge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Having survived the bridge, we found ourselves on a track beside the highway, and then on a narrow, sealed road beside a golf course, until it crossed the road and went into the Mahinapua track. This meandered along the side of the road and around a lagoon, then across an old, former rail bridge. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUaDxhmlccnvlZIax-8cK8yv-9fw8QedC_db6hC01M3bvGU_ytocmssmV6VoXePyjdhHhd5aZiVZy4eTRMmCgWJvuF2V4G-3H8JYW3w6cfIP55OMcA7km7PL820ZFKqzmUfhtnHUcLWM/s1600/IMG_2209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUaDxhmlccnvlZIax-8cK8yv-9fw8QedC_db6hC01M3bvGU_ytocmssmV6VoXePyjdhHhd5aZiVZy4eTRMmCgWJvuF2V4G-3H8JYW3w6cfIP55OMcA7km7PL820ZFKqzmUfhtnHUcLWM/s640/IMG_2209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We crossed a former rail bridge, which had been restored for the Wilderness Trail </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By this time, the weather had started to clear. We stopped to talk to a guy manoeuvring a flat-bottom boat in the lagoon. He was getting ready to take some tourists for a tour into the swamps, lagoons and river. He said the track we were about to ride was finished only two months ago. <br />
<br />
The track was beautiful - gorgeous rainforest, very green, very primeval looking, with fallen trees jumbled over each other and everything that had fallen, immediately colonised by other plants. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismdnqPOuCfiuZbygLpyvaUCUCNTnusucX0kGGV_iB2tFRKvAEdnsUBW91n7X-uitxzkBkbDwxBfEup_34Y9Uc3pezPnC-Jyeqk-T0FZ2oqjoEK_zv4sAsK054AzM_oGF8h3WKIRSF1H4/s1600/IMGP6672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismdnqPOuCfiuZbygLpyvaUCUCNTnusucX0kGGV_iB2tFRKvAEdnsUBW91n7X-uitxzkBkbDwxBfEup_34Y9Uc3pezPnC-Jyeqk-T0FZ2oqjoEK_zv4sAsK054AzM_oGF8h3WKIRSF1H4/s640/IMGP6672.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More beautiful rain forest (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgU2zhnQogffK7KtgqpCtuYdiR2sJYx8T1yx0l9bYaVw5KdjsqaPtkPOaUeDTcVpgbSB2PqwZMsbX3PiI9rbAmub67mga0bfx5mCMx7DZCBlEbQ-NJrOchYfz5_3moXpm5oDZvXOS9rA/s1600/IMG_2211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgU2zhnQogffK7KtgqpCtuYdiR2sJYx8T1yx0l9bYaVw5KdjsqaPtkPOaUeDTcVpgbSB2PqwZMsbX3PiI9rbAmub67mga0bfx5mCMx7DZCBlEbQ-NJrOchYfz5_3moXpm5oDZvXOS9rA/s640/IMG_2211.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tree is covered in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiekie_(plant)" target="_blank">kiekie</a>, a NZ native climber </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsT0Marn52L_-Siy7WyzK9OgnvdQoChzss11fJ-QyhcLJRFLDRVmw7McAxqfEyEg1Z1bZcnq3HiYIBV0hQ2uCItQLjp8432HMezsrSG6JCriz2WL_Dy-HvI3QCmcuUv7rucZmihYMDjM/s1600/IMG_2212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsT0Marn52L_-Siy7WyzK9OgnvdQoChzss11fJ-QyhcLJRFLDRVmw7McAxqfEyEg1Z1bZcnq3HiYIBV0hQ2uCItQLjp8432HMezsrSG6JCriz2WL_Dy-HvI3QCmcuUv7rucZmihYMDjM/s640/IMG_2212.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumbled rain forest floor – everything that falls is immediately colonised by other plants </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjJrFgsTlVbXwcP_cA_pEvRwaL83xi2hQNjMc4Z5LSLSFqIYs7W7tXvRZbMnTeRFGEw6NXws-9bOmBlObci2tTGTRRL1ilvqw2dm1qZBhlwlQepfUKUZn3sO3Ntc6Vna4AIMJZi0jZQM/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjJrFgsTlVbXwcP_cA_pEvRwaL83xi2hQNjMc4Z5LSLSFqIYs7W7tXvRZbMnTeRFGEw6NXws-9bOmBlObci2tTGTRRL1ilvqw2dm1qZBhlwlQepfUKUZn3sO3Ntc6Vna4AIMJZi0jZQM/s640/IMG_2227.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful mosses </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Later we arrived at a bridge across a lagoon and then a boardwalk across a swampy area. Quite beautiful. John didn’t like the boardwalk – it makes him feel unsafe with his balance. I had to go ahead of him without stopping, so he wouldn’t have to stop. But once at the end, I parked my bike and went back to take some photos. We saw a white heron – kotuku – in the distance, and I was able to get a photo of it by using the tele-lens. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBxic_Esfayn8D69cDNfQAgGG1Ovfeat0Xfs21mha-R-a9YlBGezT-o9UmjL7iabxPv4xM7j13VKmMjE6d0oHBNW2Nf-XaGIjnXMIyIFYxHB4erBiQc0M1J0jOB07HsqW8cW0j_6TeOc/s1600/P1070023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBxic_Esfayn8D69cDNfQAgGG1Ovfeat0Xfs21mha-R-a9YlBGezT-o9UmjL7iabxPv4xM7j13VKmMjE6d0oHBNW2Nf-XaGIjnXMIyIFYxHB4erBiQc0M1J0jOB07HsqW8cW0j_6TeOc/s640/P1070023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lagoon (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_YZCP2J4HGtKoMw6SvpIpkHpn0Qbh7x0oRleXt4QJb9oYEUwJ8Y2Ba1EVy0PWsuJjE54V9l4vC6SxJCbrvTYBSbXkoE8pTWs9LJcSj4dAu5ytNS_-eXLi1lfRVNd43SSzk31gY92v6M/s1600/P1070026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_YZCP2J4HGtKoMw6SvpIpkHpn0Qbh7x0oRleXt4QJb9oYEUwJ8Y2Ba1EVy0PWsuJjE54V9l4vC6SxJCbrvTYBSbXkoE8pTWs9LJcSj4dAu5ytNS_-eXLi1lfRVNd43SSzk31gY92v6M/s640/P1070026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge across the lagoon (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuP-dbutVzpBnxioLc4cDsrVdTGux3IFsDvikwxsWG8ZXbfF3FqVVEJavobeiBQlaDAASjiCSTszYRYQ55HtZOdCFx3HVX5gYYkBj3s-gJbHCig-gbnfZWcNs3nDX6A2uj7quhdfKutM/s1600/IMG_2217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuP-dbutVzpBnxioLc4cDsrVdTGux3IFsDvikwxsWG8ZXbfF3FqVVEJavobeiBQlaDAASjiCSTszYRYQ55HtZOdCFx3HVX5gYYkBj3s-gJbHCig-gbnfZWcNs3nDX6A2uj7quhdfKutM/s640/IMG_2217.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/white-heron" target="_blank">kotuku</a> – white heron – picks its way through the swamp </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw6jukczz5BViplQcnXrCkK4hxxUhZFV9zyKYiV8Zq6iyrn-bMpyGXvqQrUAJfAqt8VkfIZmqkPNr1WrzbQ_GVLdblCR6BrWnAvXY0Way-gbWD1x81HusrmGy9yJq4vtRYymNyd8xR4U/s1600/P1070027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw6jukczz5BViplQcnXrCkK4hxxUhZFV9zyKYiV8Zq6iyrn-bMpyGXvqQrUAJfAqt8VkfIZmqkPNr1WrzbQ_GVLdblCR6BrWnAvXY0Way-gbWD1x81HusrmGy9yJq4vtRYymNyd8xR4U/s640/P1070027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the boardwalk (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the boardwalk, the track was quite narrow, stony and bumpy, with lots of little boardwalk bridges. John had quite a bit of trouble with his balance that day, so he didn’t want to bike across the bridges, but every time he got down to walk across and then wanted to start biking again, his balance would mess him about. He did lose his rag a few times, poor man. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCrHeCq1gXOBSX_0Otjg8l3frv0CSQkqRN1UAzWwZAy12Gy5yTdT_iuuGU_hdulUBE4l5vK70FlGQTufCf2YwSbiRt5xBPk2yYRQI5XFUcDfuYHjiB4xHCa5Wm2YmzJz9RZkF8igHoeQ/s1600/IMG_2229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCrHeCq1gXOBSX_0Otjg8l3frv0CSQkqRN1UAzWwZAy12Gy5yTdT_iuuGU_hdulUBE4l5vK70FlGQTufCf2YwSbiRt5xBPk2yYRQI5XFUcDfuYHjiB4xHCa5Wm2YmzJz9RZkF8igHoeQ/s640/IMG_2229.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track was narrow and quite stony and bumpy </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabZyN1Xsqt1mkpx46wbCFXXUb-EwQkx6FZnRJ512VN0heXx0iWM7rcvQ86XcmGopb3OVDvJwl22QfaZ0pMsGAdVRU_VHB8yKPQO0D1xSZu2tCzNXRdtV7QMJkBiLlWnfk9v1rkHEIHds/s1600/IMG_2228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabZyN1Xsqt1mkpx46wbCFXXUb-EwQkx6FZnRJ512VN0heXx0iWM7rcvQ86XcmGopb3OVDvJwl22QfaZ0pMsGAdVRU_VHB8yKPQO0D1xSZu2tCzNXRdtV7QMJkBiLlWnfk9v1rkHEIHds/s640/IMG_2228.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little bridges messed with John’s balance </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We made it to the <a href="https://www.treetopsnz.com/the-walkway/" target="_blank">Tree Top Wal</a>k at 12:00. This is an aerial walkway that takes you through the canopy of the tallest trees of the rain forest. It runs for nearly half a kilometer and features a 40 m high tower, which boasts fabulous views over Lake Mahinapua.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifculWwnQaAGKI81TxBlADhYhsivnv8KjzqLFKKzFDWtLXFF3b0mGYR8A-FbcsvYbK0o7yB9f1CWRWUvi95XKpfTKXgxZxdBxNX4JqNMVWOk2_Mj1rzqlpCsXDDPJ1QCxXDIgGhPH0Qgw/s1600/Tree+top+walkwaymap-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="900" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifculWwnQaAGKI81TxBlADhYhsivnv8KjzqLFKKzFDWtLXFF3b0mGYR8A-FbcsvYbK0o7yB9f1CWRWUvi95XKpfTKXgxZxdBxNX4JqNMVWOk2_Mj1rzqlpCsXDDPJ1QCxXDIgGhPH0Qgw/s640/Tree+top+walkwaymap-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of the Tree Top Walk (<a href="https://www.treetopsnz.com/the-walkway/" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was keen to take this walk, but John wouldn’t have a bar of it. It would play havoc with his balance. But he was happy for me to go, while he waited in the café. <br />
<br />
But first, we had lunch. And when I went back to my bike to get something, there was Stephen, who had just arrived. Of course we invited him to join us at our table, while he had his lunch. He told us he had made a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rideacm/videos/353530185405287/" target="_blank">video of us </a>as we were going down the zig-zags after Cowboy Paradise. He showed it to us and copied it onto John’s phone. <br />
<br />
He said he had put it on Facebook, and one of his Aussie friends had commented <i>“I know them, I’ve been following their blog for years”</i>! How about that? We were feeling quite chuffed. (Note: follow the link, and read the comments on the right "How people reacted")<br />
<br />
Stephen wasn’t interested in seeing the Tree Top Walk either, so I left the two of them to talk and set off. It was a walk up a steepish driveway, quite pleasant in the sunshine. Along the way, there were information panels about native plants, in front of the relevant plant or tree, so I took quite a few photos of both the panels and the plants. While I am not a botanist, or even a keen gardener, I am quite interested in plants – I like to identify them and know their names. Often, while biking in the forest, I wonder what this or that plant or tree is called, so I found these panels quite helpful. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_eYEt4To9jNlQEkMVMHWHEBYEygrr-z06gKnYoYwwOR8s9B638XuTLIG0UbKKcNBJcvaquico2QxQHzo7JTDy8eSRp3Lw_Ra6FhRasRwRBzUGUArCr4x6S9YWQeTNAx6TZ_rKQtK-z0/s1600/IMG_2272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_eYEt4To9jNlQEkMVMHWHEBYEygrr-z06gKnYoYwwOR8s9B638XuTLIG0UbKKcNBJcvaquico2QxQHzo7JTDy8eSRp3Lw_Ra6FhRasRwRBzUGUArCr4x6S9YWQeTNAx6TZ_rKQtK-z0/s640/IMG_2272.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the information panels – this one for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prumnopitys_ferruginea" target="_blank">miro</a> … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1_eP9PFGPLyP1iXSacLxulG2tgLI4JNOKctQeUzQJ5ORaIfWwt759A8izLtr-QnANKOD6EYO-kXnfMreF2OD5ZUxGIuk1pZ0Nx6OSz3nm4Suti3r3lJezhSsJZoI-xrjYkAs1nAv5J4/s1600/IMG_2273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1_eP9PFGPLyP1iXSacLxulG2tgLI4JNOKctQeUzQJ5ORaIfWwt759A8izLtr-QnANKOD6EYO-kXnfMreF2OD5ZUxGIuk1pZ0Nx6OSz3nm4Suti3r3lJezhSsJZoI-xrjYkAs1nAv5J4/s640/IMG_2273.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and the beautiful trunk of the miro </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U5sopaVZxsZGPAys6b4WM5Qwv1ml6CP82KWy3U-nbJwRitzVZcgxoAZqKjZ8JA-JP67qPW-5odHXaMbt4Osc1t1eFeZS2AL-FttUOE__JdoVYUvj7YzxehuTdRpP3P6UMLbGcPS1reg/s1600/IMG_2244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U5sopaVZxsZGPAys6b4WM5Qwv1ml6CP82KWy3U-nbJwRitzVZcgxoAZqKjZ8JA-JP67qPW-5odHXaMbt4Osc1t1eFeZS2AL-FttUOE__JdoVYUvj7YzxehuTdRpP3P6UMLbGcPS1reg/s640/IMG_2244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the Treetop Walk </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The walkway was 450 metres of enclosed steel walkways, 20 metres high, among the canopy of the big Rimu and Kamahi trees. It was quite amazing to be so close to the canopy of the trees, but also stomach-churningly high to look down to the undergrowth. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDBpKLPS-IaGdP8BEGRk36WYYK1H1n5i2ZwfnBMUAPummBIqusApPFnmsX7fYEF71WZtbaTLkcajSbKKhmk8Ci31lSBFXh1NVOlLyhDx04XFtECZ1a1Fk32WcjLRUIDA3UTY_aCYk64w/s1600/IMG_2252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDBpKLPS-IaGdP8BEGRk36WYYK1H1n5i2ZwfnBMUAPummBIqusApPFnmsX7fYEF71WZtbaTLkcajSbKKhmk8Ci31lSBFXh1NVOlLyhDx04XFtECZ1a1Fk32WcjLRUIDA3UTY_aCYk64w/s640/IMG_2252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So close to the canopy … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LRNvPV2nAgpPoLdAS_H_5bO39bljj3lTpolLLWhvbGH8IXAL-p_mjl_GmVAQH9ocQPRUaqZt-QRCLR06x2JYBKD8Msgh3CZPKbyzMELWjMi8Vrg0Zb3OvuQjb4SAaNFgtO7PjrMn1Oc/s1600/IMG_2246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LRNvPV2nAgpPoLdAS_H_5bO39bljj3lTpolLLWhvbGH8IXAL-p_mjl_GmVAQH9ocQPRUaqZt-QRCLR06x2JYBKD8Msgh3CZPKbyzMELWjMi8Vrg0Zb3OvuQjb4SAaNFgtO7PjrMn1Oc/s640/IMG_2246.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and so high above the ground! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBXeOvx7oelOOE-OYmMdLP1YP0sBDvW0t1L-l4bqsY5JdnOfmJ7bEEIIGJZwSEaUOPvepdHtdWDQSIGoJnSfai2vHf571sF0D8nAC9T2mF1l-3pscY1FuLgMf14E0YeBQ0U4nCtCZBWE/s1600/IMG_2249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBXeOvx7oelOOE-OYmMdLP1YP0sBDvW0t1L-l4bqsY5JdnOfmJ7bEEIIGJZwSEaUOPvepdHtdWDQSIGoJnSfai2vHf571sF0D8nAC9T2mF1l-3pscY1FuLgMf14E0YeBQ0U4nCtCZBWE/s640/IMG_2249.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This enormous rimu towers above everything else </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1_qo4mLeoJeWgbc7eQkWNt8uvdJDs8FUrKmGWxoFDBQuXw85CHvurIbptegVg8yq0xW4cF2q5lPDwC9LH9f2LSkGqJBW5v7cI69R3nuE4W1hK8r36wER0S-ZUC7u50DQUT2LLUKLjfY/s1600/IMG_2250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1_qo4mLeoJeWgbc7eQkWNt8uvdJDs8FUrKmGWxoFDBQuXw85CHvurIbptegVg8yq0xW4cF2q5lPDwC9LH9f2LSkGqJBW5v7cI69R3nuE4W1hK8r36wER0S-ZUC7u50DQUT2LLUKLjfY/s640/IMG_2250.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information panels were displayed on the sides of the walkway </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The walkway swayed very slightly, especially when a family of six people were also on the same stretch of bridge. There were information panels which referred to numbers on a map, but I didn't have a map. I asked the other group where they had got the map from, and they kindly offered me one of theirs. <br />
<br />
At the end of a long walkway was the tower, with a staircase spiralling around it. Although I don't generally like heights – they give me the heebie-jeebies – I decided to try climbing to the top, as the view over Lake Mahinapua is supposed to be amazing from up there. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqwXh7WSbrpbtu7PmzQZ3-3DkHDQnyQmUl1GXYR0IyYYDm1gLg019RTuk4-GuWApUifbWI0_DsIK3wiZ9r4DWJhff6BJm-g6ZwHyRJr-nnv94MfwUleMx6h7joz7sOEsrzqLcXoBA4Eg/s1600/IMG_2266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqwXh7WSbrpbtu7PmzQZ3-3DkHDQnyQmUl1GXYR0IyYYDm1gLg019RTuk4-GuWApUifbWI0_DsIK3wiZ9r4DWJhff6BJm-g6ZwHyRJr-nnv94MfwUleMx6h7joz7sOEsrzqLcXoBA4Eg/s640/IMG_2266.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tower is supposed to have fabulous views from the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But I only got to about two-thirds of the way to the top, before I completely freaked out and couldn’t go any further. My heart was beating in my throat, and the adrenalin was pumping. So I sat down on a step, before heading back down. I had to sort out where I was going to keep my phone, my camera and my map without losing them over the side or anything dropping out of my pocket, as I would need both my hands to hold on to the rails, so I couldn’t hold on to my camera. Once sorted, I climbed down, ever so slowly and carefully, and heaved a sigh of relief when I got to the bottom of the tower. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY7dlveFME_ME4i8f7q3w8Bep09kGdIjyBfzjjPqaTx2XUyJYD2AAGBZ8TdX4eso0FpDNvGILSc05c6gp6g8_w0qTGGuKoXvSYWDwn_WfP8nSzvNNH5fsY_m1Yrajel9kzU4fx7USIZI/s1600/IMG_2255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY7dlveFME_ME4i8f7q3w8Bep09kGdIjyBfzjjPqaTx2XUyJYD2AAGBZ8TdX4eso0FpDNvGILSc05c6gp6g8_w0qTGGuKoXvSYWDwn_WfP8nSzvNNH5fsY_m1Yrajel9kzU4fx7USIZI/s640/IMG_2255.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I did manage to take this photo from about half-way up .. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then a little further along, there was the cantilevered bit, sticking out over the trees below. That was also a freak-out moment. I couldn’t make myself go to the end of it, thinking it was only held up by two cables with no support underneath. Nah, I wasn’t going to go to the end … <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsXApI-SYtgIRVApw_GOkV1ufsHwu5iWgDOCtViUdmi3pZPVZ27dtAArRrccNMzEMtIK5bhDAayYgrL5TsIvhrwkIcvx-pj74-TVyY3yasT_tU_s7tYUJHoI7OqUvq419wnErpg66z1U/s1600/IMG_2264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsXApI-SYtgIRVApw_GOkV1ufsHwu5iWgDOCtViUdmi3pZPVZ27dtAArRrccNMzEMtIK5bhDAayYgrL5TsIvhrwkIcvx-pj74-TVyY3yasT_tU_s7tYUJHoI7OqUvq419wnErpg66z1U/s640/IMG_2264.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cantilevered bit … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIPeLbGjGI4s0Q-wIoZUvk5-IHU0ifUsMydttRNbDAJ-slVxHZj3e5lpawP80NBqsijXZcYoHqbu-rfG0t63bHTQWEd5aCD4Oqj5ws-FBp0s2-zJh4aTd-rusfXoVpBUImDNMzjOYPA4/s1600/IMG_2265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIPeLbGjGI4s0Q-wIoZUvk5-IHU0ifUsMydttRNbDAJ-slVxHZj3e5lpawP80NBqsijXZcYoHqbu-rfG0t63bHTQWEd5aCD4Oqj5ws-FBp0s2-zJh4aTd-rusfXoVpBUImDNMzjOYPA4/s640/IMG_2265.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… seemed to be held up by only two cables. Aargh! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I gingerly made my way back to the safety of the supported walkways and admired the forest below and the closeness of some of the canopy. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0p2Pw9SkSR0IFKEOxr_wBseDwLgahfefrwKOTmZSn4I4UO6cRw0XYLQ5uIdF6MCYfoz2tA1n0BFEVTudwgGMr_06pHK7NQHsnSLWezZ89mrBiMWMloNRNGJDIlJe7h7QdSksUlGXwtg/s1600/IMG_2261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0p2Pw9SkSR0IFKEOxr_wBseDwLgahfefrwKOTmZSn4I4UO6cRw0XYLQ5uIdF6MCYfoz2tA1n0BFEVTudwgGMr_06pHK7NQHsnSLWezZ89mrBiMWMloNRNGJDIlJe7h7QdSksUlGXwtg/s640/IMG_2261.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting to see the different “layers” of the forest –<br />
the tree ferns, the medium height trees, and the giant rimu </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2hPZNqX5X7qBoZK671REzjc8tmMjAvG7k7TtodgJ3Ogwul3u5wtWclAmeAbnTnrokJ3zdxgYk3P5Q7L5HKPAgsr9eFH-_EA4n-5h_CLpQBoSVruY1qQrFF7C0iQiADkOO41MCQCmc0c/s1600/IMG_2260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2hPZNqX5X7qBoZK671REzjc8tmMjAvG7k7TtodgJ3Ogwul3u5wtWclAmeAbnTnrokJ3zdxgYk3P5Q7L5HKPAgsr9eFH-_EA4n-5h_CLpQBoSVruY1qQrFF7C0iQiADkOO41MCQCmc0c/s640/IMG_2260.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing to be able to see, at such a close range, all the epiphytes, mosses and lichens<br />
that grow at the top of the trees </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I returned to the café, Stephen was just about to depart. After waving him off, John and I had another coffee – I needed it! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYdO0ysgF0jlTnQywbwVx-I95gK-lCjyhp7nsmMe2MX1odBfjDocijKylxmObnZBOjinUxuRigdSJMkYJiaCtGEvDGkgiePBkouekcaUYMxCMumIhC_HD2ouv6OzfLVaLJX6nu9hPGKw/s1600/IMGP6676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYdO0ysgF0jlTnQywbwVx-I95gK-lCjyhp7nsmMe2MX1odBfjDocijKylxmObnZBOjinUxuRigdSJMkYJiaCtGEvDGkgiePBkouekcaUYMxCMumIhC_HD2ouv6OzfLVaLJX6nu9hPGKw/s640/IMGP6676.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephen was about to depart. His clothing left nothing to chance – rain or shine! (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We left Treetops at about 2:30. We continued on the trail until we got to the highway at Ruatapu. The official Wilderness trail turns left here, to carry on towards Ross, but we turned right, to go back to Hokitika. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb8hEVgQ_DxPKVrhjrWf8NpHYYd5YxKJGiPEUHZKqZEiXBND77RG7OhZKakrX4ucGdO3ajpOEuMLh6LRrQioClA0Yb7w_6hmjC46GzJnKvVqcLE4McyLvyx7eeoaGpxXX94QWQ6PTzAs/s1600/IMG_2284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb8hEVgQ_DxPKVrhjrWf8NpHYYd5YxKJGiPEUHZKqZEiXBND77RG7OhZKakrX4ucGdO3ajpOEuMLh6LRrQioClA0Yb7w_6hmjC46GzJnKvVqcLE4McyLvyx7eeoaGpxXX94QWQ6PTzAs/s640/IMG_2284.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last Wilderness Trail distance marker before we left the Trail </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From here we were riding on SH6. We diverted onto a loop road that went to the Lake Mahinapua DOC Camping ground. We didn’t get as far as the campground, but we did find the lake. Here in the shallow, swampy area along the edge we saw four kotuku - white heron - so beautiful. I managed to get a few photos of them. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHeZBPpWj3n-qa3lIg0PbHioTJGECRRrI7HhtGI2Fcqz0vR0IVVZg1kFYK_leOlkcENhwzy3FxzdMbuG_xdxGUqDHlcN8T3SnpUqrW7a3yWwhcbQ0wNMEPkTq3m3s9aDvqNmwl4yCU6o/s1600/IMG_2286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHeZBPpWj3n-qa3lIg0PbHioTJGECRRrI7HhtGI2Fcqz0vR0IVVZg1kFYK_leOlkcENhwzy3FxzdMbuG_xdxGUqDHlcN8T3SnpUqrW7a3yWwhcbQ0wNMEPkTq3m3s9aDvqNmwl4yCU6o/s640/IMG_2286.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Mahinapua </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGbWraecJbSewZHZOfQsnS8LPbtzl1sJAvJ8M_4LwXkdq-r8_EdnaQfNHcLFFFolIuoMYkwC9cg4R01dH7bDwI02ohGlRCagxpbAXbvbZD1TozKSlZSLTuoddWkS4BKZQBUOOIyWrZbY/s1600/IMG_2289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGbWraecJbSewZHZOfQsnS8LPbtzl1sJAvJ8M_4LwXkdq-r8_EdnaQfNHcLFFFolIuoMYkwC9cg4R01dH7bDwI02ohGlRCagxpbAXbvbZD1TozKSlZSLTuoddWkS4BKZQBUOOIyWrZbY/s640/IMG_2289.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the kotuku </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJLgYHSf6cYtaUFzNB6ojO7jrREs1I03KwA0zmHhJ5VsQKrmBV0oMpTeI61sdSE43tZFNPCscJU9PpfCrBQTf53yXB1jLnIKBoWtLAnYqsp0UB5qKBWgAKMg_B4elAB6odz6mKAXZ7IU/s1600/IMG_2291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJLgYHSf6cYtaUFzNB6ojO7jrREs1I03KwA0zmHhJ5VsQKrmBV0oMpTeI61sdSE43tZFNPCscJU9PpfCrBQTf53yXB1jLnIKBoWtLAnYqsp0UB5qKBWgAKMg_B4elAB6odz6mKAXZ7IU/s640/IMG_2291.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kotuku – what a magnificent bird! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we got back to SH6, the sky was looking a bit dodgy, and we put on our parkas. None too early, because within minutes, the rain came down – it absolutely hosed down! Huge big raindrops that stung our faces. We turned up the assist level to 5 (John to 4) as we now had a strong headwind as well. We got absolutely drenched in the half hour it took us to bike back to Hokitika. It was quite an experience riding on the 1 km-long bridge across the Hokitika River in those conditions! We were back at the cottage by 4pm. <br />
<br />
We put the bikes in the closed-in porch – thank goodness for that! – and got out of our wet clothes. I put everything in the washing machine to spin out the worst of the water, and brought the drying rack inside to hang things on it, while John discovered that the fancy Dyson fan was actually also a fan heater, so we set it up to blow onto the rack, and wet bags and shoes. Luckily the weather had got cooler, so it was quite nice to have the heater on. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfcIJWWMSFBMaxEm_Po0TPj_CDI3j1ORVvCnffGx7wwNHWRtuTCV27zfBIBbfc1XDdwYDoyEZiTGtXTGrcNDBhmzazJ8Mr0yUWRIiGE8ljMTT4DEgcjRctkxokf-hdJ1XTiy50IrYIy4/s1600/P1070039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfcIJWWMSFBMaxEm_Po0TPj_CDI3j1ORVvCnffGx7wwNHWRtuTCV27zfBIBbfc1XDdwYDoyEZiTGtXTGrcNDBhmzazJ8Mr0yUWRIiGE8ljMTT4DEgcjRctkxokf-hdJ1XTiy50IrYIy4/s640/P1070039.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drying our gear after getting drenched </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Soon after we got back, the storm really let rip, with thunder and lightning, and driving rain clattering against the windows. It was violent, but relatively brief. By 7pm, we were able to go out to the “Fat Pipi Pizza” to have dinner. It rained again as we were walking back to the cottage. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DOGq2wC3aN2gOiSv9pN8D1Xr2VPfQUlwXht7v7D4_FtyW5HZAMa7EL-S46WP73FFcINCyl9WOqM6dnzSbADm39Va2v_Pmymx4Bqdh87pN0Xj5mJiw5aYDR8c8u890YXAphlmkb1h3mI/s1600/IMG_2298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DOGq2wC3aN2gOiSv9pN8D1Xr2VPfQUlwXht7v7D4_FtyW5HZAMa7EL-S46WP73FFcINCyl9WOqM6dnzSbADm39Va2v_Pmymx4Bqdh87pN0Xj5mJiw5aYDR8c8u890YXAphlmkb1h3mI/s640/IMG_2298.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bikes safely stored in the porch, while the storm raged outside! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the evening we watched TV for a while, until the wind caused the image to go off, as the satellite dish had been jiggled. Oh well, back to my book. <br />
<br />
We have been incredibly lucky with the weather on this trail. Though each day some rain was forecast, we managed to dodge it every day, except this time. Seeing how very wet we got in just half an hour, it would have been a nightmare if we’d had rain all along the way. Not only actually getting wet, but more importantly, getting things dry again for the next day. And fortunately we did not have our bags with us on this day, or everything we had might have got wet too! <br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 8 – Wednesday 5 December – Hokitika to Greymouth</h4>
<br />
It was still raining when we got up. We had to leave the cottage by 10 am, and didn’t have to go to the i-Site for our bus to Greymouth until 11:45, so we waited out the rain, packed up the bikes, tidied the cottage, and left at 10, to have breakfast at the same bakery as the day before. I would have preferred to try a different place, as the fare was not very exciting, but this place had the advantage that we could keep an eye on the bikes from the window seat. Its rained again while we were having breakfast, but it didn't last. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4P8WIFBg1yyC-qcX5yFAhxw2KgPOj06U8H67OV-pYw4wBYk8cxd11bEDo23kCQdTuhbbnE0UJ0OEoj-tU5zIMvcY5FbjHasDaZJbZiKhLgVzPJd-6zr74HHZL7fL6aMobyqFAFkegIs/s1600/IMG_5176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4P8WIFBg1yyC-qcX5yFAhxw2KgPOj06U8H67OV-pYw4wBYk8cxd11bEDo23kCQdTuhbbnE0UJ0OEoj-tU5zIMvcY5FbjHasDaZJbZiKhLgVzPJd-6zr74HHZL7fL6aMobyqFAFkegIs/s640/IMG_5176.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were able to keep an eye on the bikes from the window seat (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We sat there for quite a while, as we had more than an hour and a half to fill before the bus, but at 10:45 John was getting titchy, so we walked our bikes through town. <br />
<br />
We wandered along to the i-Site from where the bus would be leaving, and John folded the bikes and put them into the bags. We parked the bagged bikes and our blue bags on the pavement by the bus stop, and carried our front bags with the shoulder straps. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxt4_5_Ljbm0GbvpY79oZxDhbuiKx5Y3mYflTlkpvrcATcyptbKd1CvLqpxsDjfPTu3R43-TEUPS0YlOqudIjfCTCS14xCjX1FWOmo4K7KNA7CNS5k9F7giEJx0J5OPw5cN4jp_MgViqw/s1600/IMG_5181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxt4_5_Ljbm0GbvpY79oZxDhbuiKx5Y3mYflTlkpvrcATcyptbKd1CvLqpxsDjfPTu3R43-TEUPS0YlOqudIjfCTCS14xCjX1FWOmo4K7KNA7CNS5k9F7giEJx0J5OPw5cN4jp_MgViqw/s640/IMG_5181.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All packed up and ready for the bus (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I went into the i-Site to look around, while John stood and talked to a man (Tony) on a very fancy mobility scooter. I found a display folder of photos of Hokitika history, that related to the narrative of Eleanor Catton’s book <i>“The Luminaries”</i>. Very interesting. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDQM1ZQaIk3iNy8eLHSFyhOUdQD2oJsH51Pge4lCnBO3x0pJnuYOmxGGu65u-A28Aq0wrivhai980UxSuR-xxdZ6m72LW4K_2ttqNY9GmL6HUE6lkyeS2qXuH9z57p8k-S-ow33aip0k/s1600/IMG_5182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDQM1ZQaIk3iNy8eLHSFyhOUdQD2oJsH51Pge4lCnBO3x0pJnuYOmxGGu65u-A28Aq0wrivhai980UxSuR-xxdZ6m72LW4K_2ttqNY9GmL6HUE6lkyeS2qXuH9z57p8k-S-ow33aip0k/s640/IMG_5182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John spent quite a while talking to this gentleman about his fancy mobility scooter (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The bus was a little late but we arrived in Greymouth right on time - 1:15 pm. We unloaded our bikes and bags, and soon had the bikes back together and the bags loaded on. We biked down to the Holiday Park where we had left the car. We went on the “Trail”, but John took a shortcut which cut the distance by 2 km. However, as I found out later, we got onto the stop bank track a bit too far along and missed the “official starting point of the trail”. A pity – it would have been nice to have had a photo of it. <br />
<br />
We had the same unit as we had before we did the trail, and John went to get the car from where it had been parked while we were away, while I unloaded the bags off the bikes. <br />
<br />
We spent the afternoon by going into town for a while and generally pottering around. John was trying to fix a new mirror onto his bike as he had lost his somewhere along the way. <br />
<br />
At 8:40 it looked like the sky was clearing and there would be a good sunset, so we went down to the beach. It was a little too late, the sun was already below the bright sky and obscured by low-level cloud. But the beach was an amazing sight. It has been very windy today, and the sea was really quite rough. All along the beach there was a huge amount of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_foam" target="_blank">froth</a> – about a meter deep in places – being pushed ashore by the waves crashing onto the beach. It looked like gigantic creature, writhing and squirming, breathing in and out. Fascinating. Lots of driftwood on the beach too, that looked as if it had been deposited recently. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCm7ioigIfHJUqokJ5ayOtxyA4ip6In1US6WyAyecj0wYcyoJnfy8SotZjUMs7krJUSx2SsiB8-xtd3TyvaageQ_kAuPEdxa5IU0JRGPdjZ5-95qJtIzIk9IRhaDt0DuB2Y_lyK_x67o/s1600/IMGP6680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCm7ioigIfHJUqokJ5ayOtxyA4ip6In1US6WyAyecj0wYcyoJnfy8SotZjUMs7krJUSx2SsiB8-xtd3TyvaageQ_kAuPEdxa5IU0JRGPdjZ5-95qJtIzIk9IRhaDt0DuB2Y_lyK_x67o/s640/IMGP6680.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach in the afternoon – no sign of any froth (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3fd8JxxC85F8WvUPrCXGJgT6TvOVyJJetUyIoywLEptp3N9SJbVPMVhIrsC-mwFWOCIl_ph7NbLs5e5qrq5mmVJSvWMWQLQGsEuPzvHcZIpvm4qu3vq5P0Vf78hGd3AWGjp8M8QdEbM/s1600/IMGP6688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3fd8JxxC85F8WvUPrCXGJgT6TvOVyJJetUyIoywLEptp3N9SJbVPMVhIrsC-mwFWOCIl_ph7NbLs5e5qrq5mmVJSvWMWQLQGsEuPzvHcZIpvm4qu3vq5P0Vf78hGd3AWGjp8M8QdEbM/s640/IMGP6688.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By evening, this is what it looked like (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZSoTW8e1bsUJZUNHSG8f17jF3gFZ4lzZF1VGN7nMbfXeKB5lWd5mfLUihN905qVy906ar6QJmBn0kahPVokHLBcau9N1WVDe4ArF-jdah7vBHNrTQG4weXiNuI4F-L4WEZT_UJLQG5Y/s1600/IMG_2306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZSoTW8e1bsUJZUNHSG8f17jF3gFZ4lzZF1VGN7nMbfXeKB5lWd5mfLUihN905qVy906ar6QJmBn0kahPVokHLBcau9N1WVDe4ArF-jdah7vBHNrTQG4weXiNuI4F-L4WEZT_UJLQG5Y/s640/IMG_2306.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One might think this was one of John’s Antarctica photos! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJn-bo50V7JhaarZMLS_oT8DWP0ZYdu6XTf3WbW0PNpX3upT-nKVIpmqxFHzC7lP4sb1txV5QVFHDyBxC-pljsmbO7UxkBtb_ohQ0NAclySgT9NMHkrj25mLJsOzA_VUYASGe16AHokY/s1600/IMGP6687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJn-bo50V7JhaarZMLS_oT8DWP0ZYdu6XTf3WbW0PNpX3upT-nKVIpmqxFHzC7lP4sb1txV5QVFHDyBxC-pljsmbO7UxkBtb_ohQ0NAclySgT9NMHkrj25mLJsOzA_VUYASGe16AHokY/s640/IMGP6687.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looked just like dirty snow </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXZE6u1Zfv8y7J_WXAnjaiK-Pp3DV73bjOIZHJ8tWxf9VkCn-FgZt0d3Z8ndGEsa-KbOcD1UweSocaoV7kEGTJ4roP4L3wbqn8-Nx0z6RKR178ffEvYLNL3zsI_Bmx1ncNsHrLFW7o8A/s1600/IMG_2308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXZE6u1Zfv8y7J_WXAnjaiK-Pp3DV73bjOIZHJ8tWxf9VkCn-FgZt0d3Z8ndGEsa-KbOcD1UweSocaoV7kEGTJ4roP4L3wbqn8-Nx0z6RKR178ffEvYLNL3zsI_Bmx1ncNsHrLFW7o8A/s640/IMG_2308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It pulsed and writhed with each successive wave coming in </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNnQw7U5PmRPC-VWjjHXuMJZ0lIxn8Cz2Q-rDf5lev4cnV_yy5P10LIw5noW79vDc7qp93CYlwLt4p0KQ7jLDtFjolGv-49WdT1gMvyy9Q1hj0Sh-WCpY8s5o-B-a7oRoPTrK5ZEZNsQ/s1600/IMGP6694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNnQw7U5PmRPC-VWjjHXuMJZ0lIxn8Cz2Q-rDf5lev4cnV_yy5P10LIw5noW79vDc7qp93CYlwLt4p0KQ7jLDtFjolGv-49WdT1gMvyy9Q1hj0Sh-WCpY8s5o-B-a7oRoPTrK5ZEZNsQ/s640/IMGP6694.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did get a sort of sunset, but the froth was more interesting (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
* * * * * * * * * * * *<br />
<br />
So this was the end of the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Would I do it again? Yes, I think I would like to do it again one day, as the scenery is absolutely stunning and the trail is easy to ride, but I would do it differently. I found the first two days' cycling disappointingly short, and the accommodation in Kumara and Cowboy Paradise was not particularly wonderful. I would probably do the Greymouth to Cowboy Paradise stretch in one day, and perhaps stay in a different place overnight. I would want to complete the stretch to Ross, which we missed out on this time. And I would probably want to spend more time in Hokitika and do that tour to the Hokitika Gorge and the lagoon, and spend time in the Hokitika museum. <br />
<br />
Food for thought. Perhaps in the autumn or winter, when the weather is supposed to be quite good on the Coast. Maybe next year, or the year after, if we are still capable of such a trip by then. Who knows …<br />
<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-84844725050004209262019-01-11T17:28:00.001+13:002020-04-11T15:17:06.513+12:00West Coast Trip – Part 2: West Coast Wilderness Trail – Greymouth to Cowboy Paradise<br />
Back again. Now that Christmas and SCD Summer School are out of the way, I am finally getting back to my blog. I am writing this up in four parts, and here is where you will find <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2018/12/" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-3-west-coast.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>, and <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-4-greymouth-hanmer.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>.<br />
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<h4>
Day 4 – Saturday 1 December – Greymouth to Kumara</h4>
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This was the day we were starting to ride the West Coast Wilderness Trail. The first section was Greymouth to Kumara, 30 km according to the book I had ordered some time ago from the Wilderness Trail Shuttles people. But we were already 4 km from the centre of Greymouth, so it was only going to be about 26 km. <br />
<br />
It was raining when we got up! We finished packing, I covered my carry-all with a plastic rubbish sack, and we donned our parkas. But by the time we left, at 9:20 am, it was barely spitting anymore. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4oetcoYofoMD7yfhxO5fZ_j1gCyfaAm2fsCXn7z4jEXy-0eaJBfl0RwPEFns6-T107P57eLgXaE9TXihCQp973Rq7XvAgqHkhFqNtFt97ZnJL8egEXpWpAqs7hK3ZeX22ptmC4qDELI/s1600/IMG_5160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4oetcoYofoMD7yfhxO5fZ_j1gCyfaAm2fsCXn7z4jEXy-0eaJBfl0RwPEFns6-T107P57eLgXaE9TXihCQp973Rq7XvAgqHkhFqNtFt97ZnJL8egEXpWpAqs7hK3ZeX22ptmC4qDELI/s400/IMG_5160.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We rode on the track alongside the beach, but most of the time, you couldn't see the beach, as there were trees, shrubs and huge flaxes sheltering the track from the on-shore wind. We could hear the waves though. Along the way, every so often we got whiffs of the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle which was flowering and scrambling over the trees and shrubs. There was also a fair amount of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospermum_scoparium" target="_blank">manuka</a> and blackberry alongside the track. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGDAHEyIATd9u7IggplPtf5yYHqncSA77pI4clMWRAsyeAuiEMXHVrA6Gob62vMjUXChPrz1rH1211xhXHGvz9wJkyBgWIvgjS8L3mwnfY_dweYLuCk0IPyE5QVZ85SCIhQLXZmVVeCY/s1600/P1060939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGDAHEyIATd9u7IggplPtf5yYHqncSA77pI4clMWRAsyeAuiEMXHVrA6Gob62vMjUXChPrz1rH1211xhXHGvz9wJkyBgWIvgjS8L3mwnfY_dweYLuCk0IPyE5QVZ85SCIhQLXZmVVeCY/s640/P1060939.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding out of Greymouth, the beach on our right is hidden by the shrubbery (photo by John)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkBSDQQzE5kMnpx2J0LHGXKJj2yOR8u3VWDlWWzZXsCSmnQ1vVdpeKR51Y0v7sn_fFu9LpVf52Q6OCYHQkYt6j4mPasXJ9bnKDys2LLugkekl-HuhZAI-Duf5D1yDJu7Ahh7R-8TTJcM/s1600/IMG_2110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkBSDQQzE5kMnpx2J0LHGXKJj2yOR8u3VWDlWWzZXsCSmnQ1vVdpeKR51Y0v7sn_fFu9LpVf52Q6OCYHQkYt6j4mPasXJ9bnKDys2LLugkekl-HuhZAI-Duf5D1yDJu7Ahh7R-8TTJcM/s640/IMG_2110.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw lots of foxgloves like these wherever there was open land (i.e. not bush) </td></tr>
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As the track moved away from the beach, it continued parallel to SH6 – a nice wide track, quite separate from the road. We rode past the turn-off to <a href="https://www.shantytown.co.nz/" target="_blank">Shantytown</a>. “We’ve done that” John said. Well, yes, about 30 years ago with the kids, but I suppose the gold-digging history hasn’t changed since then. <br />
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We got to the Taramakau Bridge. Up until recently it was a combined rail and road bridge (the only one left in NZ) but a new road bridge has been built, and in fact was opened only recently (June 2018). So we didn’t get to go on the rail/road bridge, but there was a nice sealed track on the new bridge (separate from the car traffic) and then the track went under the new bridge to get to the other side of the SH6. It bypassed the old bridge completely so we didn’t get a very good look at it, but I managed a couple of distant photos. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqFJboA-lZmqgsFVfR4pzoMfMjGrAbWTEZ_KB_OhzJ3SaCvFK_TJvwWDmtKqIjOU-IqmQMse7O76kMyNhzxMfubv5Ek3sNPRX2yq9Lz-k9VWt8oINrVBzYrIaO5wMp8LZzF8MSj5x7Sk/s1600/P1060944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqFJboA-lZmqgsFVfR4pzoMfMjGrAbWTEZ_KB_OhzJ3SaCvFK_TJvwWDmtKqIjOU-IqmQMse7O76kMyNhzxMfubv5Ek3sNPRX2yq9Lz-k9VWt8oINrVBzYrIaO5wMp8LZzF8MSj5x7Sk/s640/P1060944.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the old Taramakau Bridge from underneath the new one (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCCoBz_tkpppTSAbhh0lmXV9F7E5-rzhMIoS78DeMq1JAOO5rojSHDAoQ8VGqgClM5-hyC4rWb5idVzuYrj8FL6hlZsK9FYzCCpXBPMGtT9ZrmD-gDfHSgf6WWpIthU4yXR4JQ8sr9fM/s1600/IMG_2112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCCoBz_tkpppTSAbhh0lmXV9F7E5-rzhMIoS78DeMq1JAOO5rojSHDAoQ8VGqgClM5-hyC4rWb5idVzuYrj8FL6hlZsK9FYzCCpXBPMGtT9ZrmD-gDfHSgf6WWpIthU4yXR4JQ8sr9fM/s640/IMG_2112.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old bridge across the Taramakau River </td></tr>
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Around here, we were overtaken by a group of four cyclists (all about our age or older) who raced past us. After Taramakau we got into some bush – lovely, lots of young <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacrydium_cupressinum" target="_blank">rimu </a>and a few very tall ones, tree ferns, lots of moss-covered stumps. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayVebvNEyxmwEmO_j1owLgvqG5QRF62nGNUw1fxtIcKwbKZ_lR7kk3wx9p2FgUsLGPettFQVl9jXriSynhvo2OZueIHBRNklS6vjaRWUytYjGRFtg2saXZmIAisng6gnWQam_tUPqcII/s1600/IMG_2114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayVebvNEyxmwEmO_j1owLgvqG5QRF62nGNUw1fxtIcKwbKZ_lR7kk3wx9p2FgUsLGPettFQVl9jXriSynhvo2OZueIHBRNklS6vjaRWUytYjGRFtg2saXZmIAisng6gnWQam_tUPqcII/s640/IMG_2114.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young rimu trees … </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FjnWZn85hra0IAlaMDwpy-FmRVxWcJc_tHwEx5-cwXRgDcYDnSY2umHxOcSbXo2VPiV46ONRUOcHwSGugr8zMOV7XW_GFUaAxUa3YuJXpjX3yUi5y_xQKDogHwE5g381yePa1SthY2c/s1600/IMG_2115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FjnWZn85hra0IAlaMDwpy-FmRVxWcJc_tHwEx5-cwXRgDcYDnSY2umHxOcSbXo2VPiV46ONRUOcHwSGugr8zMOV7XW_GFUaAxUa3YuJXpjX3yUi5y_xQKDogHwE5g381yePa1SthY2c/s640/IMG_2115.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… grow into very tall forest giants</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RnVnpZ0UZU3p3ncsDcVGhrRs_SJ1XY7K47WIlo8FL-5847IOJi-MH0yYAeXjdS_nyQ7cDcahu4fZUV-cjFDVTYOEqiZv4hfQOAqgK32jBV4R-pDr2V8orJXzzgwgoW1uaMAU_s41btQ/s1600/P1060948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RnVnpZ0UZU3p3ncsDcVGhrRs_SJ1XY7K47WIlo8FL-5847IOJi-MH0yYAeXjdS_nyQ7cDcahu4fZUV-cjFDVTYOEqiZv4hfQOAqgK32jBV4R-pDr2V8orJXzzgwgoW1uaMAU_s41btQ/s640/P1060948.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes forest giants fall over … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We arrived at a big suspension bridge – the Kumara Chasm Bridge, built in 2014 (specifically for this trail, I suspect). John was ahead of me and had stopped in the middle to take photos. I pulled up near him and dismounted, which made the bridge jiggle. John was not amused because I had spoilt his shot. He walked the rest of the way to the other side. He can’t bike on swing bridges because the narrowness and lack of visual reference points mess with his balance, and I can’t walk across because the movement makes me seasick. You can’t feel the bridge moving when you are riding on it, but it sways – or rather, bounces – quite badly when you walk. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3WFdgg0uu6ida8yvYCNgVaCtv9HPnlOHoj_DGdc57tHOUmMA7q0NUi84DhFfHTD759TBVuU0wRL72nz8hZCyMRDqwLQrT2Lnw3gCpjV9Y49edGDQjUHih-uO6GyAyS51hastu_wWiuU/s1600/P1060951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3WFdgg0uu6ida8yvYCNgVaCtv9HPnlOHoj_DGdc57tHOUmMA7q0NUi84DhFfHTD759TBVuU0wRL72nz8hZCyMRDqwLQrT2Lnw3gCpjV9Y49edGDQjUHih-uO6GyAyS51hastu_wWiuU/s640/P1060951.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kumara Chasm Bridge (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjariNlP1wjENQ5xay2W5cWHjYi7tHddAHJ0mhcU2khQUjX5KDMnrCXihlc4b_8KTCEjJlFLwl3kT6mzFI8uEM2lMynW6onWpEGjYvXIYFGwykQdWPoNO5GMYcFA7meIoUb6sNj23F-UWY/s1600/IMGP6555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjariNlP1wjENQ5xay2W5cWHjYi7tHddAHJ0mhcU2khQUjX5KDMnrCXihlc4b_8KTCEjJlFLwl3kT6mzFI8uEM2lMynW6onWpEGjYvXIYFGwykQdWPoNO5GMYcFA7meIoUb6sNj23F-UWY/s640/IMGP6555.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chasm, with the Taramakau River beyond (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Soon, by 11:30, we rode into Kumara. We had done 25 km. It was a bit disappointing really, because it was such an easy ride, quite a doddle, and we were there so early, we could easily have done more. Especially since it was such a lovely day, and the forecast for the next day was not so good. <br />
<br />
We found the Theatre Royal Hotel, where we had booked our overnight accommodation. The four cyclists who had passed us earlier were having lunch on the deck. We checked into the hotel reception, but because we were so early, our room was not ready yet, so we ordered some coffee and a piece of carrot cake, and talked to the cyclists. They were on a three-week ride from Cape Reinga to Bluff (The Tour Aotearoa route, as in the <a href="http://www.touraotearoa.nz/p/home.html" target="_blank">Kennett brothers’ brevet</a>), and were riding the whole of the West Coast Wilderness Trail today (130 km!) – in one day. They were all well-seasoned cyclists, about our age or older – tanned, skinny and wrinkly, but well toned and lycra-clad. After their lunch they set off again to bike the rest of the trail. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4IrJc9eO7rB1CMGy_l8xwUcyFChsmDi5qarsigg9mx_6p6aep26PJk3HePOhtlq5cDXWEvKjGk1r3metvXELzGyNzv9HJE7v0Rasx88GAz_asz8VIhJzQZ8znSxaXzDqc6JblpvMX6U/s1600/IMG_5167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4IrJc9eO7rB1CMGy_l8xwUcyFChsmDi5qarsigg9mx_6p6aep26PJk3HePOhtlq5cDXWEvKjGk1r3metvXELzGyNzv9HJE7v0Rasx88GAz_asz8VIhJzQZ8znSxaXzDqc6JblpvMX6U/s640/IMG_5167.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Theatre Royal Hotel in Kumara (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eventually we were able to go into our room – Room “Pat” in the McEnaney Cottage, across the road from the main hotel. Very odd set-up. An old house, quite nicely done up, but furnished in old style. Four bedrooms all with ensuites, a large lounge and dining room, and a small kitchen off to the side. Our room was tiny, just the size of a double bed with about 50 cm of space around it. The bathroom was obviously added as an afterthought, thus reducing the size of the room. But at least we had our own bathroom. We were able to store our bikes in the garage overnight – accessible by using a provided code on the padlock. <br />
<br />
We went for a ride around the village. Nothing much to see really – six short side streets off the main road, a couple of churches, a school ... There are only about 300 permanent inhabitants. Then we went back to the café for a “Ploughman’s Lunch”, which arrived in a basket. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie63YWkJ-h3xBFExY0LmyJ7g77nKTVSwfSWCgTlMM39QJfF1k0Uq6-S8Nk58JDbh39BL3qWre3aQvmagSjQ6IwHfKu9KLeWa_DsZBJFQI8b8HDtajtIyf-k_uOMybmftsVdOA_U7Mndyg/s1600/IMG_5166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie63YWkJ-h3xBFExY0LmyJ7g77nKTVSwfSWCgTlMM39QJfF1k0Uq6-S8Nk58JDbh39BL3qWre3aQvmagSjQ6IwHfKu9KLeWa_DsZBJFQI8b8HDtajtIyf-k_uOMybmftsVdOA_U7Mndyg/s640/IMG_5166.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for lunch (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHUMfF6qamSmE19WsTTu_F4gvMPZ9FtojcIbgmL9Q9IzUKAxKgA3-Zdl4apmylR7ANVyfgAWf3G9sUm4Z5-wFHGJ8OxB2BCdAjFIi_N4-35LODraQFrMC9yNuxnLsS7g1qNra0qslTAU/s1600/IMG_5164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHUMfF6qamSmE19WsTTu_F4gvMPZ9FtojcIbgmL9Q9IzUKAxKgA3-Zdl4apmylR7ANVyfgAWf3G9sUm4Z5-wFHGJ8OxB2BCdAjFIi_N4-35LODraQFrMC9yNuxnLsS7g1qNra0qslTAU/s640/IMG_5164.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ‘ploughman’s lunch’ (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By this stage it was 2:30 pm, with nothing much to do. We should have done the hard bit today – to Cowboy Paradise – since it was such a lovely day. We went for a walk, perusing the information boards detailing Kumara’s history across the road from the hotel, and looking in on the historic drapery, now run by a lady who has only been here for five years. She told us she was involved in a project to build a Chinese Memorial Garden, to honour the history of the Chinese miners who have lived in the area in gold mining days. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVPZkKOaNqHta59qYaNCJKQQMZ5d0dT3eKoCNUgznXu_9KHDk7ZJMJ-xMAB9tT5vJ6ivzn_5At40q-rvCKYtXWfW2Nh6qblAJ8X7CeA4-P7qiEKhNcRQMmK4lch-wV_tuvPle7ZvGfX0/s1600/IMGP6568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVPZkKOaNqHta59qYaNCJKQQMZ5d0dT3eKoCNUgznXu_9KHDk7ZJMJ-xMAB9tT5vJ6ivzn_5At40q-rvCKYtXWfW2Nh6qblAJ8X7CeA4-P7qiEKhNcRQMmK4lch-wV_tuvPle7ZvGfX0/s640/IMGP6568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic Hamer’s Drapery – now selling Indian and Nepalese textiles … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOcSc1tAMRpFZcgShfZEcI3iIQkvGpEcwmFTAnrx11qH3zbheXWghUlqkdL6uNtDJ_k-gnoF4a7fQUx2ilJBk7CFcvbisEvDhAGaA8aFfHKe0TgtPz5KiSNXov1xVRFzXlk9NE3Ioe4Y/s1600/IMGP6581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOcSc1tAMRpFZcgShfZEcI3iIQkvGpEcwmFTAnrx11qH3zbheXWghUlqkdL6uNtDJ_k-gnoF4a7fQUx2ilJBk7CFcvbisEvDhAGaA8aFfHKe0TgtPz5KiSNXov1xVRFzXlk9NE3Ioe4Y/s640/IMGP6581.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plans to build a Chinese Memorial Garden. Note that the lions are guarding “gold nuggets”<br />
(click to enlarge) (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After that we walked up the Taylor Hill Loop. Quite a nice walk, through bush, it climbed up the hill, from where we could look down onto Kumara on one side and onto the Taramakau River on the other. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu73b0QnNP0iw3EJSwc6kxQio9O7OVP6GjDVD9VeXRnwc0oJLldxOeb9XYpkvq3ZHzHRX-ZQGdLxs_tmElCZSXARO59Bh1hMg2U2tcGQpqVg79e9gTxwj4Sdtbd0jQLjJ6lUl97ebSZm8/s1600/IMGP6575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu73b0QnNP0iw3EJSwc6kxQio9O7OVP6GjDVD9VeXRnwc0oJLldxOeb9XYpkvq3ZHzHRX-ZQGdLxs_tmElCZSXARO59Bh1hMg2U2tcGQpqVg79e9gTxwj4Sdtbd0jQLjJ6lUl97ebSZm8/s640/IMGP6575.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grand metropolis of Kumara … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLahIaJL8xQbEmFP-Xl2DOSOJtPULIMB9CTU3WoxGzVonCC0wqw3FzrXk83ynzCrklobH3HG4A-DP1FdEfECtxpx8OoJucLxRxaRchpUyaTiYfkED2qPzqELhqypKJQQ43VhsBK5vFbg/s1600/IMGP6576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLahIaJL8xQbEmFP-Xl2DOSOJtPULIMB9CTU3WoxGzVonCC0wqw3FzrXk83ynzCrklobH3HG4A-DP1FdEfECtxpx8OoJucLxRxaRchpUyaTiYfkED2qPzqELhqypKJQQ43VhsBK5vFbg/s640/IMGP6576.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and the Taramakau River, seen from Taylor Hill (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The walk didn’t take very long but it was hot and sticky, so we went to the general store to buy an ice cream. We crossed the road to sit in the shade of the verandah of the Kumara Memorial Hall. We could hear activity going on in the hall through the open doors so I went in for a nosey. It was the Kumara ladies doing their line dancing – about a couple of dozen of them. I stayed to watch them through three dances/songs. They must have been concentrating very hard, because not a single person smiled. Nobody seemed to get the sort of enjoyment out of their dancing that I get out of mine (SCD). Unlike Scottish country dancing, there was no interaction with their fellow dancers. There was just no joy in it! Pretty grim really … <br />
<br />
Back to the hotel. In the carpark were about six or eight amazing looking motorcycles – Can-Am Spyders – with two wheels on the front and one very fat one on the back. Seriously impressive. Quite a step up from e-bikes. Yep, that’s what we will graduate to when we can no longer pedal! John was positively drooling. Though I suspect that they would probably set you back more than the average car. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkrB7D2pfdA_rPa0-3jA2OFLcQko9hC5tMhS7iImMm7fTbG2TgJoOms6i7eoCNxpEhB2dxN3_IUOoreurApP6wldWUILSFlH6IMGgthQk3TsLv2OA3Gk-quo-EEVFzN-4C7UwEOzPnwI/s1600/IMGP6561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkrB7D2pfdA_rPa0-3jA2OFLcQko9hC5tMhS7iImMm7fTbG2TgJoOms6i7eoCNxpEhB2dxN3_IUOoreurApP6wldWUILSFlH6IMGgthQk3TsLv2OA3Gk-quo-EEVFzN-4C7UwEOzPnwI/s640/IMGP6561.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This red Spyder had a padded seat for a pillion passenger and a trailer … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiU2DJPZAi9T-R4l_9SFNd9Zz4Cs5Fe7aivnYr1sJ5Hye5GD4XtMKAhqBmfZLbyPZQpUlbfowtb0GKvRGGTgYUjeYMrxEd51Ui5LUkRLM3_dY0AyqBr4UmqWmjGy2zhm_uzMBf7MCtJj4/s1600/IMGP6563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiU2DJPZAi9T-R4l_9SFNd9Zz4Cs5Fe7aivnYr1sJ5Hye5GD4XtMKAhqBmfZLbyPZQpUlbfowtb0GKvRGGTgYUjeYMrxEd51Ui5LUkRLM3_dY0AyqBr4UmqWmjGy2zhm_uzMBf7MCtJj4/s640/IMGP6563.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… while this yellow one ‘just’ had a trunk (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We talked to some of the owners of these motorcycles at breakfast the next day – they were on some massive journey – a group ride, Cape Reinga to Bluff, I think. Very interesting folk. <br />
<br />
At about 6:30 we went to the restaurant for dinner. We had booked a table for that time, as advised when I booked the hotel room, because “it gets very busy for dinner”. In actual fact, there were only a few people there. Hardly “busy” at all, and that on a Saturday night. Again they were huge portions, I couldn’t finish mine. Pork for John, beer-battered fish for me. Not exactly <i>haute cuisine</i> … <br />
<br />
As a general comment on Kumara, I have to admit I felt somewhat let down. Maybe I was a bit naïve in believing all the hype online about the wonderful <a href="https://theatreroyalhotel.co.nz/" target="_blank">Theatre Royal Hotel</a>, so iconic, so historic, such wonderful food and excellent service … Actually no. Not so. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 5 – Sunday 2 December – Kumara to Cowboy Paradise</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<br />
Next morning, we crossed the road to the hotel for our continental breakfast, after which we collected our pre-ordered picnic lunches, loaded up our bikes, and set off at 9:20 am. <br />
<br />
It was a very nice ride, and the weather was perfect – quite hot, but with a gentle breeze. Quite different from what the forecast had promised us, fortunately. <br />
<br />
We missed seeing the sign to the Londonderry Rock. It was probably my fault, as John went straight ahead at a fork in the road, but the Wilderness Trail pointed to the right. I called him back. But in fact, I think if we had gone straight ahead, we would have ended up at the ‘historic’ Londonderry Rock. This is a huge boulder, estimated to weigh between 3000 and 4000 tonnes, which was dislodged during sluicing (mining) activities in the 1880s. It would have been a side trip of 20 minutes, but we didn’t realise we had missed it until we stopped for lunch and checked the Trail booklet. Oh well, not to worry. <br />
<br />
Some of the time we were on open tracks, other times through bush. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL1CLwPRH-NQtFgMVGBtCaP2099ICxaAZtEvxZHsmNVrEhFB7qLRHdI3-z-MtqFO9bJlvpVIE_OEp5__kjRIKdA6mVv0o4_DnV_EtQEGsX3Kdr9xfv5q27msHjdyL4ZDoinAOpkyeUq0/s1600/P1060955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL1CLwPRH-NQtFgMVGBtCaP2099ICxaAZtEvxZHsmNVrEhFB7qLRHdI3-z-MtqFO9bJlvpVIE_OEp5__kjRIKdA6mVv0o4_DnV_EtQEGsX3Kdr9xfv5q27msHjdyL4ZDoinAOpkyeUq0/s640/P1060955.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the time we rode through bush (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We stopped for photos at the Kapitea Reservoir and later at the Kumara Reservoir. The two reservoirs and the water races along which we rode at various times were built in the goldmining days to provide water for sluicing at the gold diggings. Eventually they became part of the Dillmans Power Scheme, of which the earliest power station was commissioned in 1928. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlF9_-TObPh6Mn-JPCx06w7dRPWoakrtKIXRW7CajmEAYA0sQH9-uhs9Hd1r0dbDs57EYqUICCdBDC1f0zPpCwgTtMyshuOYwMziOP0PRllOmleBk4eZBdMqMbDWrvmN5rOTXI8O-7fM/s1600/IMGP6584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlF9_-TObPh6Mn-JPCx06w7dRPWoakrtKIXRW7CajmEAYA0sQH9-uhs9Hd1r0dbDs57EYqUICCdBDC1f0zPpCwgTtMyshuOYwMziOP0PRllOmleBk4eZBdMqMbDWrvmN5rOTXI8O-7fM/s640/IMGP6584.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kapitea Reservoir. The power scheme is still in use today (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqN5PNS_6K59mYZ05gwcB5IX_LUMXISl2QSFiPtOuM7EZxtfMRfthY9umHf9PohOskgFxZ8VvrluuWIz-oH08jlAAALQt7xqL0fm5fcJ6AHjz6eFR1JhVN3B2yEJVHp25u660oJZQs3Q/s1600/IMGP6586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqN5PNS_6K59mYZ05gwcB5IX_LUMXISl2QSFiPtOuM7EZxtfMRfthY9umHf9PohOskgFxZ8VvrluuWIz-oH08jlAAALQt7xqL0fm5fcJ6AHjz6eFR1JhVN3B2yEJVHp25u660oJZQs3Q/s640/IMGP6586.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The remainder of drowned trees and an early inlet/outlet gate in the Kapitea Reservoir (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbRegTdBIdxQuN0klmCOMoYI7IkfOqxgoo5x0qVLcjpDp-2OFruqWEdq7MZ3DGZhyphenhyphentPzWgKmTEe1I8HFqfOHLvTkMDVFKB1Ag7Wfg8IVj68L2N2OEDs9d7r0ZsWJAWmkRLGVpmmYkkv8/s1600/IMGP6587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbRegTdBIdxQuN0klmCOMoYI7IkfOqxgoo5x0qVLcjpDp-2OFruqWEdq7MZ3DGZhyphenhyphentPzWgKmTEe1I8HFqfOHLvTkMDVFKB1Ag7Wfg8IVj68L2N2OEDs9d7r0ZsWJAWmkRLGVpmmYkkv8/s640/IMGP6587.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spillway into the reservoir (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReC7R9T5qAWfFt80PRDSFw2f2v-yBaXSFH19TuOp87LVbyKSrYqdvzJsd19Zv7o4Xw4wVIY9SNBMMEzm_qRXaHsFtSdloSGmNe_fob8pQoyT59DSRy8KVS8ORFCBX7QcApNQoo5guUc4/s1600/P1060960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReC7R9T5qAWfFt80PRDSFw2f2v-yBaXSFH19TuOp87LVbyKSrYqdvzJsd19Zv7o4Xw4wVIY9SNBMMEzm_qRXaHsFtSdloSGmNe_fob8pQoyT59DSRy8KVS8ORFCBX7QcApNQoo5guUc4/s640/P1060960.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is still some snow on the mountains in the distance (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The track crossed a wetland on a boardwalk for some distance, then followed the Loopline Road, which joined the Old Christchurch Road. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOvj8rw0JqHVvidzs5KOMZBf7qR4Q_NjWyemWxMGxRjO0dMvCpsjlm5IPgq0UorTX0dk3IzkimhYSVwVZy3fD3NVuToYYPEi9MJEhgJkfy-eXSoU5LKUwlin-2RUWdUrNx1D9aLZMhyw/s1600/IMGP6588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOvj8rw0JqHVvidzs5KOMZBf7qR4Q_NjWyemWxMGxRjO0dMvCpsjlm5IPgq0UorTX0dk3IzkimhYSVwVZy3fD3NVuToYYPEi9MJEhgJkfy-eXSoU5LKUwlin-2RUWdUrNx1D9aLZMhyw/s640/IMGP6588.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The information board at the crossroads. It was very hot by this time,<br />
as you can tell from the colour of my face! (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We rode alongside another body of water on a road atop what I think was a dam, and along more water races. The water in these races was quite still, as there were some lovely reflections. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolSjdjLN881cdylhUtsts8_N4tV_YR9dSd5VtHElK1dYxQHArQtQKvMqxFdrTQXje9BnUvkvR8cODJ_8cM5_lXqzukvKBoJ5hWj1hPJZ7gElSmnIG7PRHJ1uYmn_u-liZxVXO08Jv8YM/s1600/IMG_2133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolSjdjLN881cdylhUtsts8_N4tV_YR9dSd5VtHElK1dYxQHArQtQKvMqxFdrTQXje9BnUvkvR8cODJ_8cM5_lXqzukvKBoJ5hWj1hPJZ7gElSmnIG7PRHJ1uYmn_u-liZxVXO08Jv8YM/s640/IMG_2133.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this road was on top of a man-made dam </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNtJnFIXUVvTspmBwPx5CQyaSRJc5JDX135WFyMqbCgZvBseygprF_Hqmf1xn0Z6LskHCTWMOIRU6TXQKnZnYsftoJz5l9Ggwe-CmOsUkj2l-AZkD671K-LMJfCqbDYQNe_BtX9pg48I/s1600/P1060966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNtJnFIXUVvTspmBwPx5CQyaSRJc5JDX135WFyMqbCgZvBseygprF_Hqmf1xn0Z6LskHCTWMOIRU6TXQKnZnYsftoJz5l9Ggwe-CmOsUkj2l-AZkD671K-LMJfCqbDYQNe_BtX9pg48I/s640/P1060966.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water, wetlands and rainforest, and beautiful reflections on the water (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At 18 km, just over half-way, we reached the Kawhaka Intake, where there was a shelter and a toilet (hallelujah!). We were glad to get to the shade of the shelter, and lingered here for half an hour, while we ate our lunch and cooled off. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSMCtaYlDeQBSeGOgJEpjL74MS_iiLLn3K7r_33PiXk5vF-04tDmaHVJMGs6dRNe70cuYdtVAkMJ91ZtCfDS1Dw_prLHZHKfYQuTDWCINKNWqtWi0tBV3Pa1csL3HmLJQiJ8KtFbIEm0/s1600/P1060968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSMCtaYlDeQBSeGOgJEpjL74MS_iiLLn3K7r_33PiXk5vF-04tDmaHVJMGs6dRNe70cuYdtVAkMJ91ZtCfDS1Dw_prLHZHKfYQuTDWCINKNWqtWi0tBV3Pa1csL3HmLJQiJ8KtFbIEm0/s640/P1060968.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kawhaka Intake (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After our break, we continued on the track that was skirting the Kawhaka Stream, and climbing slightly towards the Kawhaka Pass, but the gradient was so gentle you hardly noticed it. The bush was beautiful to ride through. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SRVLUOfU_bUn7ZnGRcJDL0grvnPus3lhXGg8xDBcxdtCwjcFb0jWJ1vX5qo-q-ywJtyqVJKw5drGU5JDH_XLnhwb1e1hPc6gLSRZWdVF4xDT2PDKI65VfbIhkZnG1VR219316hkNJlk/s1600/P1060970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SRVLUOfU_bUn7ZnGRcJDL0grvnPus3lhXGg8xDBcxdtCwjcFb0jWJ1vX5qo-q-ywJtyqVJKw5drGU5JDH_XLnhwb1e1hPc6gLSRZWdVF4xDT2PDKI65VfbIhkZnG1VR219316hkNJlk/s640/P1060970.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track skirts the Kawhaka Stream (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigilSfk_az8ih-b3HOgz4nqGWUlPuNlBzKZ49v6dqvXy7MBmSQaaeJ6kyt_gQ4e6HwrdSUmMKsexpjq-sSlhgn01rMb_7DHIzdFLzD6iYut36MVVhRBWAW5JlyuIzwYwBml5EY_nJ7rDQ/s1600/IMGP6591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigilSfk_az8ih-b3HOgz4nqGWUlPuNlBzKZ49v6dqvXy7MBmSQaaeJ6kyt_gQ4e6HwrdSUmMKsexpjq-sSlhgn01rMb_7DHIzdFLzD6iYut36MVVhRBWAW5JlyuIzwYwBml5EY_nJ7rDQ/s640/IMGP6591.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful light on the giant tree ferns (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We came across a sign pointing the way down a narrow little track, towards a “historic dam site”. While John stayed with the bikes – he didn’t want to go down the steep little track – I went down to check out the dam. There wasn’t much left of it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNHy6XqV48nh7cHL1CWui0JKgAzJW6Wg9r4LlMLRxRW6hvpPEqGwCmUA1cpqKgh3G77ks5mMNwBhobSBcQsC4gpdeydMQfuiNabegN76qcYahpxuZH9HdJKwmrd5o4Y1ek3a1SzX3xns/s1600/IMG_2142+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNHy6XqV48nh7cHL1CWui0JKgAzJW6Wg9r4LlMLRxRW6hvpPEqGwCmUA1cpqKgh3G77ks5mMNwBhobSBcQsC4gpdeydMQfuiNabegN76qcYahpxuZH9HdJKwmrd5o4Y1ek3a1SzX3xns/s640/IMG_2142+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was all that was left of the historic dam </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDOSsuHZYJijaoko5577U9b0rjYJyYx580ck9a2JWNUO6wHfhJF3oB8jb4HWfbaqa2r6NA57i3j2YZJmTmDC5YR1ZZDuaAeTpi5IWSqOeSQ8xGGZXXKQLCs90Q8h9kZwDitemO2sLvWo/s1600/IMG_2141+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDOSsuHZYJijaoko5577U9b0rjYJyYx580ck9a2JWNUO6wHfhJF3oB8jb4HWfbaqa2r6NA57i3j2YZJmTmDC5YR1ZZDuaAeTpi5IWSqOeSQ8xGGZXXKQLCs90Q8h9kZwDitemO2sLvWo/s640/IMG_2141+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old timbers of the dam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2F73nXLCvJsS-9DR8UUzShGRTx-zW7Q9FFhHi4Gh70CG57vP85VTE6JD47R7nqdVyHB5ckvTnvjBgcCB2M_X4vG5N-yhFXjL3tghFUUHiWkBNJfEs3qm8merX0tO0knyx7tsYPuLpEU/s1600/IMG_2146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2F73nXLCvJsS-9DR8UUzShGRTx-zW7Q9FFhHi4Gh70CG57vP85VTE6JD47R7nqdVyHB5ckvTnvjBgcCB2M_X4vG5N-yhFXjL3tghFUUHiWkBNJfEs3qm8merX0tO0knyx7tsYPuLpEU/s640/IMG_2146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another suspension bridge – Reservoir Creek Bridge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz_6Bg4eMRV9BA8JD0YHGHAfoF3IJGfy3IgIenNa32B6XbB18GqNTaaVHD7rYL5lZyYzCN9U1OGI1AJHfwlMXtGpgDJm_fFJeuIns8MB5L9RVrbsdA2a9dIrBz5DLkDogOapHmb4wLYU/s1600/IMG_2151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz_6Bg4eMRV9BA8JD0YHGHAfoF3IJGfy3IgIenNa32B6XbB18GqNTaaVHD7rYL5lZyYzCN9U1OGI1AJHfwlMXtGpgDJm_fFJeuIns8MB5L9RVrbsdA2a9dIrBz5DLkDogOapHmb4wLYU/s640/IMG_2151.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A miniature version? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the last few kilometres before getting to Cowboy Paradise, we started to run into a bit of bother. <br />
<br />
With about two kilometres to go (according to my km count), John had to stop to pump up his front tyre, which seemed to have developed a slow leak. While waiting around, I discovered that my sunglasses were falling apart – the screw attaching the temple on the right had fallen out. Fortunately we were in the bush and the sunnies were not essential. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGnOelfGOO69SnXrdrpBIVdtY_PeiBSR_DqZ6bpphnvkdJRoQABK4y9nhkrGknIF1tUwavlWy4vF2D4W-GGszBWSFP1EL5S89MubZ-R3SZALx4j0ELMDuhbRdusfMURT42c2wxvBzSmo/s1600/IMG_2152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGnOelfGOO69SnXrdrpBIVdtY_PeiBSR_DqZ6bpphnvkdJRoQABK4y9nhkrGknIF1tUwavlWy4vF2D4W-GGszBWSFP1EL5S89MubZ-R3SZALx4j0ELMDuhbRdusfMURT42c2wxvBzSmo/s640/IMG_2152.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John attends to a slow leak in his front tyre </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Meanwhile, the electrics on my bike had been misbehaving all day – cutting out whenever we stopped, even for a short time, especially when the level 3 assist was on. It was quite erratic, I couldn’t figure out what was going on. <br />
<br />
Just before Cowboy Paradise, we had to come down a very steep zig-zaggy path. It was very uncomfortable, having to go really slow – getting off and shuffling along with feet on either side of the bike to get around the switch-backs – and being so steep, I had to grip the brakes so tightly on the straight bits, it was very painful on my hands. But I was glad we didn’t have to do this going in the other direction! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRMXSDtn7v78ED7SSucWD_MEDwKE4Xamx5F2RZyJkQzntCsVC-7HoAguO8DEJa1b8KHfuViYZXTLSgMOns05K9A5Hh4KvAp2Uldn0sQt-4noULOU23Xjr93MQEEDRPRgCemNT4vEsY3I/s1600/IMGP6594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRMXSDtn7v78ED7SSucWD_MEDwKE4Xamx5F2RZyJkQzntCsVC-7HoAguO8DEJa1b8KHfuViYZXTLSgMOns05K9A5Hh4KvAp2Uldn0sQt-4noULOU23Xjr93MQEEDRPRgCemNT4vEsY3I/s640/IMGP6594.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view is beautiful but the steep zig-zags were decidedly scary (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then with about 600 m to go, and a couple more uphill bumps to tackle, my electrics died completely! I panicked, thinking I would have to do the whole of the rest of the trip without power! Perhaps, John thought, it was because the battery might not have been fully charged, as he had discovered that morning that the power point in Kumara had been a bit dodgy. I hoped that was all it was, because I didn’t relish the thought of riding without power for the rest of the trail. <br />
<br />
One more suspension bridge to go, and we were just about at our destination for the day. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GjVxrlVJuut5k9uQX-NC_0I89JmuZEOe2n9iayZxQv1nriHccAct1EDUTX0DEkoX4bFEc3n24U2oDBpv3tNQgX8zHEeeVs-hP49JUI-asvQWSdxI1akRReDkYohfGR0M-TBRRyXpbXc/s1600/IMGP6595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GjVxrlVJuut5k9uQX-NC_0I89JmuZEOe2n9iayZxQv1nriHccAct1EDUTX0DEkoX4bFEc3n24U2oDBpv3tNQgX8zHEeeVs-hP49JUI-asvQWSdxI1akRReDkYohfGR0M-TBRRyXpbXc/s640/IMGP6595.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The McPherson Creek Bridge (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUla1yFm8roAKuth-eprpON0n2ggLAucuphE7cm3aPjXACpGWSUfPJPleZ_48arghQg0N_Zj3O9NYHMf0s00W-fQ8kmwiXGrlg7ZUB0abc7txpXr02udD2P8zdkg4HQeKr6nUEl1RqK7g/s1600/IMGP6597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUla1yFm8roAKuth-eprpON0n2ggLAucuphE7cm3aPjXACpGWSUfPJPleZ_48arghQg0N_Zj3O9NYHMf0s00W-fQ8kmwiXGrlg7ZUB0abc7txpXr02udD2P8zdkg4HQeKr6nUEl1RqK7g/s640/IMGP6597.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from the bridge (photo by John) </td></tr>
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It was only 1:45 pm when we rolled into Cowboy Paradise. Mike, the owner, saw us arriving and came out to meet us. “Toy bikes”, he said, a bit dismissively, as he looked at the size of our wheels! We were obviously not real cyclists in his eyes. He showed us to our room, in a newly built block of four rooms, with a nice wide verandah running the length of the block. He said that there was coffee and tea in the “saloon” whenever we wanted it. <br />
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It was good we had a verandah to park our bikes on, because as we were unloading our stuff off our bikes, it started to rain. We had escaped being doused – how lucky was that! <br />
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We wandered down to check out the “saloon”. It was a large space, that you entered through swinging saloon doors, just like in the old Western movies. Near the door was a table full of cowboy hats of all kinds and sizes. Presumably they were to be used when people came for a “cowboy experience”, but there was no evidence of that happening while we were there. There was a bar on the left, a big commercial kitchen on the right, and straight ahead, several long tables by the windows, looking out onto a lovely big deck. The whole place looked a bit rough and unfinished, with piles of boxes and building materials in one corner. <br />
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Apart from Mike, there was nobody else there. We drank our coffee (instant, but complimentary to residents), and sat watching the rain clattering on the deck. The rain was quite heavy by now, but Mike said it was just a shower. And so it was – by 3 pm the rain had stopped and the sun was shining again. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpzX8r_uvaOZBX3-Ll8i-ZOaNrqv3VyaPMeM5MB0rWyqf7RgKsGF5fUjI24GTruZfcEuMkfEvF2RbRakk6-PO6EiSsYniD00mQk4ptJ7RzoTVSoypql_q5w2PQJoeHaO0FifTv5TWCYM/s1600/P1060979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpzX8r_uvaOZBX3-Ll8i-ZOaNrqv3VyaPMeM5MB0rWyqf7RgKsGF5fUjI24GTruZfcEuMkfEvF2RbRakk6-PO6EiSsYniD00mQk4ptJ7RzoTVSoypql_q5w2PQJoeHaO0FifTv5TWCYM/s640/P1060979.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely big deck outside the “saloon” and a great view, but it was raining hard! (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We wandered back to our room, and John set to, working on the bikes, while I sat at the table and chairs on the verandah, writing up my diary and reading. The sandflies were starting to get at me and I applied more repellent. Surprisingly, they hadn’t bothered us much while we were riding. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaCaQdExR3_6SsnlYn6HSi37uWKYkEvs0KTc418jDJNch5MQA4NOvD_zvO-dWfo_ZTRwCSySGtT1DKB63xQACqr-oWyr_G8vxaXkUS6mIfA83bO3p5uw3aJjr6N_TmGoQbUMYYOB9M7M/s1600/P1060976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaCaQdExR3_6SsnlYn6HSi37uWKYkEvs0KTc418jDJNch5MQA4NOvD_zvO-dWfo_ZTRwCSySGtT1DKB63xQACqr-oWyr_G8vxaXkUS6mIfA83bO3p5uw3aJjr6N_TmGoQbUMYYOB9M7M/s640/P1060976.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sat on the verandah while John got ready to work on the bikes (photo by John) </td></tr>
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A cheeky <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/weka" target="_blank">weka</a> came wandering along to investigate us. Not at all shy, he was boldly heading towards our room, so I had to shut the door to stop him going in! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzYUx_p9pGLQq19veHaPZH2LWWKeh7UmWOmRec9BDc2OEOBpCk9DsN0gKKXdTqhIMLu2PJfT8TZSezwqDLRLI1BFeoD3Y6YSYDUzHNmu_-WN82IeM4WlUfs2ORSivM3x4TJK6e1Z36hc/s1600/P1060980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzYUx_p9pGLQq19veHaPZH2LWWKeh7UmWOmRec9BDc2OEOBpCk9DsN0gKKXdTqhIMLu2PJfT8TZSezwqDLRLI1BFeoD3Y6YSYDUzHNmu_-WN82IeM4WlUfs2ORSivM3x4TJK6e1Z36hc/s640/P1060980.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weka was quite bold and marched right onto the veranda to check us out (photo by John) </td></tr>
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John replaced the inner tube on his front tyre, and patched the old one (just in case). Then he checked the batteries, which seemed to be OK. But he discovered that on my bike, the connection from the controls to the battery had been damaged (the wire must have got weakened during one or other of my falls). He is so clever, by borrowing some bit of cable from Mike, he had all the diagnostic tools – a torch and a bit of wire – that allowed him to work out where the fault was, and by applying, what he called a “tourniquet”, he managed to get the two offending bits to connect. But to make sure I wouldn't be left in the lurch with it failing again, he swapped the relevant cables between our bikes, so if it happened again, he would have the problem, rather than me. What a hero! (Note: the fix lasted the rest of the trip, and he was able to get a replacement cable from Wellington Electric Bikes when we came home, so all is well now.)<br />
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He also fixed my sunglasses, by taking a bit of wire from the borrowed cable, to take the place of the missing screw. <br />
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While John was working on my bike, I took a walk around the “paradise”. I think it was all started as a pipe dream, a planned re-creation of a Wild West town, with opportunities to have a “shooting duel” in the main street, and target practice, and a real cowboy saloon. But it must have ground to a halt. There were several sheds that were looking a bit the worse for wear, a couple of clay target shooters' firing seats rusting away, a huge tractor sitting near some building materials. Perhaps it is still a "work in progress". The site is rather scruffy, but the views are gorgeous. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuNgRUwKsFBjtOOOEOiLe00zjDADnvf-I8QrTRxfvQQw1wdSBCZoUDECKw6C6oiAwF6pPVIL3meOBRWsV4RUDzvnHORUP-5RrSgRoQildwdGMZm1tuaHghiVVIg52BU74lHgNU5E7d-M/s1600/IMG_2160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuNgRUwKsFBjtOOOEOiLe00zjDADnvf-I8QrTRxfvQQw1wdSBCZoUDECKw6C6oiAwF6pPVIL3meOBRWsV4RUDzvnHORUP-5RrSgRoQildwdGMZm1tuaHghiVVIg52BU74lHgNU5E7d-M/s640/IMG_2160.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“Range 2” – presumably a shooting range, but there was more clutter than targets </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JFkB0mN1jBMBnAes4Go8M94Pn7bM3mw034aj_XexryCNWVv7Z8KrQxyk0eQaMJ7YYgkxTjJN2KwDXMSMG0Vbonv5_KCVtCz2oqoDfjLe4oXLAm8GhqHs2sE8-HiR5-VqNgmwYk3yBxc/s1600/IMG_2161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JFkB0mN1jBMBnAes4Go8M94Pn7bM3mw034aj_XexryCNWVv7Z8KrQxyk0eQaMJ7YYgkxTjJN2KwDXMSMG0Vbonv5_KCVtCz2oqoDfjLe4oXLAm8GhqHs2sE8-HiR5-VqNgmwYk3yBxc/s640/IMG_2161.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“Finch & Co” – perhaps intended, once upon a time, to be part of a Wild West town </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUltraz0B2q603fFF27EVbmAbMwB7VUbEg7osw-Cztpjkp2tKjHAgojQaCKHQroKfyE61_nFfxZOaelvHsWtiV6iyF52TUTBkj7snnHi4rs5o4ZmX0yI58LHVajTDkdViaBHTIdAV09o/s1600/IMG_2163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUltraz0B2q603fFF27EVbmAbMwB7VUbEg7osw-Cztpjkp2tKjHAgojQaCKHQroKfyE61_nFfxZOaelvHsWtiV6iyF52TUTBkj7snnHi4rs5o4ZmX0yI58LHVajTDkdViaBHTIdAV09o/s640/IMG_2163.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dilapidated clay target shooting seats </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSUnITuLv109aRS_liDMP0pFlJxvqmBWOEhgqEqN_p82DOMBTIODLWa32c-bYS-wK_z_ILrFvl9ruyuwmHD1AIeojUT8x2B2IhKz1jHgp8lbGGgEveKaJGL-G4kVVdXvoDItgYB_XOJg/s1600/IMG_5171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSUnITuLv109aRS_liDMP0pFlJxvqmBWOEhgqEqN_p82DOMBTIODLWa32c-bYS-wK_z_ILrFvl9ruyuwmHD1AIeojUT8x2B2IhKz1jHgp8lbGGgEveKaJGL-G4kVVdXvoDItgYB_XOJg/s640/IMG_5171.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The “saloon” (the owner of the bike was just passing through and didn’t linger) (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLa8Fi1ig4MVYMSJw4C2YGPhRCVDWr_eTVFJg0P98MLHoeLmm5gLoV4hOPFHRlQIOCIIKUh5OaELJjUKzhcNGrVcP8Hm16SlMAYS7VnUwkc5_MjvhUJmAkEftQqkJrA1XhmPFbA-DYFc/s1600/IMG_5168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLa8Fi1ig4MVYMSJw4C2YGPhRCVDWr_eTVFJg0P98MLHoeLmm5gLoV4hOPFHRlQIOCIIKUh5OaELJjUKzhcNGrVcP8Hm16SlMAYS7VnUwkc5_MjvhUJmAkEftQqkJrA1XhmPFbA-DYFc/s640/IMG_5168.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous view down the Arahura Valley </td></tr>
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It looks like everything there seems to be taken over by the wetness of the rain forest – I would think that things will rot quite quickly. But with the development of the West Coast Wilderness Trail, the owner now seems to concentrate on accommodation for cyclists, with some entertainment (just dinner out) for the locals. There is a road to get there, so he’s not completely reliant on cyclists’ traffic or cut off from civilisation. I must say however, that although it was an interesting – quirky, eccentric – place to stay, and the room was OK (basic but with comfortable beds and a good bathroom), it did not exactly live up to the advertisement of the “Shooting Club” activities listed on his website. <br />
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At about 5pm, another cyclist arrived to stay. The three of us were the only residents for that night, in contrast to the previous night when Mike said he had been full up. The new arrival was Stephen, an Aussie, about our age, biking the Trail on his own. Nice chap, very chatty. He told us he had biked the Great Taste Trail around Nelson, before coming down here. And after this trail he was going to Fox and Franz Joseph, then bus to Queenstown for a few days’ cycling, before flying back to Oz. His bike was loaded down with bags, including a tent and camping gear. He had left Kumara at about the same time as us, but had taken a lot longer to get here – obviously the e-bikes are a big advantage, and he was packing a lot of weight on his bike. And he had stayed and talked for an hour to a chap with a camp along the way. <br />
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Mike said he was having a group of locals coming in for dinner, and at 7 pm he came over to tell us dinner was ready, and because we were residents, we had first dibs. It was a full roast dinner – smorgasbord style – lamb chops and chicken, roast veggies (potatoes, kumara and carrots), and peas, broccoli, cauliflower and salad. Quite a feast. And he had done it all on his own, as he told us that his two “staff” had upped and left him the day before for supposedly better pay in Queenstown. But, as he said, here they had free board and food, and nowhere to spend their earnings. It will be very different in Queenstown, and they’re likely to be worse off in the long run. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sl_7Ih2K92T6vB_koQXftJG_roMATyGWj2GnDbK4rUzLXo-cUo1OdIoUr6X-J88kIZoxHosDLEtbS0kpJ_lDis7sejphO88uAKCN49VXv60TkCA2MgOOKVYbxNIg6V9c_kTAkJoCn0M/s1600/IMGP6598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sl_7Ih2K92T6vB_koQXftJG_roMATyGWj2GnDbK4rUzLXo-cUo1OdIoUr6X-J88kIZoxHosDLEtbS0kpJ_lDis7sejphO88uAKCN49VXv60TkCA2MgOOKVYbxNIg6V9c_kTAkJoCn0M/s640/IMGP6598.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A roast dinner with all the trimmings (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMjWVu1MKN1Uva5ruRiA3poHaJFPVPntCRubzvS3v_rw45Ucsr_lj050qid-o1Fem1vlVmr16MJGv83uKIjMi1cj5lhAXnE6CyfL5Xst_79yCrNgqRmqVfOcR6Jvxr1T_LHO4ksq7EDA/s1600/IMGP6599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMjWVu1MKN1Uva5ruRiA3poHaJFPVPntCRubzvS3v_rw45Ucsr_lj050qid-o1Fem1vlVmr16MJGv83uKIjMi1cj5lhAXnE6CyfL5Xst_79yCrNgqRmqVfOcR6Jvxr1T_LHO4ksq7EDA/s640/IMGP6599.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After dinner chat – Mike and Stephen on the right (photo by John) </td></tr>
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The dinner was very nice, and after most of the locals had departed, we stayed behind to chat with three remaining locals, and Mike and Stephen. Very convivial. We went off to our rooms at 9:30, with a warning from Mike that he would turn the generator off at 10:45. Luckily John had already got a good charge into the bike batteries by then. It was complete darkness and silence after the generator was turned off. All we could hear was the occasional call of a <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/morepork-ruru/" target="_blank">morepork</a> (ruru, the NZ native owl) somewhere out there, in the bush.<br />
<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-64601699721065086922018-12-21T23:17:00.000+13:002020-04-11T15:12:15.662+12:00West Coast Trip – 28 November to 9 December 2018 <br />
Hello everyone, we’re back! <br />
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Although I haven’t posted any blogs since 1 May (about a ride to Pencarrow in March), we <b>have</b> been cycling. We have done mostly local rides that I have described a number of times before, so there was no point in going over the same ground again and again. But my total e-bike mileage now stands at 7,692 km, which is nearly 1,200 km more than at my last post in March, so we haven’t been slacking! <br />
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2018 has been an uneventful year for cycling trips away, but two weeks ago, we came back from our trip to the West Coast of the South Island. We had been wanting to ride the <a href="https://www.westcoastwildernesstrail.co.nz/" target="_blank">West Coast Wilderness Trail</a> for several years now, but other things kept getting in the way. <br />
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I must say, it has been worth the wait. What a spectacularly beautiful country we live in, and the West Coast is among the best! And just don't believe all the stories about how it rains all the time on the coast, and about the voracious sandflies! We had no problems on that score. We were incredibly lucky with the weather: though for many of the days, the forecast was for rain, we mostly had fine weather, and when it did rain, it was after we had finished cycling for the day – except for one day when we got absolutely drenched! <br />
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Planning a trip away had to be fitted in around my Scottish country dancing commitments (which by now include four different “hats”, so they keep me busy and out of mischief). We planned to do more than just the West Coast Wilderness Trail, which can be done over four days. We were away for 12 days, including two in Westport, four on the Trail, and two in Kaikoura, so I shall write up this trip in several parts. Here is where you will find <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-2-west-coast.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-3-west-coast.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> and <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2019/01/west-coast-trip-part-4-greymouth-hanmer.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>.<br />
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<h3>
West Coast Trip – Part 1: Wellington-Westport-Greymouth </h3>
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<h4>
Day 1 – Wednesday 28 November – Wellington to Westport</h4>
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We took the early morning ferry Kaitaki from Wellington to Picton. Despite the Captain’s forecast for the crossing of “moderate to rough”, it wasn’t too bad, but it was overcast and a bit chilly, so we stayed inside. When we were some distance into the Sounds, there was a bit of excitement when a large pod of dolphins played, leaping and diving, alongside the ship for a while. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The holiday season has not yet begun – there is still room on the vehicle deck </td></tr>
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We rolled off the ferry at Picton before midday and set off on the road to Westport. First stop: St Arnaud, where we drove down to the reserve at Lake Rotoiti. There was a large group of DOC (Dept of Conservation) people on the jetty, peering into the water. It turned out they were looking at whole lot of great big fat eels that had apparently come into the shallows to be fed. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcOkfQ_hPSENPy4bpvvEq0DD0uk01EIbdDbWGx0UsA-RItZceTbdd9DjkfzY-cbXG3BDpW32PjucB6MRSLsReoDP3NNQpaotJY6Tx9JvHGq6q5JUUsQehoqIwGN4Q3IITDXxpmFK3Vjk/s1600/P1060874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcOkfQ_hPSENPy4bpvvEq0DD0uk01EIbdDbWGx0UsA-RItZceTbdd9DjkfzY-cbXG3BDpW32PjucB6MRSLsReoDP3NNQpaotJY6Tx9JvHGq6q5JUUsQehoqIwGN4Q3IITDXxpmFK3Vjk/s640/P1060874.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eels and ducks: a different take on “getting your ducks in a row”.<br />
The ducks were interested in being fed too! (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once the other people had gone, we were able to take the “iconic” photo of the jetty, looking out towards the mountains beyond the lake. Unfortunately the effect was somewhat spoiled by the boat tied up alongside. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0IfgJW1BDvZVi9b3dxnHdA1dpaj10t006gkAhVXL8I6GLz-RGv6vqbhOF2wjwj_CFcEmZ66tUVKk7AeI9FVgPxfJKQPaY01tFG-N4dIP7ClcX4WmLq4VfMZQW3-mxMSalvc0e5VATio/s1600/P1060875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0IfgJW1BDvZVi9b3dxnHdA1dpaj10t006gkAhVXL8I6GLz-RGv6vqbhOF2wjwj_CFcEmZ66tUVKk7AeI9FVgPxfJKQPaY01tFG-N4dIP7ClcX4WmLq4VfMZQW3-mxMSalvc0e5VATio/s640/P1060875.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jetty at Lake Rotoiti (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As a place to have lunch, St Arnaud was pretty much a lost cause, but we were able to score a coffee and piece of cake at the Alpine Lodge. The surroundings are very attractive but it was empty; perhaps the place will be a bit livelier in the skiing season. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN20li40JK1f_KsFp5RdfWzhmzrP3p4WFI3IAS2UBcQI8IzkYItMPbV-RVtCDXb7rtXMGTf0PKhHRan-FLBa3YlXQdKYd5MtMs5ksY-LAvNhZclwHnNb229J4uOXp5-SFfJ0a1Jv-72hw/s1600/P1060880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN20li40JK1f_KsFp5RdfWzhmzrP3p4WFI3IAS2UBcQI8IzkYItMPbV-RVtCDXb7rtXMGTf0PKhHRan-FLBa3YlXQdKYd5MtMs5ksY-LAvNhZclwHnNb229J4uOXp5-SFfJ0a1Jv-72hw/s640/P1060880.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee and cake at St Arnaud’s Alpine Lodge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In Murchison, we stopped for petrol and then headed to the Beechwoods Café, in search of an ice cream. It took a while before we were able to attract the attention of a staff member. I waited patiently, but after she had walked past and eyed us up several times without offering to attend to us, I just had to speak up! Anyway, we got our ice cream, and while we were eating it under the verandah, we were treated to a sudden and violent downpour! The weather had been a bit dodgy for most of the day, with periods of rain here and there, but this was something else! Fortunately it was brief, and after ten minutes, the rain had abated enough for us to be able to run to the car without getting saturated. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oIbgso7W2WYVdduWsjYM2fbOPVV9RF2vl442-291yoJA95AxC73aBC5pr_Ei-B55to3vUqqS-z1-3Npl_3Mw1BHSuR_pujIdonefuIjW0EMSUnD0KvEJoLmI607qJHYFem38cCWzjxg/s1600/IMG_5156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oIbgso7W2WYVdduWsjYM2fbOPVV9RF2vl442-291yoJA95AxC73aBC5pr_Ei-B55to3vUqqS-z1-3Npl_3Mw1BHSuR_pujIdonefuIjW0EMSUnD0KvEJoLmI607qJHYFem38cCWzjxg/s640/IMG_5156.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sudden downpour in Murchison (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Buller Gorge was beautiful. The rain soon abated, it stopped and started a few times, but we were able to pull up at a few viewing areas to take photos without getting rained on. We took a few “passengers” along too (sandflies), which I duly murdered! <br />
<br />
I noticed that everywhere alongside the road and in paddocks there were clumps of pink foxgloves - just beautiful. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb1hYJaKr4k3dwWxRh62ZvnUYpQ3_nxMjgQlx5_R3GwlANZVpaYQHSbFnC_3HUh_kHjFcStzBYul-xf5VU7weOIIKHBDDqfPFUT4wQIE0WsU4hmqeQRrFgjKM4LRG3_hO2QIB2TCYk3k/s1600/P1060886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb1hYJaKr4k3dwWxRh62ZvnUYpQ3_nxMjgQlx5_R3GwlANZVpaYQHSbFnC_3HUh_kHjFcStzBYul-xf5VU7weOIIKHBDDqfPFUT4wQIE0WsU4hmqeQRrFgjKM4LRG3_hO2QIB2TCYk3k/s640/P1060886.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buller River in the Buller Gorge (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At this point there was a plaque, commemorating <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/thomas-brunner" target="_blank">Thomas Brunner’s epic journey</a> to trace the Buller River to the sea, go down the West Coast and find a pass across the Southern Alps. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA1VB2hyphenhyphenmES4XzcAUSPPOe_Dnq2spa969Y2GskTNCXtcojHlkrjt76yyDFawm2SoKxmvXXoQDzC1BB3ohyphenhyphenJKlgoBtcUM_9nmFDyOIBAqaWdmhZltxuwHh_WZA3cBq59ckkVTh3YRCHYA/s1600/IMG_1948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA1VB2hyphenhyphenmES4XzcAUSPPOe_Dnq2spa969Y2GskTNCXtcojHlkrjt76yyDFawm2SoKxmvXXoQDzC1BB3ohyphenhyphenJKlgoBtcUM_9nmFDyOIBAqaWdmhZltxuwHh_WZA3cBq59ckkVTh3YRCHYA/s640/IMG_1948.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plaque commemorating Thomas Brunner’s lengthy journey </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our next stop was at Kilkenny Lookout, where there is a bend in the river. A bit further along was Hawks Crag, a place where the road had been carved out of a vertical rockface. This road was first built in the late 19th century, and the cliff posed quite a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20969/hawks-crag-in-the-19th-century" target="_blank">challenge to the road builders</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWHhRPAJVufk_nHNkkRpGd68DSGGdTIzonkkU4m13SJ12p_xxMAMK0ZY7tBCyu46y5Zkn-Sfsf6jHHP7xFzkJNwmTLlNeecSz7RbHWrg8DYoDPennBMEItrbq2RvXHMEO3L-deDHo2mw/s1600/P1060895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWHhRPAJVufk_nHNkkRpGd68DSGGdTIzonkkU4m13SJ12p_xxMAMK0ZY7tBCyu46y5Zkn-Sfsf6jHHP7xFzkJNwmTLlNeecSz7RbHWrg8DYoDPennBMEItrbq2RvXHMEO3L-deDHo2mw/s640/P1060895.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bend in the river at Kilkenny Lookout, and the cliff at Hawks Crag (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-JFpRLmADwkOP43F02TgTXFxWkubYG83w0F0xNd57e2FQKVW93jZQSdZEp9Dqoi1qXJZPUPPWW4KVsewZthitwFtZc_Jo_5ukHMlbqoKfMZoRjSVtBQsjLVjmxbN4tgpMTR64jXVls8/s1600/IMG_1962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-JFpRLmADwkOP43F02TgTXFxWkubYG83w0F0xNd57e2FQKVW93jZQSdZEp9Dqoi1qXJZPUPPWW4KVsewZthitwFtZc_Jo_5ukHMlbqoKfMZoRjSVtBQsjLVjmxbN4tgpMTR64jXVls8/s640/IMG_1962.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road narrows where it was carved out of the cliff at Hawks Crag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was after 6 pm by the time we got to Westport. We had booked our accommodation for the next two nights at <a href="https://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/new/listing/46179?houseid=46179&rewritten=true" target="_blank">“Utopia Retreat”</a>, a lovely unit on the property of Raewyn and Geoff, in a gorgeous setting overlooking the estuary of the Orowaiti River. <br />
<br />
The house was surrounded by bush, with a couple of short bush walks on the property; there were some very solicitous chickens in a chook run that would come rushing over in hopes of treats every time anyone went near the fence, a cheeky <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/weka" target="_blank">weka</a> on the prowl for left-overs from the chickens, and a friendly black Labrador, called Jet. Inside the unit we found not only fresh milk in the fridge, but in a basket on the bench, freshly-baked home-made bread, butter, Raewyn’s own plum jam and marmalade, and some fresh eggs. What a welcome! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtr9sSSCiOk4dMjgRe1YFTv0XUImA0ZxDmP3XKUpYgGd1l5kYn2ZVOnHF4igTSRWrRf2NZCELI8adPZ4Dk7MhNBrevZMtC70Hh0AsJ74bNQqXI-pRgMlYZDtODDVrd8u31SiS5aAAX34/s1600/P1060907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtr9sSSCiOk4dMjgRe1YFTv0XUImA0ZxDmP3XKUpYgGd1l5kYn2ZVOnHF4igTSRWrRf2NZCELI8adPZ4Dk7MhNBrevZMtC70Hh0AsJ74bNQqXI-pRgMlYZDtODDVrd8u31SiS5aAAX34/s640/P1060907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garden overlooked the estuary of the Orowaiti River (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-yVn9hoRiTQu-li1agGMJ8fYqB5Epl9nfK2fhTdtO2Irp7khlK1fawCIFaV4CDICcl1uv4MWm8jUW7aH0B7Hnh53q1MCtMxmPdN7Yddp19svaAA6Hpzd7D3o3HI0rwScNADQKhnxeL0/s1600/IMGP6331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-yVn9hoRiTQu-li1agGMJ8fYqB5Epl9nfK2fhTdtO2Irp7khlK1fawCIFaV4CDICcl1uv4MWm8jUW7aH0B7Hnh53q1MCtMxmPdN7Yddp19svaAA6Hpzd7D3o3HI0rwScNADQKhnxeL0/s640/IMGP6331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solicitous chickens (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We put our stuff inside, then drove into Westport for dinner at “Johnny’s”, where we had a nice – very big, West Coast sized – meal, and were “entertained” by a group of diners apparently out to party, with one guy playing a ukulele, and everyone singing. Quite fun actually. <br />
<br />
We drove around Westport for a bit, and then back to the unit, trying to get there before the lovely sunset had finished. We were just a few minutes too late. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwIvb5butbsZIjqqILQB5MUXe2fK9-WErMqJEHy7iwlS9FDaZjmxvXgPetJjVvqALKw7Fzhyphenhyphen_dCngziihbgqvwio03VTvU-_gQcbsvCNoT53Yx_n44YjWC7DccYAzVH4Jo6vajH2TVDg/s1600/P1060912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwIvb5butbsZIjqqILQB5MUXe2fK9-WErMqJEHy7iwlS9FDaZjmxvXgPetJjVvqALKw7Fzhyphenhyphen_dCngziihbgqvwio03VTvU-_gQcbsvCNoT53Yx_n44YjWC7DccYAzVH4Jo6vajH2TVDg/s640/P1060912.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last of the sunset (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 2 – Thursday 29 November – Karamea and Denniston</h4>
<br />
We got up early, and John went down the garden to take photos of the estuary – so beautiful and peaceful. He also took a wander on one of the bushwalks. Some evidence remains in the bush of the damage the West Coast suffered during Cyclone Ita in 2014. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE8x1tgrpo2kUwGt6C6ghQs0IuOdT10dvhIPX02XaE0SnhyASd2TQtC6kSU-HXe1cASh9K4NEOy3CYJBSJQ6J0eAMSQJbSHi6NoepvbPVEHKJkplVsFiJtZSlUG7oD-dX5c-H7cktE_g/s1600/IMGP6320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE8x1tgrpo2kUwGt6C6ghQs0IuOdT10dvhIPX02XaE0SnhyASd2TQtC6kSU-HXe1cASh9K4NEOy3CYJBSJQ6J0eAMSQJbSHi6NoepvbPVEHKJkplVsFiJtZSlUG7oD-dX5c-H7cktE_g/s640/IMGP6320.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The estuary in the morning light (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ARb7is0msPd9vrbMZaGEv2nIPr1KfXlAnMBP9G3Z-i-IBSshSTaNafyMT5xpaPN5jGInQ6_WC1z4IMOsE5vtQoiAZAOLQnIAMpnJXO3Pi8S03ERzyEDkjTPhDn3NbJAmUGTllnYxhg8/s1600/IMGP6329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ARb7is0msPd9vrbMZaGEv2nIPr1KfXlAnMBP9G3Z-i-IBSshSTaNafyMT5xpaPN5jGInQ6_WC1z4IMOsE5vtQoiAZAOLQnIAMpnJXO3Pi8S03ERzyEDkjTPhDn3NbJAmUGTllnYxhg8/s640/IMGP6329.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The driveway into the property is surrounded by bush (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kx8T0WXMEjgSO0boIXpMsJ8oq9cTCEV0QSYJvUSUaZ11DXujYKj-y6U9U0xRshNGcslxWqaBGkrPJUu0bqxoTtHY35BkuX6dwZdcHWXCohbVe2e00rZ6gNgR06jIQ2Er5Qs7PQElq1Q/s1600/IMGP6330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kx8T0WXMEjgSO0boIXpMsJ8oq9cTCEV0QSYJvUSUaZ11DXujYKj-y6U9U0xRshNGcslxWqaBGkrPJUu0bqxoTtHY35BkuX6dwZdcHWXCohbVe2e00rZ6gNgR06jIQ2Er5Qs7PQElq1Q/s640/IMGP6330.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remaining evidence of Cyclone Ita’s fury in 2014 (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We drove north towards Karamea. I had wanted to take a tour to the <a href="https://www.westcoast.co.nz/plan-your-trip/oparara-arches/" target="_blank">Oparara Arches</a> and caves, but I would have had to book earlier. So we just decided to drive there and see what we could see. <br />
<br />
The scenery is spectacular. Along the coast to Granity, and we stopped at a beach at Ngakawau/Hector where we took photos and I picked up some beautiful stones. The beach had the most amazingly smooth flat pebbles and stones. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8iRL746vNOZ8ofGA48b3Z-TddHeMSM6gPAU5sX33CBFalZx4SwHYOtxsBLh3d8UsugdZxP112ww0Ff7SQao0iYZN7wdWqHk9ZW2r46S3OHi2No2_5K5KISKOnv2aYk_9R7pg-AWiCWg/s1600/IMGP6332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8iRL746vNOZ8ofGA48b3Z-TddHeMSM6gPAU5sX33CBFalZx4SwHYOtxsBLh3d8UsugdZxP112ww0Ff7SQao0iYZN7wdWqHk9ZW2r46S3OHi2No2_5K5KISKOnv2aYk_9R7pg-AWiCWg/s640/IMGP6332.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at Ngakawau, by the mouth of the Ngakawau River (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke0RGr9t-ps_BJihOMVMGyRea0iE4x45e0qgV-YS32257oVx4N0YgZ-P_Uy7aBE3ZFC1QRfepc1dd6p0_YzAIRIjiu5ZKXHk7uqTX4LrDwu9a02b_uaxl6E8lxGkwOjSenYmdAHjpVJE/s1600/IMGP6341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke0RGr9t-ps_BJihOMVMGyRea0iE4x45e0qgV-YS32257oVx4N0YgZ-P_Uy7aBE3ZFC1QRfepc1dd6p0_YzAIRIjiu5ZKXHk7uqTX4LrDwu9a02b_uaxl6E8lxGkwOjSenYmdAHjpVJE/s640/IMGP6341.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved these beautiful smooth flat pebbles (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A bit further along we stopped at Mohikinui, where we stood on top of the sea wall - just mounded up beach sand to act as a barrier against the eroding effect of the waves. Granity and Mohikinui both have sections and houses which risk being swamped by the sea during bad storms. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaI420o52Hj2S59UKCIUvwxk7X5V-4JMAhdNhKrlxSrnfJdqrUfNRZ6OTseKYfBFGcJloncOC7M6NIXDBxcTTBFp3aawpzuJQTZzXUkJjlfVEAXYdQHshOm_5swl8-a0ELF-1y9IQXB4/s1600/IMGP6345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaI420o52Hj2S59UKCIUvwxk7X5V-4JMAhdNhKrlxSrnfJdqrUfNRZ6OTseKYfBFGcJloncOC7M6NIXDBxcTTBFp3aawpzuJQTZzXUkJjlfVEAXYdQHshOm_5swl8-a0ELF-1y9IQXB4/s640/IMGP6345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sea wall at Mohikinui beach (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was a long winding road over bush-clad hills, and we stopped to take photos of amazing rock formations. I felt furious about the names and initials that had been carved into the rock by some self-entitled idiots. What makes these people think it is OK to deface something so beautiful? Aaargh! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60S-2Gy1sxoDx6cGwXn9rsBhcd5KaTTOQ4LSC3u_u6W_souRItm1sQjMXf942lCa9hyphenhyphenhH1AmsHHFjfX9mVSbzkHZd1Q1iC40kqjSSpkTU1uprqgTdh1Iioi9QavPKI9vZ-hKc429XBus/s1600/IMGP6347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60S-2Gy1sxoDx6cGwXn9rsBhcd5KaTTOQ4LSC3u_u6W_souRItm1sQjMXf942lCa9hyphenhyphenhH1AmsHHFjfX9mVSbzkHZd1Q1iC40kqjSSpkTU1uprqgTdh1Iioi9QavPKI9vZ-hKc429XBus/s640/IMGP6347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dense bush lines the sides of the winding road – a giant <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prumnopitys_taxifolia" target="_blank">matai</a> towers over it all (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK0c0_Yf0i8_U1Km5e-tcHBc72Q0yGEFpbAzgNCuheHlJZHTTGwvMfXVkUVvXaRT7JUUMcAPpKoNHUJxhTDlT-aYtkFdC-5auujOifPGlUzr2q8Z04I7os9Hj1uwAU1A3VEb2czd4edc/s1600/IMG_1992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1600" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK0c0_Yf0i8_U1Km5e-tcHBc72Q0yGEFpbAzgNCuheHlJZHTTGwvMfXVkUVvXaRT7JUUMcAPpKoNHUJxhTDlT-aYtkFdC-5auujOifPGlUzr2q8Z04I7os9Hj1uwAU1A3VEb2czd4edc/s640/IMG_1992.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful rock formations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we got to the small settlement of Karamea, we talked to the lady in the Information Centre to get some idea about the Oparara arches and caves. It was quite a long winding, gravel road, she warned us, but the area is beautiful and worth the trip. She told us about the Oparara Arch and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oparara_Basin_Arches" target="_blank">Moria Gate Arch</a>. I really wanted to see the Oparara Arch, but I didn’t do my homework well enough, and we stopped at a parking spot just short of the main entrance to the walks, where there was a set of information panels, so we didn’t get to see them until the end of our walk. <br />
<br />
We stopped by the start of the Moria Gate Arch walking track, which was supposed to be a short loop track. That will do for starters, we thought, and set off walking. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONdsQmgFT3YqhISrIdA3_rNbUtWjmjtqOLzESsU8fTyYjhlFpnAhFYhtR4Fn3o2WCCiBb3YecEYsOVRuBdrJo5nJBMrro1JRr4VC96LENJ4TwbN5wfz3iyfckZYGEghy6KNtQs_Rvpj8/s1600/IMGP6367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONdsQmgFT3YqhISrIdA3_rNbUtWjmjtqOLzESsU8fTyYjhlFpnAhFYhtR4Fn3o2WCCiBb3YecEYsOVRuBdrJo5nJBMrro1JRr4VC96LENJ4TwbN5wfz3iyfckZYGEghy6KNtQs_Rvpj8/s640/IMGP6367.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It turned out to be a much longer walk than 15 minutes (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fortunately I was wearing my sturdy walking shoes, which was just as well, as it was quite a hike. The track was narrow, and we were enveloped by the lush rain forest. It is so, so beautiful: such wonderful ferns and mosses; epiphytes growing on huge trees; mosses drooping from branches; the jumble of young plants striving to get to the light; fallen or broken branches covered in moss or fungi. We took heaps of photos. Of course we can’t show you them all, but here are a few. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZS-_Dly1EVQ569ebdx8m_kosKWca3A9ByKktTcNpkTH4mNJlPQ1t6PIR2KhuCpOXJV-7FqpfnYKVkbcABWBE4bDesDOEW8yUwk5h2Iof3aFhMW3YD4Aqg3VqHGnaB5_EW9LHuWvDF86U/s1600/IMGP6372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZS-_Dly1EVQ569ebdx8m_kosKWca3A9ByKktTcNpkTH4mNJlPQ1t6PIR2KhuCpOXJV-7FqpfnYKVkbcABWBE4bDesDOEW8yUwk5h2Iof3aFhMW3YD4Aqg3VqHGnaB5_EW9LHuWvDF86U/s640/IMGP6372.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old tree, young tree (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVJPPeJLPJl5tqg-0i0rIgnMyzkrRHwgllRLrSz3pIIBie0cRAYjpVOsLUQ3XCoyDz6q03GLeWJkYW3ofwYXE513DE2jtVzkoOOC8GSaWTxScGK3ojrQAGsZHfmuY2GprFGwGj6rAwLc/s1600/IMGP6374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVJPPeJLPJl5tqg-0i0rIgnMyzkrRHwgllRLrSz3pIIBie0cRAYjpVOsLUQ3XCoyDz6q03GLeWJkYW3ofwYXE513DE2jtVzkoOOC8GSaWTxScGK3ojrQAGsZHfmuY2GprFGwGj6rAwLc/s640/IMGP6374.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love in the forest: moss covers a stump in a heart shape (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifh3c3G1h6ZClBN50x7Hlhs6txQcBZwjqRVRb-bNaJN6bVAoeY_34udR9Bi1ci_UVqer4XzfEjkBXa6ZaiMubWpxlOZEqOnMPRJ2fU3Stphm7TJmjZOGWwNrIe5n1qh4s7k_hgBGnWdiI/s1600/IMG_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifh3c3G1h6ZClBN50x7Hlhs6txQcBZwjqRVRb-bNaJN6bVAoeY_34udR9Bi1ci_UVqer4XzfEjkBXa6ZaiMubWpxlOZEqOnMPRJ2fU3Stphm7TJmjZOGWwNrIe5n1qh4s7k_hgBGnWdiI/s640/IMG_2009.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicate mosses … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PiGz0BgOH4eKceCmGGj6PIOvvwx-FwX4cxWeR8ndkRuz40FkCaTWTwjZkagBTmA5u3MgIR5SsjaaXqDGzJEmRtHJ1B04wo0uxy317SvSuqW8wA2bOdqja_tfoUQeIQ1qZGz8fTZZYGQ/s1600/IMG_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PiGz0BgOH4eKceCmGGj6PIOvvwx-FwX4cxWeR8ndkRuz40FkCaTWTwjZkagBTmA5u3MgIR5SsjaaXqDGzJEmRtHJ1B04wo0uxy317SvSuqW8wA2bOdqja_tfoUQeIQ1qZGz8fTZZYGQ/s640/IMG_2012.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… luscious ferns …</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UUNf4JDAK9mfIM5VvoPdBA6iJom4sbx24sbmiSTpAKDPBBiksc-CmwKtDePgheQB75KBW2IdU75uQj_bn3enV9uWR9tRhekmQ12SV-jk-TvTizC1RZMyUZHYVfL2dtWY4B07A8CyWv8/s1600/IMGP6380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UUNf4JDAK9mfIM5VvoPdBA6iJom4sbx24sbmiSTpAKDPBBiksc-CmwKtDePgheQB75KBW2IdU75uQj_bn3enV9uWR9tRhekmQ12SV-jk-TvTizC1RZMyUZHYVfL2dtWY4B07A8CyWv8/s640/IMGP6380.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and bold fungi (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjF3ZDT0Hapf6NHrO4np63KrUPClW8ObC75AHT4lKnZ7mooD5f3FOpGM2XlPYgCQ5V-Awhwd8FnBaEQeSFmXD7U5hkkQyXpurlTTmyGqm1tkPexcqBgH7Yr9Jwufn6RG9NIvLx3goloQ/s1600/IMGP6377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjF3ZDT0Hapf6NHrO4np63KrUPClW8ObC75AHT4lKnZ7mooD5f3FOpGM2XlPYgCQ5V-Awhwd8FnBaEQeSFmXD7U5hkkQyXpurlTTmyGqm1tkPexcqBgH7Yr9Jwufn6RG9NIvLx3goloQ/s640/IMGP6377.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towering trees (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a while we arrived at the entrance to the Moria Gate cave, up some stony steps, and then steeply down through a very small gap. Apparently, by going through the cave, one could get to the bottom of the arch, but we thought the entrance looked too hazardous to try. Too skinny, too steep, too slippery, and we didn’t want to tempt fate so early in our holiday! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1yMB23GHToCsrqHhdzVUIFnL3heuv2L9OoBHoiTMQNeMhAw8Ea61T5PFrOvT5773BgHxmrUHdQP0AL5w2hbZoYWKSHIyglxVvLOqGBuPzBtsRezl22oLsrcmOcISytT3EIFBXbXgOeo/s1600/IMG_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1yMB23GHToCsrqHhdzVUIFnL3heuv2L9OoBHoiTMQNeMhAw8Ea61T5PFrOvT5773BgHxmrUHdQP0AL5w2hbZoYWKSHIyglxVvLOqGBuPzBtsRezl22oLsrcmOcISytT3EIFBXbXgOeo/s640/IMG_2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It told us to go <b>through</b> the cave to get to the Moria Gate Arch </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib25f6i8sG6hQI7sxgNTCtGtvWsM0ASxGSMeA0sxGV5XXpm8RhCXW6k32X5EBYjIur_1Yvz9C4n8iShJjeLu5XtaSh3z2mo9JNQr1xpxJzqAYF_1s_Povjliz97LQg5MCtAip9RTW7EBc/s1600/IMGP6388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib25f6i8sG6hQI7sxgNTCtGtvWsM0ASxGSMeA0sxGV5XXpm8RhCXW6k32X5EBYjIur_1Yvz9C4n8iShJjeLu5XtaSh3z2mo9JNQr1xpxJzqAYF_1s_Povjliz97LQg5MCtAip9RTW7EBc/s640/IMGP6388.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steps to the entrance of the cave (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6uAozUk5FOLFmTxTKZut2n0QNhDSNFst-P0p4TEJ0mNOAlgB_VDPokLNjpl-d7WEi64ZGEJs-nCubL2vXdRpsQjC7Ew7X8lFfkf_mEfQdze38Wx6eBeCzez_pU-Z2HlSKr3Ah7mFWB8/s1600/IMGP6389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6uAozUk5FOLFmTxTKZut2n0QNhDSNFst-P0p4TEJ0mNOAlgB_VDPokLNjpl-d7WEi64ZGEJs-nCubL2vXdRpsQjC7Ew7X8lFfkf_mEfQdze38Wx6eBeCzez_pU-Z2HlSKr3Ah7mFWB8/s640/IMGP6389.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access to the cave was through the V-shaped gap at the bottom of the photo (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By continuing on the loop track, we did get to see the arch, albeit from a distance, and from above, rather than from below. The arch is a limestone tunnel carved out by the Oparara River. It is 19 m high and 43 m wide and its ceiling is extensively covered with stalactites and roots. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6bqjc1U6YXz06xo68U9GM01sYmmeg9L366dR9cq4dYC8cRM8gqX5oR75XrDf4rTTjyZ5wdK_FEF-u4cIvQgkeMou-SETz4g7tCmXVj6rgGiwz8zsAv1udg-SZliIS7kes7Ivcv2cxqk/s1600/IMGP6394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6bqjc1U6YXz06xo68U9GM01sYmmeg9L366dR9cq4dYC8cRM8gqX5oR75XrDf4rTTjyZ5wdK_FEF-u4cIvQgkeMou-SETz4g7tCmXVj6rgGiwz8zsAv1udg-SZliIS7kes7Ivcv2cxqk/s640/IMGP6394.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moria Gate Arch – the colour of the water is caused by tannins (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It started to rain, gently at first, then a bit harder. When we got to the Moria Gate Mirror Tarn – a small lake in the midst of the forest – there were no reflections to be seen as the surface was disturbed by the rain. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKqCRPV1Psr-28WOdpcdqbCROYfdyuA-RJjBnoD-RyBSPOV8SbLi80UI2P5ESbdMoyA-8pjAT5_8el0z83VoyuNv85CoChj7uNNDlIcRbeuzU-8DnBI0JxRIPncNBYXPAYrL0ZzCspGA/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKqCRPV1Psr-28WOdpcdqbCROYfdyuA-RJjBnoD-RyBSPOV8SbLi80UI2P5ESbdMoyA-8pjAT5_8el0z83VoyuNv85CoChj7uNNDlIcRbeuzU-8DnBI0JxRIPncNBYXPAYrL0ZzCspGA/s640/IMG_2028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moira Gate Mirror Tarn </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eventually the loop track got us back to the road, but we weren’t sure whether the car was down the road or up the road. I thought one, John thought the other, so we each started walking in opposite directions, and the first one to find the car would win! After covering quite a distance, I heard John in the car, tooting behind me – he had been right – of course! <br />
<br />
We briefly stopped at the ‘correct’ carpark, to look at the information panels. By then it was getting too late, and I was too footsore, to still try to walk to the larger, and more impressive, Oparara Arch. We still had the long drive back to Karamea, and back to Westport. <br />
<br />
And on the way back, I wanted to visit the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denniston,_New_Zealand" target="_blank">Denniston Plateau</a>. This was the site of a coal mine and thriving mining community in the latter part of the 19th C and early 20th C. <br />
<br />
I have read both of Jenny Pattrick’s novels (<i><a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-denniston-rose-9781869798420" target="_blank">The Denniston Rose</a></i> and <i>Heart of Coal</i>) about life on the Denniston Plateau back in the late 19th C, and I was quite keen to see it. It is now a ghost town and historic site. <br />
<br />
It is way up the hill, and just like in the story of <i>The Denniston Rose</i>, it was wreathed in mist, which gave it a bleak and eerie atmosphere. We walked the track around Denniston - no houses are left, but pieces of rusting machinery and ruined building remains are scattered on the site. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNoCWn0rJysdMd2TLRkJ1HOLu39FrQcHftFkBZeTg8yGyxClFmoX3d66YHNhCXfoF-rwlcjZTpgYq3vdy_aG3VTz0p2-0TDRIk1Uhacr-pTFr1yTh3lu3euK7Pk1lOLJKgQq3BcUOvrU/s1600/IMGP6426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNoCWn0rJysdMd2TLRkJ1HOLu39FrQcHftFkBZeTg8yGyxClFmoX3d66YHNhCXfoF-rwlcjZTpgYq3vdy_aG3VTz0p2-0TDRIk1Uhacr-pTFr1yTh3lu3euK7Pk1lOLJKgQq3BcUOvrU/s640/IMGP6426.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mist enshrouds the site (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtNJapkWxcq0YMarWpkvGBlz_a0VwLNrXeL7TOHcn1ARkt7nCPKCOkqvM6o8Rd4Hoh_l0E7MlUSfjfFfuk1GnH3WGivQBnANI0529-2cZfWjM33IZFXYflEuhiicRMEpcUdhxMsh9skI/s1600/IMG_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtNJapkWxcq0YMarWpkvGBlz_a0VwLNrXeL7TOHcn1ARkt7nCPKCOkqvM6o8Rd4Hoh_l0E7MlUSfjfFfuk1GnH3WGivQBnANI0529-2cZfWjM33IZFXYflEuhiicRMEpcUdhxMsh9skI/s640/IMG_2033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusting machinery … </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfWmmvLlFTxpez7dS4hZnkPPt6OpYM82IsCPaNFhyphenhyphencunlHamduaBd1RJpZ3dpIBmPQZAe3KPWtjsyMN_LEkr1Y2hkvomHhWm5wU3LJGkkbxQiQ-i4oaFf9L6tbQ9fS2yUBUt754zu4V0/s1600/IMGP6436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfWmmvLlFTxpez7dS4hZnkPPt6OpYM82IsCPaNFhyphenhyphencunlHamduaBd1RJpZ3dpIBmPQZAe3KPWtjsyMN_LEkr1Y2hkvomHhWm5wU3LJGkkbxQiQ-i4oaFf9L6tbQ9fS2yUBUt754zu4V0/s640/IMGP6436.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… and ruined building remains (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL5Udy2oTtHfFu2Wtw09tt5dqxeWu3wzqpl5nknEyEYHe4cDiOPQQ656yJ-brUdEKsmp90GYVPfMXByA2ekOxXlcEBP2mthHy7Ujo0u7iufvcmaZfTv6rEXcSKLxf4eOX5o8ezVOKVJY/s1600/IMGP6430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL5Udy2oTtHfFu2Wtw09tt5dqxeWu3wzqpl5nknEyEYHe4cDiOPQQ656yJ-brUdEKsmp90GYVPfMXByA2ekOxXlcEBP2mthHy7Ujo0u7iufvcmaZfTv6rEXcSKLxf4eOX5o8ezVOKVJY/s640/IMGP6430.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned coal wagons in the mist (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nowadays there is a good road to get up there, but back in the day, the only way to get the coal from the tops to the railroad at the bottom (a drop of 500 m), was the Denniston Incline. This was a “self-acting” ropeway that used gravity to lower the full wagons. Each descending wagon hauled up an empty one by means of wire ropes, each wagon attached to its own rope and brake drum. This was also the way people and materials were transported up to the plateau or down again. Going down would have been a pretty hair-raising ride!<br />
<br />
You can look down the “Incline” where the full coal wagons were sent down the hill. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcrOEvIMV2rS5HY0H4fkLWKq8EeXsx965Sg3G03PUZbWmxXOWlczc6HTeMSXDJK-U-NyWv8FiV_-IYL9Tj09OMYKtO_634wb38qcY7RL2aYEJ8JhmyvRJelkmhzDtGY7wWEmnhMTKOCg/s1600/IMGP6439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcrOEvIMV2rS5HY0H4fkLWKq8EeXsx965Sg3G03PUZbWmxXOWlczc6HTeMSXDJK-U-NyWv8FiV_-IYL9Tj09OMYKtO_634wb38qcY7RL2aYEJ8JhmyvRJelkmhzDtGY7wWEmnhMTKOCg/s640/IMGP6439.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the Incline (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4BtlUHVEybGnNJp0kSLMGbItEhq1HEuLPq96ITBbh3Dh9TthUnBxucz_SUYapORrsLTvxxJmChgZNCSu_ba0UsyeBDM1ZLGqKLkpZ6V2mqzLA2tHdtt5dnsCjhk3bbhS8HQI9PUzYEQ/s1600/IMGP6459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4BtlUHVEybGnNJp0kSLMGbItEhq1HEuLPq96ITBbh3Dh9TthUnBxucz_SUYapORrsLTvxxJmChgZNCSu_ba0UsyeBDM1ZLGqKLkpZ6V2mqzLA2tHdtt5dnsCjhk3bbhS8HQI9PUzYEQ/s640/IMGP6459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal wagons at the top of the Incline (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvTeCQgpiVi1mnIi9FOG1GvW5QnyUhwInybKgmV9UjbmV3r7l2AyxnyooW4BxIyW36hU6wbKRpbnM8WNY9BGtUld6uhVwVPuV89LOzYiGU_A0yGsO9IpvRZ52PuYnUcKnH0Z2PBxT3BE/s1600/IMGP6442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvTeCQgpiVi1mnIi9FOG1GvW5QnyUhwInybKgmV9UjbmV3r7l2AyxnyooW4BxIyW36hU6wbKRpbnM8WNY9BGtUld6uhVwVPuV89LOzYiGU_A0yGsO9IpvRZ52PuYnUcKnH0Z2PBxT3BE/s640/IMGP6442.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building remains at the top of the Incline </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNOJLcVcMPD4wemt8V82Klw4dio52Kv_jiy5SB2cPWhsjxzy1difk0uPyTqjnQjfrspKO5IWTG_9eJQFsrJ-KKRdhQCHH0aIqjrNJjSfeM82lPi7zR86AiBsfefbnqcFT-3zeMQQxGMY/s1600/IMG_2035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNOJLcVcMPD4wemt8V82Klw4dio52Kv_jiy5SB2cPWhsjxzy1difk0uPyTqjnQjfrspKO5IWTG_9eJQFsrJ-KKRdhQCHH0aIqjrNJjSfeM82lPi7zR86AiBsfefbnqcFT-3zeMQQxGMY/s640/IMG_2035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sturdy stone walls, now crumbling, supported roadways in the settlement </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were information boards near the railhead, and near the car park, with lots of photos and diagrams. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6itfgWhuqcXBQzIhBqOIHfSwJxwJTgyaWvDF1j1sqe4lfghZ5VEmDkMZW0-LIlXZl9hJlRO7D8RweOriG-PA_tRvjO-FreHG0RUEXPKzqrlkTeMND7eI8YCtA_z0W3gUx8YwdPbngok/s1600/IMG_2040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6itfgWhuqcXBQzIhBqOIHfSwJxwJTgyaWvDF1j1sqe4lfghZ5VEmDkMZW0-LIlXZl9hJlRO7D8RweOriG-PA_tRvjO-FreHG0RUEXPKzqrlkTeMND7eI8YCtA_z0W3gUx8YwdPbngok/s640/IMG_2040.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An information board shows what the railhead was like in its heyday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcKQ7rH8IbWP35vEmGryKeeEs5jKg3zVLMGg5s4QpYE7CQftquQac3I70twP_NVDMQL5MdOD6FCkKHbsf22LAdJejU1GaloF-zJRGSFdOGLxK_31zv4bTx03QBMQ7x9Lv6q3oJNp1aFk/s1600/IMGP6466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcKQ7rH8IbWP35vEmGryKeeEs5jKg3zVLMGg5s4QpYE7CQftquQac3I70twP_NVDMQL5MdOD6FCkKHbsf22LAdJejU1GaloF-zJRGSFdOGLxK_31zv4bTx03QBMQ7x9Lv6q3oJNp1aFk/s640/IMGP6466.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information panels by the carpark (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgKTO5V4AGSBJuGxfyMRPFneWAMeihW2qevPbE9kdLMGnsGH7QZfTmHz0H-zd3nBGHyREnt6jXDVom5yxZX1oNvZLujGsjIwchL6Bs4BrV5P11DOlawnkMhXE2EPniiXDN-xBtHPDOWI/s1600/IMGP6419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgKTO5V4AGSBJuGxfyMRPFneWAMeihW2qevPbE9kdLMGnsGH7QZfTmHz0H-zd3nBGHyREnt6jXDVom5yxZX1oNvZLujGsjIwchL6Bs4BrV5P11DOlawnkMhXE2EPniiXDN-xBtHPDOWI/s640/IMGP6419.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track around the site was well marked. The rose and the heart on the white panel at the bottom are a reference to Jenny Pattrick’s books <i>The Denniston Rose</i>, and <i>Heart of
Coal </i>(photo by John)<br />
<i></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was after six when we finished looking around the Denniston site, and we made our way back to Westport, 15 km away, only stopping to look at the view of the sunny plain below, through the mist at the top. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2VDlwFPxsH7Lq02smD5c8MmDVSH2xYijEIDDAgz3_txizfO1ewuY__KAWv4sRZPTd-hegcy2DwmVmJMFwF0ITeBe9BZDXhpQfrD7pM6bfTUG85BN769XJrBsv_czLfSRK-8qufLFYbU/s1600/IMGP6472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2VDlwFPxsH7Lq02smD5c8MmDVSH2xYijEIDDAgz3_txizfO1ewuY__KAWv4sRZPTd-hegcy2DwmVmJMFwF0ITeBe9BZDXhpQfrD7pM6bfTUG85BN769XJrBsv_czLfSRK-8qufLFYbU/s640/IMGP6472.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Westport from the Denniston access road </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Day 3 – Friday 30 November – Westport to Greymouth</h4>
<br />
In an article about Westport in a <a href="https://nztoday.co.nz/" target="_blank">NZ Today magazine</a> (a great magazine, by the way!) on the coffee table of our unit, I read about the bike trail around the river, and port and town. We decided to do that. Having asked our host if it was OK to leave our car and our belongings in the unit for a bit longer, we biked into Westport right from there. It was lovely, we did 19.5 km in the sunshine. <br />
<br />
Getting from Utopia Rd to the start of the trail near the Buller River Bridge was about 6 km. We followed a quite narrow little track through the trees alongside the river - having established that we were on the right track by talking to a gentleman walking his English bulldog. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVJ-qHi_fWRkvR7fso9H8iZiPLniDiG9TnDB5rpNw5m-54nPttzu-R8II7sRIRSPrp2nO-02aUSaqcXu6Cgkp0EZNZY5TSYhoZyjvVHtodWouYGhdhSE_IrpGGWL4RBMVhx-iVjHGNAc/s1600/P1060921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVJ-qHi_fWRkvR7fso9H8iZiPLniDiG9TnDB5rpNw5m-54nPttzu-R8II7sRIRSPrp2nO-02aUSaqcXu6Cgkp0EZNZY5TSYhoZyjvVHtodWouYGhdhSE_IrpGGWL4RBMVhx-iVjHGNAc/s640/P1060921.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Utopia Road (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then into town, where we had coffee and shared a piece of carrot cake. The man at the cafe was enthusiastic about cyclists, and mentioned that in the news that day (he showed us the newspaper) there had been an <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108962962/prime-minister-splashes-140m-cash-on-west-coast" target="_blank">announcement by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern</a> of a big dollop of cash having been allocated for developing tourism on the West Coast, including $9.36m for a cycle trail along the coast. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkRooBfoh2i5MOEl2jXzfEr7tm2erytOi71wI8Sa1ePvVlVXKt5fqvVruo9z6rcxa5f7RB_wg17m3KFXzYTXZ2huu5LaqJ7VjpuQhuA2_xFof3oMTl439v_NPmJb2zA5h-oZXMylYZRo/s1600/IMGP6494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkRooBfoh2i5MOEl2jXzfEr7tm2erytOi71wI8Sa1ePvVlVXKt5fqvVruo9z6rcxa5f7RB_wg17m3KFXzYTXZ2huu5LaqJ7VjpuQhuA2_xFof3oMTl439v_NPmJb2zA5h-oZXMylYZRo/s640/IMGP6494.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great news! $9.36m to build a new cycle trail between Westport and Charleston (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We rode along to the port, which, oddly, is only visible from the cycle track. A very peaceful sight. And then we biked on a track around the lagoon, and onto the breakwater. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnRsAP-BqxFN0j1dwhjemVEoBCrUSBxeHqN5LYt7qqv8lggIs3zCX2S_rfJTW4Jm2iPm2VfXQ8QCUiyVHan5Aga1FCWi5NVVR12CRQK7YhkZ_lNjotz10R_qJhlL_dyzktjj0RtdMCbg/s1600/P1060930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnRsAP-BqxFN0j1dwhjemVEoBCrUSBxeHqN5LYt7qqv8lggIs3zCX2S_rfJTW4Jm2iPm2VfXQ8QCUiyVHan5Aga1FCWi5NVVR12CRQK7YhkZ_lNjotz10R_qJhlL_dyzktjj0RtdMCbg/s640/P1060930.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder how many boats there are in the world with the name “Lady Jane” (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqBEuZyOCO16YFyNaE8HJNe6XZnGRTKaINBTR7vguaXtTMWjP2MTYxsd8hDs1nQmj_oqYG-H2Yj_APcSM_gLdeRqcPL5yjoE2ZtfsCGQI6zD8pG_b7jhq391MU_LKLEUZX83sCOHQwyQ/s1600/IMG_2066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqBEuZyOCO16YFyNaE8HJNe6XZnGRTKaINBTR7vguaXtTMWjP2MTYxsd8hDs1nQmj_oqYG-H2Yj_APcSM_gLdeRqcPL5yjoE2ZtfsCGQI6zD8pG_b7jhq391MU_LKLEUZX83sCOHQwyQ/s640/IMG_2066.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the Lost Lagoon Track </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYsuz2zxH9c5JlYroSL4dWrXvT25X2t5oP4yni4R-E5CWGv3XAZ2KAAeM_-69Yg_6E0bLaY_A-_sw7jR_CDQtAy3Qvacu5mvWT70pwnfQqMn-Y-CHWVNXBE__dch0iA7FpD41kPC-d5E/s1600/P1060935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYsuz2zxH9c5JlYroSL4dWrXvT25X2t5oP4yni4R-E5CWGv3XAZ2KAAeM_-69Yg_6E0bLaY_A-_sw7jR_CDQtAy3Qvacu5mvWT70pwnfQqMn-Y-CHWVNXBE__dch0iA7FpD41kPC-d5E/s640/P1060935.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A memorial to the crew of the <i>Kaitawa </i>(photo by John)<i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At the end of the breakwater is a memorial to the crew of the Collier M.V. <i>Kaitawa</i>, which sailed from Westport, but never came back, as it foundered off Cape Reinga in 1966. <br />
<br />
After our ride, we went back to the unit to have some lunch – Raewyn’s beautiful bread and jam – then bade farewell to our hosts, and set off towards Punakaiki and Greymouth. <br />
<br />
Along the way, we stopped at Fox River to take photos of a very enticing-looking cleft in a rock, which unfortunately we couldn’t get to, and to take a walk across an old wooden bridge. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh99kgbyeThK81USSWd_4sj69K5UEACvSwL46d3SkL6MXdlyckXvcUTmkBQHJj1HANH8gkC8bDONQqodAqFbqGX9OAKLnmMtQu1gG8DbutKwDNez_wJFu6BTv19Kbi3-WZGUvBhgWhl8/s1600/IMGP6505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh99kgbyeThK81USSWd_4sj69K5UEACvSwL46d3SkL6MXdlyckXvcUTmkBQHJj1HANH8gkC8bDONQqodAqFbqGX9OAKLnmMtQu1gG8DbutKwDNez_wJFu6BTv19Kbi3-WZGUvBhgWhl8/s640/IMGP6505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cleft in the rock at Fox River (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMfa8R7bxR-oObIVlRQ5VvRJfrlSoV4V6PceDoEtSeMpcbqemU58DfWaCjX-JiwPZO8XUCbmF1tV2Rv3ivtF9x3Vy0ulEIsh7eA_s6oXCoYKCyQrtxV7h5h1pEShFAH0TbewsSjyIe4M/s1600/IMGP6511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMfa8R7bxR-oObIVlRQ5VvRJfrlSoV4V6PceDoEtSeMpcbqemU58DfWaCjX-JiwPZO8XUCbmF1tV2Rv3ivtF9x3Vy0ulEIsh7eA_s6oXCoYKCyQrtxV7h5h1pEShFAH0TbewsSjyIe4M/s640/IMGP6511.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old Fox River Bridge. The inner barriers are a safety measure,<br />
while repairs are carried out (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxjoVN16BH7UqNblV__2-KJIy8JNegIVLA095ijPjAHM1vEXP7SJSGxCa_vQLfOQybLxD69DZJoRfLEGSkwhCN2sfltcjVVD2os1iS708LH0yzXr-GYEUgNeddjxZ8-gCaxUh2VTRap0/s1600/IMG_2080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxjoVN16BH7UqNblV__2-KJIy8JNegIVLA095ijPjAHM1vEXP7SJSGxCa_vQLfOQybLxD69DZJoRfLEGSkwhCN2sfltcjVVD2os1iS708LH0yzXr-GYEUgNeddjxZ8-gCaxUh2VTRap0/s640/IMG_2080.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of one of the bridge piers </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On towards Punakaiki, with a few stops along the way for photos of the gorgeous views. For the first time on this trip, we saw quite a lot of tourists, mostly in camper vans - both big and small. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY27Ux-z8rBi7GwdwPpUnVCF__Jmcq1432LiJ2Fm5fPgePBCwNCvfRdD9UbuhevyLHLsG8wTlH7fsMSWCTWnrBCf34HbRqLN5oit0n2kItKBLxZin-6QayywcqM_YwoADvrVILauho_M/s1600/IMGP6519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY27Ux-z8rBi7GwdwPpUnVCF__Jmcq1432LiJ2Fm5fPgePBCwNCvfRdD9UbuhevyLHLsG8wTlH7fsMSWCTWnrBCf34HbRqLN5oit0n2kItKBLxZin-6QayywcqM_YwoADvrVILauho_M/s640/IMGP6519.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coast from a lookout just before Punakaiki (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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At Punakaiki – the name is a Māori version of “pancake”, describing the layered rock formations – we did the walk along the clifftops. It is amazing to see the layers of rock and the way it is being worn away by the sea. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE624JMxEuFWFSHjuxbz50NcmJBORdd9BpXcW4iYXmBQ6e9-xFH38E1IGgV3WVU3Bh4kvXw9bpKFwwdaARZpd-L8HmvEIPtjtxoRP9I9tRl1WSH0K7boz1ULpyV39cbpafsnkcOEDiNcY/s1600/IMGP6521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE624JMxEuFWFSHjuxbz50NcmJBORdd9BpXcW4iYXmBQ6e9-xFH38E1IGgV3WVU3Bh4kvXw9bpKFwwdaARZpd-L8HmvEIPtjtxoRP9I9tRl1WSH0K7boz1ULpyV39cbpafsnkcOEDiNcY/s640/IMGP6521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The clifftop path is flanked by flaxes and nikau palms (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT4SMyks5tzqxAXUwtSl8qrR_nTQpQQgJ0Ue2Hu7Ci7uYHQPc4rPRrnVK3II-o4FkGXYgWTaexsfpbiRvBmNB2bxYLrTeeTtnCz07XZhYoI9Sjtn5zaLS3LgTwHh6dckgqzdkbUbrEfE/s1600/IMGP6533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT4SMyks5tzqxAXUwtSl8qrR_nTQpQQgJ0Ue2Hu7Ci7uYHQPc4rPRrnVK3II-o4FkGXYgWTaexsfpbiRvBmNB2bxYLrTeeTtnCz07XZhYoI9Sjtn5zaLS3LgTwHh6dckgqzdkbUbrEfE/s640/IMGP6533.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The name <i>Pancake Rocks</i> is very appropriate (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5rT85I8Txp1OUCkE5121eO4Lhrx12Us42FCJRgfGFoMX21hOubmzomdYZpBaoXS_0QJM6qezOtPFF2PeG22JjvziToQgf0r42BHNRemHoVR_mkFSJzWRN8bBC9tJP2kdsJ-v1R_G3UA/s1600/IMGP6529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5rT85I8Txp1OUCkE5121eO4Lhrx12Us42FCJRgfGFoMX21hOubmzomdYZpBaoXS_0QJM6qezOtPFF2PeG22JjvziToQgf0r42BHNRemHoVR_mkFSJzWRN8bBC9tJP2kdsJ-v1R_G3UA/s640/IMGP6529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sea swishes in and out of these breaks in the cliffs … (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7ADkXloqeNtAEa5GBVoJ1l70ugT_avNSjIPcgvSDucaTDXEqISCzf4Zgza9DNSc5J0Sf3zC2MQ6z3QpkjNjxRc6k4iX-JO3Hmt9eljjFCvpVYSTw6SHMRrq50b5Mzqbacsgxb65YhHw/s1600/IMGP6528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7ADkXloqeNtAEa5GBVoJ1l70ugT_avNSjIPcgvSDucaTDXEqISCzf4Zgza9DNSc5J0Sf3zC2MQ6z3QpkjNjxRc6k4iX-JO3Hmt9eljjFCvpVYSTw6SHMRrq50b5Mzqbacsgxb65YhHw/s640/IMGP6528.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… leaving great caverns and blowholes (photo by John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-cW2yyrza6xdgFmQH6yLThyDHATn4n5H-6KWNZZIkxCpaD_gJS7VyxzMPKZMUV3VPNLYnqF5CvE-fXvRhWRnHOfhgbAAElcYzSI5i8xWKELZ_LuJ-MYckhmvyLVsFWQjR40xFDlgnc0/s1600/IMGP6538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-cW2yyrza6xdgFmQH6yLThyDHATn4n5H-6KWNZZIkxCpaD_gJS7VyxzMPKZMUV3VPNLYnqF5CvE-fXvRhWRnHOfhgbAAElcYzSI5i8xWKELZ_LuJ-MYckhmvyLVsFWQjR40xFDlgnc0/s640/IMGP6538.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rocks provide perfect roosting places for a colony of <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/white-fronted-tern" target="_blank">terns</a><br />
(click to enlarge) (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After an ice cream from one of the “touristy” roadside shops at Punakaiki, we finally made our way to Greymouth, from where our main reason for this trip – the West Coast Wilderness Trail – would start. <br />
<br />
We checked in at Greymouth’s Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park, where we were staying overnight before our big ride, and where we were able to leave our car for the next four days while we were biking the West Coast Wilderness Trail. <br />
<br />
The Holiday Park was right on the Trail, quite a distance from the town, so we decided to bike into town, to the official start of the trail, just so that we would be able to say we had done the whole trail. <br />
<br />
We biked the track and onto the breakwater, where we watched a ship (a dredge) coming into the Grey River to the port of Greymouth. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXwPBzCc31unpua0Gd8Us-sghUugvpC-V65UqUhu8ArUV1SELlIGqgUJy3DecbegxEvq3OjGsLu16mM-1maRNWcjGSBaAgZUTy-KXz_OtQg9qZQYu4K0HCBIWyoCAQ03Cepx09celPwM/s1600/IMGP6548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXwPBzCc31unpua0Gd8Us-sghUugvpC-V65UqUhu8ArUV1SELlIGqgUJy3DecbegxEvq3OjGsLu16mM-1maRNWcjGSBaAgZUTy-KXz_OtQg9qZQYu4K0HCBIWyoCAQ03Cepx09celPwM/s640/IMGP6548.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4173743/mmsi:512000834/imo:7719492/vessel:KAWATIRI" target="_blank">dredge Kawatiri</a> enters the Grey River (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a pizza in town, we headed back to our unit to start re-packing our bags for the next day. <br />
<br />
Originally, when I was planning this holiday, I thought we would get the <a href="http://www.wildernesstrailshuttle.co.nz/" target="_blank">Wilderness Trail Shuttles</a> to transport our bags from one accommodation to the next, and then take the shuttle from Ross back to Greymouth. However, when I tried to book that, they told me that our plans didn’t fit their schedule, and we should think about packing “minimal” gear and taking it along on our bikes. I was not impressed. Moreover, the shuttle was due to leave Ross at 2pm, too early for our needs, we thought, and it would cost us $180! <br />
<br />
So we did a rethink: we would take the minimum of what we needed in our carry-alls (as we had done on our <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.com/2015/03/ebike-trip-to-nelson-region-part-1.html" target="_blank">Nelson Trip</a>), and leave the rest in the car. Then, after cycling the Trail, we would fold our bikes, pack them in their bags, and take the bus back from Hokitika to Greymouth. A much better deal, it turned out, as it only cost us the princely sum of $38 for both of us and our bikes! <br />
<br />
The only worry was: would we be able to keep our stuff dry if the forecast rain was going to be heavy? We took precautions by packing things inside zip-lock bags and we had large plastic rubbish sacks to cover our (not quite water-proof) carry-alls in case of rain. But as it happened, the rain stayed away for most of our time on the trail.Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540898492889262908.post-18954340216057038452018-05-01T01:05:00.000+12:002018-05-01T01:36:08.015+12:00Pencarrow<br />
Sunday 18 March was a perfect day – fine and calm – to bike to Pencarrow. We parked near the Eastbourne Wharf and biked the three kilometres to Burdan’s Gate, which is the start of the road to Pencarrow. <br />
<br />
Since it was such a beautiful day, the Burdan’s Gate Bike Shed was doing brisk business, with many people hiring bikes. This even caused a bit of a queue at the gate itself. <br />
<br />
There is a gate across the road entrance, but it is kept locked for ordinary mortals. You need special permission to be able to drive on the Pencarrow Road. So walkers and cyclists have to gain access through a narrow gate at the side. <br />
<br />
It really is a silly gate – very narrow, with a springloaded mechanism that keeps wanting to shut on you. It is so narrow, that you have to raise your bike on its rear wheel to get the handle bars over, rather than through, the gate. People with lightweight bikes did the smart thing by lifting their bikes over the main gate, but with the electric bikes (at 25 kg) this is not practical. <br />
<br />
It was a lovely ride. All along I kept thinking that we Wellingtonians are so lucky to have such a lot of different environments for biking, right on our doorstep, as it were. It is such a beautiful part of the coast — in fine weather, of course! <br />
<br />
As the road winds in and out of the many bays, we enjoyed the views of the different beaches. Some strewn with driftwood, some with just lots of seaweed, and some with beautiful but dangerous rocks. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0miraCQWX4IG4nif8eeI5j3z3_rtZKetLn2MlMmoaFJiIEvW91nKJNY88Q5Fu159nzr-0LCqaOnkTpbJ1Z_ZO_jJ8RT-HsJ0Oqp6zIJKPOptRd03So8x3B21RiToIsVgxNICNd_RJXA/s1600/P1060161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0miraCQWX4IG4nif8eeI5j3z3_rtZKetLn2MlMmoaFJiIEvW91nKJNY88Q5Fu159nzr-0LCqaOnkTpbJ1Z_ZO_jJ8RT-HsJ0Oqp6zIJKPOptRd03So8x3B21RiToIsVgxNICNd_RJXA/s400/P1060161.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaches strewn with driftwood (photo by John) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2zfSbxtmNNuNTvjfbr_9qLByOGIhxGizOkk5Pi7XzT_GrmUFVrf96rjdGRIavrClYyIFCBbEMCldeod6VpzoZzkbQEiyP9MMrLZgpS4T03qXI0Wxi8pNJ5E9cE0be-jAaBvBhCmIDLE/s1600/IMG_1783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2zfSbxtmNNuNTvjfbr_9qLByOGIhxGizOkk5Pi7XzT_GrmUFVrf96rjdGRIavrClYyIFCBbEMCldeod6VpzoZzkbQEiyP9MMrLZgpS4T03qXI0Wxi8pNJ5E9cE0be-jAaBvBhCmIDLE/s400/IMG_1783.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nature’s sculpture</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzTU-idbZt1pZBSeSNbxA98XUSp_WRKMntRT8_9p1O5Okd6p3Zz4gbb6Q2YrwCvqilBeYa9iLR61BgPvGhKOv9aqrC8RSuoXbypGF1h2ZsoGMnqrmqQE7nsmlxrxqn9_LB7LItUBAEak/s1600/P1060167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzTU-idbZt1pZBSeSNbxA98XUSp_WRKMntRT8_9p1O5Okd6p3Zz4gbb6Q2YrwCvqilBeYa9iLR61BgPvGhKOv9aqrC8RSuoXbypGF1h2ZsoGMnqrmqQE7nsmlxrxqn9_LB7LItUBAEak/s400/P1060167.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocks and seaweed (photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2e4nWRH3dDpeFteDOzmqAwe1HvJzC7ghj3DWg6hIoRfMDg7k9OzDXME7U1EK6Mwotrf0dr8dfNwiG_wpp6DTIIKqEXQbjrmsgd0B2j6r3t_3bBrlac1rdPh16CsANx7dmdBj2_YlqLbs/s1600/P1060168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2e4nWRH3dDpeFteDOzmqAwe1HvJzC7ghj3DWg6hIoRfMDg7k9OzDXME7U1EK6Mwotrf0dr8dfNwiG_wpp6DTIIKqEXQbjrmsgd0B2j6r3t_3bBrlac1rdPh16CsANx7dmdBj2_YlqLbs/s400/P1060168.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two Pencarrow lighthouses and the incoming ferry (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We rode beyond the lower lighthouse, and found that there was a new information panel that we hadn’t seen before. It provides details about some of the birds in the area – the <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/new-zealand-dotterel" target="_blank">dotterel</a> and the<a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/variable-oystercatcher" target="_blank"> oyster catcher </a>– and warns visitors not to disturb these birds’ habitats on the sandy beaches along this part of the coast. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna10xw_9RDEp0rqhYCKmd0cumQG12vMPOheLzgNbAMJkWernGIAejFCAgYD9JOD5tV5-TtD_qO7PEL-5I5uq6r1MsWbNAFQgbNsOo15yZ5qXoy1YMQPykk_SaDH2QJrYbVPNbiJ30UQk/s1600/P1060170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna10xw_9RDEp0rqhYCKmd0cumQG12vMPOheLzgNbAMJkWernGIAejFCAgYD9JOD5tV5-TtD_qO7PEL-5I5uq6r1MsWbNAFQgbNsOo15yZ5qXoy1YMQPykk_SaDH2QJrYbVPNbiJ30UQk/s400/P1060170.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new information panel (photo by John) </td></tr>
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We went as far as the entry to the Porangahau Lakes. The gate was locked, and there was no way to go up there unless you lifted the bikes over the gate. And the road ahead was very sandy, which makes it very skiddy, so we didn’t carry on any further. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5xJ6PWextH2t2yiW1MF3DBOJlmdXUJJ_GCWYbQ_Uyci3uYfrSY4ah0u0wJstTZvOl8Cw5oPc19gvVCJQ6G8yA8cTZE3f1Ut20ZcelOKQFS0LmDgZb1DjMpphEgdcwjZIjB-2zghKYII/s1600/P1060172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5xJ6PWextH2t2yiW1MF3DBOJlmdXUJJ_GCWYbQ_Uyci3uYfrSY4ah0u0wJstTZvOl8Cw5oPc19gvVCJQ6G8yA8cTZE3f1Ut20ZcelOKQFS0LmDgZb1DjMpphEgdcwjZIjB-2zghKYII/s400/P1060172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We’re not sure what the black framework is or was for, but it makes for a dramatic photo<br />
(photo by John) </td></tr>
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When we were on our way back and looked around, back at the lighthouse, we noticed that there was a big tourist bus pulling up at the lighthouse. We think it must have been a tour for people off the enormous cruise ship in port that day, <i>The Ovation of the Seas.</i> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40HCivCunNVsNsJ7iUG5Vv_FgtsmS9UnlyNgkKpyt36wzrkqQnLYWqKMJqDs-3v4tVD5dPYd8NfKxD2Srx7SP4Z5WvhFxjjh-vD3kuo5KAsI0t2Z_tW4cNc9eQJGnXQovIa-eqc7yu3U/s1600/IMG_1787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40HCivCunNVsNsJ7iUG5Vv_FgtsmS9UnlyNgkKpyt36wzrkqQnLYWqKMJqDs-3v4tVD5dPYd8NfKxD2Srx7SP4Z5WvhFxjjh-vD3kuo5KAsI0t2Z_tW4cNc9eQJGnXQovIa-eqc7yu3U/s400/IMG_1787.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt slightly offended at the idea of a tour bus bringing hordes of tourists here </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxPajPQkhvwXb6tiSj-VmIduxBumGHmtpzTpYb27Wcu2slvq62MHl9ddxOn4XAg2Pe_QbVd34QBf9XZRnMu85qcSKAKFsMO5VPIuqjFzQVuuJsdYcpz3DoAZmnUClO2tKPw6Ulsp33-I/s1600/P1060176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxPajPQkhvwXb6tiSj-VmIduxBumGHmtpzTpYb27Wcu2slvq62MHl9ddxOn4XAg2Pe_QbVd34QBf9XZRnMu85qcSKAKFsMO5VPIuqjFzQVuuJsdYcpz3DoAZmnUClO2tKPw6Ulsp33-I/s400/P1060176.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Ovation of the Seas</i> at the cruise ship terminal in Wellington, on the other side of the harbour<br />
(photo by John) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdmdKBMLQAVjrC6J3f4MyRM4Ty6Zzrj0oghRXF8JAXv2xGd16XD7S3kBulGE_aOOxu-U0XRcDntyeuQGUXbbLg4-sCAhh8Na4azSqDVPr6a8sdIO86M14VAkrw9TZdMDP1BrezChz2Z0/s1600/P1060175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdmdKBMLQAVjrC6J3f4MyRM4Ty6Zzrj0oghRXF8JAXv2xGd16XD7S3kBulGE_aOOxu-U0XRcDntyeuQGUXbbLg4-sCAhh8Na4azSqDVPr6a8sdIO86M14VAkrw9TZdMDP1BrezChz2Z0/s400/P1060175.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a beautiful coast! (photo by John) </td></tr>
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I thought that if we timed it right, we could waltz through the gate behind the bus instead of having to use the stupid bike gate. Then I thought, we should get to the Chocolate Dayz café before the bus disgorged all its passengers for lunch. But they took a long while at the lighthouse – perhaps they had a picnic lunch or something as part of the tour – and when the bus eventually sailed past us as we rode into Days Bay, it didn't even stop there. So we were able to score a table at the café. <br />
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After lunch we biked back to Eastbourne, where we had parked, and stopped at the dairy for an ice cream. While we were eating it in the sun, Gordon, a member of the Folding Goldies, stopped by us, and said he had just biked Pencarrow, right up to the end where the big rocks are, using <a href="http://dizzysfoldingbike.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/pencarrow-and-baring-head.html" target="_blank">my blog from November 2013</a> as a guide. It made me feel quite chuffed! <br />
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We got home at 2pm, having done 24 km, and I reached well over my 6,500 km on my bike. Yay!<br />
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<br />Desiree Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738912702576724017noreply@blogger.com0