Cycling and walking

It was another early start this morning - breakfast at 7:15am and on our bikes at 8:30am.  We had a really good ride for the first 22 kms to Lake Kaniere where we had morning tea.  Not long into the next section of the ride a light rain started, so we put our rain jackets on, thank goodness, as there was heavy rainfall not long before our lunch break.  The lovely couple at whose home we had dinner last night were at our lunch stop in a converted lifeboat and provided the most delicious minestrone soup, bread rolls, Dutch Stroopwafels, coffee and tea.

Whilst we were enjoying lunch and chatting, the guides loaded the bikes onto the trailer and after lunch we drove to the Hokitika Gorge, where we went for a walk along the gorge.  The water is a wonderful colour of blue, thanks to glacial flour.  It was good to stretch our legs and admire the beautiful, peaceful native bush along the well-marked trail.  After the walk we piled into the bus and drove back to the hotel.

Tonight we were able to go and sample one of the local restaurants.  L and K, our friends from Napier, booked a table at the Thai restaurant.  It was incredibly popular, serving customers in the restaurant itself and doing lots of takeaways.  We very much enjoyed our meal and afterwards walked back to the hotel together.  Then MrMacD and I walked back to take a photo of the Hokitika Clock Tower.  Now I’m sitting typing and fighting to keep my eyes open.  It’s been a very good day today.