Dreich

We started the morning at 8:30am when all but two of us boarded the bus and set off for the Westcoast Treetop Walk.  It wasn’t particularly warm and it was drizzling, but the walk high up among the tree tops was spectacular. We could see Lake Mahinapua through the mist, but the trees, orchids, lichens, mosses and ferns were the stars.  After the walk we drove back to the hotel to pick up the two who didn’t do the walk, having done it previously.  From there we drove to the camping ground just past Lake Kaniere, where we organised ourselves and our bikes in the pouring rain and set off on the trail where we diverted from it yesterday.  We followed a gravel road for 10kms then a sealed road for a further 2kms, then we had a switchback climb for 6kms followed by a further 12kms to our lunch stop.  Along the way we came across a place called Cowboy Paradise, which is like an old West film set (except for the vehicle and bikes!). Amazingly the rain stopped while we had a delicious packed lunch prepared with love by the lovely couple who provided dinner on Monday night and lunch yesterday. After lunch we had a 20kms ride to Kumara.  The world-renowned Coast to Coast race, which is held every February, starts on the West Coast, at Kumara Beach and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast with the finish at the Pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.

We are staying in the Theatre Royal Hotel and, after a lovely hot shower and changing into clean clothes, we joined some of the others for a drink before dinner.  We had pre-ordered as we arrived off the trail so service was quick and the food delicious. We are in the Barbara Weldon room.  Barbara was an interesting resident of the town who came to a rather gruesome end.  After dinner we all headed for our rooms and an early night.  I wasn’t able to blip as my photos hadn’t uploaded properly to my iPad, so I’ll post in the morning before breakfast.

We cycled 50kms today, the longest day we’ll do. Despite the rain it was a great ride through beautiful native bush, with wonderful atmospheric views of mist-covered hills.  Of course, as soon as we arrived at Kumara the sun came out!! It has been another good day.

Apologies for not having dipped into blip journals, there just hasn’t been time.