No cycling

After breakfast a group of us joined our guides and drove a short distance to The Truman Track, which led us through beautiful native bush to a glorious, pristine beach. One of our guides was the first to walk on the beach this morning. The waves were rolling in and there was even a rainbow. It was a lovely way to start the day. 

Back at the hotel we collected our bags and they were loaded onto the bus for the last time. We drove to Greymouth where we stopped for coffee and one of the party left the group. The forecast was for rain and when the guides asked for a show of hands as to who wanted to cycle it was a unanimous “no”. Instead we stopped at the Brunner Mine Memorial and, of course, the rain started as soon as we left the bus so it was only a brief stop. In 1896 65 coalmine workers were killed in a single explosion because safety wasn’t a priority. 

We had lunch at Platform 40 Eatery and Bar right across the track from the Moana Train Station where three of the group were catching the TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch. The rest of us continued back to Christchurch in the bus with the guides.  It was very wet, misty and cold as we drove across the Southern Alps but when we crossed to the eastern side the rain stopped for a while, that is until we drove back into rain, hail and even sleet. It was a very wet drive back to Christchurch.

After checking into our motel we had a hot shower, changed and walked to the Zodiac Restaurant where we met our two friends from Napier and their three friends who also did the cycle trip.  We had a very pleasant evening, said our goodbyes, parted company and walked back to our motel.

I won’t be able to blip until we get home tomorrow as my photos haven’t uploaded properly to my iPad.

And I still haven’t dipped into blip journals, as there just hasn’t been time.