4th October Nelson – St Arnauad 89km
Well today was a long day. We didn’t leave until 9am as it
was raining before that. We managed
about 1.5hrs before it started again but more like drizzle than anything
heavy. The ride itself followed SH6 for
quite away but we passed the last shop after 30km so we had to make sure we had
everything for the day. Once off the
highway the road was quiet except for the odd logging truck. Low cloud obscured the views so no photos
today plus the road climbed about 1000m and we finished 700m higher than we
started so little downhill. At one point
we heard several gun shots close by, it turned out to be a firing range Nelson
Pistol Club, the car park was full of police cars. I guess they were having a play so I didn’t
go and see if I could join in.
The logging was all the way along the climb and signs stated
planting began in 1929 now that’s a long term investment!
We finally got to St Arnaud at 4.30pm totally worn out! The local shop was so expensive $40 but a few
groceries for dinner. The big bonus off
the day though was the lady who ran the hostel is a cycle guide in the summer
so she helped us plan the next week or so.
Thanks Marilyn!
Next 2 days are downhill so lie in tomorrow.
October 5th St Arnaud – Murchinson 60km
Really nice hostel ‘St Arnaud Travers Sabine Lodge’
everything you would expect plus a drying room and everything was just a little
nicer than most $26 each for a bunk room but the room we had only had 2 bunks
so ideal.
Left about 9.50am and had sunshine all day with an almost
all downhill route and no wind or even a slight tailwind at times. Stopped for a picnic, then again for a coffee
before reaching town at about 2.30pm. We
bought groceries and oil for the bikes then set up camp at Riverside Motor Camp. All the facilities but the kitchen is run
down a bit dirty, also $2 for a shower making it $28 for the night. Not to worry though as there is hardly
anybody here and we have the tv room to ourselves.
Maria on one of Coventry's finest, along way from home!
100km tomorrow so any early start, should be still a
downhill trend and the forecast is good so fingers crossed.
Just to add that this place has several kitchens we’ve found
out, the one we used was away from the main area so maybe didn’t get used
much. Not sure of the condition of the
others but wouldn’t rule this place out for the night.
October 6th Murchinson – Westport 101km
Earlyish start but had to stop at the store to buy
travelling food. Nice and sunny today
but still cold in the morning. Now the
road follows the Buller River (we have followed from source to sea the last 2
days) all the way to the coast so a nice downhill run in theory but it actually
has several small but steep climbs and lots of undulating sections with just
too much up to be able to stay in the big gear.
The locals said there is only a small café about 40mins drive from
Murchinson and that’s it, so I guest that to be around 40ish km and decided
that would be lunch. As it turned out
the café was at 52km so just over halfway.
Great place with good prices and lovely food, I went for a burger
followed by Hokey Pokey ice cream, nice and healthy. The next 50km was very
similar to the first but flattened near the end, a headwind picked up from
about 30km out but as the road was still downhill at that point didn’t slow us
too badly.
As it turned out the day could have been divided up easily,
there were campsites and backpackers hostels before, after and in Inangahua
Junction where the café is. The campsite
before was a DOC site and the name of the last hostel is Berlin, the one in the
town looked more like a home stay but advertised backpackers.
Didn’t get much time to look around Westport, maybe
tomorrow. We are staying in Bazil’s
Hostel $30 for a tent site but using all facilities. Fairly busy, not a lot of room for the tent
but clean and in the centre of town.
There are a couple of other options but to be honest we couldn’t be
bothered to search around tonight.
One other thing to mention is that you may of spotted the head
of a bear sticking out of my backpack and a little frog on the front of my
bike. Well Ed the polar bear is Maria’s
and he has been travelling with her for over 11 years so he is better travelled
than me! How I ended up caring him I am
not too sure but he is there every day unless it is raining.
The frog ‘Freddie’ I found when cycling up the foothills
from Santa Barbra. I guess he had fallen
from a car window and was lying face down on the side of the road. He seems to fit nicely behind the brake
cables of my bike although he now has an elastic seatbelt. He is far less argumentative than Maria,
never answers back or moans and always has a big grin on his face J
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