Sunday, 16 March 2014

Every Mountain Bikers Dream - Coffee and Cake in the Wilderness

Monday    

     We awoke to a bleak and rainy day in Christchurch with the rain just letting up long enough for us to pack up the Hilux. Unbeknownst to us the rainy day turned into once in a century storms that caused wide spread flooding throughout the city made worse by the earthquake having caused many suburbs to sink by up to half a metre.

     The weather got progressively nicer as we headed north and by the time we reached Havelock it was a beautiful day. After some confusion over the water taxi that had been organised to transport of our gear we left our bags and a wad of cash with the very helpful Rick at the Havelock marina and headed out to Shag Point to drop the cars and begin the bike into Nydia Bay


Havelock to Nydia Bay - 27km


Getting ready to ride, Sue and Julie elected to hike into Nydia Bay. The weather began to close in, fortunately all we got was a a few spots of rain - our luck was holding. 

Juilian gave us a bit of a fright by tumbling about 5m off the side of the very steep trail, he was a bit battered and bruised but felt well enough to get back on his bike and continue with the ride.

Kees directing traffic and telling relived riders that this is the end of the 1st uphill section.


Phil and Alice joined the group at Havelock

The ride into Nydia Bay was along a beautiful if somewhat narrow walking track cut into the side of very steep terrain and involved a fair amount of the well known sport of hike-a-bike





Down on the flat on the last leg into Nydia Bay


On The Track Lodge was a welcome sight at the end of a long day of travel
Apparently this is good for our bikes ( something to do with seals and oil I think ), if nothing else it was a neat way to park our bikes.




Upon arrival we were greeted by our hosts Duncan, Tom and Norma and were treated to a lovely afternoon tea of cake and coffee in the sunshine. 


 Fe the lovely door bell at On The Track
We celebrated Alices birthday in style


Sue was awarded the Sacred Tiki for acts of great kindness - Julie tells us Sue cleared much of the track of dangerous branches and rocks on the walk into Nydia Bay

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