South Island

Wednesday 11^th January

Blenheim 0kms

Arrived at Gordon and Sue’s on Tuesday night at 7.45pm after biking from Picton to Blenheim the previous night. Great pizza in the bbq pizza oven and then had birthday cake with Grace and Emily.  Spent the morning at Gordon’s on Wednesday and had numerous cups of tea, went to the bike shops and relaxed. Gordon ferried our bags to Donna’s around 2pm and I went to the supermarket, where Donna surprised me by picking me up. Went to Donna’s and saw Ben and Emily and Ben’s friend Finn. Mike was working in Wellington. Had a nice evening catching up.

 Thursday  12^th January

Blenheim to Kowhai Point 77kms into a strong head wind – took 11 hours!

Set off at 8.30am for Kowhai Point Camping, up the Wairau Valley. Massive strong head wind! Had a welcome stop at Renwick for a coffee after only 3kms. Onward up to the vineyards and Wairau Valley – thought we would never arrive! Desperate to stop as the wind was very strong by now. 

Ridiculously strong. Had lunch at a rest area by the cemetery and were keen to have a break from the wind so went to the pub for a cup of tea. It was a bit thrown together but the kids enjoyed the darts.

Put our heads down for several more hours, climbing higher in the valley and at least it was spectacular. The rain was ahead of us in the mountains and we managed to stay behind it all the way. 

The traffic and road works were trying with all the Christchurch traffic and trucks diverted from the Kaikoura earthquake. Came to some long straits that were very trying and there was just nowhere to stop out of the wind. Ended up sitting on a road barrier for a break. Earlier Lucy and I had huddled in a little bus shelter trying to get out of the wind. It really was an extremely trying day. At one point near the end, a Fastways truck beeped its horn aggressively and drove me off the road and its strap hit Hugh’s arm. Really appalling considering they are not intended to be on that road themselves in normal times.

We came round to see the rest area sign at Kowhai Point at 8pm and were very grateful to retreat into the lovely camp area, finding a nice spot with a table. Gorgeous evening there with a beautiful sunset at the river and then the moon rose and it was really lovely there. Still concerned about the wind for the next 17kms to the Rainbow turnoff, but slept well after a hard, hard day.

Friday 13^th January

Kowhai Point DOC Campsite to Connors Creek Hut 43kms

Got up and away and braced through the 17kmsto the Rainbow turnoff. Made good progress but climbed steadily and it was a bit threatening at the start weatherwise, still with the strong NW wind blowing at us. Cleared to a beautiful day, though there had been rain overnight and a lot of evidence of it up the valley.

Climbed the big hill up to the Rainbow turnoff – which was a bit unexpected as we hoped we could cut across. Got into the valley and it was wonderful to turn out of the wind and have it behind us. Also pleased that the road was sealed for the first 17kms to the Rainbow Skifield turn-off. The road climbed but it was gentle and through gorgeous forest and the valley appearing above us.

Had lunch amongst sandflies at the ski-field turn-off. Quite hot by this stage and had wet feet from the first fords. Nice to have a stop.

Started onto the gravel straight after lunch and it was pretty rough and a bit hard going in places with some gnarly fords.  Started climbing a bit and it was quite hot but we made good progress towards the homestead. Lucy and I were going up a gravel hill and suddenly the hub gave out and the whole thing crapped out. Yes – in the middle of the Rainbow! Total disaster really. 

So we tried a few things and then faced the reality of how to deal with it. Swapped the wheels over and tried free-wheeling down the hills but it didn’t work on the flat so we got to the homestead where the toll was collected and then walked on. Had decided to try to walk to Hanmer (84kms) in desperation, knowing there was no other easy way out of Blenheim. Weekend approaching complicated things further.

We were chatting to a person at the gate when a man we had met earlier with a horse float approached us again. He and his sister were about to go horse trekking and he said to take his vehicle and sort it out. We were utterly over-whelmed. It was too good to be true but he insisted so we drove him up to the Connor’s Creek Hut (1km) and unloaded their gear while Sue, his sister, brought up the three horses. Made some arrangements and said goodbye and drove back to the horse floats. Packed up the bikes into the horse float – minus the busted wheel and set off back to Blenheim.

I will admit that it was an utter feeling of relief to get in a car and be moving and even further relief when Donna texted back near Wairau Valley and said we could stay and that dinner was sorted!

Exhausted from stress when we arrived at 8pm and it was great to see Mike who was back from Wellington and to have a gin and tonic and a bbq and relax. Great to be there and not walking up the Rainbow Valley but a bit unnerving to have the bikes left up there and uncertainty about the repairs.

Slept soundly after a huge day!

 Saturday 14^th January

Out early to the Bike Fit shop and Gordon met us there with some wine for the 4wd owner, Mike, which was very thoughtful of him. The mechanic was there and soon pulled the hub apart, cleaned it out and it was good to go again. Very relieved.

Packed up swiftly at Donna’s and said goodbye again. Drove up the valley stopping only for a gourmet pie and Lucy had a real fruit icecream at the caravan before Kowhai Point. Very entertaining and memorable.

So arrived back at the horse float about 2pm (two hour drive from Blenheim), reassembled the bikes and John went for a ride – and clunk, clunk, clunk – it was no better!! We couldn’t believe it! It was beautiful up the valley with a tail wind so just heart-breaking! John pulled the hub apart another ten or twelve times before giving up. By now we were conscious of needing to have the truck back to Mike by Sunday night, ready for him coming out on Monday.

So some decisions to be made and frustrated by being no further forward. We returned to Blenheim once more.

Donna and Mike were great and had us back and Gordon and Sue keen to help as well. Wine and fish and chips made things better but still very stressed about the whole thing and doubtful of a solution – especially being Sunday the next day. Even thinking we would go back, get Mike to come with us, get the bikes, pack them and bus around to Christchurch. So few options with the Kaikoura road being closed. Lots of restlessness about the outcomes and also worried about Lucy’s impending birthday.

Sunday 15^th January

Rainbow Homestead – Lake Sedgemere Sleepout  20kms

So Sunday dawned and we went to Gordon’s for a cup of tea until the bike shop opened at 10am. We were very  pleased to find Bike Fit open on a Sunday and the mechanic was there and a bit mystified like we were about the repairs. After some investigation with the wheel on another bike – and no luck with it – we looked together at new wheels and were incredulous when he produced one that was exactly what we needed – not as good as our one – but would suffice! $140 well spent.

In disbelief we returned to Gordon’s to say goodbye and returned to Donna’s and packed up and had a cup of tea – and left – again.

Drove right up the valley, reassembled the bikes once more with our friendly Angus bull again in residence – and this time the bike worked!! We were elated.

Drove up to Lake Sedgemere in the truck – which took some time – and dropped all our bags in the sleepout when we found it was empty. We really were delighted. The road looked hilly in parts but not too bad. So we left the wine and a note for Mike and Sue, locked up the car, and were on our way. It was a great feeling of freedom after all the drama and the tail wind and good weather was prevailing.

Got to Lake  Sedgemere about 7pm after about two hours of lovely riding – spectacular in fact. Nice evening with Jo and Eve from England who we met and a great feeling to go to sleep in the hut with two functional bikes outside.

Monday 16^th January

Lake Sedgemere to Hamner Springs 58kms

Woke up to a howling wind that seemed to be cold and southerly – very strong – so we were a bit depressed. Had a nice chat with Eve and Jo over breakfast and packed up, leaving about 9am. Stiff head-wind that was very strong and trying for the first few kms and then our chain broke as well but repaired that quickly.

Turned the corner heading to the pass, which was about 11kms past the hut and the wind changed a bit. Still quite strong and gusty on the pass and couldn’t ride the last parts to the pass at all. Great to get to the Island Saddle. Had to be careful down the other side but certainly felt that we were finally going to make Hanmer. Lovely lunch and rest at the river and then a long afternoon on corrugated gravel, mostly downhill and still a tail wind which was great.

Arrived to Jack’s Pass and Hanmer elated at about 6pm. The kids and I went straight to the hot pools for an hour and then all had dinner at Robbie’s for Lucy’s birthday. It was wonderful. Back to the pines Campground and bed about 9pm with a great feeling of relief.

Tuesday 17^th January

Hanmer Springs to Christchurch – a massive 134kms!!

Got up pretty motivated to make hay while the tail wind shines. Had a gorgeous breakfast at the Power House for Lucy’s birthday between 8 and 9am and then went for it to get to Christchurch. A bit of a big call on Lucy’s birthday at 134kms! Stopped at the Hurunui Pub café for tea, scones, drinks and icecream! Lovely. Then on to Waikari over some big hills for lunch in the howling norwester. Then a massive and sensational descent to Waipara after the Weka Pass and finally to the norwester Café in the heat and wind at Amberley.

On to Kaiapoi which was straightforward and then to the North South Airport Holiday Park, arriving about 7pm. Not bad for 134kms. We ate a lemonade popsicle in the camp shop as we were very hot and dehydrated.

Nachos and birthday cake outside at the camp for Lucy’s birthday – felt very pleased with ourselves for making up one of our lost days and for getting back out of isolation.

Happy 15^th Birthday Lucy. It has certainly been a memorable one!

Wednesday 18^th January

Christchurch to Ashburton 86kms

All forecasts were for a weather bomb north of Ashburton and everyone was warning us so made a quick getaway and fast progress to Ashburton in drizzle and a bit of rain. Very poor conditions but elated to get here about 3pm. Very fast in the tail wind, and against all predictions the bomb didn’t arrive.

Difficult traffic around the airport to Hornby. Had a toasted sandwich at Templeton to save stopping later. Only stopped again at the Dunsandel Store where we had lunch at midday – it rained heavily just as we got there so that was good timing as we sheltered there for an hour or so.

Lovely relaxed evening in Ashburton feeling good to get there and be inside for the bad weather, which did come in the middle of the night with heavy rain and all roads north are now closed, save the Rainbow Valley – which seems ironic!

Thursday 19^th January

Ashburton 0kms

Rest day. Didn’t take much to convince us not to go to Fairlie with gale westerlies and terrible forecast. Windy all day. Lunch at Nosh which was lovely. Tv, computer, cups of tea and good food at Catherine and David’s. Alanna here too. Town. Really great to be here and have a rest after some long stressful days.