The Road Home

Friday 20^th January

Ashburton to Glenavy  146kms

We departed Ashburton before 8.30am and made fast progress south, stopping briefly at Hynds and Ealing. Had a proper stop at the Orari Café which was great. Went to the supermarket in Temuka and then had lunch in the Timaru Botanical Gardens. Gorgeous day with a slight tail wind.

Made it to St Andrews after a coffee and the kids had an ice-cream at the Pareora Tearooms. It was going on about 4pm at this point. Rode on down all the way to Glenavy, arriving about 7.30pm! gorgeous ride but all exhausted. Had a shower and cooked pasta for dinner which we had outside with an outdoor heater and music speakers which was great. Had a really fun time there.

Met some milk workers who told us about the milk factory – certainly a day of cow smells and effluent! Lots of flooding in evidence from the storm the day before.

Saturday 21^st January

Glenavy Waitaki River Motor Camp to 23 Mopanui St, Purakaunui  139kms

Another huge day. Made a good departure at 8.15am and got to Oamaru quickly where we picked up groceries and had a good visit with Angela. Left again about  11am and rode out to Kakanui  - truly gorgeous ride. Really stunning. Did come to the closed road and had to detour back, but it wasn’t major. Had a very nice stop at the restaurant at Kakanui.

Carried on down the coast to Waianakarua and it clouded over about then and became a bit chilly at times. Seemed a bit slow going at times but soon ticked off Hampden, where we had an ice cream, and then the Moeraki turnoffs, Shag Point and Palmerston. Rode on to Waikouaiti, arriving about 6pm. Had made the decision about Kakanui that we might continue on to Dunedin, based on the weather bomb forecast for very heavy rain the following day – all day.

Had fish and chips at Waikouaiti and then raced to Karitane, bracing ourselves for the Kilmog. It was hard and long, but nothing compared to the hill over to home. Elated to get to Waitati. John changed the brake pads by the gallery there and we chatted to the lady and then started up the hill. Took a bit to muster the energy to get to the intersection, and then after that it was so steep that we couldn’t even ride and had to push! Almost dark when we got to the end of the steep hills and absolutely dark by the ecosanctuary. Stopped there to put on coats in the mist and drizzle.

The descent to home was something else. 10pm at night and a bit dark and hard to see, even with the lights. But also incredibly exciting to be getting home after 36 days on the road. Arrived in at 10.40pm utterly exhausted but elated.

Sunday 22^nd January

23 Mopanui St, Purakaunui   0kms  Rest day.

Satisfying to wake up to heavy rain, more heavy rain, and further heavy rain. Not sure we would have been able to leave Waikouaiti in it, let alone ride over the Kilmog and Blueskin hills.

Spent the day relaxing, reading the paper, booking for the next few days for Balclutha, Gore and Bluff. Went to Barry and Tracy’s. Hugh glad to see Tama and great to catch up.  We are all looking forward to concluding the journey. Not long to go …