Car loaded with the rest of my possessions that weren’t on a truck somewhere , I had a vague plan of seeing plenty of friends and family on the way south over a few weeks – with hopefully some time outdoors. Apart from that, I just had to make sure I was in Otago for an early family Christmas; not missing too many weekly venesections would be good too.
Mostly successful, I had an enjoyable couple of weeks catching up with many, seeing new places and some memorable meals – even if the weather didn’t always play nice. Patches of sun were few and far between in Wellington, but it was still easy enough to walk around exploring the city when I couldn’t summon the energy to get out riding or running.
Riding around the bays east of the city was a pleasant, if blowy, afternoon.
Some inadvertent hike-a-bike to get here.
Evening run up Mt Vic.
Actually got warm on this big walk – but perhaps because I was dressed for the previous weather, which I don’t have photos of.
I did get a cracking day for a delayed sailing across Cook Strait, and then had a lovely quiet drive down to Hokitika – where I caught up with the rain, three fairly solid days of it. But there was still plenty of biking, walking and jogging in the bush to be done. Only having ridden the West Coast Wilderness Trail way back in 2016 on Tour Aotearoa, and getting thoroughly soaked – I had been hoping to see it on a drier day. Alas, that will have to wait for another time – water being our constant companion for a fun afternoon ride on part of the trail.
Some shelter for a late lunch.
The following day proved even wetter, but out in the rain for a Mahinapua jog proved quite pleasant.
Sunday we managed a couple of hours walking through dense, lush and unsurprisingly green bush before the heavens broke for the last ten minutes or so. Weekend over and the weather did improve – I was pleased to be able to wait it out, as I was able on last year’s West Coast trip. Unusually windy, I was told, it was mercifully dry as we got up on the tops of the Kelly Range.
Towards Otira.
Plenty of Mt Cook lilies out.
Yup, blowing a gale up here.
Down the Taramakau valley to the Tasman.
I enjoyed getting up a bit higher and gaining more of an idea of the lay of some of the land.
Conveniently skipping the first afternoon and the big hike-a-bike section of Nina’s Tour Te Waipounamu training ride, I joined at Blackball for a cruisy and pleasant overnighter. It only rained for the first couple of hours, which was far better than expected on the wet drive north.
Some deserted forestry roads gave few views, save this one.
A strange collection of long-abandoned short lengths of wood.
Across Lake Brunner from Moana – tasty late-lunch stop.
The afternoon’s gravel riding, particularly around Bell Hill, was excellent – as was the easy ride down the valley to lovely Nelson Creek.
With route options aplenty but no firm decisions, I may have (foolishly?) mentioned I like a bit of creek riding – as per Waiuta-Big River. Access through a farm arranged, with handy pointers, we were off for Napoleon Hill.
Through the farm, heading for the beech forest.
A four-wheel drive track provided a suitable, but surmountable, challenge on loaded bikes before it plateaued across the top with plenty of big puddles – thankfully firm bases.
The descent to Nobles Creek got a lot chunkier, I had much fun bouncing down it.
Before long the track was the creek bed and it was excellent – the highlight of the trip for me. I was pleased that it was basically all rideable (the odd dab as rocks proved adept at enforcing sudden changes of direction) and, despite riding down a creek for kilometres, my feet stayed relatively dry until its volume had swollen somewhat when it joined the next creek.
The first of three tunnels – thankfully there was a bypass.
This one far more conducive to riding through.
Finding our way out through more farmland, we were soon whizzing down to the Grey Valley again before lunch in Ikamatua and the last section of seal south towards Blackball. Looking across the valley we could spot the hill we’d just climbed – the bicorne shape obvious. At Atarau we turned north and climbed to Anderson’s Flat – where, after another lovely section through native forest, we were pleased to see Nina’s truck where she’d left it. Much fun on that wee overnighter and it was interesting to take the longer route back to drive through some of the area we’d just ridden and see it from a different perspective.
Thursday and my time on the Coast drew to an end with one last run around the Kaniere Water Race (fascinating following it through the bush) and a tasty Hokitika Sandwich – reputation deserved. With little (/no) tourist traffic around, I’d decided it was a good time to drive down the coast (also first visit since that wet section on TA16) and stay a couple of nights near Wanaka – more people to visit and biking to be done.
I had a few stops on the way down to go for short walks, well worth breaking the drive up.
In Hawea in good time that evening, I was promptly lent a bike and was out exploring some rather hidden, and more technical than I’m currently used to, trails. Over-preparing perhaps for Friday at the relatively new MTB park at Glendhu.
Climbing to the high point over an hour, I enjoyed passing and staying ahead of e-bikes – but was beginning to wonder if the entry fee was worth it for what is still a developing trail network. Admittedly, the views alone were almost worth it.
No sooner had I pointed my bike downhill, I found fast, flowy trails – so, much, fun! I particularly enjoyed one with a few more natural, rock features. After a couple of hours, I headed down to the base for lunch and a nap on a shaded beanbag as the day warmed and the wind increased. Recharged a little, I was able to get back up the hill for more fun. Excellent – can’t wait to get back there with some riding buddies.
Having timed the Glendhu riding well, Saturday was fairly bleak – perfect for many more catch-ups and excessive amounts of food. In the end, it was only two weeks of much visiting and fun outside before I made it down to family. Great to make it and see them after six months filled with all sorts of changes! Thankfully I was able to book a venesection soon after, as the iron overload fatigue seems to be returning – although, who can really say what other factors may be at play?