Day 18- Kaikoura to Christchurch 49 kms of riding
Today was an early start to the day once again at 6.39 am wake up and breakfast at 7.00am for a 7.30 am start on the van ride up state highway number 1 to Waikuku which is about 160 kms . The start was delayed a bit for us to get coffee and a cake. The early part of the road trip was along the coast where the road engineering was tested with the geography and natural order being in an earthquake region.
Early on the ride we stopped on the beach
Me on the swing bridge near where we had lunch
Me riding on the trail
At lunch at Waikuku
Some boats on the canal near where we had lunch
After this the road started to flatten out as we entered the Marlborough plains region where there were many wineries. Marlborough is well known as a world class region for wines.
We stopped again along the way for petrol and the obligatory coffee ahead of starting the ride at Waikuku .Chris had a friend Gerry meet us for the Pegasus ride into Christchurch.
The ride was along gravel roads and tracks for most of the way but getting closer to Christchurch we were on sealed roads and bike paths.
We stopped for lunch in a lovely cafe Kaiapoi where we met another of Chris’s friends Ray who rode with us to Chris’s home in Christchurch. At this Gerry left us to return home.
We arrived at the destination at around 3.30 pm and celebrated with a communal hug of achievement for all the riding we have done over the almost 3 week period of the trip.
After a cup of tea Chris and I showered and went to dinner at his daughters home where I met his grandchildren Lilly and Tyler. The family meal was great and it was good to get into grandpa mode again.
After dinner it was home to Chris’s house where I am now doing the blog.
The only downside of today was the fact that Rob and I have been “eaten alive” by mosquitoes or some bugs and have been itching all day
I have tried some ointment from the chemist to get some relief but frankly it is of minimal effect
It is somewhat sad that the rides have finished but the reward of doing what we have done as a group will live with us for the rest of our lives.
Special thanks to Chris for making this happen… more about this in a later blog
Early on the ride we stopped on the beach
Me on the swing bridge near where we had lunch
Me riding on the trail
At lunch at Waikuku
Some boats on the canal near where we had lunch