A DAY OF TWO HALVES

Tuesday 3rd March 2009

Day 3: Cob Cottage to Blenheim

Well the Doc Ranger told us it was only 100km to Blenheim - HE WAS WRONG!
The day started well - nice rolling down- dulating riding. (just as riding should be)
When we reached our 1st biggish hill climb we were greeted by some real life cowboys (Molesworth musterers) on horses & lots of dogs in tow... I found this extremely exciting given my love for anything cowboy!
After 50km into the ride & alot of up & down hills we had 20kms left before we hit sealed road, & as luck would have it we were lucky enough to come around a corner to find that the last 2okm of road had just been laid with fresh shingle! You have to be joking!
The going was very slow & very hard especially on the up hills & extremely dangerous on the downs...
The single was freshly graded & had not yet been packed down by cars so our wheel were sinking into it.
At the 70km point of the journey & an extremely long hill climb we finally reached sealed road - ahhhhhh ... what a treat!
The day was getting late & we were both starting to feel very tired by this stage but we though the turn off for Taylor's pass must be close so we headed down the lovely flat road passing rows & rows of newly develop vineyards.
Now 89km into the ride & there were the 1st tears of the trip (day3 - Not bad?) The tears were from me (not Scott in case you were wondering?) , they were tears of exhaustion & hunger - my world was closing in very black all around me!
We finally reached Taylor's Pass Road (95km) to fins the sign post telling us it was another 26km to Blenheim (26km on a loaded mtn bike is actually quite a long way when you are exhausted!)
We decided we were both to knackered to carry on as we were unaware of just how bigger pass Taylor's pass was so we decided to turn back & ride the 4km back to a reserve we had passed earlier & called the reserve home for the night.
Dinner was Rice Risotto tonight & we only just had enough gas in the cooker to cook tea - no hot drinks tonight! It was touch & go there for a while!

RIDE TIME: 5:45 hours
DISTANCE: 99km
AVERAGE SPEED:17.1km/ hours
TOTAL TIME FROM A TO B: 8.15
TOTAL ASCENT: 1145mtrs

CHAFING

Monday 2nd March 2009

Day 2: Archeron to Cob Cottage

I have chafing - Ouch!
Today started at 7am - neither of us sleep very well last night, Scott because of the strong after dinner coffee he had & myself - I think I was just a little unsettled.
We were woken a lot through out the night by various animals - possums on tin roofs, a wild pig running through the campsite squealing at the top of it lungs & not to mention the birds!!
Who said nature was quiet & peaceful place !
Hit the road 8:30am - today we are biking through the Molesworth Station the next camping spot is 60km away so we have a descent day of riding ahead.
The road through the molesworth was alot rougher than we both were anticipating so the riding was much slower.
They are currently lying broad band cable through the center of the road so the road had been dug up making riding a little harder than it should have been.
Scott got his 1st puncture 36km into the day, while he was fixing it we heard the roar of motorbike & weer visited by 'Top of the south' riders (Andre & Jason) they were kind enough to stop & check we were OK before heading off on there way to Hamner.
50km in& only 10km to go to the campsite & we had to cross a Ward pass - Can't be too hard we said to each other and then we saw it! 1.7km - 200mtr altitude hill climb - brutal!
Scott being the power machine he is managed to ride the entire hill - myself I opted to pushing after only making it half way.
Meet another cycle tourist at the top of Ward Pass he was heading to Ch Ch, Scott befriended him & invited him in to C4 for a coffee when he gets back to town.
We arrived at the Cob Cottage campsite to find we were the only people again at the campsite so we took the opportunity to heat some water & have a sponge bath 'Ah La Natural' in the wild, very invigorating for the body & mind to do things like that, not to mention how nice it felt to remove a layer of dust off the bodies.
Now several other campers have arrived so looks like we will be sharing the campsite tonight!

Tomorrow we have a 100km bike ride to Blenheim, we are not sure we will make the full 100km in a day - I guess time will tell.
Both sets of legs are feeling very weary tonight so will just see how the day goes tomorrow?

Both of us are looking forward to our sleeping bags tonight.

RIDE TIME: 4.19 Hours
DISTANCE: 60.40 Km
AVERAGE SPEED: 13.90 km/hour
TOTAL TIME FROM A TO B: 6 hours
TOTAL ASCENT: 845mtrs

Banana's don't travel well on bumpy gravel road! eek

CRUEL START

Sunday 1st March 2009

Day 1: Hamner Springs to Archeron Accommodation

With our bellies full of pies & chocolate & custard scrolls thanks to the delicious Hamner Bakery we begun our 1st cycle touring week together...
Within 30 seconds & absolutely no practise ride, riding fully loaded bikes we were heading up our 1st hill - Jacks Pass (6km climb) for those who are familiar with Jacks pass you would agree it is a tough climb at the best of times!
1 hour later we arrived at th pleased that part of the trip was over & it was only 20km to the campsite on undulating gravel road.
2.7km into the hill climb we had our 1st technical difficulty - the trailer unhooked itself snapping the saftey cabel - but thanks to
Scott handy work we were back on the road in no time.From the saddle to Archeron the road was undulating & easy riding, we had strong NW wind that helped push us along.
We were the only campers at Archeron so got the pick of the camp spots.
The weather was beautifully mild & the wind had died down making it the perfect evening for our 1st night cycle touring camping.
The sunset tonight was amazing so Scott & I wondered up a hill after dinner to check it out.
The only downside is the SANDFLIES!!
Gourmet dinner tonight of homemade Spag Bol - delicious!
After dinner we had our 1st History lesson for the week - The camp site is next to a historic cottage 'Archeron Accomidation Hut' this hut was built in 1886 using the materials of Dung/ Straw/ Clay & water
The hut is where musterers would stay while moving stock to Canterbury flat for stock sales.
2 1/2 shillings would get them a bed, Hot meal, stable for the horse & hood feed!
Quite Reasonable we thought?

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY:
- Everything we read about wildlife safety is telling us we need to be vocal while riding so not to startle the animals- I need to start practising biking up hills & singing & trying to breathe!! Most of the hill climbs I am struggling to breathe let along sing!!

- The sandflies tonight while cooking dinner gave me a great idea for a pair of pants... might have to develop these when I get back?

RIDE TIME: 2:01.54
DISTANCE: 26:44km
AVERAGE SPEED: 13km/hour
TOTAL TIME FROM A TO B: 2:30 Hours

Survived the 1st day - No worries!