Downhill in the end

Springs Junction to Reefton

45km (in the wrong direction)

Two cups of tea and an oaty bar... Breakfast of champions. Away at 8 for the short (and, it turns out, brief) ride to 'Quartzopolis'. First off, 6km steady ascent to Rahu Saddle in the morning chill shade of the beech forest. With fully charged battery, both personal and bicycle, Marg shot off up the hill at 15kph; I had to use the Trail setting to keep up with her. A brief pause for a photo, and a second halfway for a breather saw us at the saddle by 8:40... Pause for the obligatory photo and to don a windproof shirt for the descent.

And what a descent. After agreeing that some restraint was required, swmbo declared that 40kph was a sensible limit and off we set. I've never before gone 6km without having to turn a pedal! Even the bits that looked flat were downhill, and the uphills were flat. Very little (and very courteous) traffic meant we could just enjoy the ride. Very glad for the shirt: by halfway my thumbs were numb; by the river flats at the bottom of the forest I was in full Renaud's Syndrome mode, with frozen toes to boot (sorry!). Of course, the boss had a ready reason why the 48kph clocked at one point was perfectly acceptable...

The remaining ride into Reefton was just as easy if rather less exhilarating. We were in the tourist information office before 10:45; 30kph moving average recorded on MMR.

Mindful of our loose arrangement with Rod we went straight to our accommodation to start rationalizing our gear to 'summer night in a DOC hut' essentials, and everything else. There being no-one in the office, while Marg texted Rod I took my bike round to the courtyard and began sorting. When Marg reappeared she had the manager in tow, and had already elicited the offer for her to drop our bags at Ikamatua! Mega result!! Kiwis are almost universally generous of spirit.

Said accommodation is the Nurses Home Guest House, kind of a co-living place with some longer term residents. It's recently been bought by a local, family owned, drilling company as staff/contractor quarters. It used to be called the Old Nurses Home, but I guess, like me, they didn't know any old nurses😁. 

Once again we've lucked into brilliant backpackery type lodgings, very bike friendly. Locked bike store, washdown hose, even some basic tools and a pump provided. A must for anyone doing the TA...

Rod joined us for a cold drink and chippies and a good kiwi chinwag about his MTB exploits around the country. This morning he'd driven up to the start of the Big River track and taken his bike up to the hut and back. Invaluable current, on the ground information and reassurance for Marg.

Also staying here are Guyon and Robin, who Rod told us about yesterday, and they met Sally and Nick at Maruia last night, and knew all about us. A little community of mad cyclists...