Heidi & Squeak's New Zealand MTB Trip

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:00 pm

We were all in a good mood and happy to be alive after Black Friday. Today we drove to Nelson in the pouring rain. I have never seen it rain so hard for so longs. Derek, Mark and I bought new raincoats and we ate at some weird place. Brian got some sort of odd food that we dared him to eat and the waitress laughed at how weird we are. In New Zealand they do things different. Most of the time you order and pay at the front counter and they give you a number. Then they ring your number and you go up and get your food. This was pretty odd to us as we are used to them taking our order at our table, and bringing us a check. We walked around and checked out the city, discovered the wonderful world of Picnic candy bars, and left for dryer land. We drove to Kaiterteri, which is a TINY village right outside the entrance to Abel Tasman National Park. This was truly paradise. The beaches are so pretty and the vegetation so lush.

We ate dinner and drank at the Beached Whale while the NZ Air Force sang karaoke.

Here is Squeak trying to eat what we call "Spoogebake".

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:00 pm

The next day we suited up and went kayaking in the National Park. The weather was perfect and we were all in good spirits. A boat took us and our kayaks up the sea 18kms and over the course of the day we paddled back. We stopped at several beaches to eat and rest. We checked out the seals and penguins, and swam in the sea. We chewed on some leaf that is supposed to numb your mouth and produce a “high” feeling, but nobody could feel it so I’m not sure if our guide was pulling our leg. I had a completely awesome time and wish I could spend each day the same way. We headed to the Beached Whale again for really good dinner and dessert.

I don't have any pics from this day since they are all on our disposable waterproof camera but I'm sure someone else took some that will surface.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:01 pm

Next we headed for Westport. First we drove up Takaka Hill, which is the sight of some of the movie scenes in Lord of the Rings. The views were awesome as we climbed up and away from the beach. The rocks in this area are very interesting and volcanic looking. We dropped Mark off at the top because he no longer trusted our guidebook when it says the climb at the start has a “mercifully gentle” gradient. We parked the RV in a little picnic area and headed off. We climbed steadily on the road up switchbacks above valleys for 17km before we made it to the top to join Mark. Then we headed further up on a fireroad to the start of the Rameka Track. I think this was a favorite ride for most of us because it had a little of everything. Before we knew it we were in the jungle again and the mud started up. We slipped around and splashed through puddles, again, jumping logs and maneuvering through rocks and mossy stumps. I nearly fell off the side of a cliff when I went for a stream crossing and was saved only when I reached out and latched onto a tree while my bike bashed its way down the cliff. Everything was all good though, and we continued along. We rode forever in the jungle and then popped out on a grassy warm track that continued down hill on a rockkkkkkkky trail. Somebody pinch flatted, we did bike cannonballs into a river crossing, and Brian wiped sheep poop off his bike. At the end of the trail some miles later we split and Brian and Mark headed into town. Somehow a nipple had broken in transit that morning and rumor had it that the town of Takaka had a bike shop! Derek and I rode an extra 17km or so back to the RV on a windy country gravel road. It was so beautiful….AGAIN.

A view from Takaka Hill.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:01 pm

So pretty. Those are the cool looking rocks.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:01 pm

Brian and I heading up the long climb.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:02 pm

This is just before you turn off onto the jungle singletrack.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:02 pm

Here is Squeakie enjoying the dry track.

The jungle has arrived!

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:02 pm

Brian slipping and sliding along the waterfall.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:03 pm

Mark on his jungleboat.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:03 pm

It poured all the way to Westport and we were scared. We rolled into the RV Park pretty late and I’m sure we didn’t make any friends. We were officially on the West Coast now…total rainforest country. Supposedly they can get up to 3 meters of rain a year!!!!! We rode Charming Creek the next day. It follows on old coal mine route and there is lots to keep you on your toes. A river rushes on your left as you traverse the side of the mountain and bump along the old railway with frequent rocky sections. The trail was muddy of course, almost underwater in some places. Oh yah, Brian pinch flatted and then the valve on his replacement tire blew out. He cussed up a storm and we tried to keep him calm. We went through several old tunnels and across some pretty rickety bridges. The view kept getting better and better and soon we found ourselves at a HUGE waterfall!!! The ride back was disrupted by Mark’s sidewall blow out on a rock section. Unfortunately, Stan’s wouldn’t help this one and we had to throw a tube in. I was officially the only party member to NOT flat!!!!!

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:04 pm

So many bridges and tunnels!

Pièces jointes

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heidi_charmingbridge_web.jpg (46.49 Kio) Consulté 8417 fois

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group_charmingcreek_web.jpg (57.6 Kio) Consulté 8417 fois

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:04 pm

Here we are in a pitch black tunnel!


This is a pretty cool one of me, almost artsy.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:05 pm

Here is the "creek" we rode along.


And alas, a waterfall appeared!

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:05 pm

We drove to Punakaiki Beach that night and were treated to a glorious sunset.

The next day we went to Charelston to go Underworld Rafting. This was an amazing experience and I had the time of my life. You suit up in wetsuits with helmets and lights and all and hike into a HUGE calcitic cave. Inside you can view all sorts of stalagmites and stalactites. Then you hike on though to the a river that flows through the cave and float down on innertubes through the PITCH BLACK. All along the walls and ceiling are colonies of glow worms. These are fascinating little creatures that generate a green glow when they are digesting food. It looked like the stars in the sky! After a while you reach the edge of the cave and float down the river through a couple little rapids. We were all drooling for more by the end of the day but we packed it up and headed to Greymouth that night. Oh yah, it was in Charleston that I discovered that a milkshake in New Zealand is NOT the same as a milkshake in the U.S. It is literally just milk with flavoring and whipped. There is no ice cream in it. I learned after that to order a thinkshake. We drove down to the pancake rocks and took in the sights. – These are fascinating rock formations on Dolomite Point, with eroded rock layers resembling stacks of pancakes. It was fun to watch the waves come rushing up a splash through the blowholes with tremendous force.

[Heidi]

par Heidi » Jeu Mars 11, 2004 3:05 pm

The must have vacation picture.