I made a mistake for the posting for day 23 Picton to Tasman, in that in error I created a page not a post and have been unsuccessful in trying to fix it, or to copy and paste into a new post. Buggar!

It brasses me off as I wanted the pages to be in chronological order as I like order, but to view the “post” you will see it in the top bar next to sample page.

As you will also see, I am a bit late in these posts..

Okay moving on to Wednesday, after a breakfast with Anne as Kev had flown out on the early plane to Wellington for a day of meetings, I left the “estate” at around 8.30am and due to the new coastal highway, immediately made a navigation error by missing the “new” entry to Harleys Road, thankfully it was recognised quickly so no great time lost.

On climbing over Harleys Road it put me onto the inland Moutere Highway and although the day was fine and sunny, it was cool and this section of the road is in shade, so it was very cool. Turned off at Prices Corner and then climbed Neudorf Hill and then through Dovedale to join the Motueka valley road.

Before the final climb into Tapawera, there was what looked like snow in the side of the road, but it cannot be, so I think that there must have been a hail storm over night, or earlier that morning.

Thankfully there was a cafe at Tapawera and 2 flat whites and 2 pieces of buttered tea loaf later, it took some coaxing to get me out of the cafe as it was cool outside.. A text from Emma indicating that I have a way to go, was the motivation to get going.. somewhat reluctantly.. Gaelyn, I need a receipe for tea loaf please!

The climb up the Clark valley to the foot of the Hope Saddle just seemed to keep on going and it took a while to get to the Hope itself.. It brought back memories of the Nelson to Christchurch event earlier this year, except this section was all done in the dark, other than with the lights provided by Al in the car behind..

A stop at the top of the Hope for a couple of mandarins and to look around and to think that Guy was “bushwacking” his way through this country on his “tramp” on the Awotere trail from Nelson to Bluff earlier this year I don’t know how he did it.

A great decent off the Hope and then it was on to Glenhope which brings back memories as when I was racing when at school as there was the annual race from Glenhope to Murchison with the seniors on a handicap basis, which was a big thing and I think that it was 26 miles although there has been a few changes to road since those days..

I stopped at our “normal” waterfall stop just past Glehhope and slipped on the concrete banking from the road and landed heavily on my backside. It might have looked funny if anyone had seen it, but it bloody hurt.. The only good news is that it was square on the buttocks as against being to one side.

I have since looked as best I can in the motel mirrors (they are not positioned for such “selfies”) but what I can see there is no skin off, but just bruising. I guess I know what it might be like for a night out with Elton John and his mates…and takes the mind of the numbness brought by the saddle!

It was a bit of a grunt to get to Murchison as the wind gods were not assisting me and on arrival at the booked motel it was a hot shower and heaters on full bore as I was still cold.

Total ks for day 133 with climbing elevation of 1,277m.

Down to the hotel for a meal with the locals was an “education”, but the fire was going at the hotel, before getting back to the motel for an early night.