After 9 days at home and the only time on the bike being with the BP Group rides, it was time to get going again to commence part 2 and complete this Odyssey!
I felt a bit like what I remember the NZ sailors competing in the round the world yacht race saying that arriving in Auckland was great, but it was hard to leave the comforts of home and in their case head back to the southern ocean, in my case just more hours on the saddle!
I got Mr Scott up early who had all been spruced up (new rear tyre fitted as other one was down to canvas in a section like it had been flat spotted), but mucking around at home to leave it tidy, so that it is tidy when I return, took a bit longer but was on the road at just before 7am. Phil Atkins was a “no show” so it was off on my own.. I know Phil, you have to work..
I had that feeling of having left something behind, but knew that I hadn’t as all my gear had been left on the floor in the same place and I had the all the same items, except that I included a further set of full finger gloves to be on the safe side!
It was overcast and a bit cool, but it did look promising that the sun would come out and most importantly if there was any wind, it was a nor easterly which was sort of helpful on Old West Coast Road where you don’t want to be facing a nor wester!
I planned to go via McLeans Island, but construction just past Harewood Golf Club for the new by pass road, had me retracing my route and going around the airport to get onto Yaldhurst and then ultimately Old West Coast Road. There was a reasonable amount of traffic and it was not until after 9am that the work and school traffic went away and it was then quite quiet.
The music and audio was sorted by Ian and Narelle so thanks for that, at least now it is not ripping into my data usage with live streaming..
It was an early lunch at the Yellow Shack Cafe at Springfield (no sign of Homer Simpson or family) and then it was a nice climb up Porters which is constantly in the 11 to 14% elevation gradient range.
After Lake Lyndon the wind started to get up and whatever direction it was coming from it was not helpful and proceeded to get stronger as the day wore on and the sun never showed, it remaining overcast and quite cool all day.
After Castle Hill and going down and then up to Castle Hill Village (where the one way bridge has been replaced), the elevation gradient was 16% which was a bit hard on the legs..
Ticked off the various waypoints and then it was crossing the Waimak on the Bealey Bridge, I was surprised as to how low a flow there was.. There was a few spots of rain at this point which turned into rain by the time I got to Arthurs Pass village.
There was very low cloud and it was quite cool, so if this keeps up I am likely to get wet tomorrow which is also what the forecast is saying.. Hopefully this might put Al off who will be in Hokitika tomorrow and wants me to get involved in the Tuesday night racing..
I had seen a couple of times on the road what I thought was firstly a leaf getting blown and then perhaps a large spider, but later realised that it was mice! Particularly between Bealey Bridge and the village there was quite a lot of them and talking with the Manager at the YHA, he said that this year is at plague levels and that it is a real job to keep them out of the accommodation…! Yikes, I hate the little barstards..
He was also telling me about the size of trout due to having eaten the mice, although not sure that I would then like to eat the trout.. GK this could be a good trophy fish for your next photo!
Increased berries on the beech trees leads to increase in mice, which then leads to increase in stoats and rats but when the mice go, then the stoats and rats start on the native birds. Vivious circle.
Total for the day was 146 k with a climbing elevation of 1,851 m.
Getting the laundry done and then having a ooffee while waiting for dinner I feel now back in the swing on things despite the luzury of the days at home.