Again during the night there was heavy rain (West Coast drizzle), but although it seemed in the morning to have ceased (for the moment!), what was of more concern was the wind and the flag on a neighouring building showed that it would be basically right on the nose, again!

A breakfast at the hotel resulted in a roll out just before 8.30am and the wind had not abated and turning right from Weld Street to head south, felt its full force.. It was a bit of a struggle getting over the bridge for the Hokitika river and a rather unnerving feeling crossing the bridge being buffeted by the wind.

It was a grunt to Ruatapu which was only about 9ks out and Emma’s suggestion that I should be coming up the coast not down it was playing through my mind. It even crossed my mind to turn around to see what it would be like with the wind behind me! At Ruatapu the road direction changed and there was then a slight reprieve from the wind, along with a bit of shelter from the native trees along this section of the road, although further down there was significant damage from wind blown pine trees, I guess a result of the storm that hit the coast during Easter.

In fact there were signs of wind blown trees and I think a few farm buidings all the way to Franz.

Just south of Ruatapu is the new tourist venture of a “tree walk”, but not for me today,the mission was to get to Franz.

Although it was windy and overcast and at times wet, it was not cold, that was to come later in the day!

Through Ross (no stopping), the sun came out, but as was to be the pattern for the rest of the day, it was not for long and there was no warmth in it.

Traffic was light and the road surface was great, if only there was not the wind it would be a great ride. Every car that past me seemed to be either a rental, or a camper van. There were few trucks which was great.

In the middle of the forested area, it absolutely bucketed down and the temperature dropped several degrees making it a bit unpleasant and then just before HariHari for a bit of variation, there was hail.. Looking ahead, the colour of the clouds which were very dark blended into the mountains so you knew that you were in for it (again) at some stage..

Lake Iantle despite the wind was very calm, but there was no stopping for a photo.

Got to HariHari which was the first stop and planned lunch stop and a couple of whitebait sandwiches warmed the interior, it is a pity that there was not a toe warmer available, as fingers and toes were very cold by the time I stopped. The last time that Al and I were at this Cafe heading south it was a lovely warm day and while sitting outside who arrived but Andrew Templeton on his way to Jackson Bay and provided some fresh apples which was most appreciated.

There was no sitting outside today and no Andrew so after lunch it was get going again and then a short distance later I was surprised to see a sign for Mount Hercules… Someone must have moved the Mount as I remembered it being just south of Whataroa…! Never mind it was a lovely climb (better climb heading north) although the decent was again spoilt by heavy rain, but even so there were great views over the river plains.

There was only a comfort stop at Whataroa (what else would you do there!) before continuing south and only 45ks to go.. and it still had not got any warmer.

Lake Wahapo and Lake Mapourika looked a picture despite the chop from the wind, but I was not stopping for a photo as it was still too cool.

Finally reached Franz Josef, at times feeling like that I would never get there despite going past the outlying commercial and residential areas and checked into the YHA so after a long hot shower, finally thawed out and the day did not seem so bad after all!

Total for the day 134ks with a climbing elevation of 1,320m.

The mountains are unfortunately in cloud and although it is not raining (at this moment), it is very cool so it is arm warmers on going out to dinner.