Day 29 of TA - A big downhill day
Thursday 6th November
Distance: 72 km
Elevation gain: 479 metres
From Springs Junction to Reefton and Ikamatua
About 4 hrs elapsed from 7:00am to 11:00am.
A really early start this morning in the cubby-house. Alarm at 5:30 and rolling from Peters around 6.30am. Rain was forecast after lunch today and we wanted to get to Ikamatua before it arrived. Breakfast was oat bars / cliff bars - fast 'eat on the go' type food (not really food).
I had a brief chat with Peter before leaving - lovely bloke and once again very generous. Although he admitted that he got the dimensions wrong on the cubby-house and some changes were needed to make it more suitable for 2 people. Rob tried to sleep on the top bunk but he was so close to the roof that he couldn't roll onto his side. His face was literally 5 cm from the roof. He ended up moving the mattress onto the floor in the one spot it would fit so that he could actually have a decent night's sleep. I had to step over him to get out the door but we made it work.
Peter's house was off-grid and relied on tank water and had a composting toilet. He said it was fine for us to pee on the trees in the backyard, but for number twos we had to cycle 500m down to the petrol station / public toilets. I guess the composting toilet has some limits? Anyway, this complication meant that although we got away from Peter's at 6:30am, we didn't leave Springs Junction until about 7am…after…you know, a breakfast stop at the petrol station.
Our first leg was an 8km / 200 metre climb to the Rahu Saddle (elevation 696 metres). All bitumen and although steep was rideable. It was very cold at the summit.
The second leg was a 36km downhill run to Reefton where we lost 500m of elevation. It was fast! And surprisingly quiet with only a few cars and trucks passing up. A really good run. We arrived in Reefton earlier than we'd planned, purchased supplies at the 4-Square and then had a second breakfast at the local cafe. We both ate too much - I had a cinnamon scroll and melting moment, Rob had a pie and lamington. Serious tummy cramps for the rest of the ride.
Our final leg was a 28 km sprint to Ikamatua to beat the rain. We succeeded a bit too much - we arrived at the Ikamatua pub at 11am and there was some doubt our room would be ready. They worked it out and we are in another cabin out behind the pub. It's slightly bigger than last night's cubby house. And we have proper beds and access to a shower, toilet, and laundry. It's a winner!
Distance: 72 km
Elevation gain: 479 metres
From Springs Junction to Reefton and Ikamatua
About 4 hrs elapsed from 7:00am to 11:00am.
A really early start this morning in the cubby-house. Alarm at 5:30 and rolling from Peters around 6.30am. Rain was forecast after lunch today and we wanted to get to Ikamatua before it arrived. Breakfast was oat bars / cliff bars - fast 'eat on the go' type food (not really food).
I had a brief chat with Peter before leaving - lovely bloke and once again very generous. Although he admitted that he got the dimensions wrong on the cubby-house and some changes were needed to make it more suitable for 2 people. Rob tried to sleep on the top bunk but he was so close to the roof that he couldn't roll onto his side. His face was literally 5 cm from the roof. He ended up moving the mattress onto the floor in the one spot it would fit so that he could actually have a decent night's sleep. I had to step over him to get out the door but we made it work.
Peter's house was off-grid and relied on tank water and had a composting toilet. He said it was fine for us to pee on the trees in the backyard, but for number twos we had to cycle 500m down to the petrol station / public toilets. I guess the composting toilet has some limits? Anyway, this complication meant that although we got away from Peter's at 6:30am, we didn't leave Springs Junction until about 7am…after…you know, a breakfast stop at the petrol station.
Our first leg was an 8km / 200 metre climb to the Rahu Saddle (elevation 696 metres). All bitumen and although steep was rideable. It was very cold at the summit.
The second leg was a 36km downhill run to Reefton where we lost 500m of elevation. It was fast! And surprisingly quiet with only a few cars and trucks passing up. A really good run. We arrived in Reefton earlier than we'd planned, purchased supplies at the 4-Square and then had a second breakfast at the local cafe. We both ate too much - I had a cinnamon scroll and melting moment, Rob had a pie and lamington. Serious tummy cramps for the rest of the ride.
Our final leg was a 28 km sprint to Ikamatua to beat the rain. We succeeded a bit too much - we arrived at the Ikamatua pub at 11am and there was some doubt our room would be ready. They worked it out and we are in another cabin out behind the pub. It's slightly bigger than last night's cubby house. And we have proper beds and access to a shower, toilet, and laundry. It's a winner!
Today is one of the fastest of the TA trip, with an average speed of 22km/h and max of 57km/h. This is all because we have finally left the highlands and are now on the West Coast. It rains a lot here. Our first day and it is raining already.
Today's theme song is by The Chat - Pub Feed
All I want and all I need / All I crave is a good pub feed.
Couldn't say it better. Last night's backcountry packet dinner in a bag was tasty enough, but now all I'm thinking about is a beer, chicken parmy & chips in the dry, warm pub.
Early start from the cubby-house. So tiny!
Today's theme song is by The Chat - Pub Feed
All I want and all I need / All I crave is a good pub feed.
Couldn't say it better. Last night's backcountry packet dinner in a bag was tasty enough, but now all I'm thinking about is a beer, chicken parmy & chips in the dry, warm pub.
Early start from the cubby-house. So tiny!
Rahu Saddle, at 696 m. There are not too many more climbs this high left on the TA. I'm not sad about that.
Love this photo - Rob cycling on the highway with rugged snow covered peaks in the distance. There was amazing scenery today.
Ikamatua Hotel - our cabin is out back. There are lots of cabins for mine workers in the region. Hopefully the pub is full and busy tonight with an atmosphere.
Bikes under cover out the front of our cabin. Just enough room for 2 beds.
A great ride today! Hope the West Coast isn't too wet for you! Beautiful scenery coming up though! The sandflies are lethal so be prepared! All the best for tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteLoved the complications! 😂
ReplyDelete