The Amazing Adventure of the Bikle Boy and his Brotherettes!

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THE AMAZING ADVENTURE OF THE BIKLE BOY AND HIS BROTHERETTES! Angela Hawes Expedition Leader, Navigator, and Lead Singer Karyn Burgess ChiefPorter, Pace Setter, and "Ablutioner" Shane Connolly Trip Doctor (i.e. Karyn's drug distributor) and early morning motvator Bronwen Wall Chief Photographer, Hygienist, and Scribe Angela Hawes One sunny Wellington Friday, four keen mountain bikies boarded the Interislander bound for Marlborough. We were going to Hanmer Hanmer Springs by bicycle no less! fter a quick redistribution of sufficient energy reserves to go for a The Hanmer Springs hot pools are a gear ("We'll carry the tent jog utterly mad! Meanwhile, Angela must! Our weary muscles sureappretomorrow Shane" Not!), we hadl her habitual daily river wash, and ciated al hot soak. Wei topped off the headed for Blenheim. Then it was Karyn and Bronnie explored thel local evening by having dinner at "Hasti - time to farewell the sealed roads and long-drops (Yeah!). Tasti" and dessert at "Keith's Cafe" head over Taylor Pass towards the Awatere Valley. That evening feeble attempts were Next morning weattackedthedreaded made to fly Shane's kite - what a Jacks Pass (869 m). It was a slow Dusk was advancing (or was that just spinner it turned out to be! grind but the previous day's carbo your dark sunglasses, Karyn?) so we packing saw ust through. Wefollowed found a campsite nestled amongst Monday was another beautifully clear the pylons along the Clarence River some pine trees in the valley. Very day. Wei followed the Acheron River past the Amuri Skifield. The strong picturesque. for about an hour until we reached the head wind whistling in our ears pre- Hanmer Springs turnoff Jollies Pass vented us from hearing the car which On Saturday, early-bird-Bronnie set droppedusdownintoHanmer: Springs had crept upl behind us. Wealmost fell the example and we were up and away civilisation at last! (i.e. ice creams, off our bikes in fright when it tooted by 8 am. Despite the early start, it fish 'n chips, flush loos, showers!) for us to let it pass! took the full day to peddle through the beautiful Awatere Valley, over Upcot Afterstopping: at Fowler Huti forlunch, "... no discount Saddle, and on to Molesworth Stawej peddled on to Lake Tennyson. On tion. for squashing four severaloccasions: thewindnearlyblew us off our bikes - quite entertaining! Endless undulating hills and: a scorchpeople into a three ing hot sun finally got the better of The hutt that we intended to stay at on tent. Karyn as she collapsedoffUncle Bulperson Tuesday nighthad disappeared. After garia for a much needed rest. Unbemuch discussion we decided to climb known to Karyn, the planned camp- After a chronic bout of indecisive- one last killer hill - Island Saddle. I site at the historic Cob Cottage was ness, we checked into "The Pines" don't think Karyn was impressed! just around the next corner! Motor Camp - $7 each, and no discount for squashing four peoplei into a That night was the windiest night any Molesworth Station was awesome; three person tent - it was worth a try ofus had evers spent in a tent. I'm sure golden hills, snow capped peaks, wide though, Bronnie. Then we hit the the tent would have blown away if it valleys, and clear rivers. So on Sun- town! "Carbo packing" and "pushing wasn't for the built-in groundsheet, day we cycled at a leisurely pace over fluids" were the phrases of the day held down by thei fourofus. Boulders Wards Pass and along Isolated Flat any excuse for pigging out. and bicycles also played a vital rolei in beside the Acheron River until we securing the tent. Not even closing arrived at the historic Acheron Despite this being our rest day, we our sleeping bags over our heads was Accommodation House. It was such still managed to expend lots of energy enough to dull the roar of the wind aj pretty spot that we decided to call it at the children's playground. Wealso sweeping down the valley towards us. a day and pitch camp near the river. climbed to the Conical Hill lookout Each gust of wind forced the wet tent for a stunning view of Hanmer Plain roofdownonour faces-happy, happy, Sherpa Shane decided he still had and the surrounding mountains. joy,joy! As you can imagine, nobody got much sleep. We were sO relieved when thel light ofday arrived, that we packed up camp and hit the road before even having breakfast! Wednesday was cold, wet, and windy. We crossed numerous swollen fords and passed another invisible hut beforei finding a barn to: shelter in. After thawing out and refilling our tummies, we continued along the Wairau River. The vegetation changed from tussock to the more sheltered Beech forest. We checked out the Dip Flat RNZAF Basea andp passed thel Rainbow Skifield turnoff There were only a few more swollen fords to cross before we left the gravel roads and completed the 10 km journey along Highway 63 to St Arnaud. Flooded ford, Rainbow Valley Angela Hawes The St Arnaud gas station/general walk around half ofl Lake Rotoiti, and behind and cycled the last 100 km to store/cafe was. a welcome sight. Once that's what wild geese are for! Blenheim-: a cruisy downhill ride with again we all pigged out on nachos, tail winds. biscuits, hot chocolate etc. Then Thursday wasa rest day at St Arnaud. Bronnie directed us to her favourite Weweret fortunate to catch up with an That night we met up with Allen camping spot, not entirely legal buti it old friend of Bronnie's who invited us Higgins' team of trampers to spend had wonderful views of the tranquil back to her cottage. Snow had been Labour Weekend climbing Mt Lake Rotoiti. falling down low, SO it was great to Tapuaenuku. Butthat'sanother: story. relax in front of her open fire. Karyn sent Shane and Angela on a All in all, the Blenheim Hanmer - St wild goose chase to find the camping We said farewell to Bronnie bright Arnaud - Blenheim circuit was a brilground showers. An hour later they and early on Friday morning. She was liant trip which we would thoroughly arrived back, just as smelly as when heading for Christchurch. The re- recommend to any mountain bikersthey left. Never mind - they got to mainingthreeofus leftthel bad weather beginners or hard-core bikies. Favourite Trip Sayings What We Learnt On This Trip Karyn - "I need a wee" Karyn learnt how to remain calm when stung by - "Let's have a Tim Tam Slam" al bee while hurtling down a gravel hill Bronnie "Push fluids" Bronnie learnt how to communicate with the 'Anyone for some nougat?" wildlife "Hello CoWS. We're going to Hanmer Hanmer Springs - by bicycle Angela learnt that Shane's camera won't work if no less!" you throw away three vital little lens screws (so much for the trip slide show) Angela - "T'm going for a wash I might be some time" Shane learnt that "tomorrow" never comes and the girls never intended to take a turn at Shane "Tm going for an ablution In might carrying the tent (we had to do somebe some time" thing to slow you down, Shane!) "I really think we should redistribute this load"