Easter Cruising on the Molesworth

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Easter Cruising on the Molesworth Grant Newton Easter is the time ofyear when settled weather is almost always promised, SO it was with great enthusiasm that I looked forward to this trip. After all, I had been reading a British-written mountain biking book in Dymocks days earlier, which included this ride as one ofthe classic MTB touring routes of the world. "he forecast this year promised some murky opportunity for several cyclists to enjoy a swim in the weather; surely this wasj just going to annoy those river, while perverts looked on from their 4WDs on the trampers in thel Nelson Lakes National Park, while other side of the river. us cyclists would be far enough east to avoid it. Easter Sunday dawned with a frost to encourage us After arrivingi in Picton we continued by bus to find the to get warm quickly, especially as a long day lay ahead. Cape Reinga to Bluff trio of Phil, Anne & Alice camped in We set off along the road that is meant to head "downthel bush along the Rainbow road. Soon after heading off stream" lots of ups and downs ensured we got a good the main road, the headlights reflected off a bike; time to workout before the climb over Isolated Saddle. Another wake these lazy creatures up! down, the flat terrain of Isolated Flat, and then the steep A crisp morning greeted 11 cyclists and we pedalled climb to thel highest point on the Molesworth road, Ward comfortably amongst thel bush; some pleasant, easy rid- Pass at 1150m. The top of Ward Pass became our lunch ing to begin with. Two climbs required tackling that day: stop and John Rhodes promptly celebrated reaching the thet first would test the stamina and the second would be top with a display of fire. After asking for white spirits a damn hard grunt to Island Saddle (1372m). With the then water (yep, another brew), he proceeded to put white bush behind us as we cycled through the wide open coun- spirits into the billy, a little splash and then both the grass try, Island Saddle was the tough climb that had been prom- andJohn's legs were ablaze. Considering wel had lonly been ised, with cold winds doing their best to blow us off the granted permission at the last minute to cycle the saddle. A great downhill followed to Lake Tennyson, and Molesworth due to the fire risk, it was a worrying few due to the wind a campsite amongst the bush on the op- moments as the fire was put out and one hopping cyclist posite side ofthe lake was chosen. The only problem was finished slapping his legs! getting there. Exhausted after the climb, a river crossing With our drama finished, we still had a tough afterand a push through loose shingle finally saw us reach the noon ahead. A puncture and broken chain necessitated other side. a couple of stops and a further stop near the Molesworth Once at the campsite the first thing to consider was the homestead for a dipin the stream before the constant up preparation of a brew therel had already been the threat and down over the saddles. The relief of reaching Upcot of the "Harryness" monster emerging from the lake to Saddle was greeted with an amazing downhill, reaching swallow bikes if a brew was not forthcoming. speeds of up to 70 km/h. A great campsite was found at Agreat campfire in the evening brought the usual dis- the bottom of the road with another great campfire and a cussion about Harry's birthday/age, then music (with Suli good supply of Easter to lift the energy levels. having produced a set of drums from billies and lids) and An early start to the hevast day. Although fewer hills, it somel humorous quotes, none more SO than the descrip- would be 120 km back to the ferry terminal. Following a tion of Harry as being "like a delicate flower"! stop, Jim set off and was soon making a close examina- We awoke to another crisp but fine morning and faced tion of the road surface. First aid administered, we rode thet task ofr retracing our steps around thel lakeshore, fording on a little morel hesitantly until reaching the sealed road, the river and then beginning the day's ride proper. The whereupon we made fantastic progress while drafting. Rainbow road was corrugated from thel lake to ourl lunch The arrival at the main road signalled lunch and then a spot and the glass from a broken windscreen or the sharp bash up the road to ice creams at Blenheim, where Shane stones did their damage as two stops for punctures were left us and took a side trip to Port Underwood in search required. Along the way, wel bumped into another cyclist of more hills. For the first time, the 8 who signed up for whol lookedi familiar I Shane. The group had now reached the trip were the only members of the group as we raced 12 as wel bobbled our way over the corrugations to a great into Picton, then proceeded to fall asleep on the ferry. lunch spot at the turn-off to Amuri skifield. Easy cycling Three hundred and thirty-five kilometres, mostly on followed lunch until the Hanmer turn-off where we gravel roads, had taken its toll! Dammit, I still had to farewelled Phil, Anne and Alice, continuing in their quest cycle home, tackling a 300-metre climb oh well, it to reach the hell hole of Bluff didn't seem So bad after all the hills over the weekend! The easy cycling continued down the Clarence Valley The crew was Grant Newton, John Rhodes, Debbie to the bridge where cars could go no further. Slipping Nuilala, Suli Nuilala, Erin Roberts, Jim Ribero, Harry Smith under the chain, we made our way to the Acheron Ac- & Phil Young. There were; guest appearances along the way commodation House, an historic cob cottage, beside from Shane Connolly and the Cape Reinga to Blufft trio of where we would camp for the night. There was also the Phil, Anne and Alice. Tramping and Mountaineering 1999