So, is it time for e-bikes? Or maybe a supported tour, where someone carries our stuff from nice hotel to nice hotel, with a cold beer, soft bed and hot dinner waiting? Does AARP run bike tours? Or maybe hiring someone to drive a sag wagon to the top? Am I too old for this sort of thing? Or maybe….do I just need to have my head examined?
These were some of the many thoughts I had as we pushed, pulled, carried and even sometimes pedaled our way up Maungatapu Saddle, instead of taking the paved road to Richmond we opted to not take. Yes, this 4WD route is the “official” route, but we could have cheated. And who cares anyway?
Our friend Sonja brightly asked if the beautiful views were worth the climb? I did occasionally look up and think it was pretty, but mostly it was just hard. Our friends Todd and Royce, a few days ahead of us, told us that they had opted to take the paved road instead of what we took, but we only got their message after completing the ride. Timing…
The second part of the ride was lovely, after we walked our bikes up the last two short but steep hills. We followed a stream course first into Nelson and then along the coastal path to Richmond. First stop was a liquor store for two cold beers and a bottle of wine.
In an unusual twist of fate, one of Chris’ former colleagues (Peter) and one of her former students (Zuzana) from Slovakia were going to be in Richmond the same time as us! It had been 30 years since Chris had seen them! So, when we arrived in Richmond, dusty and smelly from our day, we had just an hour to shower and dress before meeting them. Whew.
Peter, Zuzana and their children now live near Christchurch, but are picking fruit (pears this time) in Richmond for amusement and mental relaxation. Chris had not seen them for three decades so everyone reconnected during our super nice dinner at a seaside restaurant.
We’ll take tomorrow off and get some rest, do laundry and then head on.
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