Day 26 - Tuesday 23 March 2010
Dist: 20 km. Av. Speed: NA. Cal: NA. Ride Time: NA
An hour long run from ‘Sign of the Takahe’ up Sugar Loaf Hill and back followed by a cycle up Evans Pass probably isn’t exactly a rest day but never the less it was excellent to experience a couple of Christchurch’s more infamous training spots. Richard and I went for the run in the morning; it was a spectacular trail as it climbs and spirals up the Sugarloaf through open grassland and native bush full of the sound of bellbirds.
The views are tremendous in all directions and it was amazing to be able to look north and see where we’d come from on Sunday, then swing around to the south and see all the way to where I’ll be going tomorrow.
After lunch it was time to pack up all my gear and get it sorted for carrying on the bike once again. It’s been four days so it was a bit of a mess. It didn’t take too long though and soon we were heading up the 11% grade over Evans Pass to Lyttleton to catch the ferry to Diamond Harbour.
The ferry only takes about 15 minutes so I was at Ann and Jim’s Diamond Harbour Homestyle B&B in good time. My room is the old wheelhouse of the wrecked coastal steamer SS Breeze, and my bed is one of the bunks from the same ship. It’s very cool, with a fantastic view across the water to the busy port of Lyttleton.
I was made very welcome here and enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked meal with my lovely hosts. Thank you so much, it was brilliant
Hi Mark, wow!!!! I survived our wee trek 2day even with the 10k of good Canterbury gravel rd and the mad dash across the Rakaia river bridge, you have done very well to get this far what an effort well done and all the best for the rest of your trip,see you again soon. Cheers Rich.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks Rich
ReplyDeleteIt was yet another great day on the epic adventure and great to have you along. Good luck with the off road running and the half ironman.
And keep in touch.
Cheers
Mark