From Blenheim Top 10 to Picton Top 10 via Havelock and Linkwater - a ride of about 72kms or 45 miles. We slept better during our second night at Blenheim Top 10 Holiday Park. I only woke up once when some melodious goods train went through in the early hours.The bike ride was slightly delayed by a search for the 'Bakerij' which is a european style bakery in Blenheim. I walked past it a couple of times without seeing it so the cherry and almond tarts and so forth (key nutrients for a day's cycling) were delayed.Then out to Renwick, then up along highway 6 to Havelock - a fast road since there's no real hill between Renwick and Havelock, just a pleasant valley ride. We were overtaken, and chatted to, by a local racer out on his training run and clothed in lycra with 'James' plastered over. It is a lovely route for a training run. Into Havelock for the second time. More green lipped mussel pies were eaten for lunch. And we read the Ernest Rutherford and William Pickering (Jet Propulsion) commemorative seating and info area. Then out on the Queen Charlotte Scenic Drive which takes you initially over a wonderful small col or saddle - the view was different from a month and a bit ago because the tide was out revealing huge sands and mud flats. Then up and down along to Picton.We pitched at the Top 10 and had fish (Blue Cod again) and chips with Matson's Black Beer, a lovely combination.The picture is of the Queen Charlotte Sound, seen from the outlook at the top of the hill just after Havelock. There's a lovely short walk from the road to a brilliant view - both to the north (the pic) and to the south over Havelock.
From Blenheim Top 10 to Picton Top 10 via Havelock and Linkwater - a ride of about 72kms or 45 miles. We slept better during our second night at Blenheim Top 10 Holiday Park. I only woke up once when some melodious goods train went through in the early hours.The bike ride was slightly delayed by a search for the 'Bakerij' which is a european style bakery in Blenheim. I walked past it a couple of times without seeing it so the cherry and almond tarts and so forth (key nutrients for a day's cycling) were delayed.Then out to Renwick, then up along highway 6 to Havelock - a fast road since there's no real hill between Renwick and Havelock, just a pleasant valley ride. We were overtaken, and chatted to, by a local racer out on his training run and clothed in lycra with 'James' plastered over. It is a lovely route for a training run. Into Havelock for the second time. More green lipped mussel pies were eaten for lunch. And we read the Ernest Rutherford and William Pickering (Jet Propulsion) commemorative seating and info area. Then out on the Queen Charlotte Scenic Drive which takes you initially over a wonderful small col or saddle - the view was different from a month and a bit ago because the tide was out revealing huge sands and mud flats. Then up and down along to Picton.We pitched at the Top 10 and had fish (Blue Cod again) and chips with Matson's Black Beer, a lovely combination.The picture is of the Queen Charlotte Sound, seen from the outlook at the top of the hill just after Havelock. There's a lovely short walk from the road to a brilliant view - both to the north (the pic) and to the south over Havelock.