From Curio Bay Camping to Kaka Point Holiday Park, a distance of about 90kms and so about 56 miles. We set off rather late, partly because the campsite is relaxed about when you leave (it's difficult to police as it sprawls over the headland and the managers are delightfully laid back), partly because I argued to stay longer - rather nicely turned waves were comng in and my thoughts were turning to surf hire. Guy was keen to get on the move to places where he might solve his appalling back wheel - a reasonable desire I had to admit. But Curio Bay is the most pleasant place to be that we've yet found - exposed, wavy, remote, full of wildlife (sea lions on the beach each day, penguins and the occasional dolphin) and happily lacking in holiday home sprawl as yet. A Germansaid I was brave to cycle given the strong winds of recent days - I pointed out that today there is almost no wind. 'But this is a windy place!''Ah but half the time they are pushing you along!''But it is so slow!''Well you need some months - how long are you travelling for?''3 months''snap''Ah but we've got children with us''You'd have to do small days with lots of stops and fun things'He was evidently unconvinced and to be fair it would not be that easy to cover much ground on bikes with small children, though the Catlins would be very viable with small children - quieter roads and lots of beaches and campsites. Anyway we set off and headed through various tiny settlements on our way up the coast - a delicious route really, though for most of the day the weather was cool and cloudy. The road bobs up and down over modest hills, lots of views, curves, woods, and frequent views of the sea. Guy was being careful with his cracked back wheel - never going fast. This is essential though very frustrating on some of the downhills where you can speed down some nicely graded curves. Lunch was a toastie and dates at Papatowai (I was thinking of the Magic Flute duet - Papapapapapageno, papapapapapagena, etc). At the top of one modest climb was a commemorative plaque to do with the MacLelland region - years of dedicated service - but more curiously it was afixed to an old Clayton and Shuttleworth tractor wheel from yesteryear - a forge that existed until not all that long ago in Lincoln and which, bordering on the canal, I've often walked past. Then on to Okawa where we saw Teapotland (silly photo) and salad and red wine was obtained for the feast that then occurred another 17kms down the road at Kaka Point in the K Point Camp. Excellent. Some wonderful Pacific surf here - a fair number of good surfers offshore from the K Point Surf Club enjoying more than head high waves - 2m swell I reckon.
From Curio Bay Camping to Kaka Point Holiday Park, a distance of about 90kms and so about 56 miles. We set off rather late, partly because the campsite is relaxed about when you leave (it's difficult to police as it sprawls over the headland and the managers are delightfully laid back), partly because I argued to stay longer - rather nicely turned waves were comng in and my thoughts were turning to surf hire. Guy was keen to get on the move to places where he might solve his appalling back wheel - a reasonable desire I had to admit. But Curio Bay is the most pleasant place to be that we've yet found - exposed, wavy, remote, full of wildlife (sea lions on the beach each day, penguins and the occasional dolphin) and happily lacking in holiday home sprawl as yet. A Germansaid I was brave to cycle given the strong winds of recent days - I pointed out that today there is almost no wind. 'But this is a windy place!''Ah but half the time they are pushing you along!''But it is so slow!''Well you need some months - how long are you travelling for?''3 months''snap''Ah but we've got children with us''You'd have to do small days with lots of stops and fun things'He was evidently unconvinced and to be fair it would not be that easy to cover much ground on bikes with small children, though the Catlins would be very viable with small children - quieter roads and lots of beaches and campsites. Anyway we set off and headed through various tiny settlements on our way up the coast - a delicious route really, though for most of the day the weather was cool and cloudy. The road bobs up and down over modest hills, lots of views, curves, woods, and frequent views of the sea. Guy was being careful with his cracked back wheel - never going fast. This is essential though very frustrating on some of the downhills where you can speed down some nicely graded curves. Lunch was a toastie and dates at Papatowai (I was thinking of the Magic Flute duet - Papapapapapageno, papapapapapagena, etc). At the top of one modest climb was a commemorative plaque to do with the MacLelland region - years of dedicated service - but more curiously it was afixed to an old Clayton and Shuttleworth tractor wheel from yesteryear - a forge that existed until not all that long ago in Lincoln and which, bordering on the canal, I've often walked past. Then on to Okawa where we saw Teapotland (silly photo) and salad and red wine was obtained for the feast that then occurred another 17kms down the road at Kaka Point in the K Point Camp. Excellent. Some wonderful Pacific surf here - a fair number of good surfers offshore from the K Point Surf Club enjoying more than head high waves - 2m swell I reckon.