After a bike fit session at “the depot” we bussed to the top of the Port Hills. Felt a bit lazy as we passed cyclists slogging (and it would be a slog) to the top sitting in the air conditioned comfort of a bus but hey, that’s an advantage of this supported touring! I was using an Adventure South supplied bike, a decent Trek road bike, but it had a double chain ring/compact gearing rather than the triple I use at home so I was quite glad not to start the trip with a hell climb!
Our riding kicked off with a run along the Port Hills ridge. There are a few warm up climbs (nothing threatening) but the highlight was a rather rapid descent towards Lyttleton Harbour. It was fast but could have been faster but for the patchy (quake damaged?) road and occasional cattle grate. They are ‘interesting’ on a road bike with 100PSI tyres and no suspension; I imagine they’d be lethal in the wet! It was a lovely day and the harbour views were spectacular.
We then followed the coast out to the first refuel stop. I thought it was just a coffee stop so had chocolate cake (with yummy cherry/chocolate icing) and coffee. That was followed by a wholegrain ham & cheese toasted sandwich and Speights Apple Cider when I found out it was actually lunchtime and there wasn’t much more riding to complete the day. The new café at Diamond Point is good.
A short ferry ride took us back to Lyttleton and another short ride back toward Governors Bay. Then it was on the bus for a drive to Hanmer.
I chose to skip the famous hot pools, it was already 31ºc without getting in hot water!, and had a short wander around town before a long cool shower. It’s a pretty place with, despite the heat, a real mountain village feel.
Dinner was at a French style restaurant. A fine meal, scallop entrée followed by ‘to die for’ rare beef, and splendid company.
