Little Adventures on Two Wheels: Christchurch to Tekapo

06/4/08: 90km, Christchurch - Rakaia Gorge
07/4/08: 71km, Rakaia Gorge - Arundel picnic area
08/4/08: 43km, Arundel Picnic Area - Skipton Bridge, Opuha River (between Geraldine and Fairley)
09/4/08: 65km, climb 820m, Skipton Bridge - Tekapo

Due to our wild night out in Christchurch we did not leave until around 11am and we were then delayed and weighed down by a trip to the supermarket, so it was more like 1pm when we actually got out of the thriving metropolis. The road was fairly boring, straight and flat (slight uphill) through farmland. It was pretty tough to cycle with the extra weight and having had a two week break. We were wanted to get to Rakaia Gorge before it got dark as we did not fancy putting the tent up for the first time in the dark inside out and upside down. Just before 6pm and just before we got there and just before it got dark it started raining. So after a quick break to put on our waterproofs and plastic bags we arrived. We put up our tent in the campsite in the rain just as it was getting dark. Our tent is beautiful and luckily dead easy to put up. We cooked, showered, slept not in that order.

It was still raining in the morning so we packed up our soggy beautiful tent and set off. The scenery reminded us of Scotland and the drizzle all morning was definitely Scottish. Thankfully it had stopped by lunchtime but the sunshine did not make it out for the rest of the day. We were headed for somewhere around Geraldine that day, and had thought to go to one of the DOC campsites around Peel Forest. 16km before Geraldine and the turn off for Peel Forest we came across a very nice picnic area with toilet, a big tree and picnic benches next to the Rangitata river, where we decided to camp. It was as good as a campsite but much cheaper and it was getting dark already anyway.

We had planned to cycle about 90km the next day, but we were delayed by a supermarket in Geraldine, and the big lunch we bought from there. So by 1.30pm we had only cycled 16km. From Geraldine the landscape became much more interesting (hilly) and pretty, and the sun had made its way through the clouds at last. Despite the good conditions the cycling was hard going as we had stocked up on extra rations in the supermarket and were feeling pretty lazy after a big lunch. At around 3.30pm we came to the Opuha river and a gravel road following the river down stream. We had enough for the day, stopped and camped in that beautiful spot. The sun was shining so it was warm enough to go for a wash in the river. We hope not to have shocked any distant passing cars.

It was a beautiful morning the next day, and there was steam rising from the river, Bea was so happy she danced clockwise round the tent. We were aiming for Lake Tekapo and we actually made it there as planned for a change. The scenery was gorgeous, and we had a few wee hills to get over. We stopped at a cafe on the top of a hill with beautiful views over the Scottish landscape. The owner used to live in Scotland, she said she had spent a few years in London but had got homesick so moved to Scotland where it was much better, then i guess she moved here where it was much better still. In Fairley we were delayed by a cafe offering free internet, so we spent two hours there. Straight after the town the road went up hill to until about 700m over the Burke's Pass, the landscape was very dramatic. It levelled out at the top and it was a nice ride on to Lake Tekapo. It was just about to get dark, catching glimpses of the setting sun over the lake. We wanted to go and use the hot pools so we decided to camp at the youth hostel. Nice location next to the lake, it would have been nice camping wild but the thought of a hot shower in the morning won us over. The hot pools were a perfect relaxing end to the day, soaking our tired limbs in different temperature pools while looking at the stars and listening to the underwater aliens.

good morning kiki, liking the tent?