Christchurch & Wellington Hills

Last weekend, Ann & I headed down to Christchurch as she had never been there and ‘Mu was flying out to Melbourne on Sunday. It was a bit of a lottery to take the bike but come Friday, it was mint and we had a smooth Ferry crossing and easy ride down.

Saturday was another primo day for sightseeing so we scooted around Hagley Park, out to Brighton for a coffee and to venture onto the pier, then around through Sumner, up Evans Pass to Godley Head, then along the Port Hill, down through Cashmere and over to spend some time with ‘Mu.
 
Sunday was supposed to be a trip over to Akaroa but the weather turned to crap so we stayed in and Monday looked like it was going to be rough but it wasn’t too bad for the trip back to Welly. The roads were generally wet but we didn’t strike any real rain until after Clarence…and then it really pissed down. That stretch of SH1, along the coast from Kaikoura to Ward, is really treacherous in the wet and it’s bloody disgusting that our main highway should be let to deteriorate to 50Kms of slick tar.

We got there alright though and the ferry crossing, which included 20+ other bikes from the Brass Monkey, was rated as moderate and wasn’t that comfortable, but it was a most pleasant 900Km weekend anyway.

With the crappy weather, we programmed a ‘local’ ride for today and that was lucky with a warning of snow for the Rimutakas.
 
I followed my usual protocols of cleaning the bike and checking the tyres yesterday, then got ready and gassed up on the way this morning. With the temp at 8º and rain likely, I kitted up putting leggings on but left the jacket off until I got to Brown Owl.
 
By 1000 there were 4 of us silly enough to turn up and after a quick chat, we headed over Whitemans Valley, back to the Hutt Road, then off again at Petone to go over the Wainui’ Hill and out to the coast. Surprisingly enough, the weather didn’t turn sour and we even struck a dry surface on the Coast Rd but I did manage a few twitches, the first on a slick spot on Whitemans Vly Rd, the 2nd I think may have been on paint in the underpass getting onto the Wainui’ Hill and the last on a bit of loose stuff on the return to Wainui’.
 
The temp did really get over 8º but it was quite pleasant to get out and about, even though we only did 163Kms for the day. The bike now has 93277Kms all up.