Day 9 – Havelock – Blenheim 105km
Slightly more leisurely start this morning - 6.30am wakeup, with a Cookie Time cookie and hot chocolate being breakfast, consumed in the cookhouse with the phone charging next to someone’s toast. I was keen for a proper breakfast at the bakery just up from the camp, so at 7.30 I rolled up. Coffee and sandwiches, very civilised!
Hitting the road towards Picton, it was another stunning day, which made the views across the water very pretty. Road is undulating & windy, as it follows the coast for a fair bit of the trip to Picton. After a photo stop, it was time to plug into the phone for musical goodness.
Inspired! ‘Doctor in the Tardis’ (a Dr Who knock-off song) and Offspring’s ‘Get a job’ (a knock-off of the Beatles “Desmond & Molly”), provided some oomph to the riding and the opportunity for a sing-song (at least it did when I wasn’t going up a steep hill). By far the best though, was Janis Joplin’s ‘Mercedes Benz’. Sung without music accompaniment and with a voice that has seen its share of big country and big living, it was simply inspired.
‘Oh lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz,
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends,
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz’
...... on it goes. The best verse –
‘Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town,
I’m counting on you Lord, please don’t let me down,
Prove that you love me and buy the next round,
So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town’
I set the playlist to repeat, so every time I got to sing, leading to some interesting moments for anyone who happened to be out walking, riding, gardening, or just within earshot. Come to think of it, I might have scared a few people as well....
Picton – lovely view from up the hill above town, surprised one last group of runners and overtook a car on the descent.
Quickly found the Bakery, 4 Square and Cafe, assembling all 3 in one large eating and supply binge. I knew the road ahead would be tough – bloody tough, with no opportunity for resupply. It had taken Ollie (lead rider) 4 hours to do the 58km that is Port Underwood Rd from Picton – I was figuring I would take 6. The streetside garden/bench things were perfect for a big eat & sort out – I loaded on water and snacks, thermals off, sunscreen on, music sorted. Had an interesting conversation with a couple of tourists and another KB rider (who had finished yesterday & was en-route back to Wellington).
The first 15km went pretty quick, leaving civilisation behind, before beginning the ascent of ‘Heartbreak Hill – tarseal version’. This went on and on and on – nearly an hour, just to climb one hill! At the top I was rewarded with 2 things – a stunning view down the coast towards Kaikoura and the start of the gravel.
Gnarly stuff it was – fist sized rocks in a lot of places, ready to catch & throw me off line. Down, up, down again – reasonable hills, mostly rideable – hey, this isn’t so bad!
Spoke too soon – after stopping for a snack, I started up yet another hill. This one went on and on, climbing an awful lot further than the previous others. Topping out, I could see an awesome bay with a beautiful beach – perfect spot for an afternoon snack!
Stopped for a bit – there is a DOC campground here at the southern end and what looks like a good water supply & toilets. Ate & chilled out, watching a couple of jetskis playing in the waves further down the beach. I could see that the road out of here would not be easy – a very, very long climb! I watched a car ascend (slowly). It took a while....oh dear.
Onwards and upwards is the only way – the road pointed up just after the DOC campground. This was steep! Started walking. Part way up, I stopped for a photo, looking back at the beach where I had just been. Pretty impressive view already! I continued walking, then tried to ride some. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of it, I stalled the bike on one of those fist sized rocks and down I went – grazed knee and sore elbow. Not impressed!! Sandra had impeccable timing, phoning me just after I had resumed my lonely trudge upwards (I did call her back 10 minutes later and we had a much happier conversation). I was on the gels now, food wasn’t adding much to my energy levels and I was feeling pretty well gone. Just wanted to get it over with.
‘Heartbreak Hill’ (gravel version) kept on. I took another photo, further up. Finally, I topped out. The view (pretty good before) was flipping awesome now! More photos. I was right up in amongst power pylons, right on the tops.
A short descent, followed by another climb back up, then a long downhill – back to sea level. The second DOC camp YAY!! I am definitely getting out of this!!
The final climb – now back on tarseal. Not quite as steep as before, not quite as long and I rode the whole thing.
I stopped at the top – I could see Blenheim!!!
That final descent was a mix of being careful and letting rip. I let go of the brakes a few times, watching the speed rocket over 60kph, before hauling it back in for a dodgy looking corner. One final corner and Rarangi Beach appeared, along with another one of those famous ‘KB’ roadsigns.
Stopped and changed Cue Sheets for the final time. This one would take me all the way back to Seymour Square.
Riding on the flat roads out of Rarangi, I could see the big hills in the distance beyond Blenheim. It was then it hit me – those were the same hills I rode through 8 days ago.
Just one of those moments in life that adds to your soul. Very rare and very special.
12km to go, nearly done. Simon had sent us on a mini tour of the Blenheim flatlands, keeping away from State Highway 1 for most of the journey back in.
A few final turns - now in ‘downtown’ Blenheim, then I was there. Seymour Square! I couldn’t stop the smile from reaching ear to ear! I spied a couple of tourists starting to walk through the Square and using all the charm I could muster I managed to convince them to take the all important finishing photo. Nice! After telling them a bit of my story, one of them lined up for a photo with me!
I sat down, my bike leaning up against the fountain wall. Did the all important final text-in, then called Sandra, then Mum & Dad. WOOOHOOO!
I turned off the SPOT tracker for the final time. 8 days and 9 hours. 1130km.
Eventually, it was time to leave.
Arriving back at the Motel, I checked in, collected the bike box - the Motel owner reckoned I should have a dip in their spa (I mustn’t have ponged that bad!). Food first – and a couple more phone calls.
Back into the recovery tights and thermal top, over the road to the supermarket, meat, garlic bread (the Motel unit had an oven) and coleslaw for dinner, also breakfast supplies. Oh yes, some beer too. I think I frightened a couple of people there – I felt completely out of it (need food NOW), looking like something that had arrived from somewhere else (in that respect, I had) and was a bit wobbly. I was also wearing a stupid grin (the kind of grin you get when you know something huge is finished).
Food consumed at emergency speed again. Most of a large packet of potato chips & a beer while cooking. Phone calls. A big thank you call to Warrick – kind of a guardian angel in some ways, watching over me (he had one of his computers in his home office on my SPOT the whole time, alerting Sandra if I was going off-route).
Didn’t even make the shower – was talking on the phone to Sandra and all of a sudden felt really, really tired. I just grabbed my sleeping bag and fell onto the bed.
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