Day 24 - February 3, 2023

Day 24:  Havelock - Nelson

Rich in history the Maungatapu begins gently climbing up through regenerating bush.  But gentle doesn't last very long and soon becomes a steep, rocky 4x4 track that will have you negotiating baby head size boulders on the climb and descent.  A wee bit of pushing will get you through the worst.  Luckily the descent finishes with a smooth valley ride into Nelson City with a swim on the way!

Today is apparently one of those days when this morning seems a long time ago.  Here is our departure from last night's motel in Havelock.  A nice place, and I survived my first night sharing a room.  I was the only single female on the North Island.  There are now three of us on the South Island, so a single room every third night.  No issue at all, though, with these two new adds.

We just happened to all be wearing our Escape Adventures swag last night at dinner at the fabulous Mussel Pot, so the picture was taken............

Weather was overcast again today in Havelock, but still warm and humid.  Thankfully there was no biking on the baby head boulders route today.  It is an advanced mountain biking route and for some reason it was closed.  Awww; too bad (yay!).  But - we still rode the first 22 km of today's planned route, mostly along a quiet gravel road with some great reflections in the river we crossed a few times.  

Soooo much clear-cutting................

Then back on the main highway for another 7 km into Pelorus Bridge where Tom & Kerry loaded up all the bikes.  Alice came out from Nelson to load up another SUV with some of our folks.  One of our group decided to ride on the highway all the way to Nelson.  Wouldn't have been my choice.  A very busy road and a lot of climbing over a major pass.  

The view from Pelorus Bridge.

I'm guessing the loading took about an hour and then about another hour to drive.  We were dropped off in Wakapuaka and we were given an alternate route to ride that would approximate the same distance we were originally scheduled to ride.  It actually took us to the Maitai Dam close to where the Maungatapu Track would have spit us out.  The ride up the Maitai Valley was on a lovely quiet road in a beautiful area.  And - I didn't have to risk life and limb to do it!  Got our first views of Tasman Bay and Nelson before we headed up the valley.   

You can tell they don't get a lot of snow and ice here..................

A couple of local landmarks on the way to the road up the valley.

And they wonder why they have landslides taking out the roads??

Some views along the way.

At the dam.

On the way back RWGPS took us on a restricted logging road.  Permits required apparently.  I assumed that if EA was sending us on this road then they must have secured the permits.  Wendy, Justin and I went this way.  Everyone else, including the guide, took an alternate route; guess they didn't have the permit.  Oh well - it was without incident, although some gnarly climbs.  Found this lovely grass, though.

And this "Christmas tree" (metrosideros excelsa or pohutukawa) still in bloom.

My bike needed to go to the bike hospital today.  The gearing has not been working properly since the last time it visited a shop.  Let's hope for a better outcome this time!  

Walked around Nelson for a bit.  Hit some shops and paused at Anzac Park and at the Cawthron Steps (the granite steps leading up to Christ Church Cathedral).

Another great day.  And - another lovely hotel.  Centrally located and very modern.  Back to the long, hard days tomorrow.    

Stats for the day:

Distance:  60.9 km

Elevation (Garmin):  1422' up, 1514' down

Elevation (RWGPS):  3428' up, 3359' down.  As per usual, I believe the Garmin.

Weather:  17C to 32C.  Overcast on the east side of the pass.  A little bit of rain during our stop at Pelorus Bridge.  Sunnier and warmer on the west side of the pass.  

And the extra route up to Maitai Dam