On the Road Again

An epic Easter trip with Achim through the Marlborough region and the sounds, avoiding the main highways, going on unsealed roads, cooking as we went and camping out under the stars. 338km in 6 days, 11.5km climbed. Zero flats, lots of gravel climbs, going where no 25mm tyre has gone before. In hindsight my 33mm knobbies would have really been more appropriate but I survived nonetheless.

Picton to Havelock
Havelock to Camp Bay
Camp Bay to Raetihi and back to Mistletoe Bay
Beer run
Mistletoe Bay to Onamalutu
Onamalutu to Robin Hood Bay
Robin Hood Bay to Picton


Day one.

Starting the trip early with the sunrise at Picton

Lilliandil at the ready

The picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound

Hello again Havelock 

Day two, going North and along the Kenepuru Sound

Ohinetaha Bay

Down the rough into Camp Bay

Settling in at Camp Bay for the night

Day three.

A weka in the tent is worth two in the bush

Fresh sustenance

Dusty roads

Crossroads at Titirangi

Ohauparuparu Bay and valley

Rata in the wild

Unloading the bike to do some gravel trails

Ponga (silver fern)

Chestnut

Waiting for the weather and the boat to take us back across the sound to Te Mahia

Spotted dropping Easter chocolate at Mistletoe Bay camp.

Day four, Easter at Mistletoe Bay.

Onward to Mount Richmond via Havelock

The lovely SH6 to Blenheim

Camp at Onamalutu

Day five, Tuamarina and off to Robin Hood Bay.

Slow and sketchy grind through this pebble road.

Spring Creek creek.

View of Rarangi at the top of the back-breaking first climb.

And finally down into Robin Hood Bay.

Spectacular views of this rarely visited side of the sounds.

Hunting for water and camping out for the night at Robin Hood Bay. 

Day six, gravel road grind back to Picton. A short but slow day.

Bikes huddling for warmth.

Slick and steep.

Port Underwood from the saddle

And finally back in Picton in time for the ferry.