About 70kms, or 44 miles, from Rakaia Family Holiday Park to Riccarton Holiday Park, Christchurch.We left relatively promptly at 10.30am and headed across the 'longest bridge in NZ' amidst the traffic on Highway 1. The bridge is narrow and has no shoulder or pedestrian walkway. Heavy trucks thunder across it pretty much most of the 24hrs. So we hurried across. There is not much beauty about the bridge being a long series of short concrete spans. There is the usual pleasant river view from the bridge - the River Rakia occupies, as usual with rivers in NZ, a small part of a wide flood plain. Evidently in a really rainy period it would occupy most of it.Then, turning first tarmac road right after the bridge, we headed down the Springs Road at a fair speed eventually reaching Lincoln, and Lincoln University. The Uni offers courses on 'Sheep Technology' which we assume must be a BAaaa course (or maybe a Sheep Dip-loma). Ho ho.Then we soon reached the city suburbs and traffic grew heavier - it was school home time and masses of the littl' darlins were getting into their mum's massive offroader to do the short run down the road home. Didn't see any school bikers.We camped at Riccarton because it looked flowery (lots of roses) and quiet, and the price ($3for two campers) was very modest. So far it's been OK.We h3aded into town and saw people punting on the Avon - delightful - and went in Christchurch Cathedral where we stayed for choral evensong. Magnificent singing by the choir.Then a visit to the brew pub The Twisted Hop where we marvelled at the fruitiest pale ale we've ever tasted and the decent Twisted Ankle bitter. We'll be returning tomorrow I think. Odd and impressive sculpture outside the pub. A bit like the oddities in Oamaru.Then via the New World Supermarket to the campsite to eat what's become the favourite meal of this bike tour - fried tofu in gingery sauce with a heap of salad.The campsite has the unfortunate policy of closing the kitchen at 10.30pm so this is being typed up from the tent - now shaking worryingly as a breeze starts to blow...
About 70kms, or 44 miles, from Rakaia Family Holiday Park to Riccarton Holiday Park, Christchurch.We left relatively promptly at 10.30am and headed across the 'longest bridge in NZ' amidst the traffic on Highway 1. The bridge is narrow and has no shoulder or pedestrian walkway. Heavy trucks thunder across it pretty much most of the 24hrs. So we hurried across. There is not much beauty about the bridge being a long series of short concrete spans. There is the usual pleasant river view from the bridge - the River Rakia occupies, as usual with rivers in NZ, a small part of a wide flood plain. Evidently in a really rainy period it would occupy most of it.Then, turning first tarmac road right after the bridge, we headed down the Springs Road at a fair speed eventually reaching Lincoln, and Lincoln University. The Uni offers courses on 'Sheep Technology' which we assume must be a BAaaa course (or maybe a Sheep Dip-loma). Ho ho.Then we soon reached the city suburbs and traffic grew heavier - it was school home time and masses of the littl' darlins were getting into their mum's massive offroader to do the short run down the road home. Didn't see any school bikers.We camped at Riccarton because it looked flowery (lots of roses) and quiet, and the price ($3for two campers) was very modest. So far it's been OK.We h3aded into town and saw people punting on the Avon - delightful - and went in Christchurch Cathedral where we stayed for choral evensong. Magnificent singing by the choir.Then a visit to the brew pub The Twisted Hop where we marvelled at the fruitiest pale ale we've ever tasted and the decent Twisted Ankle bitter. We'll be returning tomorrow I think. Odd and impressive sculpture outside the pub. A bit like the oddities in Oamaru.Then via the New World Supermarket to the campsite to eat what's become the favourite meal of this bike tour - fried tofu in gingery sauce with a heap of salad.The campsite has the unfortunate policy of closing the kitchen at 10.30pm so this is being typed up from the tent - now shaking worryingly as a breeze starts to blow...