From Tuatapere Shooters' Motel and Camping to Timber Tops Motor Park, a distance of 85kms or about 53 miles. This was a flat to undulating day of cycling with no real climbs, just a few modest small hills. After a quick visit (to buy Apple Strudel and admire the collection of bygones that surround the tables) to the Yesteryear Cafe, we sped south to McCracken's Rest. This is a pleasant overview of the sea, looking out to Bluff and Stewart Island. Then on through quiet countryside to Colac Bay where there is evidently surf sometimes - though not today, surely, since the view from McCracken's Rest showed pretty much a flat sea with a very small swell. There's a wonderful surf monument, or artwork, at Colac Bay. Then we sped on to Riverton which is beautifully situated on, surprise, a river. Just before Riverton we met Doris and John whoare on a multi month trip to NZ - a month or two more than us. They recommended the brewery in Invercargill and we exchanged where we'd been and were planning to go. They looked like they were having an enjoyable trip with some visits to Farmers' Markets to buy organic cheeses, etc. See their blog at http://goseedo.blogspot.com. A very short stop followed, in Invercargill, to eat peanuts and drink orange juice then on to Invercargill in steadily increasing rain. By the time we reached Invercargill we were fairly wet. We called in on the information office (i-site) to check where the brewery was and I'm afraid we both looked muddied and wet in cagouls that frankly are no longer quite what they were (mould, etc). We paddled over to the Invercargill Brewery (http://www.invercargillbrewery.co.nz) where free sampling was available so we tried small amounts of their current range - we liked their belgian style Sister Gina best, though there isn't a dud amongst their entire range. Followed closely by their Pitch Black Stout. Unfortunately their famous Smoked Bishop, a smoked beer and in the 1001 Beers To Try Before You Die, was not currently being brewed since it is a seasonal. We'll have to hope bottles can be unearthed. Finally to the campsite where we pitched in steady rain and adjourned to the kitchen to eat supper accompanied by a bottle of Sister Gina Ale. Rain still tumbling down so it is to be hoped that we've pitched above the flood level...
From Tuatapere Shooters' Motel and Camping to Timber Tops Motor Park, a distance of 85kms or about 53 miles. This was a flat to undulating day of cycling with no real climbs, just a few modest small hills. After a quick visit (to buy Apple Strudel and admire the collection of bygones that surround the tables) to the Yesteryear Cafe, we sped south to McCracken's Rest. This is a pleasant overview of the sea, looking out to Bluff and Stewart Island. Then on through quiet countryside to Colac Bay where there is evidently surf sometimes - though not today, surely, since the view from McCracken's Rest showed pretty much a flat sea with a very small swell. There's a wonderful surf monument, or artwork, at Colac Bay. Then we sped on to Riverton which is beautifully situated on, surprise, a river. Just before Riverton we met Doris and John whoare on a multi month trip to NZ - a month or two more than us. They recommended the brewery in Invercargill and we exchanged where we'd been and were planning to go. They looked like they were having an enjoyable trip with some visits to Farmers' Markets to buy organic cheeses, etc. See their blog at