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Early Winter Rides and Walks
Our
friends, Ross and Marion, had suggested doing a ride on the unsealed
road over the Maruia Saddle. Always ones to go for rides on unsealed
roads, we jumped at the opportunity. We started our ride in Murchison
and headed down a lovely valley with stunning views of the mountains
off in the distance. The day was a bit overcast, bit still glorious.
It is the northern hemisphere equivalent of early December here.
We (all but Ross) did have tights and long sleeves, but it was
very pleasant for getting out in our woolies. After all New Zealand
is the land of sheep, and we can't have all our wool clothing
going unused.
We
neglected to take any photos of the lovely mountain views, but we
will definitely head back to this spot as it was some of the best
riding we've found. Most unsealed roads around here get a substantial
coating of gravel, and are graded regularly to pile that gravel
back up in tight corners, making riding a bit more technical on
accession than I'd prefer. This road was more like a classic Vermont
dirt road. Almost no gravel, nice hard pack with beech leaves forming
a berm, and good gradient. It climbed up through native bush with
a few rideable stream crossings. We stopped for lunch in an open
area about halfway up the climb. This way we could warm back up
on the remaining climb. The descent was grand, lovely and twisty
and through more native bush. We finally remembered the camera at
the bottom!
We
took the main road back to Murchison over the Shenandoah Saddle.
This valley is lovely and green and somewhat reminiscent of the
Shenandoah in the US. As we were riding along we noticed a few
Shetland ponies in a field and stopped to offer some food and
attention. They were so cute running along on their stubby little
legs, and seemed quite happy to be fed long green grass from the
other side of the fence!
Monday
was the Queen's Birthday holiday, and the skies in Nelson were
lovely and clear. We haven't made much use of our hiking boots
lately, so we decided to break our feet back in on the Cable Bay
Walkway.
The
view here is back toward Nelson (our house is out there somewhere).
We were reminded how great our back yard is, having such lovely
walks and rides just out the door. (OK, we actually did drive about
10 km to get to the start of this walk). While I am wearing long
pants, it was definitely a shorts day. I do have to remind myself
that it is early winter here.
Our
friends, Ross and Marion, had suggested doing a ride on the unsealed
road over the Maruia Saddle. Always ones to go for rides on unsealed
roads, we jumped at the opportunity. We started our ride in Murchison
and headed down a lovely valley with stunning views of the mountains
off in the distance. The day was a bit overcast, bit still glorious.
It is the northern hemisphere equivalent of early December here.
We (all but Ross) did have tights and long sleeves, but it was
very pleasant for getting out in our woolies. After all New Zealand
is the land of sheep, and we can't have all our wool clothing
going unused. 
We
neglected to take any photos of the lovely mountain views, but we
will definitely head back to this spot as it was some of the best
riding we've found. Most unsealed roads around here get a substantial
coating of gravel, and are graded regularly to pile that gravel
back up in tight corners, making riding a bit more technical on
accession than I'd prefer. This road was more like a classic Vermont
dirt road. Almost no gravel, nice hard pack with beech leaves forming
a berm, and good gradient. It climbed up through native bush with
a few rideable stream crossings. We stopped for lunch in an open
area about halfway up the climb. This way we could warm back up
on the remaining climb. The descent was grand, lovely and twisty
and through more native bush. We finally remembered the camera at
the bottom!
We
took the main road back to Murchison over the Shenandoah Saddle.
This valley is lovely and green and somewhat reminiscent of the
Shenandoah in the US. As we were riding along we noticed a few
Shetland ponies in a field and stopped to offer some food and
attention. They were so cute running along on their stubby little
legs, and seemed quite happy to be fed long green grass from the
other side of the fence!
Monday
was the Queen's Birthday holiday, and the skies in Nelson were
lovely and clear. We haven't made much use of our hiking boots
lately, so we decided to break our feet back in on the Cable Bay
Walkway. 
The
view here is back toward Nelson (our house is out there somewhere).
We were reminded how great our back yard is, having such lovely
walks and rides just out the door. (OK, we actually did drive about
10 km to get to the start of this walk). While I am wearing long
pants, it was definitely a shorts day. I do have to remind myself
that it is early winter here.
