tical enjoying coastal riding through
small towns before enjoying the first
of two nights in the hostel’s stargazer
room. The next day I pushed my body
in a way I hadn’t in ages as I rode twen-
ty something kilometers up, over, and
around the hills enjoying the many
views of the lively blue ocean and skies
against the green pastures and rocky
cliffs before eventually a long winding
decent into the small town of Akaroa.
Walking past the shops I saw a New
Zealand passport holder that I sim-
ply had to have for my Kiwi passport,
and met Elizabeth who was running
the sales that day. One of those times
when time disappears, in the blink of
an eye an hour and a half had passed
and I was at risk of missing my bus
back up to the hostel. Smile on my
face and passport holder stashed in
my bag I enjoyed the ride back up to
the hostel having acquired a couch to
sleep on when I make my way back
North.
From here was a long day as I
rushed off to Hanmer to enjoy the
rest of Easter weekend with family,
and hopefully find time to rest my
sore legs in the local hot springs.
While the hot springs never came to
pass due to the mass of people in the
area having the same idea; we instead
found time to relax and catch up in
TRAVERSE 93
the sun and drink delicious local
white wine, shoot down the river in
a jet boat, have a ridiculous evening
full of laughter at an abysmal restau-
rant where upon insistence from our
table the waitress tried the Pavolova
we had ordered for dessert … and
agreed it was likely made from either
cardboard or wood shavings, which
was then made up for the last night
with an excellent last supper of lamb
before heading off north.
Taking off from Hanmer is the first
time Remote-Moto really paid off as I
was able to confidently take Rainbow
Road up towards Nelson thanks to
the in depth description of the road.