Arthurs Pass - Greymouth

A beautiful morning dawned in the mountains. Us Murchison born Watsons had to do a bit of train spotting last night (we didn't have trains in our childhood), they sounded awesome. We went and checked them out when they stopped to pass etc. A few passed by through the night. We took turns at keeping the wood fire stoked during toilet stops throughout the night. A very cosy house and hard to leave in the morning as it was our best accommodation and at $185.00 good value.
It was back on the bikes and up the we climb to the top. Neville and I started the descent, it is steep. I had full brakes on and we weren't stopping. I asked Nev to drag his feet and we pulled up to cool the disc brakes down as they were fading bad. I tweeked them up a bit, the boys arrived and it was off down through the European style snow tunnel to the bottom.
A soup stop past Otira warmed us up then it was the reverse Brunner ride past Jacksons to Kumara.
We had our lunch stop before going through the bush and did some drafting from Kumara towards Greymouth. Rex drove after lunch as we had rung him out trying to keep on the tandem's wheel.

Travelled 93km Ave Speed 25.3  Max Speed 69

Total distance ended up around 874kms over 6 1/2 days of riding.
We had a great time and all got on well. It was good to be independant and just grab accommodation as we went.
We will go a few weeks earlier next year and have already decided that it is Wanaka to Te Anau, the South Coast, Catlins etc. Watch this space maybe you will come next time!
We think we will go from the Brunner ride as we will already be down there.

It was time to pick up Bob's car in Greymouth and return home. Dave off to take his kids to Soccer tomorrow morning and me for a rest at the Lake.

Just a few notes to tempt you along next time.

Cost about $380.00 each sharing and starting with some food etc.