Since I really loved the previous cycling trip I decided to go on another one: the Great Taste Trail. It’s supposed to start at the i-SITE in Nelson, which I couldn’t find because they have renamed it the Nelson Visitor Information Centre, which I did manage to find
I will use this very spot as the start of the track though, I hope the rest of the track is just as clearly marked
Looking up from the previous photo, and I’m on my way!
Some information about the trail, here a link to a complete map of the trail
Nelson Art, it looks like it will be a nice sunny day
Not for very long as a few minutes later this is the weather
As long as I’m in Nelson the trail is on this kind of surface
They did a good job keeping the trail separate from the main traffic, mostly the trail is on dedicated cycles lanes
The weather is improving again
Photo taken from ‘Monaco‘
The Waimea Inlet
On final approach for Nelson Airport
Not much traffic, great!
Many, many grapevines
Cows seeking shelter from the blistering sun
Must be good living here
If I’m not mistaken these bridges (there’s more of them) were built especially for this trail
Me on the other side, I’ve done about 20 km or so now
Bike and pannier carriers are holding up fine
Such stunning views today
Brightwater, the birthplace of Sir Ernest Rutherford, the only Kiwi worthy of being revered worldwide
Me with a statue depicting a young Ernest
And what a great physicist he was!
Anyway, the trail continues, I think this is what you could call a rustique farm
St. John’s Anglican Church in Wakefield
More Wakefield
Pretty mural
Kids who like mountain biking will have a good time here
Another one of those bridges
I’ve cycled about 30 km now and I have a stop at Fairfield Berries where I get myself a $10 punnet of amaaaaazing strawberries
Om nom nom
I also got myself a super fresh ice cream with Boysenberry, so good. Fairfield Berries, I’ll be back!
The trail continues just south of the Wai-iti River through some lovely pine forest
These kind of houses are so much nicer than what they are currently building all over Christchurch
I’m now on a loooong climb, the road is only going up and up and up
And then they have these metal barriers in the ground, I guess to keep non-cyclists out
But guess what! It’s another typical case of ‘Kiwi Ingenuity’ where they (almost, I lifted the rear of my bike) prevent access to the very means of transportation this trail was designed for : the bicycle, I guess a whole team of managers signed off on this awesome idea…
After a long and tiring climb I make it to the Spooners Tunnel
Proof: me, and the tunnel
This tunnel is 1325 m long
About halfway in, without my head torch it’s of course absolutely pitch black in here
Past the tunnel and continuing towards Kohātu
Sometimes the trail dives under little bridges and continues on the other side of the road
Soon I’ll be in Tapawera
Yes!
Tapawera
I must have done over 70 km by now and I still have energy to continue so I cross the Motueka River and start looking for a place to camp
Luckily I’m at a safe distance from the Alpaca, I don’t trust them (with their spitting)
After 81 km and 7.5 hours I found a place to camp, next to a flowing river, all’s good!
Map of today’s trip: from Nelson on the right to not far from the Wangapeka River Bridge on the left