Woke up at 7, but unfortunately Nelson doesn't wake up till tentried to check out th museum but it was closed, so we headed for for Farewell spit which is far north as we would go on the Sth Island.
You will remember yesterday that I said that Queen charlotte drive was the best road we had ridden on....that's bullshit Takaka Hill is. 25 klms of 35k corners and 15k hairpins. Very much like some of the mountain pass roads you see in Europe, an the best bit is you get to do it twice as the road only goes to the top and then you have to come back again.....just brilliant.
We stopped in a little place called Collingwood and had brekky. Sam also found a little traditional chocolate shop.
The views at farewell spit fantastic and we sat for a while enjoying our morning tea.
Then it was back over that brilliant Takaka hill....My arms and hands were trashed at the end of it and the rear tyre was feeling a bit stressed as well.
The Kiwis have a strange fence fetish, we have seen everything from hubcaps to tyres, farm implements bicycles and shoes. Its amazing what you see on the roads.
We called in at the very unfortunately named PUPU springs. These these springs are the largest in Australasia and supposedly the cleaned in world......Well they were till I went Pee Pee in them...just kidding :-)))))
This water was over 5 mteres deep but you coulde see the bottom clear as bro.
The Motueka valley and Buller Gorge were very scenic as we headed for the west coast even with the light showers.
Before long we arrived at Westport and headed out the Cape Foulwind to check out the seals, but they were nowhere to be seen today.
It was getting late and the sky was becoming very bleak, so it was time to move on down the amazing West coast highway.
We broke the world record for the 15 minute walk around the spectacular Pancake Rocks.
And then it started to rain. Pissed down actually and we arrived at the Famous Blackball Hilton saturated.
You didn't really think I would stay at a real Hilton did ya? This place has a very interesting history with Paris the skanks grandfather trying to stop it from using the Hilton name. Paris should come and stay sometime. I'm she would have a great time trying out all the variously themed bedrooms.
Its a great place and very similar to the Cracow pub in Queensland. You even get bathrobes tat match the bedspreads, but I am sure you don't want to see me in that.
More West coast tomorrow including Monteiths Brewery....woohoooo :-)
Good to see you are following a strict diet? Ride on, we are following you both every day!
Posted by: Glen | March 02, 2010 at 09:10 AM