After grabbing some food to eat, we left the Nelson region following another section of the Great Taste Trail. We followed the Richmond coastal path, heading towards Rabbit Island and Mapua.

The path was predominantly gravel, with some wonderful raised board walks around the waters edge. Still low tide, but the ground cover plant was quite appealing.

We crossed numerous streams with smaller bridges.

This would have been one of the longer bridges constructed as part of a shared pathway.

Crossing over to Rabbit Island along the causeway, there are forestry plantations. I thought I saw my first ever Kiwi, of the feathered variety pop out from one.

Alas, we were later told this is a not a kiwi but weka, a native flightless bird that is similar to a Kiwi, but…different. The weka is common during the day whereas the Kiwi are not. So I am still to spot my first Kiwi.

There is a lovely coast along the northern aspect of Rabbit Island, already starting to see beach goers.

We were heading to the Mapua ferry, first crossing due at 10.10 am. We were an hour early….so sat around talking to other cyclists.

Finally the ferry arrives, it pushes itself onto the sand, drops a small ramp and you wheel your bike along the beach and onto the ferry.

The ferry fare is $15 each one way. Quite expensive for maybe a 200 metre crossing.

Bikes are well catered for with these racks. The seats on the ferry are of the stackable plastic variety you’d get from Bunnings.

Mapua was a happening and vibrant town with an array of shops with food, art and clothes. There were numerous, quite funky, pop up style shops all brimming with tourists.

The wind greeted us as we left Mapua. Up to now the first 28 km had been just the right temperature in the low 20’s and no wind.

The wind was to be a major factor as we headed predominantly west.

Motueka was super busy. We stopped at Toad Hall cafe, on the town outskirts. We can highly recommend this place. We grabbed takeaway and sat outside with our bikes in the shade.

It took quite a time to get out of town with backed up traffic, lots of red lights, but once free the wind was our constant companion.

Just before the climb started, we stopped at a pub and Tony had his bidon filled with cold lemon, lime and bitters! I stuck with water.

Takaka Hill is legendary in the area. People all looked at us incredulously that it was in our route, with loaded bikes.

Certainly we can both see why. With a loaded touring bike it is hard, damn hard. It is a 15 km climb gaining 850 metres.

The first 1.5 km was perhaps the hardest with hair pin bends in excess of 13%, with limited ability to swing out wider to a lesser angle, due to cars always being there every bend.

It tested our resolve, as you start to think, crap, this is a 15 km climb and I’m battling at the 1 km mark!

Nevertheless the first few km were the worst.

It was super hot and exposed, so the few times vegetation over shadowed the road we took advantage of it, grabbing another mouthful of fluid.

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There are around 145 bends on Takaka Hill. Here I am very early on as not much elevation at this point.

The views varied as we gained ascent.

After 10 km climbing, still another 5 km to climb, we were a bit lower in fluid than we would have liked, and almost rationing it. A sign for a local cave indicated it was open and had refreshments. We decided to deviate and check it out.

It was down a hill, a steep 18% hill and all you can think of is, crap, I need to get back up here.

However, it was so worth it. Amazing views too.

The last 5 km was quite ok as we only had a few hundred metres to climb, and were feeling somewhat refreshed.

Very pleased to be up the hill, we enjoyed the 10 km descent down (this side is steeper with 5 less km). Great views.

We headed straight towards Takaka some 20 or so km away and 7 km from our accomodation so we could buy food. The headwind was awful.

Some $168 later, I wheeled the trolley out from the local supermarket and watched Tony’s mouth gaping open wide in shock, worried how we were to transport the food.

He’d been chatting to locals, but two crabby older ladies had admonished him for where the bikes were leaning. Merry Christmas. 😁🤣

With food stored in every available spare spot, lightweight backpacks on our back we gently cruised to our accomodation. We did not want to break the eggs!

We are staying in Motupipi in a replica train carriage. There is an outdoor bath, shower and compost toilet. It is quite well appointed really although drying our clothes is problematic and I will be riding in a wet bra!

Then there is Otis, the owners dog. Otis apparently knows he’s not to enter the carriage. It is possible I encouraged Otis in, and he made himself comfortable. I told him to keep his head low from the window in case his owners saw him 🤣🤣

Three century rides in three days, with over 2600 metres ascent and we are looking forward to some shorter days.

Rain is forecast Christmas Day and Boxing Day but we will see what transpires.

Merry Christmas to you. Thankyou for readings d I ole you have a lovely day.

😊❣️🚴