February 26 - Oxford to Greta Valley - 92 km

It's hard to get up after stayng in a luxury B&B - I'd better tone down the accommodations or Laura won't do any bicycling at all.  She thinks she could get used to this!

We had breakfast in the cafe (Salmon Benedict!) and Laura got her doggie fix with Tosh (the manager told me they intended to have two dogs - Mac 'n Tosh.)

It was drizzzling just enough to convince us to don full raingear when we left.  Luckily, the drizzle disappeared a bit later and it was mostly dry peddling wihtout sun.  We headed toward Rangiora and noticed a number of helicopter flights overhead.  It turns out that they are ferrying hot food from volunteer kitchens into Christchurch.  A one hour drive is replaced by a 10 minute flight so the food stays warm.


A bit later I noticed my handlebars were loose (in the up & down direction, not the steering).  When we entered Rangiora I stopped to tighten up the headset bracket and found out it was cracked and broken!  I stared at it while Laura tripped into the library to hopefully locate a bike shop.  Out came Laura with a fellow who personally escorted us to the local bike shop, hidden behind a mall.  He works in Rangiora but lives in Christchurch - for the forseeable future he's moved back in with his parents in Rangiora as his place is in ruins.

So, another example of Kiwi helpfulness.  10 mintues in the bike shop and my bike,is good as new with a replaced headset bracket.

While in the shop we met a Nova Scotian girl now living here and got the lowdown on a route out of Rangiora which avoided the highway for 20 kilometers or so.  I programmed the new information into FRED the GPS, who only grudgingly accepted it.

Off we went through the countryside.  Nice flat roads through farming country, with a lot of vineyards.  The clouds were low so no photos, except for this one.

We made great progress to Amberley, bought some food and Girl Guide Biscuits (quite different from the Canadian version). Then off on state highway #1 north 30 km to the Greta Valley holiday Camp.  According to the Laura rating system, it's only a bare 2 instead of the stunning 1 from yesterday.  Below is a view of one part of the campground.  The two caravans on the right are also for rent - except I'd bet those are a 3, if not a 4.  Unlike the past few days the campground isn't full, so we may be north of the Christchurch exodus.

On the topic of keeping score I should update you on the FRED verses Laura contest.  I had told you earlier that FRED found a great route to Methven, cutting off 13 km from Laura's route.  This turned out to be true, as well as another 3 km shortcut on the way to Oxford yesterday.  So, as of this morining it was FRED 2, Laura 0.  However, today FRED slipped up since he missed the Inland route and also tried to send us down a dirt road later.  So, it's now FRED 2, Laura 1.

We're continuing north tomorrow.  The sky is clearing, the route is not very hilly, so hopefully we can get to Kaikoura.  Unfortunately, clear skies usually mean northeasterly headwinds.