Biking toward the gold fields

Sat, Jan 9th Nelson to Reefton:

I got up early and got on the bike again, for reconnaissance ride 2: Nelson to St Arnaud. A nice rails-to-trails bike path though Richmond, then a 20K gravel road half-circle to Wakefield through a couple valleys on Wairoa Gorge and Pig Valley and Church Valley. Gravel, not dirt. No walking. One fall on loose gravel—not much worse for wear. Then back on mostly paved roads, gently climbing on 88 valley road, Stock and Kerr Hill roads, and finally Korere Tophouse road toward St Arnaud. Lots of very gentle climbing, lots of great scenery. About 7 hours for 100 km. Not a brisk pace compared with stateside brevets, but not bad for a hilly ride with lots of gravel.

The girls picked me up near St Arnauds, and we had a picnic lunch by the lake.

After lunch, we drove to Reefton—a town born in the gold rush during the 1860s. Still with a wild west flavor—the old bank buildings still have their old smelters in the back for the gold.