Westport to Punakaki
After doing such an amazing day, we thirst for more. Weather is beautiful and sunny and we aim to get to Hokitika, around 130km. As the attentive reader might had noticed already, the heading is foreshadowing the fate of our arrogance.
As we start, we are opposed with a strong headwind. Additionally, this particular one is coming from the front…very unpleasant. Once again, my panniers try to come off. Trying to fix them back on the bike, I realise I’m missing a tool. Where is it? In the bike shop 15 km back in town. I give them a call and decide to get it.
Now, I get to enjoy the wind, we perceived as treacherous earlier. This time it pushes me in mere minutes to my destination and I get the tool in no time, turn back to fight against the wind. Peter is relaxing in the sun and eager to get back on track.
It’s hot and dry today, so one could assess the headwind a cooling property. We make it to the top of our biggest hill today and take a nice break, stretching next to the highway. A fellow cyclist cycles along and we greet him euphorically. He takes this thing seriously and is not fucking around like me. Got up at 9am, already 60km done.
We decide to try hitchhiking rather out of convenience than necessity. And nobody wants us. They seem to know our motivation. We go down the hill and the Pacific reveals itself magnificently, glowing in the sunlight. From our elevation, it feels like riding into heaven.
The bay leads us to Punakaki and we find a sweet and cozy hostel with nice people to talk to. Before, we salvage the pie selection of the local restaurant and give it a testing. Good night.
