A bus ride to Nelson then a bicycle tour of the town

. Our New Zealand Adventure .

Sunday October 21, 2012, 30 miles (48 km) – Total so far: 281 miles (452 km)

Our Nelson bus reservations were for 12:45 so we spent the morning taking my bike to a local shop for a front racket bracket replacement then walking around and exploring Blenheim. It was a fun and leisurely morning. The bus arrived on time and was very crowded but the driver didn’t mind working the bikes and all the panniers into the luggage compartment. She was a real trooper and between the two of us and removing front wheels we got it all in.

The 114 km (about 70 miles) ride through the mountains took about 2 ½ hours. The bike ride would have taken us two days and except for one town of Havelock close to Blenheim there are no accommodations unless you are camping. Besides, the road is very narrow with little to no shoulder and winding. We were glad to pass on that.

We arrived at the bus station in downtown Nelson. As I was reinstalling my front wheel I heard a voice, “Can I help you with that?” I looked up and it was my friend Dan from the ice – unbelievable! He and his wife Karen are driving around New Zealand for a month and they just happened to be where the bus stopped. We chatted for a while then Jocelyn and I loaded up the bikes and found our motel for the next two nights. It is close to downtown and overlooks the Maitai River.

Sunday morning we had a nice leisurely 30 mile ride around Nelson without the panniers. I cannot think of a better way to see a town. We ended up at Tahunanui Beach with a nice lunch along the Port Nelson quay. Tomorrow we will travel about 72 km to Marahau where we have reservations for a cabin hire at Abel Tasman National Park.

Unloading in Nelson.
Unloading in Nelson.
Our river view.
Our river view.
At a local biker bar for an early dinner. The food was great and plentiful.
At a local biker bar for an early dinner. The food was great and plentiful.
A nice selection of local brews.
A nice selection of local brews.
Watching the sunset at low tide with a good Pinot.
Watching the sunset at low tide with a good Pinot.
We found a bike path of which there are many in Nelson.
We found a bike path of which there are many in Nelson.

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The tidal range is about 8 feet.
The tidal range is about 8 feet.
A fine coastline.
A fine coastline.
Cyclists and pedestrians give way to vehicle flow.
Cyclists and pedestrians give way to vehicle flow.
We rode the Trafalgar Cycleway.
We rode the Trafalgar Cycleway.
A very small train station.
A very small train station.
Our motel came with this guidebook.
Our motel came with this guidebook.
Interesting Bicycle art.
Interesting Bicycle art.
A typical roundabout with "Give Ways". We haven't seen many stop signs or lights. They work well with traffic flow.
A typical roundabout with “Give Ways”. We haven’t seen many stop signs or lights. They work well with traffic flow.
A lazy Sunday.
A lazy Sunday.
Bicycle parking on the street.
Bicycle parking on the street.
What a nice ride.
What a nice ride.
The local beach.
The local beach.

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A fine lunch that included two craft organic beers.
A fine lunch that included two craft organic beers.

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Our bikes missed a good lunch. They are sitting on the quay.
Our bikes missed a good lunch. They are sitting on the quay.

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A seafarers memorial at Nelson Marina.
A seafarers memorial at Nelson Marina.

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Jocelyn coming up from the ocean.
Jocelyn coming up from the ocean.
The bus route.
The bus route.
Our motel location.
Our motel location.

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