Day one Meretoto / Ship Cove to Mistletoe Bay

March 3, 2023

Sounds to Sounds 2023

6am bleary eyed and hopefully getting in the right boat.

Up at 5am to eat instant oats, leap into my bike gear, remember to nab my water bottles and food from the fridge and get down to the wharf to catch one of 3 boats that travelled out to Ship Cove. Met 2 guys on the boat – one called Bill who was riding with someone he had never met and John from Lake Hawea who was joining a group of four.

Starting just after dawn at Meretoto /Ships cove. 84 bikes and riders – visual chaos :-). Views from the top of the climb from Ships Cove, all rideable up as it’s been rerouted and improved! Coffee at Furneaux Lodge at 10am. Some cool letterboxes along the road. Swimming off the jetty at Mistletoe Bay with fish and we met the June June pigs – one called Dot.

Hot day. Started out steamy and then got hotter and hotter. The 30km of the Queen Charlotte track was amazing. In great condition, a few patch’s of light mud but nothing serious.

The road – which is recently opened to residents (and us) for 6 weeks was hammered in the storm. Lots of one way sections and gravel slices across the tarseal.

Superb accomodation at Mistletoe Bay. Kune kune pigs roaming free. A swim in the sea, and got to share the cottage with some super cool TA trampers – great company.