Adventures by Cath7rl

Day 3 – S2S – Blenheim to Upcot Station – Awetere Valley.

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Up at 6.30am and after a quick brekkie of a banana and some leftover gingernuts I headed off to Blenheim to find a cafe. Not a lot open early as it’s Sunday but found Ritual cafe and had eggs Benedict.

The weather was damp but not really raining. I had the light windproof jacket on and thought I would see how far that would get me. The rain set in after Taylor Dam and before Taylor Pass. The ride up to the dam was fantastic and there were runners and dog walkers out and about.

Comms box on the way out of Blenheim
Taylor’s dam (behind the trees)
Taylor’s Pass – no sign but right elevation and high point. Road wet and hard going.
The descent off Taylor’s Pass – mud.
At the top of the significant climb.
Sort of raining – full wet weather gear on.
On the way to Upcot Station – beehives in multi colours
The road ahead, Awatere Valley

After the descent off Taylor’s Pass I had to stop and wash the chain with my water bottle as there was so much mud and grit in the chain I thought it might get stuck. After a good hose down with the water bottle I dried it and oiled it – then the road thankfully turned into tarseal. Lots of water on the road but not muddy. The valley was nice – slow climb up then I got to the significant climb which turned into gravel part way up. Lots of rain on the climb but quite refreshing. The last 25km to Upcot Station was very hilly, nearly all the climbs were tarsealed then would revert to gravel. A big slip with lots of mud just before the bridge. I could see shearer’s quarters on the other side of the bridge – however green sheds and I knew I was looking for cream sheds so kept going. 2km later I arrived!

A huge number of rooms to choose from. I ended up in Schooners which has the name of the land block to the right of Upcot saddle. All the rooms are named after blocks on the station.

At 4.30pm it poured down and when walked up to the homestead for dinner it was full wet weather gear to get there! Great dinner – beef schnitzel, roast veges, rhubarb crumble for dessert. Still raining lightly when we went to bed so had the dual sound of rain and cows – the cows were in for annual TB testing.

We had a fire in the kitchen of the shearer’s quarters and a washing machine so we were all able to wash our gear and dry it in front of the fire. Nice to have everything ready for the long day tomorrow.

View early morning from shearer’s quarters back door
Great light on the hills
Shearer’s quarters Upcot Station
One or two antlers…
The entrance to Upcot Station – an oasis.
The road into the Molesworth ahead
Some snow on the ranges
View back down the valley from Upcot Saddle – 900m elevation
The north gate into the Molesworth
The photo point – top of Wards Pass – just over 1000m elevation
The descent off Wards Pass – so much fun and fast zoom over isolated flat
Into the last 10km before Jollies Pass.
Jollies Pass
The best sign of the day – 100m climb left to then down to Hanmer.

I rolled into Hanmer after 8 hours 50mins of riding time and 10 hours after leaving Upcot Station. I got to the hot pools just in time to enjoy 30 mins of soaking – then off to the pub for food.

I ate with John, Moria, Vivian and George, who I had met at Mistletoe Bay. Sue who was also part of their group had just tested positive for covid – so that was the end of her S2S trip. Apparently there have been a couple of people who have had to pull out due to covid.

Back to the Hanmer house and a cup of tea. Long day done and feeling ok.

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