A CYCLING TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1929, Page 8

A CYCLING TOUR

ON THE WEST COAST

(Contributed by one of the party)

A party of Wellington College boys in charge of a teacher, .Mr A'icCaw, had a pleasant cycling tour of the West Coast at Christmas. One of flu lads writes:—Wo left Wellington on Boxing Night in the s.s. Ngaio, there being a heavy swell in the Strait. After passing Jackson’s Head, however, we might have been sailing, comparatively in a pond. S>, after a short stop at French Pass, we readied Nelson t-iivd and hungry. The morning was spent in the cycle shop (installing front brakes) and at midday we set out on our great adventure. For 18 miles we passed through the “Old World” panoramas of Nelson, through fresh green fields ami trim hop groves and orchards loaiict with (green, alas!) fruit. After an easy day we camped at- Fox llill. A fine view of the Waimea Plains wasobtained from the top of [Spooner’.range but later the rain commences, to drizzle and, soaked we stopped toi the night in the small Alotupuko school io:nn.. Flooded crocks and il codec cars reminded one of the slogan. “Safer by -Bail.” At the town (so w, had been misinformed) of Glenhc.pi wo camped for the week end, thei on through beautiful scenery to Mur chison Dairy Factory. At 5 minute to 12. we waited for midnight chimes hut not one of us heard the sound that lioiallied the approach of the New Year. At 4 the sweet sound of music crept in our ears. The village band had paid us a visit. Two players wer< still standing the one mournfully wailed the same dismal note, while the other breathed “Homi Sweet Home” and beer all ovci us. Next day the bushclad ,banki of the Bailer were a never-ending source of delight until we readier. Imuigahua Junction.

\\e were lueity m having an e.v cellent cook in our leader. Few night, passed without a three course dinner but these take time to prepare eve a camp lire so, after supper at him, gamut we said “good morning” am went to bed a little before 1 a.m.

awakened first at 9.30. We break fasted at midday, and two of us rai down the Bn Her to the famous Hawke Crag. Aiftcr riding from the June tion to Roefton we raided the ici cream shop there and then trained th< 50 miles to Grcymouth. Here we slept in one of the build ings at .Vie tori a Park trotting course. A delicate odour of (ifty-filty soaking through a long (narrow) crack in tin wall from the empty ale and stout bottles in the bar next door quickly wafted us into dreamland. Toe impression we got of Grey mouth was of a dirty smoky town. Certainly i seemed like soot to the ■whiteness ol Hokitika. In the leaking lean-to o the store at Kumara we had lime! during the heavy rain of the followin' day. Later the atmosphere flea reand we examined tne very'interestin', sluicing remains at Goldsborough 'Hie hospitality of the West Coast i> proverbial But It was with no smnl feeling of pleasure that we learnt M’ Hayward, the .Minister of St. An draw's had very kindly loaned us hi. line hall. Electric light spells some thing to one not yet used to caiulli

grease. As we were resting here for a ila.\ we could admire Hokitika’s own seen ic gem, Lake Kanieri, which is affine, if not finer, than any of the many lakes we have visited. Quite a number of us had “gold fevei, getting rich on mica. The hydro-elec-tric power station was another interesting place over which we were hospitably shown The Rinni dredge wa a world of interest to every member ol the party, as no one would believe that the dredge dug a hole to floe, itself in. Now that we umlerstam how it works and when tlie lights Jail low (as they are doing now) we ear tell the size of boulder slie is lilting. After an hour’s delay with punctures we arrived at Ross on the (in January. Mr McCaw, who. had dis mounted in a- painfully unseemly manner as a result of the rails on tin Arahui'ii bridge, went ahead each da;, in the service car until we reached the Glacier. At Ross he had obtained fb. our use an unoccupied house so close io the baths that, we stayed at Ros.for the following day. Mr Peebles, the Town Clerk, lent every facility foi our enjoyment and we spent a vers pleasant day. From Ross to Harihari the scenery was very beautiful and as the sticky road wound through avenues of lovely bush, beautiful rain clouds obscurer any view we might have delighted in. Lake lantlie with its bush-hound hills however, was a sight at which noteven Westland rain could spoil. At Harihari Mr McCaw obtained a vacant. 7 roomed house with a hot hath. Hot and cold water! We shall remember that hot hath lor many, many years.

A line sunset at Harihari was lollowcd by a thunderstorm. But oven the thunder could not drown the buzzing roar made by seemingly myriads of mosquitoes. One tried to take refuge in sleep but without elfect. One tried to take refuge under one’s blanket and was su(located. But what could we do? In the morning the downpour rested while gathering itself up lor t re's'll exertions, .lust as wo started the deluge began. The clouds poured themselves on top of us and we were nearly drowned. The road was a torrent. And, to cap everything, we had a blow out, a ‘few yards from the Wataroa bridge. For more than an hour-, too wet and cold to sit down, too tired to stand up, like shivering icicles, we waited in some draughty

half-tumbled down sheds for file tvm lo be lixed. Inii in vain. With a sign of relief we again loaned the deluge (and trail) and two of us walked to Matainui. It is typical of Wist Coast hospitality that we two called into a house and. though we were soaked and Flirty, we were given seine refreshing hot tea. That nighL the lightning flicked continuously with now anil then a gigantic flash. On the next day Dalle Waliapo and Lake Mapeiirika were soon passed. Alt. Hercules had been the finest climb in Westland. Now we saw tile finest undulating road and we were soon at Wadio. The Franz Josef (.lacier is probably too well known to readers to need any description, sufficient to say that it was unanimously the finest piece of scenery we bad ever seen and the day among the pinnacles and razor backs, one of the. best we have ever spent. At Wailio we were encamped in the one-room school. The keys -vere not obtainable so as Robinson Crusoe climbed in and out of his cave, so we climbed in and out of the winjow. Wo have to thank Grahams for the facilities which they put at our iisnosal for our enjoymem. On Monday, 14th January, we left Wailio and were brought back to Hokitika in one of Newman’s excellent lorries. One must, admire in passing the efficient service cars which connect Hokitika with the Far South. Their excellent drivers provided us with many thrills m narrow places. So now we are again at Hokitika. On the 22nd we shall he home in Wellington. We shall not be sorry to get back, but we do regret having to leave this beautiful province where we have been treati-d so well. In future years it will be pleasant for us to look back on the delightful days which we have passed here and we .shall sincerely look forward to the time when we shall agahi enjoy these things of beauty, these joys for ever, in your prettiest province in New Zealand.