Day 14 - Nelson to Tapawera

After going late yesterday, I was content to take things a little easier today.
I had my latest start rolling out of the camp ground at about 8.30am. First stop was a bike shop in Nelson which opened at 9am, primarily to check the disc brake pads following last night's  descent off the Mangatapu where the brakes had a good working over.
Forty kms later I was in Wakefield where it was great to meet up with Graeme and Pat who had come down from Motueka to cheer me on and shout me pies and coffee from the Wakefield Bakery - thanks! The Wakefield bakery is a hugely popular spot with continuously long queues.

The TA course then heads up through the long Spooners Tunnel to Tapawera. However, due to high fire risk reasons, the forest around the Tunnel is shut and a diversion is in place, which I muddled my way through to arrive in Tapawera about 4pm.

Only clocked 93km today.

Tapawera is an interesting place and the accommodation is definitely what I would describe as interesting. Dinner tonight was a burger from Anarchy Burgers.

Tomorrow I'll look to have an earlier start. The course heads up to Lake Rotoroa then across the Braeburn Saddle to Murchison. (96km).
From there the course heads up and over the Maruia Saddle to Springs Junction (78km) and across to Reefton (44km).
Then it's Big River through to Waiutu and ultimately Greymouth..
Not quite sure how to play this yet as Murchison is readily achievable but Springs Junction would be a long way off. Not sure if Reids still has accommodation, although the café is long closed.


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