A gasp of freezing rain forced the cyclists to trot off the jetty and huddle under trees to put jackets on. The water-taxi ride had been windy, but some optimist remarked that it was only as the boat disappeared that the weather showed its true intent.

We were 14 riders on the Queen Charlotte Track on Show Weekend, off to a great start. The first day’s ride from Resolution Bay to Punga Cove was wet and muddy. Yet there was still beautiful scenery when the mist allowed, and charming weka to further domesticate.

Concentration was the theme of the morning’s ride to Furneaux Lodge, where lunch warmed the cockles as the drizzle upgraded to downpour. A break in focus could see you launch into a ‘Dave dive’ off a slick punga. The track flowed for most of the afternoon, then bogged and rutted up in a most interesting and bikecarrying way. Punga Cove was a welcome stop, although slightly shaky in the wee hours. Solid sleepers were undisturbed, while others may have wondered how it would affect such well-watered, slipready terrain.

Day 2 started with half a minute of dry clothing, then a pleasant mudless road ride to Portage. The swollen streams were discolouring today’s sound, the Kenepuru, now on our right. A shortened road ride ended before lunch, leaving the afternoon for leisure. A couple of keen riders took off, Danny to finish the track and Graeme to add a few more kms to the tab. 

 The road wound on through bird-filled bush, until at Te Mahia Saddle we rejoined the single track. Then began the sweetest part of the whole ride, through farmland and beech forest, flowing around contours down to Anakiwa.

 Our thanks and condolences go to Rick the organiser, who stayed dry off bike throughout. This is definitely a ride to do again in better weather. But it made us feel all the more alive to do it in the rain.

Danny Brooks