October 26 - Fantastic two day trip covering the Great Taste Trail (click for more info) from our house. Richard and Caroline joined us for the breakfast at Kotahu "backside" Saturday, and SarahLinda & Hugh joined us at the end for Rabbit Island to home. The mixed gravel, paved, rocky, sandy trails led us through the spooky Spooner Tunnel, huge hops fields, beautiful Baton Bridge and valley, and finally to the killer Kaiteriteri Beach where we took warm showers, ate lots of food and had a wonderful sleep. Sunday took us along the coastal route through Motueka (TOAD Hall Cafe for breakfast), to Mapua Wharf, on a ferry to Rabbit Island, and back home. A VERY FUN adventure!
October 18 - More biking, hiking, swimming, and...a classic car drive! Spent a day riding a part of the Great Taste Trail that takes you through the 1.3 km Spooner Tunnel. You need a headlamp, but coming back through didn't stop two tunnel trolls from hopping out from the side shouting, "Tickets please!" Kaiteriteri is a favorite day trip with fun mountain biking and ocean swimming. Nearby is Mapua, a great stop on the way home from Kaiteriteri where we went to The Golden Bear Brewery run by Jim, from California, (live band-Adam Hattaway and the Haunters) and The Apple Shed fish and chips! Caroline treated us to a fantastic lunch outing at "Gravity," a winery nearby in Upper Moutere (wine and platters!) The Kiwis are excellent at repurposing! Old tire tubes to tie bikes onto racks. File cabinets for planters. Jerry-rigged cars.