Some people go all the way up to the Central Plateau to do a bit of cycling, and indeed the well-known 42 Traverse is up on the trip schedule for early December. That should be an interesting ride, on average downhill, starting on a crisp summer morning and probably ending with that nice combination of tired legs, lots of thirst and an after-party in the Lodge. Well, the 41°25’ is slightly different!
The setting:
A hilly range between Martinborough and the south coast, offering good hunting opportunities for people dressed in green, riding around on quads, as well as spectacular views.
The cast:
Anna – our cheerful and fearless leader, especially downhill
Nicole – escaping the Canadian winters, but forgot her socks Mika – always finding a way to get scratched or bruised
Jon – wanted to see the other side of Lake Wairarapa this time
Harry – keen to test his all-round bike on the tracks
Hans – always in for a Traverse, but forgot his beanie
The weather:
Early spring. Note that spring can be defined as the season between winter and summer, and early spring is probably more like…winter? Anyway, Harry’s presence gave us the confidence that the weather would be great on Saturday, with a predicted southerly tailwind on Sunday.
With these ingredients we set out around 7.30AM on a Saturday from platform 9, drove to a very sleepy Martinborough, and started cycling south-east. Turning left from the main road to Lake Ferry after 10 mins, there was hardly any traffic, and after the first hilly bits we took on to a gravel road heading into the Aorangi Forest Park. Peddling in paradise with a bit of sun, a mix of uphill effort and downhill speed, we made it to Sutherlands Hut for lunch. By then we had crossed a few fords, where the punters showed different methods to pass, but all of us ended with wet feet. Sun still shining!
According to the talkative guy on the quad it was about one hour walk to the top, but probably he did not take into account the weight of our bikes, panniers, and eventually tired muscles. The Kennett MTB guide noted ‘at least an hour, mostly walking’ and that didn’t allow for tents, sleeping bags and the lot either. To cut a long story short, we decided to save the $6 fee at the Pinnacles DOC campsite at the end and found a small grassy patch next to the track somewhere half way the crossing instead. Four tents could just be fitted on a grassy patch and Mika & Hans found a mini plateau between the trees providing some shelter from the wind. Shortly after, a delicious carbo-rich pasta was ready. Cycling near the ridge the water was scarce, but near the campsite there was a small stream. And oh, did I mention that the sun was replaced by a serious southerly in the meanwhile?
The main decision on Sunday morning was on how many layers of clothing would be required. One cyclist kept to shorts, some had 3 or even 4 layers of shirts / vests / windbreakers, and also beanies and gloves were used. Some rain and a bit of hail added to the adventurous feeling. The track however was more friendly to cycling than the last bit on Saturday, and apart from one rodeo-on-a-bike effort by Mika, we all made good progress and saw the coastline getting closer. The last bit of the track had the option of a shortcut over private land to reach sealed road, or to do another river crossing and climb up another ridge. Both options were explored, and in retrospect the shortcut was definitely shorter and less steep (both downhill and uphill).
The final leg of the ride enabled us to enjoy the southerly tailwind (apart from the occasional light shower), the Mrs Mac Pies at the Pirinoa country store, and a well deserved coffee / hot chocolate / snack at a cafe in Martinborough. Having done the trip once, it certainly asks to be ridden once more, possibly with slightly better weather. Without panniers it could be done as a tough day ride (if cars at either end), and with some more walking involved it is a challenging overnight tramping trip in a beautiful area.