TA Day 22 - Greymouth to Hokitika

 60.4 miles, 2530’ climbing

Lodging: Heitage Highway Motel

Rain

We rode all day on the West Coast Wilderness Trail, and it was fantastic. From Greymouth, we hopped on  coastal track. There were glimpses of the surf through the greenery. WeE saw a sign indicating we were near a blue penguin nesting area. Last night we were told that the penguins come in to Greymouth at dusk, but the woman who told us said she’d lived there all her life without seeing one. We saw no penguins.

We turned inland onto a track that wound through the rain forest, and we continued for most of the day through ferns, small and large, grasses, moss, and dripping trees. It rained most of the day. We stopped for coffee in a small town after a dozen miles. For about 30 miles we climbed, passing a couple of reservoirs, then we started descending. Some of the time we were alongside canals that go to the electric plant. When the forest opened up, we wound our way down switchbacks. After ~53 miles, we came out onto a paved road, then we went back into the forest near narrow canals and descended to Hokitika. 

Because 1.6-2” rain are expected tomorrow, we are taking a full day off. It will feel strange not to be on our bikes after 22 days. We hope Tuesday will be less rainy.