Reefton. Photo: RoadyNZ
JANUARY 2 After a wonderful night’ s sleep and gaining custody of the gleaming Africa Twin once again, I set off in cool, threatening conditions for Greymouth and coffee. The road northward runs alongside the coast and today it was mirror-still, and the Arahura Bridge showed a river deepest green, the fitting birthplace of pounamu. Greymouth was not exciting, but I found the only, very busy, café in town, and then rolled on in more gloom towards Reefton, and the home of the editor of Kiwi Rider. Arriving around lunchtime, Ben suggested I might like to ride one of his loops, sending me a link on REVER, an app I sometimes use on the phone. What a ride! 230km, about three hours, and everything my magnificent Honda was seemingly built for; long touring miles through bush-hung tarmac, followed by a road and gravel loop through the most contorting gravel tracks, up a high beech forest pass over the Maruia saddle. Ducking and weaving through dips and forest clearings, with five clear and easy fords, up switchbacks and into steepgladed gorges, and then deep down into the
Murchison Valley head, rolling on to epic, fast gravel runs, alongside an inky slinking river, bank-to-bank between green and wet black cliffs. What a country! Out to Murch, coffee and then along the flanks of the mighty Buller River to the Inangahua Junction and a great run through downs country back into Reefton. Reefton was the highlight of my riding finds on this tour; roads star out in every direction and the Rainbow and Molesworth runs are just down the road too. It is adventure riders’ paradise. Ben and Tara have rebuilt and refurbed a fantastic house with views of the Inangahua River and Valley streaming away to misty mountains, through the huge front windows. Just over the bridge, it’ s a quick walk to the thriving town centre. Look it up on the motorcycleaccommodation. nz website shortly. One of the best beds of the trip and that’ s saying something. Ben and Tara made a beautiful meal while I was cavorting in the hills, and after great conversation and with a full belly, happy as a sandboy,( as my dad used to say), I fell asleep instantly. Rob and Jeff were meantime some way
KIWI RIDER 93