Punakaiki to Westport | Time Out 2021-22 West Coast Drive
A lazy day, only agenda item was a short relocation drive from Punakaiki to Westport.
The sea was a bit rougher today so stopped, again, at Punakaiki Pancake Rocks to see the blowholes in action for the first time this visit.
One last look back to my home for the past week, the cottage on the left of the photo below
You won't believe how long I waited for him to turn around and face the waves rolling in...
The Great Coast Road lives up to its name! A tiny Fiat Bravo
Truman Beach...
Just North of Punakaiki the short Truman Track leads down to what's left of Truman Beach...
On a group cycle in 2006 we sheltered from torrential rain under a natural rock overhang.
Sixteen years of erosion and recent storms mean those overhangs, and part of the boardwalk down to the beach, are no more.
Shackelton and droving while driving
Listened to podcasts while driving, of course...
No Such Thing As a Fish | No Such Thing As A Pub Full of Corgis
Dan, James, Anna and Andrew discuss Dean Martin's massive hands, Tasmania's lovely butts, and James's sexy mosquito legs
All the talk of droving animals (to market) reminded me of a funny British one-off TV play I saw decades ago. It was about someone in modern Britain exploiting the old droving laws to relocate a flock of geese (or, maybe, ducks) through towns and cities (London?). It was shot in the style of, and using the music of, the classic spaghetti westerns. Wish could remember the title...
Dan Snow reflecting on Endurance22, the expedition which found the wreck of Shackleton's ship Endurance, on the way home:
History Hit Podcasts | ENDURANCE22: Questions & Reflections
To mark the end of a truly epic journey, Dan wanted to hear from you -the listeners- those that have dedicatedly followed the story of Endurance22. Find out the answers to your questions as Dan responds candidly to the things that you all wanted to know.
In the concluding episode of the Endurance22 series, we also share Dan’s conversation with John and Viv James, the sons of Endurance veteran Reginald James. Although Dan spoke with John and Viv before the shipwreck was discovered, the meaning of the search for Endurance was evident even then.
Finally, Dan reflects on the experience of Endurance22 and the incredible people that he has met along the way.
Charleston
It was back to Charleston for lunch at Underworld Adventures, also my stop on Wednesday's ride.
Had a lovely The West Coast Pie Co Venison pie and fresh berry ice cream. Some was consumed on the climb to the rooftop viewing deck!
As I drove North the forecast rain arrived, so the lazy day continued after checking in to the motel. Spent some time organising my revised itinerary and watching Netflix. Recommend 'Utopia' if you haven't seen, a brilliant Aussie mockumentary about not building infrastructure.
I'm in Westport for a couple of days, then back to Hanmer Springs (a few days for cycling this time) and a few days in Picton before the ferry north. After the Old Ghost Rd ride cancellation* I tried to move my ferry booking earlier to spend more time in lower North Island, but the BlueBridge ferry is fully booked for March so that's out.
I also worked out the last couple of West Coast rides (126km in total) put me through the 5,000km total mark.
* Will look to do it in 2023 along with the COVID deferred Wild Food Festival which I still have a ticket for!
Robin Capper
