Christchurch mini break

Monday 13th

A cold change came through overnight, accompanied by rain and wind.  Fortunately, we were close to the bus stop and could ride there as Simon had decided we didn't need to pack the bikes in bags.  

There were three other cyclists waiting when we arrived and I was rather anxious that we wouldn't fit all the bikes on the bus.  I left Simon removing wheels and went in search of some sustenance for the trip, as we were due to arrive in Christchurch at 2pm.

The driver loaded our panniers but advised that it was up to us to fit the bikes.  So some clever bicycle tetris meant all the bikes were able to fit in the allocated space. There was no room for any additional bikes, so it was fortunate no other passengers wanted to travel with their bikes.

We took our gold class seats behind the driver and thoroughly enjoyed being able to relax and watch the rain fall. We were entertained by some random commentary from the driver as he cursed the speed of other drivers on the road.  

We stopped at Timaru for the driver's requisite rest break and made the most of our time to source a coffee from the highly rated Mrs M's - which totally lived up to expectations, particularly when accompanied by our extra macadamia ginger slice from yesterday.

Back on the bus, the temperature continued to fall and it was now registering 8 degrees outside.  A perfect day for a bus ride!  We arrived in Christchurch on time and dismantled the bike tetris.  It was a short ride to our accommodation and it was immediately apparent that Christchurch was a fabulous city for cyclists and we pedalled down wide cycle paths and crossed roads with dedicated bike lights.

Our accommodation was extremely comfortable and we made the most of the facilities as we heated the savoury frittata muffins I had bought for lunch.  The bacon/vegetable and salmon/vegetable were both delicious.  

By the time we had finished lunch the sky had cleared and it was time for a walk to explore the local area.  We made our way back to the bus station as Simon wanted to visit the Electrify bike shop to see if he could find a bolt for his front fender which had come loose and fallen off during the Alps2Ocean cycle.  Whilst cable ties worked well enough, it was a good opportunity to upgrade.  

The guy in the shop was most obliging, finding an appropriate bolt and then chatting to us about Ebikes.  It was clear that touring with an Ebike is not an option given their weight and the inability to take batteries on flights.  So I will have to stick with my trusty tourer.  

We took our time to wander around the city area, noting lots of car parks and construction sites.  We made our way to the Botanical Gardens and explored the NZ gardens and the rose gardens enjoying the late afternoon sun.  We then headed to the grocery store to pick up provisions for dinner so we could eat before my French lesson.

Tuesday 14th

I had been bitten by a bee on our way to Oamaru two days previously, and my arm had swelled up considerably.  Some quick research with Dr Google determined that this was a natural reaction as I had gone to bed concerned that I would need to seek medical advice.  

Reassured that all was well, we cycled into the city to join the GreenKiwi free walking tour, with just enough time to grab an excellent coffee.  Our guide was a young local student and she was most enthusiastic about her home town.  We learnt a lot about the impact of the earthquake which occurred on 22 February 2011.  Fortunately, many people were at lunch otherwise the death count would have been much higher.  

Some buildings had been rebuilt whilst others had been replaced. There is now a height limit of seven storeys, and the few taller  buildings that were not damaged by the earthquake really stood out.  There was a lot of interesting street art, commissioned by the city to help add colour and lift people's spirits. One particularly interesting image of Jacinta Arden in the aftermath of the Mosque shooting was painted on pieces of the Berlin wall. 

Work was under way to rebuild the cathedral but there are many years of work ahead to fully restore the building.  

We visited Latimer Square which was the emergency evacuation point following the earthquake and then the site of the CTV  building which has been left vacant as a place of remembrance for the devastation and loss of 115 lives when the building collapsed.  We also saw the Transitional Cathedral, also known as the Cardboard Cathedral as it made substantially of cardboard. 

The tour continued around the Canterbury Earthquake national memorial and past the Antigua Boat sheds before finishing at the Botanical gardens. It was a most interesting and informative tour. 

We had some delicious lamb souvlaki at the Riverside Markets - which were a lot more vibrant over lunch time.  We followed up with an icecream from Rollicking - but it wasn't as good as Patagonia.

After a quick detour back to the house to change into our cycling gear, we headed out on the fabulous Christchurch bike paths to the Gondala, some 10kms away (or more than 20 stops on the bus).  The views from the top were spectacular as you could see across the city to the Southern Alps and out to the coast.  We also enjoyed the Christchurch Discovery Ride which took us on a journey through the history of Christchurch in a little automated carriage.  Lasting only six and half minutes, it was a very concise history!

Back on the bikes, we headed cross country to pick up the Te Ara Otekaro Avon River trail. It passed through a Residential Red Zone, defined as an area that experienced severe damage in the earthquake and is deemed infeasible to rebuild on.  The future of the area is still being decided, but at the moment it is a massive green belt that took us right to the edge of the city.  

It was beer o'clock, so we stopped off at Pomeroys Old Brewery Inn for a glass or two of the Captain Garcia's pale ale.  A few people at the nearby tables were involved in completing the daily NZ quiz - and we were able to assist with some advice on the time difference between Christchurch and Perth. We had a few more suggestions to help with quiz completion and got talking to a couple at the next table. He was from Belfast and was keen to share his experience of living in NZ.

Soon it was time to head back for dinner - and enjoy our leftovers from the night before.  A brief, but very pleasant, sojourn in Christchurch.

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