Day 20 Birchlea Kikiwa to Murchison via Lake Rotoiti and Rotoroa

Day 20 Birchlea Kikiwa to Murchison via Lake Rotoiti and Rotoroa.

My Just Giving donations are up to $1750 thank you. It is surprising how many people I meet have, or know others who have it. I'm having a Thai Curry pie for elevenses, after cruising up past Top House hotel turn off. It wasn't called that for nothing and was a stage coach place in the old days. You can go to Blenheim or Murchison or through the Molesworth to Hanmer and on to Christchurch. I recall hearing how grandad used to make fresh moccasins of sheepskin for a relation who used to walk from Tasman Bay to university in Christchurch, via the Rainbow and Molesworth, Jack Marshall, the ex PM's brother I think. The sky was just lightening when I left but Birchlea is beautiful.

The pastures run up into the bush. The boys are shooting deer which come out of the bush to graze. A storm caused a tree to fall over the neighbours deer fence and some escaped which has improved the odds. Uncle Jock reminisces about how Grandad, who was also an excellent shot and was shooting deer to feed the family was visited by the local bobby once because a neighbour had complained. Deer used to be protected and could not be shot, kept as pets or farmed. They were introduced as game animals like that, chamois pheasant quail etc. They inspected the carcass. Grandad explained they were eating the grass which provided his livelihood farming. The cop was satisfied. 'Would you like some venison?'

The bobby said gravely that he was on duty and couldn't possibly, but, if a hind quarter were left in a sack in the shelter at the gate this evening it would be gratefully received. It was gone in the morning. Yesterday I heard a stag bugling to the ladies across the road. I took a photo. 

I knew what his intentions were but unfortunately for him he wasn't going anywhere - the fences are too high. This morning's one was free range. It makes the skin tingle and makes me want to return. The tuis were canoodling and chorusing, a rabbit bounded and hopped and zigzagged down the road and I was humming. It's 6 degree outside and who doesn't like some brisk exercise first thing?

He remembers my father telling him the hardest part of cutting the trees had been struggling through the thick understory. My impression of beech forest had always been that it was clear and light, but apparently only because of deer grazing it. 

I sped along after elevenses as the road is pretty straight and all downhill to the Kawatiri Junction where my road met the Highway 6. Sam said that the organisers had stopped adding up my kms when I am off piste. I don't mind, I'm having fun, have no support and ride some so no drifting along with a wind assist. I love stopping at rivers to spot for trout. The Buller and surrounding rivers are trout fishing hot spots. I saw 5 fat trout from the second bridge over it swimming together. The first photo is looking back towards Lake Rotoiti. The rock at the gate appeared to have striations on it caused by boulders in glaciers grinding together. To the right of the power pole and just above the trees is a little hillock which is glacial moraine at the very end of the glacier. You can ice skate at the foot in winter. 

In the second clip you can just make out trout at 2 o'clock. The fantails are a bonus. They were doing laps catching bugs.

(Video coming)

The third shows a quarry all river rocks, smoothed and rounded. Both my parents were rock hounds and went all over Nelson and Marlborough with the club. There is a huge range and variety of rocks. As Dad's hip got progressively worse he walked shorter distances but got cannier at finding good ones. I got mum a good Canon microscope in HK which is now at the Rock and Minerals Club.

Code name JoJo mama x Teatatu on an electric bike. I waited at the fourth ford and we photographed each other crossing. It's ok Sam the water wasn't deep and I didn't need the helmet. Promise.

There are photos of Lake Rotoroa. I slapped on a concoction of sandfly repellant smelling of camphor, gum, kerosene and lavender. I looked like a geriatric body builder off to the Olympics. The sandflies immediately attacked and got trapped in the toxic brew. It seemed pretty good. I got to Rotoroa where I intended lunching and spoke to these good people relaxing, Marion Ann David and Richard. Behind then was a canoe. The Maori used this lake as part of the Greenstone trail.

At Korere a spinster cousin of Dad's lived alone in a Cobb cottage made of mud and straw. Access was by a swing bridge. As kids we would visit Cousin Myrtle and she would reverently produce a beautiful honed and polished greenstone adze she had found when digging her garden. What stories it could tell. Who made it, found it, carried and left it there? It is now in Nelson Museum. I'm in Riverside camping area tonight. I was here before 5 my earliest finish in nearly 3 weeks.

Campground Murchison - lovely spot.

89 kms today.  883 metres ascended.
Resting pulse 63. High 124. I'm Getting fitter.