Clifton - Again!

The 'Team' @ Clifton Cafe. (or Teashop as Bob likes to call it)

While the weather was not perfect today, a cold breeze blowing off the sea, Rich, determined to share his love of cycling the bike tracks with anyone and everyone, organised a family jaunt with two of our, mostly uncomplaining, kids who are home for only a short time. Along with his sister, Rose, and her band of enthusiasts, we made quite a team today.
The thought of those delicious sandwiches meant there was little fuss from Tom (home from uni for a few days before starting a summer job in Christchurch) and Kate ( off back to Spain in a week).

We started the ride at the same place as last week, beside the Clive river mouth, but headed off in the opposite direction, straight into a rather sharpish head wind. I scored the good bike again this week, so it actually wasn't too bad and only for a kilometre or two, before we turned down the the track that runs parallel to the sea. I love this little bit of the ride, heading towards Cape Kidnappers , along the wetlands which are teeming with bird life, mostly black swans and mallards today. Orchards and farms line the other side of the track and occasionally seeping out onto it. While we had to dodge the 'landmines', the big, sleek, black and white cattle were dozing in the sun down the other side.
(whoops - my camera was on video mode for a while today - I wondered why it didn't make that tickety noise - the curse of aging eyes.)

The temperature rose rather dramatically along here, although I never had to take my polar fleece jacket off and reveal my peeling arms (a result of last weeks ride without sunscreen  - what a slow learner)

Don't you just love biking shots - backs n bums?

Because Bob has a crook knee today, we met up with him at Blackbridge. It's a terrifying ride across the bridge on a windy day, especially if you are on a 'high' bike. I kept thinking that a brisk gust of wind would pop me over the rail and plummet me to a horrible death on the riverbed below, but it hasn't happened yet and it pays to focus straight ahead and not look over the rail and be hypnotised by the flowing of the river below.
On our way up to Napier this morning, Rose text me and mentioned there was a market at Haumoana. I wondered for a moment whether to warn Rich that it was a possible side-stop, but wisely decided against it. Wisely because by the time we arrived at Blackbridge there was a constant stream of head to tail traffic and we could see that the cars were parked miles from the domain. We actually congratulated ourselves on not giving it any serious consideration. (Darn - I love a good market.)

                                                             Blackbridge behind.

                                                        Bob's a Wild Child.
Near the Te Awanga/Haumoana (depends who you are) shops, Tom rides straight into an innocuous looking flower stem of one of those flax-like looking succulents that was slightly overhanging the track. He reckons he did it on purpose, but we have our doubts. We don't doubt his athletic(make that miraculous) recovery, however, as the solid branch hits him fair midbody. A wobble or two, and he was firmly back on track (oh to be young again).
As we cruised past Elephant Hill winery we smile to ourselves. Just on the other side is the tsunami track. I visualise having to use it. After you have negotiated the closed iron gates, you run at least 500 metres before you hit a dip and then there is a slight rise some 1 kilometre further on. I can't run (or bike) fast enough to save myself, and wonder what would happen if we ever had to use it. God willing, I never will have to.
And talking of Elephant Hill, what a blight on the landscape. It is merely my personal opinion, but it really doesn't fit - naturally aged copper - my a*#.  One day I will post a photo, I promise.

We hit Clifton beach and, while not exactly surprised, we are sorry to see, even further damage. The concrete blocks we usually use as picnic tables have disappeared, although the beach seems less steep. We are so anxious to eat our sarnies that we immediately prepare to disembark and dig in. Rose arrives and persuades us to go back to  the Tearooms (that's just Bob's wind-up - it's really a posh cafe) for coffee. Because it's such a lovely spot and our usual has disappeared, we do.
A bit of a rest and we saddle up for Te Awanga and lunch.

The wait was worth it but I may have had one or two sandwiches more than I needed. As we go to saddle up for the return ride home, Bob discovers his bike is missing!! We simply can't imagine how that had happened - we were all sitting there, right beside the bikes. Who could possibly have nicked it?

It turns out to be one of those understandable mistakes - Rose (who was riding a borrowed bike) picked up the nearest recognisable bike - which turns out to be Bob's. Talk about laugh. (Well I did, especially after having to search the bike rack at Clifton for my borrowed bike - the kids couldn't believe I didn't recognise my  fluffy white, sheepskin rug on the seat.)

Loading up for home.

Sore but satisfied.

Charming children.

I think they're lovely really.

Tom's  Zoolander 'Blue Steel' look (except it''s more brown)

The wind had changed angle slightly in our favour - that doesn't happen often, I can tell you. So we had a brisk ride home. On the stretch by the river with a direct tail wind, and open space in front of me, I slapped Steve's bike into top gear and booted it. It was exhilarating to ride so fast. Unfortunately a little too fast as I decided to nip off the track onto the BMX track which lead to an open gate (so I didn't have to get off). There was a terrifying moment when I realised I had misjudged, but calmly I applied the disc brakes and was soon back under control.
We pulled up beside the car pleased with ourselves for yet another successful and fun day out.