The Tasman Great Taste Trail & Abel Tn

So taken we were by other New Zealand "great rides" we decided to try and squeeze the c200k great Tasman Taste Trail into 2 days.... on barely adequate bikes. To minimise bag carriage we had complex starting / finishing arrangements ( although possibly this was just a ruse to avoid more nights in the increasingly odourous van...). Whatever , we got an extra night in our old ' hood, Motueka, and more time in our favourite coffee shop, Toad Hall. We shuttled the van as far up the hill as possible and set off.
First challenge was Spooners Tunnel- the longest tunnel of some sort in the southern hemisphere. All very pleasant, following an old railway line. It pops out into the upper Motueka valley which is delightful. A wee detour over the Baton Saddle dropped us into the Baton Valley and the most amazing honesty cafe/ shed. Amongst local historical artefacts, you could help yourself to hot drinks, ice creams, sweets, WiFi, charge your phone or bike battery, use the extensive bike tools, if need use the first aid kit or the PLB. There was even a chilly bin with pre ordered lunches. Everything you could possibly want.
Just as well as there was nothing at all for the rest of the baton- Motueka valley. Even Noel Edmond's lifestyle farm was closed due to land slips. So we were pretty broken by the time we and our barely adequate bikes made it back to Motueka.
We found energy later to have a dip in the salt water baths and visit our old house to find Allan and Lois still going strong.
Day 2 of the ride meandered northwards, following the coast in places, popping out in Mapua and the ferry across to Rabbit Island. This is very much Dorren and Mikes stomping ground and we found ourselves in their local cafe for lunch.
20k of purgatory was left to complete the loop, slowly uphill into a headwind, alongside a busy road. Job done.
Desperate for a rest day , but the weather served up another corker of a day so we had no choice but to cram in another adventure. This time sea kayaking up the Abel Tasman- dropping the kayaks off at Anchorage after a picnic on a n isolated sandbar and a quick swim. Then a walk back along the track that was just so runnable that we ran it...
Properly pooped by the end of the day, not sure how to rehydrate , but a swim and hot tub followed by dinner at Dorren and Mikes aided recovery. Ready now to head back south-to get rid of the stinky van and fly north....Read more