Day 14 was a rest day that wasn't very restful. I had a few things to tend to on the bike and errands to run including posting some new tyres to a friend in Hokitika to swap over when I got there.
What I hoped was going to be a leisurely ride this morning to the ferry turned out to be a rush. When I got to the ferry there were a handful of other TA riders there including Pete and Martin who I'd last seen at the Ashhurst hotel.
TA rigs on the ferry
The crossing was uneventful which is what you hope for when crossing the Cook Strait. I wasn't sure if I'd make it to Nelson so aimed for Pelorus Bridge. I got there before 3pm so decided to carry on over the Maungatapu Saddle. It was tough going on my cross bike and before long I was passed by Orange Roughy on his fat bike which looked like it was shod with tractor tyres. I was envious of his low gearing but on balance thought he was marginally more insane to do TA on a fat bike than I was to do it on a cross bike. I kept telling myself that as I walked down the steep, sketchy descent from the top of the saddle. At the top I had met John R, Steph and another pair of riders, but they flew down ahead of me with their fancy pants MTBs.
I got to the Maitai Valley campground on dusk, pitched my tent and eventually was lulled to sleep by loud drunks camping across the way.
