Lyttelton ride

April 6

Today I planned a bicycle tour south to Lyttelton, a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour .  A ride about 14 km. First part was quite easy until the junction to Ferrymead, turn right and follow the sign that shows Lyttelton, 6.3 km. Here starts a small climbing for few km, but my ride stops 

when I came to a tunnel. A traffic police officer or with a similar function waves me towards the side of the road.

– How do You do säger han med stort leende

– I’m fine and the weather is also good

– I hope You haven’t planned to cycle through the tunnel? säger han

– No, I’m not kommenterar jag.

– By the way, I didn’t know there was a tunnel in front of me!

– You did not see the sign in the start of the climbing, a sign with a bicycle overcrossed?

– No I did not notice that säger jag urskuldande.

– Is there another way for me to cycle to Lyttelton?

– Yes, You can take a route, the Birdle Path two hundred meters from here, 2 k with cars, 3 k over the mountain and Birdle Path säger han och pekar på den brunklädda bergssluttningen jag har för mig:

– You can also jump on a bus, leave your bicycle at our office here in frotn and then jump off when coming back.

He then says that he shows me the small turn–off that leads to the Birdle path Track…

 – Just follow me, I show you where to turn right

A hundred meters further up a small office and a small turn–off road down to the valley. Then the road turns up and a gravel road begins. A brown sign  with white letters ”Birdle Path” tells me I´m on the right track and also gave me some  info about the path.

The Bridle Path was originally constructed as a way for the first Canterbury Association settlers to traverse the Port Hills that surround Lyttelton and take horses, cattle and sheep from the port to the land they would settle on the Canterbury Plains.

The path was too steep to ride horses all the way, so riders had to dismount and lead their horses by the bridle over the steepest parts, hence the name.

It was´nt easy upwards, quite steep, almost 2 km but the scenic view down to Ferrymead was gorgeous and stunning. At the top of the 335 m.a.s.l high hill stands a triangel like buildning, Canterbury Pioneer Women’s Memorial wich commemorates the pioneer women of Canterbury in New Zealand.

After arrival by sea in Lyttelton Harbour, early settlers had to cross the Port Hills via the Bridle Path to reach Christchurch or the Canterbury Plains.

The Birdle Path Track continues on the other side of the hill.  It´s  paved  paved road and the sign warns that it is steep and may be slippery and loose gravel.

The views down towards Lyttelton harbour and the bay are outstanding. I got goose bumps.

It’s almost as hard to cycle downhill as it is to get uphill. It’s so steep that I have to use both the front and rear brakes.

Every 25–30 metres, they have cut off the cycle and walking path with a 2 dm wide and planked ditch. Probably to divert all rainwater from the mountain.
At each such ditch there has been an elevation in front of so many times I have to jump off the ”bike” to not risk crashing.

When I come down to the settlemens I get a clearer picture of what Lyttelton looks like. It is not big town but the harbor seems impressive.

Finally I come to what seems to be the main street, London Street i´s the name and the street is quite crowded with people. It´s market day

The Lyttelton Farmers Market is hel every Saturday on London Street, Lots of stalls with local produce, artisanal bread, meat, cheese, flowers, and live music. It is a popular, and dog-friendly market.

A café with the appropriate name Café Culture attracts me.

– Black, long Coffe, Americano type, no sugar and creame and a bun like that one  and point to a large bun that looks like a pie.

 – No 17 says girl behind the counter and sets out a steel–like figure with number 17 at the top.

After my coffee break and strolling among all the stalls I leave this cozy town. Instead for same route back I follow Summer road after the coastline. I did some stop just to take a look at the beautiful view of the harbor. A lagre red cargo ships has anchored.

The weather seems to turn into cloudy so I speed up a little. I left my raincoats at my hostel. Out of Littleton it’s a bit steep, but then I get a lovely downhill ride more towards Sumner beach

When I get down to the sea and Sumner beach I get a headwind but the experience of all the beautiful things that NZ can show makes you forget about it.
It is low tide and many people take advantage of this time to walk after the beach and the dogs run around happily and think it is fun to be loose.

The weather is still nice but from the sea some rain clouds are towering so in about an hour and a half there will probably be precipitation. Along the coastline are many beautiful and cozy houses and I wonder for a few seconds what they cost.

The traffic is busy but they have build a very nice cycle paht along that follows closest to the beach. Follow the road to Woolstone where I looking a bit curiously into a bicycle shop.

Some half an hour later I´m back in Christchurch and turn into Gluchester Street and back to Kiwi Hostel. Now the sun has appeared and in my mind it´s also sunny.

See Yeah lLater
P-G
// TheGlobal Cyclist