Flora Saddle (Part2)

After a quick airborne review and a look at the low cloud down the coast to Karamea we decided to head back to the safety of Motueka where we knew accomodation, tiedowns and fuel would be available. Also we knew that the approaching weather may delay our southbound journey and keep us on the ground in Mot. At least we knew that good food and supplies would be readily available to keep us topped up and entertained.

This was the case and after arriving as third or fourth into the Motueka circuit in fine weather, we parked on the tie down area and I continued to overnight the Pelican while Murray got Into contact with the Aero Club to be given permission for us to overnight in the clubhouse. A quick checkout of the revised Clubroom accomodation got our gear locked up and then sent us for a walk into the township to reconnoiter the dinner options while we pondered our unscheduled days delay. Always a pleasant walk into Motueka township and it has been done many times and many ways over the years I have been travelling through Motueka in the Pelican. This time was via the aerodrome boundary road, Queen Victoria St and Pah St, which brought us into the heart of Motueka CBD.

Spying a suitable dinner restaurant was an easy task so we shortly afterwards were sitting down to enjoy our Thai meal as we reviewed our day in the air. An exciting day for sure as we covered much enjoyable territory during our days 'tiki touring'.

Since our restaurant was located beside a cycle hire shop I tabled the idea of hiring a couple of bikes, to see how Murray would respond to that suggestion. "Great idea Wally as I'm bike riding in Europe mid year so could do with the practice." Well that solved our two day weather delay instantly!

And so it was a relaxed foot falcon return to the 'drome after our dinner that evening with a few essentials purchased from the Supermarket as we made our return.

The aero club is well set up with own kitchen, stove, refrigerator, toilet and shower so breakfast was a hearty affair with our new supplies rather than an emergency bowl of porridge.

The bike shop welcomed us into their world and provided us with the necessary gear to head off on our adventure mission which we had considered as we walked into the depot. Kaiteriteri seemed to suit our idea of fun on a bike as the track would take us off road to that destination and provide us lunch on arrival so little extra gear needed to be carried. Whoopee. Away we went with excitement in the air for our unscheduled day of cycling in the Tasman area of New Zealand!

Having ridden a little around this area previously I at least had most of the route in my head so could basically ride without the map which had been given to us. Easy riding in fine settled conditions made us wonder at the way the mountains had been affecting the weather which last night had been so windy and cloudy around Farewell Spit yet so settled and fine around Motueka. The morning went well and we even rode the mountain bike track for the final segment into Kaiteriteri without having to get off the pedals. A relaxed lunch on the beach had us checking out the tourist activities of coffee barges, coastal scenic trips , kayakers and sailers on the bay. Really well geared up for tourism at the beach where the coastal shuttles run up and lower their passenger gantries straight onto the sand making this a 'must do' trip.

However we needed to psych ourselves up for the climb back up the hill to depart Kaiteriteri and so we departed this pleasant stopover and rode onwards back to Motueka again. Enjoying the return via the road edge rather than the mountain bike track passing a few other cyclists along the way in various states of excitement or trepidation in their chosen adventure on wheels, we came across an outbound group on a bridge and stopped for a chat. They were as enthusiastic as us to be out riding through the nearby orchard to the river. We set off again with me attempting to catch this picture of fun in the sun by holding my camera in one hand and the handle bars in the other, nearly causing me an ungraceful dismount as I rode off the bridge onto the gravel bike track again! All of course recorded on film!

We managed a relaxed return to Motueka and chose to return to the aerodrome to see if the promised Avgas delivery had occurred for Murray to refuel his Cessna 152 - Delta Papa Sierra. Along the way we stopped at the service station where we had dropped empty 20 litre fuel containers earlier that day to be refuelled. This done the bikes were parked at the coffee shop close by as we pondered how to get the two twenty litre containers back to the aerodrome. Always an adventure and part of the fun. Murray was scratching his head but I knew it would work. So I approached a coffee customer or two as they were leaving to see if they were going our way. A shake of the head "no other way" meant more work on the travel plan. Finally another opportunity arose when an outside customer walked up to his car.

A favourable approach met with a favourable response as I left my red containers and asked if he was going our way? "No but I've got some spare time so happy to drop you off" a mutual friendship with an Auckland friend was discovered along the way and so we departed good friends. I dropped my containers at the aero club and set off back down the road to collect the bikes and Murray. A short time later as I cruised along the pavement to the Mobil Service Station I spied a guy approaching with a bike being towed in parallel beside him. It didn't take long to realise that was Murray approaching with his innovative solution to getting our bikes back to the Club! We'll done Murray!

Ah what a great day! Murray headed back to the Avgas pump with his aircraft after observing another aircraft on the pumps and successfully topped up again. I managed to fill in this time by also topping up the Pelican with most of my red containers and then stowed them aboard for our next dispatch. Completion of the tasks left the afternoon free for more exploration of the wonderful Motueka. So where next Wally?

A ride through town and off to the estuary got us a top ride around the downtown district before finding our way back to the cafe brewery at Toad Hall for last drinks as they closed up for the day. What a top way to have a weather delay and this continued on with dinner out in Motueka, a quick visit to the supermarket on the return to the Aerodrome collecting a few supplies for breakfast and next few days followed by a night in their bunkhouse.

A weather check next morning as we breakfasted in the club confirmed clearing weather during the morning would get us airborne for the next leg to Karamea. A short time later we delivered our bikes back to the depot and made our way back to the Club, already seeing the sky clearing above for the next leg to begin.

The chosen route was to the south west via the Flora Saddle and the Karamea River to Karamea. Not a track I had flown before and certainly not visible from the Aerodrome at Mot before takeoff so we set off on climb expecting the distance to the Flora Saddle would get us up to the required minimum height of 3315' before we reached the saddle. This was achieved by both of us with me electing to fly over the top at 5000' dodging a few clouds while Murray took the lower route but both having a smooth crossing into the formidable terrain via the Leslie And Karamea Rivers to descend into Karamea.

Interesting and remote so close to Motueka and civilisation yet so far once into this terrain. Smooth flying conditions gave us a great adventure in the mountains and spectacular cliff drops into the river far below. Creeping out at Karamea had us cloud dodging around lower cumulus to pick up final approach and land on the grass 17 strip at Karamea for the taxi into the parking bay. A remote Aerodrome that has seen recent hangar building activity since my last visit and we both tied down opposite the small terminal there. I managed to flag down a plumber who was leaving the nearby hangar site for a lift back into Karamea so that solved our immediate transport problems and he was happy to oblige.

The accomodation has always be the Last Resort in Karamea and this again was where we dropped our bags to determine whether a couple of flyboys could be accommodated successfully for a night. Yes, can do. So after quick bag drop it was off to explore Karamea by 'foot falcon' once again and this took us up to the supermarket and general store where we spied a bike hire shop once again. This time it was only electric bikes! Can we do this Murray? Well this got us our afternoons entertainment for the last hour and a half that they were open and successfully opened our minds to the districts beauty permitting us an inland tour followed by a trip to the other end of Karamea via the river and back to the bottom pub to check out their dinner menu. Looked good enough to return there after our bike drop so our day was following our previous adventures by being accommodated and fed with relative ease.