Hobbit Odyssey Day 12: Rest day

Even the Dakar Rally riders get a rest day, so we’ve programmed in a short ride today to recover on our 14-day Hobbit Odyssey tour of New Zealand aboard a Harley Road King.

Riding every day for the past 11 days has exhausted our sense of beauty with the ever-changing postcard scenery and it’s also exhausted our bodies.

So today we rode just 130km from Christchurch to the alpine tourist town of Hanmer Springs where the tourists come to relax in the hot springs.

The ride was largely up Highway 1, but we stopped off at Pegasus Winery along the way for a coffee and to take in the beautifully manicured gardens.

Once we turned off Highway 1 on to Highway 7, the road and scenery became more interesting as we climbed the barren and rocky hills to the Hurunui Valley.

However, the winding road soon runs out again and the line-up of traffic heading for the tourist mecca increased.

I resisted too much overtaking as there is a strong police patrol presence on the road.

Hanmer Springs is pretty, but overrun by tourists, some of whom hire four-person pedal-powered tuk-tuk machines to ride around town.

Mrs MBW has been feeling the pressure of the small rear seat and short suspension on the Road King so she has gone for a massage as I catch up on some writing, checking over the bike and a well-deserved afternoon nap at our home stay accommodation.

A rest day is always a good idea on any long trip as it recharges your batteries and makes you a more alert and safer rider.