Perhaps controversially, I'm going to say that I didn't totally love the West Coast. It had elements of superb but it also had some pretty soul destroying moments as well. Unfortunately, you can't easily avoid the latter if you want to do the former (I guess unless you take buses - which as yet we have not
I'm not allowed because of adamski).
We were really lucky with the weather, with only a 35km stretch when we got rained on so it hasn't been the rain. I loved the ride to Haast from Wanaka, the climbs between Fox and Franz Josef and the road beyond to Ross. I could easily leave behind the remoteness between Haast and Fox, the 20km approach to Hokitika, and the ride into Greymouth. The coastline beyond Greymouth was stunning as was the first part of the Buller Gorge. Some of the riding has been bloody hard work (dealing with climbing, campervans and logging trucks).
I can't quite put my finger on why I haven't loved the West Coast. It isn't the sandflies - granted they are annoying but they are not a reason in itself to not come to the West Coast (I think midges are worse). Maybe I just preferred Mackenzie country and so this felt like a disappointment afterwards....
We should be in Blenheim this weekend for some wine. I'm sure I will enjoy that
*hic*
