Adventure Magazine Feb 2020

Above: There were loads of bays and beaches to stop and enjoy along the
Kenepuru Sounds road
THE BIKE
Day 2 could not have been more different. Gone were the
thermals, fleeces and jackets from yesterday and out came the togs
and singlets! Our bikes had been delivered the day before so after a
buffet breakfast, we headed out of the resort. The ride starts with a
gruelling 1km uphill on a gravel road and Martyn’s original concerns
start to come back to haunt us. It is here that you either head up
the Queen Charlotte Track or take the option of the road through
Kenepuru Sounds.
Despite Martyn’s warnings we had originally decided to give the
trail a go, however the cold weather from the previous few days had
left us feeling a little under the weather (or was it just the wine?) and
our enthusiasm for a hard day’s ride was waning. After checking out
the track on foot the reality of the ride hit us and we decided to take
the road. Turning away from the Queen Charlotte Track did not come
without a sense of FOMO however, the Kenepuru Sounds road turned
out to be a real surprise and a route that shouldn’t be seen as a
second-rate option.
The ride from Punga Cove to Portage along the Kenepuru Sounds
is 32 km and can be ridden in 2-3 hours, compared with 24km along
the Queen Charlotte Track, with an estimated 4-5 hours ride time.
This should tell you a lot about the difficulty of the ride. Although we
could have ridden the track, it would have been hours of technical
riding, focusing only a few feet in front of us, with little chance to
appreciate anything else.
What we learnt is how important it is to be honest with yourself
about your abilities and what you want out of the day. For us, the
ability to relax, take our time and enjoy the views and each other’s
company was what it was all about, however, if you were a hard core
mountain biker who loves the technical and physical challenge you
would want to be doing the ridge ride over on the track.
The countryside and farmland provided a different vista from the
day before, but no less beautiful. The ride becomes easier as you
leave the gravel onto a sealed road, which then winds along the edge
of Kenepuru Sounds. There are endless opportunities to take a break
and enjoy the stunning views. We took our time, stopping at various
bays along the way, enjoying lunch and a swim at Picnic Cove.
Top to bottom: The view from near the ridge on the Queen
Charlotte track was incredible, however we quickly realised
we'd made the right decision in taking the lower road.
Helen and Linda checking out the map, note the ridgeline in
the background marks the top of the Queen Charlotte track.
Resting our legs on the deck of our room at the Portage.
As we came down the final bend, The Portage Resort lays nestled
in the hillside overlooking the ocean. We were warmly welcomed on
arrival by the manager, Josh and nothing was too much trouble for
him or his staff. There were incredible views from everywhere at the
resort and we ended the day with a meal in the restaurant as we
watched the sun set over the Sounds, a perfect end to a perfect day.
12//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#218