Day 35 Christchurch to Geraldine 172km.
We were woken at 2am by an aftershock. Very unnerving. A second one at 2.30 meant little sleep for the rest of the night. We had intended to stay in Christchurch until Monday but our new obsession with wind direction and intensity prompted us to leave a day early and make the most of good cycling conditions. We heard later that there were 2 further large aftershocks in the morning, the largest being a 4.9er and then constant small ones all afternoon. Yet more damage to buildings apparently.
Leaving Christchurch at 7am we had an imperceptible uphill for 90km then down and up through the dramatic and beautiful Rakaia gorge. Then gentle downhill to Geraldine. We had intended to stop at 120km but were going well so pushed on.
I hesitate to mention weather as I'm all too well aware of the cold and snow we've left behind. Ever since we crossed to the South Island weather and specifically wind speed and direction has been an issue. Talking to a knowledgeable friend of Kays on Christmas Eve was fascinating. He said Norwesterlies are bad because they tend to blow hard and are very hot and dry. Easterlies are bad because the come straight off the sea and are cold and bring a lot of rain. Southerlies are bad because they come from the Antarctic and are really cold. Confused, I asked him if there was any good wind at all. He thought, then said "a dying southerly. They're ok." So I guess we have to wait for one to see.
Anyway. We have left the coast and are heading into the Southern Alps and beautiful mountain lakes. Let's hope the wind is behind us.
After a pint we went to the girl who kicked the hornets nest at the Geraldine cinema a shabbily converted town hall. Like an old fashioned odeon with stalls & a circle but instead of serried ranks of cramped seating the place was full of second hand sofas blankets & cushions. Easily my favourite cinema ever!