Napier New Zealand - May 17th

Napier is a town of 60,000 on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island that features over 200 km of bike paths, the Hawke’s Bay Trails. Possibly the most miles of bike trails per capita in the world. The Hawke’s Bay area is also known for its wineries, including the oldest one in the country. Not wanting to have to choose between biking and wine, we rented bikes and did wine tasting by bicycle.

Our trail ran along the beach on Hawke’s Bay for the first 5 miles. A stiff wind whipped up whitecaps on the water. The temperature was in the 50s so we dressed warmly.

Then we turned inland and rode through farms, horse farms, fields and woods for another five miles, on a very nice crushed stone path, still working hard against the wind.

This stand of poplars reminded me of a similar row in our backyard when Jack, Claire & I were kids.

We turned right onto Church Road and after a few miles stopped for a wine tasting at the Church Road Winery. The wind was still whipping, but was now at our backs.

Inside the Church Road Winery. Our cheeks are a little ruddy and wind-burned. And we haven’t had any wine yet.

It was a picturesque winery.

   

The wine of choice was a Merlot-Cab-Malbec blend, a great deal at $15 US. But as we had to carry in our backpacks anything we bought, we only got one. The Blanc de Noir was also excellent.

A few miles down Church Road was our next stop, the oldest winery in New Zealand.

It was time for lunch and the winery had a nice protected outdoor restaurant. Joani had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and I had a Shiraz-Cab blend. Limit of one glass with 20 km left to ride.

     

It being New Zealand I had lamb; and Joani ordered a prawn appetizer with carrot soup.

    

Our loop back led through a protected wetlands – bird sanctuary area.

Don’t know what kind of duck this is; it should be called a New Zealand Blue & Black Tail Twitcher

Don’t know what's up with New Zealand birds and twerking. Been watching Miley Cyrus videos???

So it was a good day, a 40 km bike ride and a nice bottle of wine. Tomorrow we’ll be in Rotorua / Tauranga where we’ll see the only Lord of the Rings set left intact: Hobbiton in the Shire including Bag End. We’ve booked tickets at a mountain chairlift-up and luge-down attraction. This time I will be in the luge behind Joani; not in front.