By vita jerram, 03 July 2025
What a funny adventure to begin VUWTC's 2025 bike packing...
We planned to meet at the train station to catch the Masterton line up to Maymorn station no later than 8:10 for the 8:20 train .... Rewa came in at 8:15, but Daniel and Zade were not to be found.... (pumping up their tyres apparently). Unfortunately, as the Masterton line only goes three times a day, we left them behind (hoping they would catch us from Upper Hutt), and rushed onto the train.
It was a LOT wetter than expected. I had assumed that the heavy rain would come in the afternoon, but boy was I wrong. The moment we got on our bikes, we were drenched. It also wasn't a nice humid rainy day, but a cold southerly rainy day. Spirits were still high, as we sang our way through some of the tunnels. We had a lunch stop at Summit Station in the rail trail, and made the decision to turn around there, instead of going to the bottom of the hill and back up again. Thanks to JumpJam (TM) we warmed ourselves up a little before hopping back onto our bikes for the descent. I was tempted to ask the lone soul sitting at the reception for bike rentals at the beginning of the trail to give us a lift back to Upper Hutt station, but Isaac convinced me otherwise. Apart from the rain, it was a very nice trail along the Hutt River. Once we were on the warm train back to Wellington, we all dreaded our own individual bike rides home, wet, cold and tired, but never have I ever been more grateful for a hot shower, and a HUGE bowl of hot chocolate (with whipped cream).
We unfortunately never met up with Zade and Daniel, although heard that they had an adveneture of their own...
I hope this wet and cold day does not put off my fellow bikers to join me again for another ride again soon.