TA day 22: Ikamatua to Kumara
Distance 86km, Elevation Gain 598m
No breakfast to be had in Ikamatua so we rigged up and rode quickly to Bkackball 28k away where we found the Blackball Inn open and awaiting our hunger. Wonderful full English for one and a continental for the other, followed by the usual B&E. Yum! Coffee with a chocolate fish put us in the right frame of mind for the next phase, the speed trip to Greymouth. Yes a tailwind! Sunday in Grey is possibly not the best day for a visit but we did find a cafe for second breakfast.
Next the start of the West Coast Wilderness Trail with the control point photo at the harbour entry bar then onward to Kumara. At this point the WCWT is a gentle slope all the way so we arrived Kumara soon after lunch. Sorted out accommodation first at Greenstone Retreat then on to local shop for a well deserved ice cream followed by pints of IPA at Theatre Royal hotel, watching NZ girls loose to England!
Back to pub for dinner, a good bit of banter with fellow tourists and a “see you on the trail” wave as we left.
Did I mention we are now 2,100k from Cape Reinga? Top knotch meal at Theatre Royal pub and excellent digs at Greenstone Retreat.
Forgot to say we visited Pike River disaster memorial on the way into Greymouth. A sombre place.
