Today was a bit of a cheat day, the only riding that needed to occur, was to take us to the airport.

We had all day to waste in Christchurch, so a lazy morning was planned.

That was until a megaphone started in Hagley Park at 0745, turns out there was a Maccas sponsored kids triathlon in the park and there were hundreds of kids hurtling their way around.

With brunch spot recommendations from our local Christchurch friends, we set off to waste a bit of time before we ate. The botanical gardens had been recommended to us, so we jumped on our bikes only to find you can’t bike through the gardens so we had to wheel our bikes round instead.

The gardens were beautiful, and all the very English trees were in full autumn colours. Very strange to see so many orange trees as in Wellington, most trees are native evergreens so you don’t tend to see the change through seasons as much.

We found the rose garden, my favourite, and had a mooch around. I nearly fell over laughing at James leaning in to smell one particular rose too far, and falling into the bush!

We laughed at some tourists on the punting boats and eventually found our way to an exit from the gardens.

Brunch was at a fancy local spot called ‘Hello Sunday’. We arrived, plonked the bikes outside and grabbed a table outside so we could keep an eye on the bikes. What a mistake-a to make-a. One simply does not select their own table, there was a maitre de who allocates you to a table (absolutely nothing around to tell you this, so you’d only know if you’d been here before!)

A host came to take our order, and half an hour later, our coffees hadn’t arrived, but our food did. Maybe our punishment for not understanding the table policy.

After some over priced eggs bene, and avocado tacos, we had basically licked the plates clean but were still hungry.

So naturally, it was a quick jump on the bikes to the second breakfast stop of the morning.

James went for a lemon and poppyseed cronut, and I had a corn, soft cheese and chilli donut pastry and oh my it was incredible. If I had to eat it every day for the rest of my life I’d be happy!

With hours still to burn, we decided to take a little tour around the city. We “somehow” managed to end up on a pump track in the middle of the city. And, well, it would have been rude not to have a go.

Back on the bikes again, making it up turning left then right, we head in the general direction of the airport. Stopping at all of the parks on the way, just to waste a bit more time.

Eventually, we made it to the hardware store as we needed to pick up some duck tape to tape the boxes up at the airport, and my goodness it was the most fancy store ever! Even with its own water fountain in the carpark!

After a lengthy nap in a final park, we head to the airport, and the adventure (for now) was over. Purchased a couple of boxes and packed everything up.

Travelling light this time, with both bikes and boxes coming just under 23kg, it was time to stand in the queue for oversized baggage and wait for the person who had left their (boxed and locked) firearm on the oversized luggage and left…

Then being bumped to the back of the queue as other people hadn’t left enough time to get through, including a woman with an open box of twigs and leaves. Giiiirl, did you honestly just expect to hand over an open box of tree branches and the airline just load it onto a plane?!

Through security and into the koru lounge to make the most of the all you can eat and drink goodies.

A plate of cakes and cookies for the man, and (of course) a plate of cheese for the lady

At one point, I was waiting in line for access to the cookie jar, when a small kid opens out a napkin and one by one places cookie after cookie on the napkin. 6 cookies, and he carefully folded the napkin over the pile and unfolded napkin number 2.

A pile more cookies made their way onto his napkin, and he looked so happy with himself!

Our flight was called, so we made our way back through the terminal. A short flight and we were home.

552.44 km

6,739m climbed

35 hours 7 minutes 55 seconds

101,641 pedal rotations

17.62 average speed

112 average heart rate

10.5 days of awesome 😉

Day 11 complete.

It’s been good to adventure again!