The Lees valley

The Lees valley is situated inland from Oxford. It is sheltered from the easterly by a range of mountains, and sheltered from most humans by a winding mountainous gravel road. It is consequently drier and warmer than the rest of Canterbury.

Lilburn Hill

We climbed this hill (1398m) on Sunday. Quite a long days walk, after driving into the Lees valley. A wander up to the head of the Ashley river and then a steep climb to the top. We descended down into a saddle where we found Tarn hut. (a four bunk hut that had seen better days). We then descended down the four wheel drive track across farm land.

Kiwis spotted: Nil

Moas spotted: Nil

Things I could be doing...

I did a good mountainbike ride today. I climbed up the Rapaki track, then traversed along the mountainbike track just below the port hills road towards the Sign of the Kiwi. Then rode up to the top of the Kennedys Bush track, down it and on to the crocodile track, then back home.

The weather was a warm north west day and not a cloud in the sky.

Moas spotted: Nil

Kiwis spotted: Nil

Sheep spotted: Plenty

Another weekend, more mountainbiking!

I did a long ride today on the mountain bike. I headed up the Rapaki track and then along the series of mountain bike tracks towards Sumner Beach. My original plan was to ride all the way out to Godley Head, but it just got too hot. It blew northwest today, and the mecury got well into the 30s at my house. Excellent downhill ride into Sumner, but the ride back along the coast was tough, straight into the wind.

Happy New Years

I have been doing quite a bit of mountain biking since Christmas. The usual rides on the Port Hills, climbing the Rapaki track and down one of the others.

I need to point out that my brother has a blog also. It details his snowboarding adventures in Japan and is worth a read.