The Ostrom Family Adventures

We left Hanmer Springs and had only a short 2 hour drive to Christchurch Adventure Park. Throwing on pads and gear we bought tickets and jumped on the chair lift with our bikes. Mason had done some research on trails and we checked out the maps at the top of the lift and took off bravely down some intermediate level trails.

Note, Leif just got his splint off last week from his broken thumb. The trails were super fast, technical and a bit more air time than I had expected that morning, but we had a blast and made it down well after the first long run! Back up the lift and down an easier trail the next time that was fast, swooshy and just my style. :). Mason and Leif did a couple other intermediate runs with Leif building confidence each time.

Then, Leif came down one of the easier runs with me and was a bit ahead of me when I heard a crash and a call. I passed where he had gotten off the trail – totally missed seeing he and his bike well down a little cliff almost to the next switchback. He was fine though and we got the bike out of the blackberries and continued on the trail thankfully!

Here’s a couple GoPro clips of Mason and Leif bombing down the trails. We found a really cute video of a woman mountain biking and singing “I’ve got a fast bike, and I’m going to ride at a moderate pace, cause I don’t want to break myself and I don’t want to wreck my face.” (Think of the tune of I’ve got a fast car by Tracy Chapman) This rendition has become my personal unofficial mountain biking theme song. 🙂

This video is a bit longer hut shows more the technical parts of these trails. I road these as well, but am not usually in front of the camera. 🙂

We had a relaxing evening in Christchurch after a good dinner downtown. Then the next morning we drove North along the East Coastline to Kaikōura!!

The rugged coastline along here reminds me somewhat of the Oregon coastline with gorgeous hulking boulders and rocky beaches dotted with tide pools. The clear turquiose color of the water, however, felt more like the Caribbean! (Note, it doesn’t come through on the photos, but it was beautiful!) And the Seals!!! They were everywhere!

We hiked along the point at Kaikōura and had to watch our steps because they were often hiding next to the trail. 🙂 Not a rock! Also, besides a lazy growl, not super bothered by us.

We found all sorts of beautiful shells and Leif has developed a treasure hunter mentality when it comes to shells and beaches which I am loving! :).

We drove up along the coastline another 2 hours to Picton to catch the ferry back to North Island the next day. But this area pf coastline is stunning and I can’r wait to come back soon.