Monday 15th July
Flash breakfast, with lots of goodies and I also took a bagel, egg and cream cheese in a napkin for lunch which we did not get to eat till about 4!!! Hired bikes again at the waterfront, we had to be given the warning "cycling is dangerous" and helmets which we promptly deposited in the car and pedalled off along the bike path bordering the lake. Very hot so, we took togs. Very easy cycling and nothing too exciting in the cache department, just all very pleasant.
The previous night I had noticed a heavy fragrance in the air and it was still there this morning. We have just googled it and it is from the American Silver Linden trees that are planted all along that part of the cycle way for shade. We know them as the Silver Lime in the UK. Also further on there were these amazing trees with roots growing around rocks.
We were caching near a couple who were having a problem when the guy ( aged 54) collapsed, the wife said he had a heart condition and called 911, I think he had heat exhaustion and as he had run out of water I gave him my remaining bit. We left them too it and at the next road/bike path intersection the cavalry had arrived. Must have been a slow day as there was an ambulance, another car, a golf cart with a stretcher, as they had to drive along the path to get to him and also a fire department vehicle. We cycled along the causeway must have been low 30's, nearly to the end at one stage a stoat ran across the path nearly under my wheel, what it lives on amongst the rocks and gravel who knows.
Just as we turned around Steve got a slow puncture. We cycled on and stopped a guy with a pump but after another couple of k's it was flat again and the tyre was off the rim. By now we were among houses so we knocked on a door and they took us in to phone and gave us cold water ( very delicious in that heat). While we were waiting I mentioned I was going to have a swim later so they sent us down to their private beach, it was lovely, the water was cool and they sit there in the evenings watching the sunset with a fire on the beach from all the drift wood. The guy did say that the mozzies were bad at night though. I can vouch for that!! Rescue came in the form of a guy on a tandem, no ordinary one but with a recumbent bike in the front (see photo) and a trailer with another bike on it, there was also the young assistant from the shop on another bike.
Anyway the story went that the couple that called 911 just locked their bikes up (also rented) and the bike people cycled out on the tandem to collect the bikes then they got the call that Steve needed a new bike so they about turned and came and switched bikes for us, excellent service as always in the US We decided to stay another night here so out came the voucher book and tonight the motel has,an outdoor pool (lots have covered pools previously) so we had a welcome dip then into town to the pedestrian only mall, a bit like Cuba street for dinner. The food was delicious and we ate out on the pavement and then treated ourselves to an ice cream. Oh yes before we went out we had to talk to our insurers about the damage done to our Nelson flat, the wonderful Barbara is taking care of that for us and sorting out our ghastly tenant. And now to go with the bites, I have just found a tic attached to my thigh, bugger. :-(
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