Our thirty third wedding anniversary celebrated on electric bikes 🚲🚲

Perfect day riding along Lake Wakatipu

It’s quite a milestone but we have managed to reach our 33 year wedding anniversary. This is the year of wisdom, philosophy and reflection. Hmmmmm!!
The modern stone for a 33 year anniversary is Amethyst -often known as the “wisdom stone” . But Bill didn't buy me anything with an Amethyst - I think he thought I was wise enough 😁

Just starting out - but the wrong direction!

So with the weather predicted to be perfect for today and not having to be in Christchurch till Friday, we decided to stay on one more day here in Queenstown and spend the day on J&M's electric bikes. Riding out to Kelvin Heights via the Jardini - Jack's Point Track. Then return for a lovely salmon lunch that I had planned we would be eating somewhere today - just wasn't quite sure where!

The morning was one of Queenstown's beauties - lovely clear blue sky - a crisp start but warmed up fast. We headed off at 10.30 out toward Jack's Point Golf Course, getting familiar with our mode of transport on the way. Bill was enjoying the bike more than I was at this stage, with me struggling to control the speed! The start of the trail heads up a hill and then follows down to the

One of two fabulous electric bikes

lake edge quite steeply. I walked mine down as it was just too steep for comfort. By the time we were about a 5th of the way to Kelvin Heights I was getting close to turning around and coming back. And I think Bill was ready to push me over the edge and continue on. How hard can it be to ride electric bikes!! And these ones in particular as they had all the bells and whistles.

So I persevered and made it eventually, with a fair bit of walking I must say. But once we got into Kelvin Heights, with sealed roads and a bit more tuition from Bill, I improved enough that I could just about keep up with him. 

We followed the signage to the Golf Club Cafe (being our anniversary Bill was happy to let me stop for a coffee). What a great location the Queenstown Golf Club has. Stunning views and.... nice coffee.

Queenstown Golf Course from the Cafe

So after a shared muffin (not to ruin our Salmon meal later) and Bill's chai latte, we continued the trail around Kelvin Heights along the water edge to the old Kawarau Bridge which is alongside the new one under construction that is supposed to be in use by Christmas - at least in one direction. Queenstown badly needs this infrastructure - should have had it a few years ago.

Bill planning how he is to get his own E bike

From here we did the return loop, with a little concern that our batteries on our bikes were now down to just under half, and we had a lot of uphill to go on our return.

Thankfully we made it back after riding 31km and 4.5 hrs later (Cafe time deducted) to J&M's with a little power still to spare. Many photo's along the way, it was a great trip. Now you will all know what Bill wants for Christmas!

A little bit of pushing!!

A couple of nice pieces of salmon smoked on the BBQ with a glass of bubbles to celebrate our special day ( and the fact we were were still talking to each other).

Tomorrow we will start our journey north, returning to Nelson by the 19th for a couple of weeks.

Looking back to J&M's and the Remarkables
from Jack's Point Golf Course

Back safely and not a scratch on the bikes or us.