Day Three - blenhiem to hodder river

Blenhiem to holder river (sould have been camden - more on that later)

https://strava.app.link/rq8Xbl7OuQb

Attempt to get up early and get away failed miserably. We tool 1:45 from 6am alarm call. I was first night camping, so room for improvement.

It was a flat ride out of blenhiem following the river until we reached taylor road which started the steady climb up to the pass (first big climb of the day). Then down to the awatere valley. Following the river through the vine yards. We managed to stop for a brew in a vineyard close to the river, which was timely as it was the start of the next big climb of the day. Things quickly got more remote as we continued up the awatere river towards the  molesworth high country station.


We thought we might make the molesworth camp site. I had texted Kelly about an alternative, which I thought was at hodder river, it turned out camden was the spot, 4.5km before hodder.


We reached hodder to find a group who had just finished a 3 day tramp up the river. They offered some beer. How could we refuse, thinking we’d reached our destination for the night. 2 beers in, a sausage and outstanding vension from there back of the UTE BBQ we thought best to find Kelly. It didn’t take long to discover MY mistake. OH WELL.. there us a little grassy patch and toilet next to the Hodder bridge which became our home for the night.


We had a great laugh with the group from Blenheim before they headed home and what was there car park became out campsite.

Team JIM all agreed my mistake was worth it as we prepared lunch or dinner and settled in for the night.


Including a dip in the river


HIGH AND LOWS (low highs not low lows)
Amanda: the sausage from the boys from Blenheim.
iain: the venision from the boys from Blenheim. Realizing the camp site was 4.5km back from hodder river
James: The quenching or an unquenchable thirst when we arrive at hodder river to find group giving our cold drinks.

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