WPC Bike Ride

 On Tuesday September 22 my class and I went on a bike ride for a William Pike Challenge. It was about 33km long and we biked from Milltown to Kapitea Reservoir.  We started at about 9:30 and by the time we finished it was about 2:30. We had to be at school by 8:10 and left school at 8:30. Since I didn't have a bike Ms Hanley let me borrow her mountain bike for the day. I went with Indi, Emma, Poppy, Lily, Nevey, Tyler, Phoebe, Summer,  Billie and Tim in Scott’s van. Before we left Ms Kemp made sure everyone one was equipped with the right gear.

We drove over the Taramakau Bridge, to Hokitika, past Lake Kaniere and through to Milltown. When we got to Milltown the weather conditions were rainy but it wasn’t too bad. We then waited for all of the bikes to get unloaded and over the gate. Once we started on the wilderness trail I got quite tired because most of it was uphill and there were only small downhill parts. I had to pedal a lot on the uphills otherwise I had to walk.

Our first stop was Cowboy’s Paradise and it was a while away. As I was about to get to Cowboy’s Paradise everyone was yelling at me and saying ‘DON’T SKID’. I was so confused and my classmates told me that a man came out and told them not to skid on the road, while starting to say bad words to them. I was a bit worried and once Ms Kemp got there she said that we should go to the other side of the road quietly. Once we were on the other side a small group and I were at the front and we started biking again. 

We stopped at a road and a truck went along the road. After we crossed two fords (concrete dip with water running through it) and even when I stood up the water shot up and wet my bottom. Our next stop was meant to be a place with tents and toilets but the adults didn’t wait for everyone so then they stopped at Kawhoka Intake. Once we got to Kawhoka Intake we had lunch and when Ms Kemp got there she gave some people a telling off. 

After we ate lunch we zoomed off again to get to Kapitea Reservoir. One part that I thought was boring on the way was a big long road that was straight with a bit of turns. When we got to the end of the boring road we biked up the main road and I just walked up the road. Once we got to the top of the road we started on the wilderness trail again. It was downhill, uphill, straight and turny. I didn’t like it at all and I was in the middle so there were people way in front of me and people way behind me. I got worried and thought I went the wrong way but as I got near the end I saw people. I was tired and I felt like I wanted to just walk. When we got back to school I was happy because I got to go home.

I learnt when I needed a gear change and I also learnt that biking the wilderness trail took a lot of effort.  

My favourite part was when the tandem was behind me and Hamish started beeping the horn. I also liked how Ms Kemp said that when showing leadership you don’t have to be first to finish and I thought it was a challenge.