A bit cloudy but warm. In few hours it will be really hot.

Yesterday an old guy asked where I was from and then was very surprised that I came all that way to cycle. The guy almost lived there (at the camping) with many others, and most of them were addicted to fishing. Apparently Rakaia is quite popular for fishing, and actually on the way to town you can see huge monument of salmon (or perhaps trout).

I am progressing on the state highway #1, most the time straight ahead and flat. Traffic is quite bad - this is road is the main route along east coast. I am moving along the coast but all the time about 20 km away from it.

On my right I have Southern Alps and lots of sheep-runs.

After 30 km I stop in Ashburton to refill myself with coffee and muffins

This part of the route actually became boring, flat and flat and damn straight. From time to time crossing some rivers (almost without water) or road works. I even started to regret that chose this road instead of leaving Christchurch towards west. Too late now.

Around 1 p.m. became very hot, sun was blasting from the cloudless sky. I pull over in Hinds (~50 km) for couple of pints (~NZ$ 4). Chatting with people... after some time a guy named Collin gives me a piece of paper and says that I should give it the bar tender in Temura at "Empire Hotel", and I will get free pint on his account.

Can you imagine such situation at home?Never.

Small note here. In New Zealand as well as in Australia hotel in most of the cases means pub. However some of them have some sort of accommodation available just as well. It came from the old days and stayed this way.

I reach Timaru very exhausted, well at the end of the day I have made over 100 km. My both knees are in pain. I need to have some rest tomorrow. In Timaru flat roads ended. At the entrance to the city I had to tackle two hills which wasn't very nice.

On the way to the camp ground I passed Pack'N'Save supermarket and buy some additional grocery (including more baked beans). I knew that after reaching the camping I would never move again today.

Camping of very high standard but expensive - NZ$ 11. I eat immortal sausages with baked beans.

Distance - 109 km; Average speed - 18 km/h