Started the weekend at the Canterbury Farmers Market, where I for once managed to resist the temptation to buy loads of cheeses (in fact I didn't even try any of them on offer!). Picked up some amazing fresh sauces - pasta, curry etc., finally found some proper ciabatta, and an awesome bacon sandwich. Bit of a drizzly day again, seems Christchurch had had enough of its good weather for the week. Back into the city for some Fancy That shopping - eventually found the schnitzel we've been looking for - a massive 2nd hand clothing place, full of retro stuff. Without revealing any more at this stage, let's just say I am astounded with what I've got hold of!!! 
. Finished off Saturday at Torenhof Belgian Beer Cafe, settling back in to a few Chimay accompanied by moules-frites. Awesome.
On Sunday we drove through the tunnel (under the Port Hills) to the Lyttelton Summer Festival. Lyttelton is just that, a little town, perched on the edge of the hills with the port down below. Nice place really, plenty of good bars and cafes - will have to come back again. Got myself some escargots while SJ tucked in to crepes - seems to have been a bit of a French theme. Had a wander round there for a couple of hours, checked out the Sound Garden - DJ playing experimental electronica amongst the roses. Finished it off with the most ridiculous ice creams - so big you could hear the cones cracking under the weight of the ice cream. Too much for us.
Still plenty of daylight left when we got back, this Sloth not being one to rest or anything, time to get Mildred out! Realised I'd still not been over to Bottle Lake Forest to check out the riding there. Holy crap am I pleased I did!!! 
Only 15mins drive from home and within minutes of starting the trail I was loving it. For those of you who used to ride Bedgebury, it's a bit like that (in that it's a working pine forest), but pretty much pure singletrack. Seriously, seriously good trails - sweeping and flowing amongst the trees. Plenty of different trails to pick from, lots of it is 2 or 3 different routes snaking across each other, so every circuit you do can be different. Pops out of the trees and next to the beach at one point, before heading back in for more super-smooth, well-maintained riding.There's also a big jumps park and trials area at the visitor centre if you're into that. Reckon I only did about half of it - gonna be enough to keep me going till the snow comes! Sweet as.
