With the van build complete, we were ready to leave but then decided to test out our bikes on a 3 day trip to Little River campground on the Banks Peninsula. Always seeking the most scenic route we made the choice to take the Summit Road along the top of the Port Hills. A steep climb out of Lyttelton on Evens Pass and then due east along the top. The road undulates with some quite steep climbs and drops but offers magnificent views west over Christchurch City and east over Lyttelton Harbour and then Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific Ocean. Half way along the Summit Road is the excellent The Sign of the Kiwi Cafe where we stopped for a snack. The drop down Gebbies Pass is either a white-knuckle ride or a test for the brakes but is stunning either way. At the bottom of Gebbies Pass you pick up the cycleway proper and it's all off-road gravel from there, along the shores of the beautiful Wairera Lake to the village of Little River. The campground is another 8km of uphill so it's not a good idea to have a beer in the pub thinking the ride is over. We spent 3 nights at the campsite relaxing and walking the hills - and then cycled back to Lyttelton. A very pleasant experience and a good test of legs, fitness and bike gear.