A nice brisk Summers morning to ride of Twizel and on up to the Canal Road before heading off around the shores of Lake Ohau. There was virtually no traffic once we were a few km's out of Twizel other than a local towing a horse float that smelt something terrible after it had past us - not of horse but of burning rubber. As there was a ute parked just up the canal from us at this time and clearly by what he had on board he was a local fencer I pulled up beside him and said "you'd know that truck and float"? "Yes, he said". So I said. "can you let him know his tyres are rubbing or the float brake is still on". He thanked me and put the phone call through. My good deed for the day now done I could be a proper **** for the rest of it!!!
The ride around the shore of the Lake to the Road in to Ohau Lodge is a really good track and while it is not possible, it feels like you do more freewheeling than the equal amount of required pedalling. We arrived at the Lodge just as a fire drill was happening and the kitchen not quite open, but coffees were ready so the boys placed their coffee orders while we waited in the comfortable settee in front of the open fire that Elio re-ignited. In December the Toasted Sandwhich I had here was so tasty that back then after I'd had the first one I ordered my second! Today was no exception and upon my glowing review several of the others also ordered to times two option.
After the very leisurely stop at the Lodge it was off on the trail again for one of the easiest 400 metre climbs you will ever come by on a bike trail - I'm picking it was purpose built for cyclists and so it held a steady 4% gradient for about 10 km's and once at the highest point of the trail and the whole A2O, the view is worth taking your time to enjoy before there is again one of the best downhills you can get to enjoy on a bike. Today we had 13 E-Biker's tootling along the trail and we had a bit of fun with them at the top.
Our group became on of two (kind of) after this point and so we had three int he advance party and four following up the rear on the gentle downhill gradient in to Omarama where we are back in the same roomes even at the Heritage Hotel where we stopped two nights ago.
While it was cool this morning and we did not get to see too much sunshine through the ride in the late afternoon the sun came out and one begins to think we have returned to Summer - the fact that we can see the fresh snow on the Alps and hear that Mt Hutt is open on Sunday for the "Summer Season" tells us we have turned the corner as far as Summer is concerned. It is still great to be sharing all the weather we have on offer with my Aussie buddies, Hopefully tomorrow the cloud will have cleared from the tops and we will get to see the snow clad Alps.
Another great day.
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