A nice cool start to the day with almost a frost at Omarama when we left at 7:40 AM. It was a great ride, out of town and around Lake Benmore which a point we continued to follow the Lake unitla Sailor's Cutting at which point the road veered away. There were 3 or 4 reasonable climbs alongside the Lake which gives riders many really good views, of the Lake, the Trail, the High Country farms and the magnificent High Country. Because of the views along the way our two hour estimate for the 30 km's to get to the Benmore meet up with Ian was probably a good 30 minutes late. The much longed for "real fruit ice cream" (for me) and the "coffee cart Lady" (for others) was not there this time like she was back in December! While I can get by without the ice cream some of the lads were hanging out for their morning coffee which they had to wait for until they arrived in Kurow.
The actual trail is in very good condition with a smooth crushed grit surface and as it was designed as a MTB trail none of the climbs were too steep and it goes without saying that there were no steps or tree roots which you sometimes get when riding older tramping tacks.
I must not have clipped my front carry box on correctly this morning as a few km's down the trail I hit a bump and the box fell off the handlebars and it's contents went sailing all over the trail - think :Lady's Handbag" when you think what is all that stuff on the ground there in the picture! In it I carry many of the essentials that I may need along the way and fortunately I managed not to lose anything.
The bike needed a wash and service when I got in so hopefully it will be running sweetly tomorrow it certainly now looks like a well ridden bike rather than the brand new one that I took last December on my exploratory ride of the A2O. I bought it to use and use it I have.
A short ride tomorrow morning before we head back up to Christchurch where I have four of the rider's bikes booked in for some minor servicing work.
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