Again we were away at 7:30 for the short relocate drive down to Duntroon where once the bikes were unloaded it was noticed that the "Flying Pig Cafe" had put its open sign out - I know enough not to suggest people don't need coffee first thing in the morning and so those who wanted coffee headed off and got their fix while Ian and I sorted out some maps on his phone (Ian was able to get his coffee once us cyclists got underway). Eventually they all came back and we assembled in front of the Jail for a pic before getting on the bikes.
John, our local who knows this area well assumed the lead cyclist role and promptly headed back off with four of our Aussie riding buddies down the trail to Kurow that we had arrived on about 12 hours before! Going in completely the wrong direction! Myself, Peter and Elio (our "Tail End Charlie" today) waited for their return which didn't happen! This I could just not believe was happening.
Next thing we know John appears up, on the Road down from where we were waiting for him but without our Aussie mates and appears to be riding in circles at that point! A short while later Peter's phone goes and yes it was from Stephen who was now down on yesterday's trail wondering where to go. "Turn right" we said and head up the Road and you should soon see John and at that time he confirmed he could see John.
Eventually we all re-group 300 metres along the route we should have taken in the first place and begin what turned out to be yet another great day. It was cool to start with but the heater soon began to work well and at the seven km mark we met up with Ian who opened the van for our jackets and layers that were discarded. From here the trail goes mostly through private farmland limestone country alongside creeks, wetlands and gullies with some small climbs. One in particular had many switchbacks to get out of a small gully where some of the Lord of The Rings movie was filmed (must watch it sometime)... There were a lot more phot opportunities than what I had realised when I rode through by myself last December and so my estimate to have us in Oamaru before midday was way off mark but was not a problem as we only 53 k to ride in total for the Day.
Part of today's ride had us zipping along on a lovely downhill railway incline and through tunnel all before Weston none of which I knew existed before riding the trail last December! There was one set of very old Oamaru stone farm buildings we past that would have you think we were in rural England - obviously at one time they were part of a large station and are build around a central courtyard. Two pieces of local trail history I will have to find more about before I ride it again.
Ian met up with us again at about 12:30 and mentioned that the "Enfield Fort Hotel" that we could see about a km away was open and so it was myself the non drinker who said what say we have lunch there rather than in Oamaru - that was agreed to immediately and so off I went with the others not far behind. A lovely lunch was had and then we hopped on the bikes for the last 12 km through more undulating but mostly downhill country in to Oamaru and through the Old Town to the Wharf where the trail officially ends.
It was great to ride through the Botanical Gardens and then through the Old Town to the finish and being a lovely warm sunny day everything was buzzing. The obligatory end of trail pctures were taken then straight off to the "Real Fruit Ice Cream" caravan before the Aussies walked back through the Old Town with the ice creams and we headed for home and the Racecourse Hotel for their accommodation and our Sunday Roast (Seniors meal $17).
Last thing to do today is the washing!
We have been on the road now for seven days and the consensus is we have a rest day tomorrow.
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