The big event has been precluded by a small number of wonderfully successful bike trips, which fill us and everyone we know with the utmost confidence in our abilities....
The girls' inspiration began on the Central Otago Rail Trail
This included a memorable stretch into a headwind that is recalled as the "..most physically unpleasant day of my life...". it is unclear how this formed inspiration for the girls, but they laugh about it now.
This was followed by a larger ride: Christmas 2009-2010
Following the Christmas gluttony we all converged on Mount Cook campground for a few days camping and unintentional mountain climbing with SoonMay and Spencer (Hi guys!). We would regret the 1000m+ climb during the ride, but the view was worth it.
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| Mt Cook and Sealy Tarn. |
The ferry ride on the steam ship Earnslaw crossing from town to Walter Peak station was pleasant with breakfast taking the form of a chocolate bavarian (also to be regretted later).
After an hours ride up a pleasant valley with a slight headwind and some showers, the subway lunch was eaten sheltering amongst some trees at the foot of a 300m climb into a headwind. The subway sandwiches were a little worse for wear after being bungied down on top of the rack. Pushing up the steep gravel road we silently regretted the 1000m "day walk" ascent and decent of previous days as our thighs were burning! From there the weather took a turn for the worse with the showers turning to sleet and the headwind becoming gale force. This was supposed to be summer and it was near freezing. With Anna F becoming hypothermic a ride was hitched with a bus that was picking up the tail of a guided tour, while Anna G and Ben biked the remaining 10 km to our campsite. Camp setup and two hours of sleeping bag time got us back to operating temperature. The next day saw a fine but windy day on loose gravel to the road junction near The Key. Ben Struggled with the headwinds and a lack of lunch. Stale scones with vegemite in a roadside ditch were never so appetising.
After arriving in Te Anau the first stop was the pub for a beer and a bowl of sweet, sweet, reviving wedges. The
cold of the previous night brought on some panic buying of polarfleece pants at the nearest outdoor shop. We then found a free campsite which was to be our home for New Years. After the hard ride of the day the six pack of beer between the three of us was not even finished and we were asleep well before 10pm.
The ride to Lake Manapouri was also hindered by headwinds which when we made the turn towards Mossburn were tailwinds that building towards galeforce. These were great when directly behind us gliding up hill at 30Kmph+ but were very scary when they were coming from the sides pushing us into the traffic reducing some of us to tears. (No names)
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| Our flash Mossburn digs. We ran into a lady in the campground who was Anna Gs former neighbour and Anna Fs intermediate school home economics teacher. Small world. |
Upon arriving in Mossburn Ben put the chain through the spokes breaking 7 and severly weakening the rest of them ending his ride, the air went blue and Anna knew to keep riding past and find the cafe. Being New Years day not alot was open even the pub and hotel was shut leaving the only accomodation 4km out of town on a road 90 degrees to the wind. This walk (impossible to ride) was not fun with the wind strong enough to knock us over and really push the bike around. A cabin was selected so the tent would remain in once piece.
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| A huge morning tea at the Five Rivers Cafe. We had two helpings of everything on the table, despite having only biked about 10km. |
Ben hitched to Queenstown to retreive his car and get the wheel fixed while the girls rode to Anna G's childhood camping spot in Nokomai stopping on the way for two helpings of cafe food at Five Rivers.
The final day was supposed to be a ride over the Nevis Road (the highest road in NZ) but bad weather meant that the prefered mode of transport was to be 4x4. While Ben enjoyed the drive the girls were just happy to be not cycling.
