Day Three – Aoraki Mt Cook to Twizel – A2O


In less than a month I go from walking in the mountains to riding around them.  I have to be mad. 

Whitehorse parking area
We were shuttled to Whitehorse Campsite close to Mt Cook Village where the trail begins.  Rain had been predicted and as we arrived it started to spit.  Mt Cook was not visible being cloaked in cloud, however the Humbolt ice fall was clearly visible.  There were camper vans everywhere and also a number of buses in the village.  Tourists abound in this area. 

The official beginning
It was a quick downhill ride to Mt Cook Airport where we were to be helicoptered across the Tasman River.  They loaded our bikes into a crate and they were helicoptered across first.  While we were waiting we talked with a British woman who is resident in Wellington and loves living there.  She enjoys the hills and sea that surround Wellington and makes the most of outdoor pursuits.  She also likes the fact that compared to the Brits we are less consumer driven.

Nine of us were shoehorned into a helicopter for the two to three minute trip across the river.  It was wonderful.  I could have spent a lot longer in the air but in the front seat rather than the back seat. 

Looking toward Tasman Glacier
It was only spitting when we got to Tasman Point but we all put on a waterproof jacket.  The first part of the track was about 10 kilometres of very rough terrain.  While flat there were rocks, fords and even patches of sand we had to through.  It was quite hard work both physically and mentally. 

From the Jollie carpark we were on a gravel road.  We had been warned that there might be logging trucks on it due to logging being done in the area but being Sunday we were spared their dust and noise.  When we came to an unsealed  road, it was a pleasant relief from what had been constant jarring but while the road while comparatively smooth it was still quite rutted.  B and I spent our time trying to find the smoothest area on which to ride.  Thank goodness for suspension. 

Our helicopter
The road parallels Lake Pukaki and after and hour and a half B told me it was time for lunch.  We finally found a nice place to stop by the lake and clambered down a slope away from the road to eat and take in the magnificent scenery. Looking back toward Mt Cook  village you could see it was raining but where we were it was fine, sunny and warm.  There was also a stiff nor’wester which was on our back and made cycling quite effortless at times.

The gravel road continued for about forty kilometres until we met a sealed  road just before the Tekapo B powerstation. The powerstation takes water which has been diverted from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki as part of the hydroelectric system in the Waitaki Valley.  It was a real relief not have my body vibrating.  At its worst, even my eyes were vibrating. 
Temporary relief

At the end of the lake we turned off and rode on an undulating trail that followed the coastline of the lake until we got to the high dam that has raised the level of Lake Pukaki significantly. 

We had a brief stop at the Salmon shop where we got some of the Aoraki salmon that is produced nearby.  They were selling it vast amounts to the tourists who were calling in.  The number of Asian tourists was significant with many alighting from buses.  In addition, there was a mixture of nationalities who seemed to be travelling in camper vans. 

The final leg was a pleasant romp across the Pukaki Downs - an ecological area as far as I could work out. 

Our total distance was around 79 kilometres.  Riding time was a little under
five hours. For the most part it wasn’t too hard but it demanded a significant amount of concentration.  I found riding in gravel quite a challenge as most of the riding I do is on tarmac.  We had everything from thick loose gravel to the fine hard packed gravel.  Give me the latter any day.  My legs are tired and I have been using different muscle groups  to those required for tramping.  What is nice is that my bum feels fine a contrast to when I did the Otago Rail Trail.  (After the first day I was hurting but the fourth I was in agony).  In all it was a brilliant day with stunning scenery albeit challenging with having to navigate quite a range of terrains.


We've ridden about twenty kilometres

We didn't have to ford this one

The road

Just because we like the drama and the view to the bottom of the lake

Lunch

Only twelve kms to go.  Looking toward Aoraki/Mt Cook
 

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