Alps to the Ocean Cycle trip

Ready to go - Constable Cottage Our last day on the trail.   I have felt better and better as the ride has gone on and on the last day part of me was ready to find another trail to do.   It was a bit chilly when we emerged from the warmth of our comfortable bed.   However, 50 odd kilometres of riding was awaiting us and we had to be in Oamaru by 2:00pm.   Rachel and Barry's home After a wander around the lovely cottage garden of Rachel’s home, we commenced the last leg about half an hour later than planned.    The trail took us to “Elephant Rocks”, passing through at least one dairy farm.   It was easy cycling until there was a bit of a climb.   The rocks are on private land and are interesting to look at.   I guess someone at some time thought that they looked like stone elephants but I didn’t see any resemblance. Still, they were unusual and interesting shapes.   Elephant Rocks Switch b...

Our cute container cottage at Kurow Today was our rest day as we were to ride about half the distance of any of our previous rides.   In theory it was meant to be quite easy.   Main Street Kurow featuring the pub We had a slow start in the morning including a leisurely breakfast, before packing our bags ready for them to be transported to the next location by Cycle Journeys   We had decided we would head back to Kurow for a coffee as it was only 3 kilometres and easy riding.   The day started off very clear and warm.   The only possible negative was that the wind was coming from the east which was the direction we were travelling. Leaving Kurow We cycled the 3.5 km back to Kurow and found a nice little café in which to enjoy our coffee fix.   Then we visited the local museum.   One of the most interesting exhibits was one about how our social security system was developed.   It was interesting reading the c...

Near the start of this section of the trail We were told that the Wrinkly Ram Café made the best coffee, so we backtracked a kilometre or so to the Café.   We met the Aussie couple there who were having breakfast and a coffee as well.   The coffee did live up to its reputation - not as good as Wellington coffee but not bad.   The food was very good and we got our lunch from the café to eat   later. Lake Benmore in the distance The weather started off a little overcast but very warm. The trail was off road which was good as there was a lot of traffic on the road.   I guess people were returning home from the Christmas break as there were lots of utes towing trailers of one sort or another.   After cresting a hill a few kilometres from   Omarama, Lake Benmore could be seen and the trail descended to a lakeside ride which was very nice.   The wind began to get up and the heat seemed to be turned up a notch.   Aft...

How else do you celebrate the view and the end of a ride? After settling into our room at the Lodge we were ready for a drink.   We found a lovely seat outdoors which looked out over the lake.   We ended up sitting there for quite a while chatting to a foursome who had a bach at Kurow.   Dinner was served in two sittings with mostly children at the first sitting and then the adults at the second.   It was food served on a grand scale.   We had three courses; a soup, a choice between lamb rump and confit duck leg, and the dessert was a pannacotta.   It was all very delicious - not fine dining but good food.   At our table there were four of us who were on the A2O and a German couple who were travelling round the South Island.   The German couple had cycled the route from Omarama to Lake Ohau Lodge then back to Omarama where they picked up their car.   It sounded like hard work, not helped by the wind in their face the ...

Twizel Village Centre We decided that consulting weather forecasts did not provide an accurate state of the weather for any one day.   The forecast today predicted rain for the trip.   About the only thing that was accurate was the wind.   It was sunny and warm.   Wonderful weather for cycling. On the way to the Pukaki Canal road We slept like logs after the long day from Aoraki Mt Cook to Twizel.   It was quite an effort we had made both physically and mentally.   There is a deliciousness about feeling tired after a lot of exercise. As this leg was a relatively short one we took our time.   Bags had to be ready for transfer at 9am.   We took the car to its resting spot for the following five days and called into a café nearby for a coffee before returning to the motel get our bikes and start our ride.   B decided that a narrower seat like on her bike in Sydney would be much more comfortable so we went...