Tuesday 8th March: Almost hot, sunny, 15°C to 25°C
Ohau to Cromwell: 41k bike, 8.30am to 1.30pm: Bus from Omarama at 2.30pm arr Cromwell 4pm
8.30am start ready for the climb
Easy uphill to start
Views across to Ben Ohau ranges
Tricky track
Getting steep
Getting steeper
Can almost see Mt Cook
Now we can. Mt Cook with tabletop
Our peloton of uphill bikers
Finally at the Tambrae High Point
Donna admiring the view
What a stunning view
Mt Cook in all its glory
Lunch under a shady tree
Just a bit more gravel
Coffee at the Woolshed Omarama
Photo to be added
Highlight was just getting to the top of the Tarnbrae highpoint at 900m after peddling uphill for almost 2hrs on a very rough, bumpy, rocky, narrow track.
Breakfast is at 7.30am - a spread of cereals, with personally cooked eggs, bacon, mushroom and sausage, with toast and jam on the table. At 8.30am we're all in the car park ready for an uphill ascent. The first few k are rough but not too steep then as we climb it's steeper and very rough and rocky which makes it difficult to steer in a straight direction. It's hard work and several groups are going our way up the 300m climb. But at the Tarnbrae High Point, there's a cluster of people just sitting and admiring the stunning views on this clear day across to the Ben Ohau Ranges and up the lake to Mt Cook.
The downward track is just as bumpy and whilst not as hard work with pumping legs, is even more difficult to manoeuvre at speed on a downhill with a steep drop over the edge. Jenny left early at 7.30am to beat the crowds and go her own pace and at the bottom of the bumpy track, we meet her having morning tea before taking off together down a much smoother stony track.
By 11am we're at the Quailburn road, an unsealed road. It's easy as we sail slightly downhill with a tail wind. At 12, Donna declares lunch by the side of the road under a shady tree. Some have prepacked lunches from Ohau lodge, some have leftover cheese, salami tomatoes and crackers.
A section of bitumin, another section of smooth shingle, more bitumin and we're at the Woolshed Cafe by 1.30pm for coffee/beer while waiting for our mini bus to transport us and our bikes the 120k into Cromwell. It's 2.30pm when we're all loaded and off through barren countryside, up through the Lindis Pass, then down into Cromwell to the Cromwell Backpackers where Milton has the code to gain access. It's just perfect for us. A room each for Donna and Milton, Graham and Jenny, myself and Ian, and Mike, whilst the others are off to a Mtel. The rooms are large with a bathroom down the hall, clean kitchen up the hall, and just a short walk to the New World Supermarket where we go soon after a shower.
Donna's crew are having chicken and salad, our crew are having lamb and salad - with beers and wine of course. It cost the 4 of us $72 - that's $18 each for all you can eat with a half bottle of wine. It stays dark until almost 8.30pm and our after-dinner chat continues until we're tired enough to go to bed at 10pm