What a great feeling 😌 we are finally off on the first leg of our bikepacking journey.
Day 1 Alexandra to Boundary Creek hut
106km 6 hours 34 ride time.Left Keri and Malcolm's house in Alexandra feeling a little sad as we had been living there for the last couple of weeks. Headed out of town along the Otago rail trail and fanged it to oterehua where we were met by a lovely man with a great smile. We spoke to another cyclist who was doing the sounds 2 sounds and had a delicious ice cream. By then the temp was up to 28 degrees and we were sweltering. We had a swim at the next river and slogged our way up a bumpy gravel road to the start of the trail that headed up the West branch of the Manuherikea to boundary Creek hut. What a first day. Hot hot Hot 🔥 Stunning vistas.
Day 2 Boundary Creek hut to Lake Pukaki.
140km. 9hrs ride time
Amazing day full of challenging trails and amazing trails
Had to push a bit up to Omarama saddle feeling the weight of our gear great downhill. Coffee and pie in the Wrinkly rams.Toasted sandwich ohau lodge. Delicious 😋
Emma's rear pannier came loose and caught in her back wheel skidded off bit luckily not hurt or damaged. A good reminder to check all screws are tight each day. Grabbed Indian takeaways in Twizel before scooting along the shores of Lake Pukaki. We found a nice tree to shelter under with a view of Mt Cook.
Amazing day full of challenging trails and amazing trails
Had to push a bit up to Omarama saddle feeling the weight of our gear great downhill. Coffee and pie in the Wrinkly rams.Toasted sandwich ohau lodge. Delicious 😋
Emma's rear pannier came loose and caught in her back wheel skidded off bit luckily not hurt or damaged. A good reminder to check all screws are tight each day. Grabbed Indian takeaways in Twizel before scooting along the shores of Lake Pukaki. We found a nice tree to shelter under with a view of Mt Cook.
Day 3
Mt Cook to Hanging rock. 130km 7 hours 40 ride time.
Woke up to an unfriendly Mt cook hiding in the clouds. Ate breaky from a beautiful lookout point then hightailed it to Tekapo along the canals and alps to ocean track. Had a coffee stop in Tekapo and loaded up with supplies. It was hot hot 🔥 🥵 didn't have a swim in the lake as it was windy but quickly regretted it as the temps rose and the riverbeds were dry. Had an awesome ride down the new trail from tekapo to dog kennel corner what a great 👍 idea 💡 . We have ridden the road many times and it was not fun.
The road up to Mackenzie pass was beautiful and hot and luckily we found a water race to wet our clothes and heads in. So good. Had lunch at the Mackenzie monument then went up over the pass 😋 and down down with a tailwind. Lots of gravel and ups and downs and a couple more swims got us through to hanging rock campsite. More swims and din dins. Happy tired girls 👧.
Woke up to an unfriendly Mt cook hiding in the clouds. Ate breaky from a beautiful lookout point then hightailed it to Tekapo along the canals and alps to ocean track. Had a coffee stop in Tekapo and loaded up with supplies. It was hot hot 🔥 🥵 didn't have a swim in the lake as it was windy but quickly regretted it as the temps rose and the riverbeds were dry. Had an awesome ride down the new trail from tekapo to dog kennel corner what a great 👍 idea 💡 . We have ridden the road many times and it was not fun.
The road up to Mackenzie pass was beautiful and hot and luckily we found a water race to wet our clothes and heads in. So good. Had lunch at the Mackenzie monument then went up over the pass 😋 and down down with a tailwind. Lots of gravel and ups and downs and a couple more swims got us through to hanging rock campsite. More swims and din dins. Happy tired girls 👧.
Day 4
Short day from hanging Rock to Arundel. A lot cooler than the previous day and rain threatening. Made it to Arundel around 2pm and had a lovely catch up with Fra and Alan. Got very spoilt with a roast dinner and Margaritas 🍹 😋
Day 5
Slept in then up and cleaned bikes. Cold and rainy so happy to be inside and warm. Headed away around midday made it to Mt Somers then Rakaia gorge. It was windy as with long straight roads and more traffic than we are used to. Camped at Rakaia gorge campground. Went to bed hoping the wind drops and the temps increased tomorrow 🙏.
Day 6
Headed of early in an attempt to beat the winds. We weren't successful 😔 but things had certainly died down from the previous day. Had a famous pie in Sheffield then parked up our bikes at an airbnb in waddington before hitching to the chch airport to meet Emma's mum for the next leg of the journey. What a sensational 6 days.
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