Roxburgh Gorge to Shingle Creek | Time Out 2021-22 Roxburgh
After a huge, included in the rate, breakfast at Granny Stringer's Cottage my first Roxburgh Ride was going to be up the gorge. Every Roxburgh ride was fuelled by a lovely breakfast of muesli, fruit, toast and muffins, and coffee.
Was loading my gear bag when realised I had left my tyre levers in the bag of the bike I left behind in Alexandra. Had all the other tools, they must have been loose when I emptied it.
I headed into town (over this bridge) to get some as the G-One tyres are a tight fit, no way you'd get them off/on without levers. There's no bike shop, as such, but the Pharmacy has rental bikes and a good range of basic bike tools and accessories.
Clutha Gold Trail to Commissioner's Flat
Rode the Clutha Mata-au River trail upstream towards Roxburgh Dam.
Love the fast-flowing deep blue waters.
Lots of history on these trails, captured and shared on these boards along the way.
This was a controlled, monitored at least, burn. Didn't hear the brigade siren so must have been OK.
Remains of a now derelict suspension bridge.
Roxburgh Dam
The Roxburgh Hydroelectric Dam was built in the 1950s.
Talked with a retired couple doing the mobile home/e-bike combo, they'd just finished the Clutha Gold Trail over a several days and were raving about it.
The 1930s(?) electric future, yet no mention of e-bikes!
Typical of the history panels...
Roxburgh Gorge to Shingle Creek
The Roxburgh Gorge Trail is about 11km long, following the lake to Shingle Creek.
Saw a few people on this trail. There were a couple of bike tour vans, but think they'd met the boat and carried on as didn't see any large groups on the trail.
There's a bit of climbing in the gorge, and awesome views.
Dusty tyres from the light gravel
Top of a climb.
A patch of blue sky, it was warm too.
Shingle Creek and a Golden Bay coincidence
Arrived at the end of the trail, Shingle Creek, and there was nobody else there.
This is where you can meet the jet boat to transfer to Doctor's Point and ride on to Alexandra. There are plans to link the two parts of the trail, but meantime I've only heard good things about the boat section. I wasn't carrying on today, headed back to Roxburgh and would ride the other part another time.
A place to shelter, love the outside fire.
Evidence of good times past...
Had a 'lunch snack' here, apple and some cookies, and a group of riders arrived. Did the usual 'where are you from, heading to' thing and found out they were farmers from Golden Bay. Their farm road was opposite 'The Rocks', where I stayed on the outskirts of Takaka!
Racing the rain
There wasn't much wind, but the temperature dropped a bit and it felt like rain was on the way. Quite a rare thing around here going by how dry the trail and grass is.
Love the Otago colours...
Heading back, a fun fast ride.
Oh, another broken bike!
It was about 1pm when I left the gorge. Rain on the way meant I took the road across Commissioner's Flat, rather than reprise the river trail. Near the airstrip I changed gear, low stress from middle rear cog to smaller, and nothing happened. It felt, and looked, like the rear derailleur cable had broken within the lever, the ferrule on the cable end?
The rest of the ride was flat or downhill so riding home two-speed (the front derailleur still worked) was OK. Poured with rain soon after I got back, by the time it cleared it was too late to deal with the bike. Needed a new cable at least. A job for tomorrow if anyone has spares...
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