Packed up and headed into Oamaru before rush hour, but only just! I met writer/broadcaster Allan Dick, & partner Helen, for breakfast. Have been reading his writing for decades and used to listen when he was on Auckland Radio. He founded several local magazines: DRIVER, CLASSIC DRIVER and NZ
Time to farewell Lake Escape Apartment, that last, last, last, look to check you haven't left anything behind... Another lovely Benmore morning. I drove the road ridden yesterday, along Lake Aviemore, heading for an Oamaru overnight stop. Scars of the incredible geological forces that shape this land are
Let's be honest, today's ride is all about lunch... I was back on En-Trance Rob, although quite a lot of tarmac today there is enough gravel trail to keep it happy. Besides, ~90km is a bit far for me on a two-speed, due to still broken
When we rode the Alps to Ocean Trail (A2O) in 2019 the section between Omarama and Otematata was an unremarkable roadside trail. In early 2021 an alternative trail was opened from Sailors Cutting around the lake to Benmore Dam. This was the reason I came back; it rapidly gained a
Today's mission was a simple relocation from Roxburgh to Otematata. It would be my base for a long weekend, Friday - Tuesday, of Alps to Ocean A2O Trail riding. It is only a couple of hours drive but I had no need to rush. Farewell Roxburgh Another perfect
I drove, about an hour, from Beaumont, through Roxburgh, to Alexandra to finish riding the Roxburgh Gorge Trail to Doctors Point. It was about five in the evening by the time I set out on the bike. It's about ten kilometres each way, slowed by extensive photography for
I woke to a cooler strangely foggy morning. Today's ride was going to be short so had a leisurely breakfast before putting the bike in the car for the drive down to Beaumont. Back to Beaumont It was about eleven, and a fine sunny day, by the time
Cycliq
First item on the agenda today is sorting the broken bike... The bike problem I took Giro Rob (with yesterday's broken rear gear shift) down to Highland Bike Hire, in the Highland Pharmacy, to see if they had any suggestions. Alastair (Pharmacist, bike hirer, hire bike technician) said
Cycling
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
Today's agenda was simple; relocate from Alexandra to Roxburgh, just 41km and a 30-minute drive away. To fill in between morning checkout and afternoon check in I took the chance to revisit St. Bathans and places in between in the region around the Otago Central Rail Trail ride.
Cycling
Whenever I've driven, or been driven, along SH8 between Cromwell and Clyde could not help but gaze at the bits of farm and access trail on the other side of Lake Dunstan (right of photo below) thinking they'd be good to ride. In 2021, after some
Friday was a good day to move, weather cool (for time of year) and wet so wouldn't have been riding. After the past few days the legs needed a break anyway. Because I had to fill time between motel check out/in took the long road to Alexandra,
