First 2 days of riding. TOUGH, ROUGH, JOLTING, BONE SHUDDERING, WINDY... But we DID IT!

Sunday 4th February More cups of tea in bed and a huge batch of porridge kept most happy for breakfast. Our driver, Robin, from Kiwi Bike Tours picked us up on time in mini bus with a bike trailer behind. It was about an hour’s drive to the start of our ride. We might have been able to take the Mt Cook airport option and experience a helicopter ride to the start of the trail, but we didn’t want to risk dodgy weather wrecking our plans. So we drove to the closest point – 11km from the start with the plan of riding UP to the start. Kerry used a hearth brush to get beautiful for the ride

We started off with great enthusiasm despite a pretty stiff head wind. Looking good.

Within 2 minutes we were on a very narrow single track that was particularly rough. After about 10 mins on that we had a conference…would we go on? A unanimous, but doubtful, yes was the consensus. The track varied from rough dirt and very narrow rutted single track to a four wheel drive stony track. Some small sections were packed down well, but most of it was loose and some of the stones were almost the size of boulders. Super tough riding, especially as the head wind was steadily increasing. Track shot

At about the halfway point Tim, Catherine and Kerry thought it was too unpleasant and turned around with the plan of waiting for the rest of us in a sheltered spot near a bridge.

The other 5 crazy adventurers battled on. Getting close to the Official start of the Alps to Ocean (A2O) trail there was a creek to cross. Some rode, some scooted and got one foot wet whilst others just walked through.

The final crunch was a section with a sign “Rough Surface”!!!! As if the rest wasn’t rough! This was particularly difficult as we crossed a loose scree slope. Edmund Hilary may well have climbed Everest, but he didn’t have a bike to contend with as well. We did, however, jubilantly make it to the Helipad which marks the start of the A2O trail. Unfortunately we were robbed of a view of the summit of Mt Cook and other mountains due to low cloud.

After a drink and snack we turned around and the wind pushed us back, making the experience so much easier. We found the others waiting for us. They had enjoyed snacking and photographing, with Catherine delighted to have Tim fix her wonky seat. After a brief pause, we all returned to our drop off point where Rick was waiting with a fabulous picnic lunch. This fine repast was quickly obliterated from the table, with cyclists well satiated with crusty bread, meats, salad and fruits. The next 14km was on a gravel road which was a bit tricky to negotiate as there was a howling wind and loose gravel with quite a few corrugations. At one point we were nearly all blown off the road as we rounded a corner and had the wind on one side. Our destination was Braemar Station Shearers quarters. The Bold Ones, Wendy, Tim and Kerry, dared to take a back road to the station, whilst the well behaved amongst us took the longer, steeper route through the Official entrance. We were all delighted and relieved once again to see Rick and our trusty bus waiting for us. The accommodation is great. Not the really rustic sort of shearing quarters we’ve all seen in outback Australia. Quirky cords to activate the lighting, rambling rooms and a homely warmth feature. The views from the lounge are gobsmackingly beautiful. The lakes aquamarine glacial water is in the foreground, with the treeless Alpine mountain range rising up from the valley floor in a spectacular manner. Aoraki/ Mount Cook is visible from the lounge room, with its snow covered peak often blanketed in cloud. There’s a deep sense of satisfaction to find our destination enables us to bask in the achievement of today, looking back down at the valley we had cycled through.

The working Station of Braemar covers some 4100 hectares, where Perendale sheep, Angus Beef Cattle and Red Deer flourish. The wind which had been on our tail since leaving Jollie river carpark was a constant during the afternoon, with the brisk gusts roaring through the established pine trees beside the accommodation, sounding more like rain on the roof than boughs being wildly buffeted. All riders were a tad weary after a solid ride, and once freshened up, rested on the comfy sofas and beds, with eyelids and limbs happy to cease movement. All cyclists know that one of the joys of cycling is the great friendships and wonderful experiences. And particularly the delights of eating well after an Epic Ride. Tonight’s dinner was fully catered, and this quiet indulgence featured salmon and beef steak. This was washed down with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and complemented by delicious home made chocolate brownie, raspberry jus and generous serves of vanilla icecream. After discussing plans for tomorrow, including culinary options for breakfast, the consensus was to leave at 8.30 am, have morning tea en route at a café with a range of cakes and clean toilets, before cycling on to Twizel and the holiday house, arriving for a late lunch. But early enough to avoid the wind that meteorological services have predicted for tomorrow afternoon. A fast and furious game of Sequence was held at the long, communal kitchen table after a gentle stroll to photograph the ever changing and sometimes elusive peak of Aoraki/Mt Cook.

Monday 05th February Braemar Station rests within the grassy knolls, rising above the valley floor and glacial waters below. The winds of yesterday continued overnight, abating slightly as dawn approached. This brought with it clear skies, with glorious views over the lake to the mountain range and tantalising views of the peak of Aoraki/Mt Cook. The summit never quite cleared of cloud as we looked back at its splendour.

The breakfast feast epitomised the quality meals this trip offers. Denise cooked up her Special Scrambled Eggs, which were consumed with gusto and many comments about the quality of her cooking.

It was one final, wistful look at our home for last night, before we rolled out and down on to the road on our bikes. Meeting The Road of Many Rumbles and Ruts, we turned back towards Twizel. Many kilometres of gravel road awaited the hardy cyclists. Traffic presented some challenges, with some vehicles clearly not interested in the comfort of those on bikes, as they had billowing dust in their wake. Road corrugations, intermittent potholes, and sturdy rocks all rolled under the wheels. For those feeling a little homesick, Aussie rock was off the road, on a hill. Geographically correct, at least from a distance, it rose from the grasslands. Dams held water along the road, and a pair of rare White Spoonbills, Shoveler Ducks, Cormorants and Grebes resting. Ozzie Rock

After 18 kms of gravel road, we crossed the final cattle grid to come across bitumen road. The cyclists all exclaimed with joy upon finding themselves on super smooth tarmac. Rolling along, pushed by the tail wind, we all embraced the experience and the capacity to look at the view rather than the road surface.

The Hydroelectric infrastructure was on our right, in the lake, as we went under a narrow tunnel. Before too long, the A2O sign showed that we turned right, and for the coming 10 km or so, we were lakeside. Varying landscape and a weaving track had all cyclists smiling. A small moment of geographical uncertainty had us wondering where our morning tea location was, only to find out later that there are two Salmon cafés and the one we thought we were hoping to find was some 30 mins by car away.

Resting at the café was a welcome reprieve from cycling, and then it was back on the bikes for the final 9 km to Twizel. Traversing Pine trees and open grassland, crossing through Rabbit Proof gates, we arrived at Twizel. Parachutists were earthward bound as we rode.

Showers and the washing machine were in high demand, as was laying horizontal resting weary eyelids. Robin from the bike hire was contacted with the end result being Kerry had moved to Wendy’s bike, and Wendy had upgraded to a brand spanking new bike. The gearing issue with Kerry’s bike was resolved. Our accommodation has a pizza oven and this featured as Rick weaved his culinary magic, creating home made pizza bases, pitting olives and enabling us all to kick back “because we’re on holidays” and enjoy wine and nibbles. Rick gave Sandie the job of opening the pizza oven door...result...it wouldn't stay closed. She fixed it with a shovel.

Rick and Wendy cooking the pizzas.

Enjoying the feast

After another satisfying repast of fine foods and convivial conversation, some cyclists determined that the light was perfect for more photographs. So, out for a stroll … leaving the perfectly functioning pushbikes in the yard. The summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook could be glimpsed from the front porch of the house. But a better image was sure to be had if the intrepid photographers wandered out further. However, as fate would have it, an image was also available from the nearby oval.

But it was the cloud formations that really took the eye of the photographers. Not unlike alien space ships hovering over the landscape, the circular clouds were unique and soon lenses were turned skyward.

Cyclists enjoyed relaxing at the home, solving the problems of the World, and reiterating the important role fine Whiskey and Cider play in our lives. Wendy was enormously relived when Tim and ChatGPT solved her overwhelming technical issues. No longer was Wendy faced with the prospect of all her data going astray … it was most likely also influenced by those obscure cloud formations. All could go to slumber feeling happy with their day.