Returning to Omahau Downs

26/3/09 = Day 8: An easier ride back to Twisel

Still aching when woke up today. In fact, if anything, aching only got worse. Hobbled off to breakfast unable to bend legs and not at all exited for porridge after horrible porridge experience up mountain. Added lots of cinnamon and ginger just to make it taste different; was o.k. Got changed then, packed up and set off at 9:20. Lord knows how I was going to bike when I couldn’t even walk properly! Dreading ride anyway because found it so tough on way here.

Another really sunny and blue day. Find it v.strange that best weather have had in NZ is when have been up in snowy mountains. Ride actually started off o.k….actually quite…nice! Was flat and even a little downhill; figures, since the reverse of the ride was uphill, but I didn’t know if I’d been imagining that. Downhill lasted for a few kms, then came a few rolling hills. Could deal with that. Only one tough hill that got us panting. It was actually a nice ride (if could ignore road-kill and swarming bluebottles).

First stop = Glentanner again; only 23kms into journey. Even though only short distance in, had no option but to stop, because no other places to stop along way. At least had to buy food here. Too early to eat at only 10:45, so bought sandwich each to take with us and read magazines for a while to chill. Sandwiches looked v.tasty, i.e. v.large and full…just way like them. Before set off, tried to ring ahead and book night at Pukaki Downs = a place seen on way. Couldn’t get through, so planned to just turn up and hope for best. Got back on bikes and off we went for last 28kms. Awful hill to start on and had to stand up on bike just to pedal up it. Typical that half way up hill, realised had forgotten sandwich and left it sitting on grass where bikes had just been. Had it not looked so tasty, would have left it, but it did look tasty, so had to go back for it, then ride up big hill again. Poor, poor legs!

Had some steep(ish) hills on ride after that, but way better than journey here. They took a lot of sweat and gritted teeth, but only short term; can deal with that. Cycled at nice steady pace, in full heat of sun, along beautiful Lake Pukaki. Didn’t really stop to take in mountain views, seen it all on way in, but nice to know you are riding along something like that. Pedaled for more than an hour, then a car beeped passed us and stopped in front of us. It was the Irish girl and her French boyfriend we had met up mountain. They pulled over and we stopped and chatted to them for a while. Really nice people and a v.cute couple. They also took our ‘staged’ biking photos for us; only ones we have got of us both riding.

Pedaled along a few more rolling hills and got to Pukaki Downs quicker than anticipated. Excellent. Rode down gravel path to house only to be told that backpacker accommodation closed for rest of season. V.annoyed; they really should take sign down from road. Had to get back on bikes then and cycle other 12kms back to Omahau Downs = place in Twisel had stayed before. Lovely place, but an unnecessary journey, because was in wrong direction for place would have to cycle tomorrow; would add an extra 8kms onto journey tomorrow. Apart from that, nothing worse than getting back on bike when you think you have finished.

Not a bad cycle back; all downhill. Only meant uphill for tomorrow though; tried not to think about that. Luckily, they had a room for us at Omahau and they even offered to take us into town because we were so shattered from riding. V.nice people. Ate sandwich straight away, before did anything else, then had a little sit down. Nice just to sit. Legs still v.achey. Deb went for a nap and I did some washing; not all traveling life = glamorous! Called back to main building then and lovely lady took us into town. She didn’t even need anything herself, she was just taking us. Felt quite guilty…really should have just cycled the 3kms. Whipped round supermarket to get few things we needed, then back to farmhouse and chilling out. Watched T.V., wrote diary, then was time for dinner. Spaghetti and pesto today, just as a variation form usual pasta. Was suprisingly nice.

House filled up with people and met a family from England who were traveling; Mum, Dad and 10yr old son. Nice family. Both parents teachers and decided to leave work for 10wks. Fair enough. Son even got to miss SAT’s…lucky him. Chatted, watched rubbish T.V., ate chocolate and toast (v.greedy lately), then got showered at 9pm and went to bed. Hope legs better tomorrow.

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