11 - 14 January
Insights + photos by Perry Turner & riders...
Another wonderfully organised trip with Adventure South.
Kick off was from Cromwell with stunning weather and a kicker tailwind breezing us along the Dunstan Trail loosely following the lake shore past vineyards & olive groves.
From there it's into the dramatic Cromwell Gorge with the trail sometimes looks like it's clinging impossibly to the sheer rockfaces above the lake.
Charlotte, Isabelle & Joseph were then leading the adults (waiting for them) as the trail climbed through the rocks and canyons of the Clutha river.
Ian Galley trying to catch son Joseph on the uphill section just after the boat cafe...
We helped out a fellow cyclist (Kirsty) who'd taken a tumble onto rocks & had a nasty laceration on her elbow - Simon Hadlow and I wrapped her up in a crepe bandage and sling and she was taken to Dunedin Hospital where the team patched her up the next day - she then donated $200 to Wishbone on the Givealittle page!
Magic happens!! Bikes just appear in the morning, all lined up & ready for us to ride...
On Day 2 we rode from Clyde along the historic railway path. Just outside Clyde there's a recently installed 5.5m wide sculpture of a Karearea. (NZ's native falcon)
We loaded everything into the bus & took side trips to Ophir & St Bathans...
Then on to Lauder, where we stayed in a converted school house, had a wonderful drink and meal at the local pub followed by some snooker.
It was hot and dry on day 3 biking from Lauder to Ranfurly. This section explores the Poolburn Gorge and has most of the trips bridges & brickwork tunnels.
Perry got stuck in an old carriage... Author Note: No details about how that happened & how long elapsed before the group let him out were provided!
The group caught up with Bruce and Rae Hodgson & along the ride into Ranfurly the solar system is portrayed sculpturally to reflect proportions & positions.
In Naseby we explored the town with Arlo & Wes, tested our form at the only dedicated curling rink in the southern hemisphere & had a fantastic swim in the river.
Day 4 was our final ride through the Taieri Gorge (more tunnels & bridges) and finishing the ride in Middlemarch - also the first bit of rain for the whole trip.
A wonderful & eventful trip with great people - Klaire even helped the Hilton update their feature wall.
Roll Call for Lake Dunstan & Central Otago Rail Trail:
The team included Simon Hadlow and wife Jane, Mark Wardill (anaesthetist Tauranga), Klaire Oakes (Tauranga) Ian Galley and son Joseph, Perry and Irene with their kids (Madison, Charlotte and Isabelle) plus Wes Bevan and Arlo joined us again for the section into Naseby.