Tuesday 8th March: Almost hot, sunny, 15°C to 25°C
Ohau to Cromwell: 41k bike, 8.30am to 1.30pm: Bus from Omarama at 2.30pm arr Cromwell 4pm
Accommodation: Cromwell Backpackers
8.30am start ready for the climb
Easy uphill to start
Views across to Ben Ohau ranges
Tricky track
Getting steeper and steeper
Getting steeper and rockier
Can almost see Mt Cook
Now we can. Mt Cook with tabletop
Our peloton of uphill bikers
Finally at the Tambrae High Point
Donna admiring the view
What a stunning view
Mt Cook in all its glory
Lunch under a shady tree
Just a bit more gravel
Coffee at the Woolshed Omarama
Highlight was getting to the top of the Tarnbrae High Point at 900m after peddling uphill for almost 2hrs on a very rough, bumpy, rocky, narrow track. Then catching the minibus to Cromwell to start the Otago Road Trail, next stage of our cycling adventure.
Breakfast at the Ohau Lodge at 7.30am is a wonderful spread of cereals, personally cooked eggs, bacon, mushroom and sausage, with toast and jam on the table. And Hot tea or coffee. We go back to our rooms to re-pack and get organised then at 8.30am we're all in the car park ready for an uphill ascent to the Tarnbrae High Point.
The first few k are rough but not too steep. Then as we climb, it's steeper and rougher and rockier which makes it difficult to steer in a straight direction. It's hard work and several other groups are going our way up the 300m climb. After 2 hrs, we reach the Tarnbrae High Point and there's already a cluster of people just sitting and admiring the stunning views on this clear day across to the Ben Ohau Ranges and up the lake to Mt Cook. We sit at The High Point for a well earned break.
The downward track is just as bumpy and whilst not as hard work with pumping legs, it’s even more difficult to manoeuvre at speed on a downhill slope with a steep drop over the edge. Jenny left early at 7.30am to beat the crowds and go at her own pace and at the bottom of the bumpy track, we meet her having morning tea before we all take off together down a much smoother stony track.
By 11am we're at Quailburn road, an unsealed gravelly road. It's easy as we sail slightly downhill with a tail wind. At midday, Donna declares it’s lunchtime by the side of the road under a shady tree. No particular place, just a shady tree. Some have prepacked lunches from the Ohau lodge, some of us have leftover cheese, salami tomatoes and crackers.
On our way again, there’s a section of bitumin, then another section of smooth shingle, more bitumin and finally we're at the Omarama Woolshed Cafe at 1.30pm. It’s a popular place and we stop for a coffee or a beer while waiting for our mini bus to transport us and our bikes the 120k into Cromwell.
It's 2.30pm when we're all loaded on to the mini bus and then off through barren countryside, up through the Lindis Pass, then down into Cromwell to the Cromwell Backpackers where Milton has the code to gain access. It's just perfect for us. A room each for Donna and Milton, Graham and Jenny, myself and Ian, and Mike, whilst the others are off to the Lake Dunstan Motel. Our rooms are large with a bathroom down the hall, clean kitchen up the hall, and just a short walk to the New World Supermarket where we go soon after a shower.
Returning with bags full of groceries, Donna's crew are having chicken and salad, our crew are having lamb and salad - with beers and wine of course. It cost the 4 of us $72 - that's $18 each for all you can eat with a half bottle of wine. It stays dark until almost 8.30pm and our after-dinner chat about the days events and tomorrows Otago Rail Trail ride continues until we're tired enough to go to bed at 10pm.