Day Ten - Lake Tekapo to Lake Ohau Lodge

After such a big day yesterday I was looking forward to relatively easy day, I had cycled this section before, while doing the Te Araroa walk 3 years ago when I was not bike fit, so I knew it would take less than 6 hrs.

The weather was perfect, only a light wind, nothing to slow us down.

We started the day with a late breakfast and met Fiona at the Cafe. She was looking for some company for her ride back to Twizel after camping up the lake overnight. There was a bit of a pause and then we agreed she could join us. I think collectively we a bit concerned might not fit in with Team JIM banter. She did not disappoint, quickly tuning into our humor, in jokes and respectfully taking the piss out of us.

We started out along the canals, flat fast riding.   

Didn't take long to clock up 40k and arrive at Lake pukaki, we checked out the Genesis power station and took in the views with Mt cook popping its top out through the clouds.

We stopped at the Mt cook salmon shop at the foot of the lake and tucked unto pate and sashimi, it just melted un the mouth. A little protein to help with tired muscles. Then onward to lunch at Twizel.

We left Twizel and rejoined the canal system, all blown away by the colour of the water.

The single track cycleway round lake ohau was brilliant fast flowing gravel at the edge of the lake with amazing views of Ben Ohau and the hills beyond, all the way up the lake to a craggy snow topped mountain at the top of the lake.

It was great to arrive at the lodge after a relatively easy day, and one of the most enjoyable. 

(I don't know why this picture is not the right way up??)

On arrival we were informed of the 7pm dinner so we didn't have a lot of time to enjoy a couple of drinks, soak up the amazing view up the lake. We popped down for a swim and back for a shower before dinner. At about 4mins past 7pm I popped out of our room to check out washing and the staff were coming to find us.

We were the last to arrive (7:06) out table of 6 were unable to start until we arrived, and as such became the naughty table, served last at each course. However the food wad great and shared the table with a couple from Germany who were touring round NZ, and also big into cycling. The other 2 were TA walkers and not very talkative.