Posts Tagged ‘Lake Rotoroa’


The sky was pink behind the snow capped mountains, a band of cloud hovering around waist level. The water was still, reflecting the sky. The ducks were calling, and then a black swans swam by, with a little baby – a shabby white, following. The morning was peaceful and beautiful. Lake Rotoroa.

Sunrise at Lake Rotoroa
Sunrise at Lake Rotoroa
Black swan

Today saw a steep grunt over a small shoulder and then a trip following another river down. There was even 4 water crossings, shin deep.

River ford number 2
River ford number 3

Today was a tranquil meander along the backroad to Murchison – the only town for 80km, and the only town I’d see for days. I stopped, ate, drunk and charged my external batteries.

Towards Murchison
Towards Murchison

I saw the Germans again at the camping ground at the start of the Old Ghost Road and had a nice dinner together before a very early evening.

I also saw a weka – a New Zealand bird that always fossicks around. It even steals socks. I hear. My smelly socks were banished into the tent.

 


The Old Ghost Road is a ‘challenge’ according to my cycling friend, Clement. Clement’s challenges are truly challenging. Today was a perfect preparation for a challenge. A slow start, gradually getting harder, with quite some distance and hours covered. Perfect to get the untrained legs back into action.

The Great Taste Trail

The Great Taste Trail took me from Nelson up through wine areas in a dirt track that followed a wide stream. It meandered through sleepy villages and through a 1.5km long tunnel. Built for a trainline that was never completed, it was fun to plunge into the darkness.

The Great Taste Trail
The Great Taste Trail
Spooners Tunnel
Spooners Tunnel
Spooners Tunnel

A back road following a river up through farmland was the next on the list, popping over a little pass before joining the main road.

The back road

The end leg was following a river uphill to Lake Rotoroa – a beautiful oblong lake surrounded by snow- capped peaks. Recommended by my cycling neighbour on the plane – Steve, and another cyclist – Jake, I met on the way.

Lake Rotoroa
Lake Rotoroa
Lake Rotoroa

I met a German couple at the lake. We had dinner together and chatted. They have been traveling around the world for 1.5 years now. Not only the Germans were friendly – the midges too.