Day 10 Otematata to Kurow

Colin Grierson
Dec 6, 2024
2 min read

The tour advisory notes say the Aviemore Dam is closed for traffic, "use alternate routes". The only alternate I can see is to ride along SH83. This will be much busier, but is also 15 km shorter - as we don't have to ride 6 kilometers back to the dam nor climb the 110 metres to the top of it (Taking SH83 is attractive I'm a little embarrassed to admit).

We want to confirm the closure and alternate route... The local 4 Square/bakery does not know about it, even though they say they are normally informed about such things. The cycle tour company with an outlet in Omarama does not know either! They say they will find out and call back.

Outside we find a recumbent tricycle rider! He is from Alaska, heading west, opposite to us, so the closure does not affect him. He seems keen to promote recumbent bikes and tires to sell his recumbent to Sau Keng. She is not interested - not now anyway, later she may try one from Brian of Trikes NZ.

The tour company rings back. Yes, the dam is closed. Take SH83.

Leaving Otematata. Mountains on either side of us. Low clouds, but clear ahead where we are heading.

After a while we are riding beside the lake

We have a head wind this morning. Sau Keng does not like riding on roads, so she is going fast to minimise the time. I'm drafting behind her - and sometimes have to ask her to slow down so I can comfortably stay with her. It's a bit more like North island roads here - up a bit, down a bit, up again...

Riding on roads such as this is fast, it does not take long for Aviemore dam to come into sight. A handful of people appear to be working on it - I'm pretty sure we would have been let past if we had turned up on the far side. Still, no fuss or risk this way.

And now we are past the dam we are back on the A2O track :-)

The trail leaves the roadside and climbs up a level into farmland. Great views of Waitaki lake and the valley.

We pass the remains of an old stone house. I think of the effort and passion that would have gone into building this. So sad to see it falling down, uncared for.

Waitaki dam comes sooner than I expected it, the lake is a lot smaller and shorter than Aviemore. I like the red flowers, a change from lupins.

Another stone 'house' rather smaller, but in much better condition than the last. We are nearly in Kurow. It was going to be a short ride today anyway, going down SH83 has made it very short.