Day 6 Tekapo to Twizel

Yesterday afternoon the wind picked up and it got cold. The ground is wet this morning, it rained overnight - Wow, it has snowed on the hills around us.

It's cold but maybe even more pretty than before. There is no wind so easy riding.

Some of the vegetation is native and not so cute. I have a soft spot for matagouri - probably because I do not have to deal with it. It's flowering now too

They use a LOT of firewood in the south. By the van there's a bunch of guys having a smoko - maybe this is a communal woodcutting work bee.

It is cold. SauKeng wrapped up well, but her fingerless gloves are not good here. Socks help. Later she adds her raincoat to block the wind and finally is almost comfortable.

These gates are designed to pass cyclists but not motor cycles. They can be a big hassle if they are installed too low. This we can just squeeze under, some we have to unpack the trike's basket to get past. We don't like them.

Tekapo A power station. This may still be higher than the riverbed, which is nearby. Was lake Tekapo originally that much lower? Or were there interesting rapids here?

There is a canoe slalom course in the old river bed they can divert water to when required.

I'm amused to see streams crossing under the canal. Obviously necessary when you think about it but not what I was expecting.

The canal is easy riding. Very easy on a sealed road at first, later it's gravel with a slight headwind. The canal water is an intense blue when the sun is on it, very beautiful, but this is becoming hard work and I'm overdue for a change. A salmon farm provides some relief.

Finally lake Pukaki comes into view.

The canal continues longer than I expected - why doesn't it take the direct route? Eventually it ends and the road drops to the lakeside. Whee! I stop and talk to two young cyclists having lunch. SauKeng eventually arrives and joins in. They have come from Aoraki today, and have been as far Milford Sound. He is wearing t-shirt and shorts - and says he is hot! We are all wrapped up and just comfortable.

As we cycle around the lake the views improve. Aoraki's peak appears above the clouds. More lupins. It's spectacular. Across the dam we visit the Mt Cook Salmon shop - and decide not to go inside. We have before and the prices are higher than in a supermarket. The thar statue is good though.

Our track leaves the road and takes us to the Twizel flats, a strange area. Mostly barren - except for wilding pines that have previously been cut but are coming back. Otherwise the ground is covered by small blue-green daisys(?) Why nothing else? Do the rabbits eat everything else?

We can see Twizel, but it's further than it appears and takes a long time to arrive.

Two people are looking at the sky. I follow their gaze but see nothing so ask. "Parachutes" Yes three... no five are high above us. A couple drop at an alarming rate, but flare out and land gently. They are experts. Last down is a tandem, they land on their bottoms - Instructor and beginner.

Where to go? We are staying with Arno, who was a workmate of SauKeng on her project, but has since retired. Google maps says his house is 15 minutes away?! How can that be in a town this size? Sau Keng originally said we would arrive around 4pm, and later revised this to 5. It's past 5 now and she hates being late. We set off at speed and arrive in ten minutes.

Arno and Nicky have a very nice house on a lifestyle block, we will stay with them tonight and leave our bikes here while we return to Christchurch for another week's work. Many thanks.

I ask Nicky, good gardener about the plant dominating the Pukaki flats. We look it up - Mouse eared hawkweed. "...major problem in some South Island tussock grasslands..." This part of the country seems to be very good at growing weeds! Lupins, Mouse eared hawkweed. The super thorny Sweet briar roses that are so pretty with red rosehips in autumn, wild thyme covering whole mountain sides, wilding pines. This is why I support the matagouri!

Memory of the day, mighty Aoraki

Statistics

Distance 62.5 km

Climbed 217 m

Time 4:42