Mossburn and a side ride to Lumsden

Friday. A work day.

Our unit is part of a building that has a foyer internal access to all the rooms (the inside doors are numbered) We like the artwork on the walls, and one of the waitresses tells us the manager took these photos.

We get out of our unit to have lunch 100 metres down the road at Bracken hall. It's good and the shop is an interesting mix of cafe, outdoor clothes and mementos. Aimed at people such as us clearly. Tomorrow will go further for lunch and try the Dome cafe another 50 m away.

Dinner is always a highlight of the day. Today we ordered light meals because we want to try the deserts.

Saturday.

We can relax today. We don't have to work. We don't have to ride... "Let's explore a little" says Sau Keng. "Okay", I reply, thinking of maybe half an hour poking around the streets here. But Sau Keng is thinking of Lumsden, 20 km away, and there is a strong wind today. I'm reluctant, but let myself be talked into it - I know these sort of things are fine once you get into them.

Breakfast first, at the Dome cafe. No complaints.

The Dome Cafe supports the round the mountain cycle trail. Bracken Hall is aimed at cyclists such as us. Wheels and Reels, where we are staying is also for cyclists. We have not seen anyone else riding this trail? We ask and are told we are early in the season, later it usually gets quite busy.

We start or ride exploring Mossburn. When we get back from Lumsden, 20 km riding into this strong wind, I probably won't want to explore.

The South Island does long and straight very well. Mountain ranges such as Rock and Pillar, roads, bales of haylage. There has been good grass growth this spring. So much hay etc.

We start down the LONG straight road, the wind is strong and directly behind us. Riding is effortless. I try not to think of riding back.

I love the sign. Who would have known?

After only 3 slight bends in the road (over 20 km) we reach the Oreti river bridge. The river is quite big now. Only 2 km to Lumsden and the road sign names Invercargill. First time we have seen that name. We are getting close to the end of our ride!

We start riding beside the river & I check my speed - My speedo is gone!? I ride back to the bridge to look for it... Sau Keng comes back to help too - and finds it for me, hanging under the handlebar - it has just slipped around and down. Doh, I feel dopy but happy I have not lost it :-)

Lumsden, much bigger than Mossburn, which is pretty minimal. They have made a very nice feature of their old railway station.

We choose the Route 6 Cafe, it's also good. Nice vibe and some interesting wall art.

Look at the lean and at the leaves on this poplar. The wind is strong. We ride to the bridge and turn directly into it... I think all my training is starting to have effect. I change down to a comfortable gear and it's okay, still about 3/4 of our usual speed... I'll just take a bit longer.

The sheep don't seem to be bothered by the wind or us. Usually flat prime pasture like this goes to dairy cows, and when we try to photograph sheep all we see are their bottoms as they run away. These sheep seem a bit more chill.

We are back, and I'm feeling good. Time to lube the bikes, sew a tear in my cycle pants, write Instagram, catch up on my blog, maybe even relax a little.

Steak for dinner tonight, with mushroom sauce. Very good and a generous size. Plenty of chips too. But very little salad. This seems to be standard and leaves us feeling deprived of greens. Why? Are we unusual?

Statistics

Distance 44 km

Climbed 140 m

Time 3:13