Training Log Archive: Vaala

Top Hut to Twizel.
Started off with a nice 300 metre climb up to the Omarama Saddle which must have been all within about 2km max! Steep...and a bit rocky for a fully-laden tandem with no suspension so we overbalanced about 3 times. Made it to the top in about half an hour. The descent was painful and took a while. It was extremely hot by the time we made it to Omarama. Ate lots of fresh stone fruit then joined the Alps to Ocean trail heading backwards. A few km in I realised it was 80km to Twizel (from Omarama) and not the 40km I had somehow mistaken it as so we should have just biked to Lake Ohau but I was too stubborn! Was very hot and the gravel road felt like it went on forever. We finally got to the singletrack which was cool but went up Up UP! M had to switch brake pads over at the top and by then I was exhausted and more than grumpy. It was a slow, painful descent to the lodge for much needed ginger beer then some sweet singletrack around the lake and some timetrialing along the canal until I died for the umptenth time that day! So so tired and a bit of a mess by Twizel.

Omakau to Top Hut.
Started out a bit cloudy as we cruised along the Otago Rail Trail, chatting with other cyclists as we went. Was intrigued by the Aussie ladies' Bike Friday bikes (and their overflowing gear!). We made it to Oturehua in time for an early lunch at a cafe before heading out on the gravel roads towards St Bathans. The road got quite a lot more bumpy once we turned off towards the track but we made it to the campsite by 3pm. Lazed in the sun eating chips before heading off again. The track was pretty good for the first 3km to the junction then got pretty bumpy and rocky with many stream crossings we pushed through. The water was super refreshing though as it was pretty hot by now. Made it to Boundary Creek hut after about 1 1/2 hours with lots of daylight remaining so continued on the next 8km to Top Hut which took us another 1 1/2 hours or so but there were longer periods we were able to ride. So excited to reach the hut. This track was definitely pushing the boundaries of what our bike is capable of though (but possibly not as rough going as I was worried it might be)!

Wanaka to Omakau.
An early-ish start (for us). Checked out the Clutha River Trails but after 2 frustrating obstacles (a fence we couldn't get thru without removing all our gear and a bridge with steps on either side which also required removing our gear) we bailed and continued along the highway. Made it to the start of Thomson Gorge Road around 10ish. Flat to start with then some serious climbing so we were very glad of our low gears but it was nothing the bike couldn't handle! Nice and overcast with favourable wind though which also helped make it more pleasant. Awesome scenery. Windy at the saddle but the sun was out in force by then. More rocky on the other side and a bit more climb on the other side than we expected but it was all good. Had to stop several times on the way down though as the discs were getting pretty hot! Such a good day!

Boundary Creek to Wanaka.
Cold but fine morning. Was a cruisey day just into Wanaka but we discovered we'd broken a spoke (probably near the start of the day yesterday) so I got a bit stressed. Made it to Wanaka not long after midday to find 2 mechanics on duty at the bike shop who were happy to help out. They said our bike was so flash it must be from the future! But throughout the whole trip people seemed fascinated in our bike. All sorts of random people wanted to talk to us all the time! Yesterday, on the way up to the pass, some guy actually pulled over and was standing in the centre of the road taking our picture!

Haast to Boundary Creek.
The storm rolled in overnight with heavy rain, strong winds and impressive thunder storms. Was still going in the morning so slept in and came up with various plans for the different weather possibilities but in the end the rain had eased to showers by 10:30am so we set off. Caught and Austrain couple up the road and were around them most of the day. Rain came back with a vengance just after M thought about taking his jacket off! Sheltered at Pleasant Flat along with all the sandflies for lunch then set up the pass (stopping at all the various waterfalls of course!). Pretty steep in places and very wet but were up at the top in good time. Very VERY cold, wet descent on the other side though. Power was out at Makarora so no hot drinks but we did warm up a little by the fire before heading off again. Pulled into our campsite at Boundary Creek just as the rain was starting to ease.
After seeing virtually no cycle tourists (our definition was that they had to be carrying all their gear i.e. self sufficient) up until now we saw about 20 today so came to the conclusion that they only come out in the rain! We even saw another tandem couple but too cold and wet to stop and chat.

Fox Glacier to Haast.
As a weather bomb was forecast for that night we aimed for Haast and a cabin! Feeling pretty good today and the scenery was beautiful and the road was great. Met a group of cyclists on a commercial tour and the guide gave us free food! Got a bit tired near the end of the climbs around Knights Point but it was awesome. The coast is so wild. Weather was so much better than expected with only 1 downpour (but it was HEAVY). The rain started in the evening though.

Lake Ianthe to Fox Glacier.
This was a tough day for me as I was very tired and always hungry! We pushed on all the way to Franz for a late lunch where it rained a bit then on over the steep little hills to Fox in the hot hot sun. Those climbs felt HUGE! Fox is awesome though.

MTB track to glacier carport and back.
Cool little mtb track to the glacier carpark! Fun times.

Jogging to the glacier and back.