Today no instructions or guidebook needed as I had ridden this section with Lynne, Kev and Dave prior to Christmas. Weather forecast was somewhat variable – rain early morning, then clear then a second flick of rain, then clear. I hoped to get up and it would have passed through. Not the case. Fine when I rolled down to the Greedy Cow for breakfast but raining when I left the cafe to start.

The Greedy Cow – 10/10! Superb coffee and more nice food then I could eat. I started pedalling at the rain and wind were freezing. After about 25 mins I remembered I had put my snowboarding gloves in my front roll so took off the wet riding gloves and wriggled my cold fingers into the snowboarding gloves. Instant luxury! The rain stopped an hour into the ride and the cold head wind persisted. I rode with Graeme Phillips for awhile and we ended up having coffee at the salmon shop at the end of Lake Pukaki- just filter coffee but it was hot and great pickup me up.

Into Twizel and more food and coffee. Last 35kms to go. I had more head wind along the canal road but once turned off at the Ohau Weir the track was sheltered and super fun. I biked up to Lake Ohau Lodge to be greeted by Mike Grabner – who I know from library IT days when we worked together on the data centre move. I ended up joining him and his group for dinner and it was very social. He’s biking the A2O track too.