We set off about 9am in a slight drizzle, motivated by the thought of a coffee break in Lauder - 9km from Omakau. This was a very popular spot and many other cyclists were refuelling there as well.
This day was not planned well. We had to be in Wedderburn by 12.30 or 1pm to meet Jan who was providing us with a picnic lunch. SH and SL had also asked their friends to meet them there at 12pm. This meant we had to cycle 43 km before lunchtime! There was a slight incline here too, as we climbed to the highest part of the trail (618m above sea level). We were pushing ourselves but K and I were sore and could not go faster. A breakaway group (SH, SL and J) went ahead at top speed to meet the friends and collect lunch while the rest of us went at a pace we could maintain. Near the apex, we passed the line of 45 degree south latitude. M yelled it out to us, but K and I were too busy looking at the ground and pushing hard on pedals.
We finally got to Wedderburn at 1.30pm. Lunch was scrumptious and we ate ravenously but we got cold stopping and not long after K, M and I got there, we pushed on again. We cheered up at the thought it was 14kms more, but downhill, to Ranfurly. We got into Ranfurly about 4pm, and I was only too glad to put the bike away. I was lucky here, I scored the room with the ensuite. We rewarded ourselves with hot chocolate and apple pie, then later steak dinners and wine. We chatted to a local who participated in curling, and got us looking forward to our curling expedition tomorrow.
Ranfurly - Art Deco town
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