Lake Dunstan

Just to set the scene - we had a fabulous day - the weather was great, the trail was super and the scenery outstanding - and the company was fantastic too.
The day started early 5:45 with ablutions and showers - breakfast, packing and on the road for Clyde just after 7:30 as we had planned - we had to be at Shebikeshebikes by 9:00.
All of the hire bikes were lined up on the station platform - they occupy the old Clyde railway station. We packed all our supplies and emergency stuff into the paniers and after gear adjustments got our bike instructions and a quick test drive and the bikes were loaded onto the trailer and us into the van.
It was a quick drive to Cromwell and then last minute preparations before we were off. We caught up with the Waipukurau lot as they headed off and we left 10 minutes after them.
We started out on a pretty easy section that took us out around the Bannockburn area which includes a bridge across the Kawarau River. Then we climbed up to a beautiful point over looking the river - this was to be the first time we stopped and chatted with the Waipukurau team (about a dozen) and we would see them many times during the day.
Our next stop was at Cornish Point were the Kawarau and Clutha rivers met.
The scenery was just spectacular - the river was so slow moving the reflections were like a mirror.
The tracks we were on here, and for most of the trail, was wider than I had expected and made for comfortable riding.
Our next main stop was for coffee and there was quite a crowd there when we arrived - ordered the long blacks and they were made in 2 minutes - great service - Mary bought some chocolate brownie - and we had a good break and some more chats.
Immediately after the coffee boat the first serious climb was next - the Cairnmure Ladder - we were all prepared for the climb with e-bikes on a higher power level and away we went. It was not too tough on the e-bike, but some of the Rotarians had muscle bikes and it was a workout for them.
In this part (Cairnmure) we were high up on a bluff and there were great views there too.
We stopped for photos at the trig site - another stopping point for everyone.
There was one more climb before we came back down to the lake edge were there was 1.5km of narrower track and a few dodgy spots - no looking down.
The clip-ons were amazing and we had no problems with them, but the hard jutty rock wall I found was too close to me at times.
Crossed the Hugo Bridge - the longest and Bob got some photos of us crossing it. There was a corner where Gran had a wee crash - a biker had stopped to take some photos and parked his bike on the inside of the track - she just ran into and fell in a heap - needing an arm up and disentangle the bikes - she has a sore elbow as a reminder.
And eventually around a corner we could see the Clyde Dam and things were pretty straight forward from there into town.
We had our photo taken and gave back our bikes and changed into some different clothes.
We went into town and saw the Waipukurau crew in a garden bar so we joined them and had a beer with them,
Then it was on the road and return home. We opted for wraps at home outside in the setting sun.
A great day.Read more