GERALDINE TO LAKE TEKAPO
This day started out GREAT! We were up early because we knew we had another long day and a big climb though Burke's Pass to get behind us.
So it was basically an all day uphill climb and Burke's Pass is 709 metres above sea level.
We were well rested and started our climb full of energy. The wind was good and we were making good time. We climbed over Mr. Michael going through MacKenzie's Pass and continued to climb. The sun came up, warmed up the day and we stopped quite often to take pictures. One of the main reasons we do this is to roll past amazing countryside while enjoying some personal solitude. This day was delivering.
After about five hours we finally ascended all the way to the top. The final km or two were very steep but it seemed like a slight breeze was giving us a helping hand. The scenery along the way was stunning with vistas overlooking large farm pastures and the mountains in the distance.
That's when the day went sideways again. The wind from the Northwest hit us and hit us hard. This time even worse than yesterday.
We found ourselves on a very expansive and barren plain at this altitude. There was nothing to stop the wind and it came at us with a force that either of us can recall being so severe.
For about 90 minutes we pedalled as hard as we could but only could maintain maybe 8 or 9 kph at the most. There was nothing to do but continue and the road ahead of us stretched out like it seemed forever.
Then the view changed and we were privy to a most amazing lake that we knew was in the works and had heard great things about. There was an amazing downhill into the town of Lake Tekapo and the beauty of the scene was again ALMOST worth the work.
We were cycling into an area high in the mountains that has been transformed by the creation of a number of lakes, all which are connected with canals that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. We had arrived at the first of these lakes, Lake Tekapo. There is some suspended plant life in the lake that gives it an charming light blue colour.
But today, the wind had whipped the lake into a fury. The waves were large enough to surf on and some para-surfers where totally taking advantage of the wind and the waves. They were having a blast. Para-surfing is when you get yourself on something like a snowboard, and attach a para-sail onto a harness onto yourself and go for a wild ride in the water. You can jump up over waves tens of feet into the air.
We got ourselves into our pre-booked villa, cracked open some beers and rested.
STATS:
Distance: 93.5 km
Time: 5:42
Average 16.36 kph
Max: 61.44 kph
Temp: 10 - 25C
Weather: Clear and Windy
