Down south for two weeks for Christmas, I was keen to a multi-day ride. Close to where we were, is the Alps2Ocean trail. The longest of the NZ Cycle Trails I’d only ridden the last hundred kilometres a couple of years ago – I was keen to complete another of these fantastic trails that appeared while I was overseas. Adele was easily convinced to join me on a bike adventure for a few days. Somehow we persuaded Dad and Mum to drive the support vehicle and lug most of our camping gear around – this worked well as I’d brought my full suspension mountain-bike with me and wasn’t set up to carry much luggage.
The Alps2Ocean officially starts in the mountains at Mt Cook Village and makes it was down to the ocean at Oamaru some three hundred kilometres later. But the first section has the Tasman River to cross which requires an expensive helicopter ride – so the alternative start at Tekapo is popular. Driving up from Oamaru in the morning we took some scenic roads I’d not travelled before and stopped in Fairlie to buy pies that Adele had been raving about. I followed her advice and got the pulled pork offering. We lunched at our start point on the side of Lake Tekapo, looking at the mountains.
So much pulled pork, delicious apple sauce and the top of the pie was a very large piece of crackling! Also, scenic lake and mountains.
About to go bikepacking (sort of) – on full suspension MTBs, with big slow tyres, few & a narrow range of gears, little luggage and most oddly: wearing a backpack.
Leaving Tekapo through residential streets we soon dropped down to the level of the hyrdoelectric canal (Tekapo A being the first of many power stations the route passes alongside NZ’s biggest hydro network) that we would follow most of the way to Lake Pukaki.
The cross wind along here was horrid, we soon turned west to have it at our backs.
The riding was easy, with a big tailwind we made good progress despite the limited top gear. The mountains came into view.
It was a good thing the riding was so easy, as the mountains were quite distracting. Mt Cook, NZ’s highest – which Adele has summited, on the right. I got a brief lesson in the names of the peaks and various climbing routes.
Passing the first big salmon farm (we saw three that day), the canal pooled before entering penstocks down to Tekapo B. We sped down the hill to the shores of Pukaki.
Following a quiet road for five kilometres, it wasn’t difficult to stop and look back at the Southern Alps.
Just before the climb to the highway, the route turned off to a lovely trail around the shores. A good time for second lunch – Christmas ham & cheese sandwiches.
Crossing the highway, the trail continued on a long gentle downhill to Twizel – the wind still at our backs.
Navigation on Alps2Ocean is a breeze – I had mounted my GPS on my bike, but I didn’t need it at all for route-finding; the signage is extremely good, the moment the thought “a sign would be useful about now” starts to enter one’s mind – such a sign appears.
Bikes pose with some rather dinky earthmoving equipment at the entrance to Twizel. The assortment stands testament to the massive civil engineering project started decades ago and that still provides a large proportion of NZ’s electricity.
Stopping in Twizel, we ate, met Mum & Dad and organised the rest of the day. Initially, we thought we’d have dinner in Twizel and ride into the evening, but the wind was so helpful – it was too early. Supplies were bought for a family picnic dinner where we would camp.
With five or so kilometres climbing across the wind, we were back up at canal level. We turned with the wind again and followed the Pukaki Canal to its junction with the Ohau Canal. Riding alongside the Ohau Canal we were soon on the edge of Lake Ohau.
After crossing the top of the Ohau River, the trail turned to narrower graveled cycle trail.
This ten kilometre section around the lake, in the evening light, was the highlight of the day. The riding was ever so slightly more engaging, there was no one around, the lake was moody, the mountains standing watching behind it. What a fantastic end to the day’s riding!
Mum & Dad, long suffering as they are obliging us with our crazy adventures, were waiting at the Lake Middleton campground (a tiny lake right next to Ohau, that seems to be popular as a family camping spot). We found a suitable site for the tent, ate dinner, set up camp, farewelled Mum & Dad as they drove back to Kurow, and fell asleep reflecting on a rather excellent afternoon’s riding. The wind sure was helpful – almost ninety kilometres with no real effort in less than five hours of riding. Well, there may have been some effort – I slept unusually well in the tent.
Driving north up the highway on Christmas Eve.
Dad testing the heat from the brazier – a fine way to be able to tolerate cool Oamaru evenings outside.
Christmas brunch.
Don’t mind if I do.
Suddenly, Don invited me out on a Christmas Day MTB ride. Wow! This is fantastic. We went up to the reservoir, where there is a great little loop.
We made sure to be back for Christmas dinner…
and dessert – which may have been just as large as the main course.
After all that, there was a couple of spare hours for a big walk around South Hill and down to the harbour. It had clouded over, but my past complaining of poor Oamaru Christmas weather was non-existent as there was too much else going on – and I’d been mountain-biking!
There’s a cool playground down at the harbour – this slide is extremely steep, I managed to hold on to my dinner.
And the swings are bike-themed!
We stopped at the quaint Dansey’s Pass pub for a pint in the sun before carrying on.
Arriving at the section, there was much delight as Don had surreptitiously had the long driveway gravelled – it was far smoother. 
Work has begun on James & Adele’s own mountain-bike track on their eight hectares. James showed it to me; while only in the first stage, it’s a great ride with some cool features.
I look forward to seeing how it develops and hopefully helping a bit too.
Picnic lunch was devoured before we headed up to the swimming dam. 
The lupins were out in force – after finishing the MTBing, I took Dad on a leisurely ride alongside the water race and came across this patch.
After a fantastic day hanging out in Naseby, we headed back over the pass.
Where we promptly sat around the brazier again, eating and drinking with family and friends.
The year started off with a couple of overnight bikepacking trips as some form of light training. This one riding the gravel road from Wairoa past 
I also persuaded Steve to join me on a great local ride to 
The 
Much to my surprise, my favourite day was through 
Another highlight was staying overnight in the remote old gold mining area of 
The 
After freezing riding up the 
My winter break was a week down in Central Otago for 
Perhaps 
We stayed at Arapiles, where Adele joined me for the renowned rock-climbing (it was quite a family & friends month). I almost popped my other shoulder and swore off rock-climbing forever. I didn’t sleep much camping in the west-Victorian weather, but it was a great trip.
I did, of course, take a bike and managed a 
Looking north-east as I climb before reaching Glengarry Road.
Shortly after, looking towards the Kawekas and bit of cloud.
There seem to be a few stud farms up near Rissington – these Charolais.
Climbing more, it’s proper humid – this looking south.
Looking back east, back down the road I’m following – the hills are getting bigger. Much climbing, slightly less descent.
Nearing Patoka, the light rain I’d been enjoying got heavier. I sheltered in a small bus shelter trying to work out if it would pass. It didn’t. Putting on my rain gear I carried on.
Through Puketitiri the rain eased & then stopped. I was only half-heartedly pursued by the same fox terrier that harassed me with such speed last year. I was rewarded with a glorious rainbow.
More glorious green hills – it really is wonderful up there. 
The views were a bit different to last year – but I was still in high spirits, if not thoroughly wet – not for the first time that day.
I reached the top of a large descent that took me into another valley before turning off to Makahu Rd and the hot springs.
I paused near the first crest to see how all the livestock were coping – completely unperturbed would be the answer.
A peak of the Mohaka River from the pools – it’s not a bad spot, at all.
Looking back towards the northern end of the Kawekas.
Back onto the main road, I went back up yesterday’s plunge – a little bit of a contrast to five photos above.
It’s shearing time, I watched for some time the ebbs and flows of this mob of sheep being herded. It was a strangely relaxing sight as the dogs and shepherds worked away. Sheep in yards and the buzz of shears were a regular occurrence for the rest of the ride back to town.
The setting may have helped some.
Back through Puketitiri, I stopped at the local Par 3 golf course for water and was a little sad about declining rural communities.