Save a brief flurry of throwing rocks at a bold and inquisitive possum, it was a good night’s sleep in the copse. That is not to say we were quick to get going for the half-hour gentle downhill to Oturehua – where we found Matt decamping right next to the store. Rumour had it that the shopkeeper would open early for us at eight o’clock, so we had time to sort a few things out. To our surprise, the store opened shortly after at seven-thirty – we promptly bought a lot of food for breakfast and the day ahead.

I was particularly pleased with this.

Fibre coming in 2121.

Well supplied, the flat section of rail trail and deserted gravel roads up the Ida Valley were easy miles and much appreciated. To my surprise, there was an Open sign outside the old Poolburn pub – couldn’t not investigate that, even if it was only little more than an hour since Oturehua (no more resupply for 120 km). Nine-thirty didn’t seem to be early to having an ice cream, amongst other things, with the two guys that had recently bought the premises on a bit of a whim. Not quite with a liquor licence yet, it was great to see the place open. Some avid dot-watchers and trail angels also tracked me down, so that was worth stopping a little longer for before heading up to Poolburn Reservoir.

Olly and Matt on the last stretch of flat road for the day.

The seven hundred metre climb on a typically sweltering, still Central Otago summer’s day was much as it has been before – with one notable exception, the traffic! Filming just having started on a new Lord of the Rings TV series we were constantly passed in both directions by a seemingly never-ending contingent of cast and crew vehicles. So many hired Toyotas, first time I’ve been pleased to see a Ford Ranger. Despite the numbers, I found the traffic courteous and the dust wasn’t too bad.

Finally at the reservoir, a chance for shirt soaking.

Through the little gorge after the dam, we left the filming behind us and I was excited to continue heading south to some terrain I’d not seen before.

It was vast, but at least tracked so there was no pushing required.

The high point for the day was hit around two o’clock, but this wasn’t too much comfort knowing Lake Onslow was still to come. Past Serpentine Diggings we first found a saturated bog before eventually another stream – great for a cool off and topping up bottles. Joining a section of the GSB21 course, I was thankful for this weather instead of toiling into the freezing southerly of three weeks before.

The road down to Lake Onslow and then stretching out behind up more hills;
we’d end up riding a fair bit of that ridge right to left.

Unfortunately, we ended up taking that road up and down to the lake – instead of the flat one around the lake edge.

I pushed a fair bit of the steeper sections of the climb beyond the lake, still fascinated by the light play on the folds of the hills.
Nice to see it in more light this time.

We left the road for more private farmland, hoping for some downhill – but got a bit more climbing along said ridge for eight kilometres or so.

We did wonder if we’d have to ride every track in this photo, but no – we were spared that fate.
The following day’s terrain stretching into the distance.

A screaming downhill through the farm before a lumpy section for an hour or so on public and then private roads. While excellent to see more new places, I must have been getting tired and too focussed on getting it done to remember much of it.

The long downhills were enjoyable!

Across the Clutha to Beaumont, where the pub and dinner waited. Nice evening for a ride, again!

Matt and Olly rolling down to food.

A large steak, eggs, onion rings and copious amounts of fries were devoured before the easy riverside trail twenty kilometres to a motel in Lawrence – half in the dark, but we made it in time before the staff had all called it a night. Another big day, it wasn’t quite as easy as hoped (after the previous two) being in the scorching sun all day. By this stage, the end of an incredible week was drawing near and I was just happy to keep things ticking over, taking a bit of extra care of both my body (managing the tight ankles while walking, less of that this day, and riding) and my front wheel (still missing only one spoke). Only a hundred and fifty kilometres to go!