Friday 28th February - Middlemarch to Dunedin

It rained and it rained.  It started at about 7.30 in the morning and didn't stop until after we go on the train at 12.30.  The journey on the train took us along The Taieri Gorge. The camp site we stayed at last night was just perfect as we took advantage of their lounge area to watch TV and dry some of our stuff on the heater.  We congratulated ourselves on our planning as, for the most part, our cycle touring part of our overall trip was without serious cold rain. Anyway it was cold and wet all morning. So on the train in the warm before we set of someone had a snooze. 

The train journey down the Taieri gorge to Dunedin was delightful and we could see clearly the snow fall on the hills as we chugged along.  

We were very impressed with the scenery on the journey and pleased with our decision to take the train.  The sky looked blue where we were headed.

At Hindon we had a short stop and were able to step of the train for a quick look around. 

We arrived in Dunedin at about 3.30 and as we disembarked the train the heavens opened and the wind howled and the hill to the backpackers hostel we booked was enormously steep.  We were pleased to get checked in at the Chalet Backpackers and begin to dry out in our comfortable room. 

Thursday 27th February - Ranfurly to Middlemarch

We have now completed the entire rail trail and what good fun it all was. It gets nine out of ten in my book!

Today was all mostly downhill so the wheels turned easily for the most part.

We started by a look around Ranfurly as we had wizzed through it when we arrived yesterday afternoon.

There was some artwork on the way. It is interesting that things look different dependant on the angle you take the photograph from.

Some fantastic scenery on the way!

We stopped at the Otago Central Hotel for a coffee and had a packed lunch just after as the reviews of the hotel on trip advisor were not good.

Before we knew it we were at the end and time to set up camp.

The campsite has an interesting railway theme!

 

Camp kitchen is a lovely old railway cabin! We were thrilled with the camp site at Middlemarch and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

Wednesday 26th February - Omakau to Ranfurly

The day started very cold! We are inland now and the nights are cold and the days hot. Not a cloud in the sky for days but we had to use our tinfoil emergency blanket to keep warm in the morning frost but now it's late afternoon and after a days cycling we are overheated and glad of shade!

The day started much the same as most with a quick check of emails, this time from outside the hotel up the road which had wifi.

Catherine was very cross as our milk and butter were stolen from the fridge this morning meaning a breakfast of dry toast and powdered milk in our tea. Five miles down the trail however was a cafe so it was our first stop of the day.

Now what shall I have? We had two coffees and shared a 4 dollar piece of cheesecake! The staff were friendly and it was stacked full of cyclists enjoying the cake selection. 

So it soon put the smile back on Catherine's face

We continued on, over viaducts

and through tunnels

Everywhere is yellow which reminds us of our tour in Australia and not a bit like South Islands West Coast and it's green rain forest.

We stopped at Lauder for a meal and soon after we reached the highest point on the trail. The overall trend on the trail now is downhill and we noticed the difference.

Wedderburn looked a great place to stay. It had nice looking cabins and hotel and the information barn was stacked with drinks, ice creams and a coffee machine with an honesty box there for payment! Quite delightful!

But we went on to the campsite at Ranfurly.

Remembering all the names on the trail has been hard. Pronouncing them correctly even harder!

Tuesday 25th February - Alexandra to Omakau

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with Beth in her kitchen.  We could easily have stayed chatting with her all day, but we needed to move on. So after a quick chat on Skype with home we got on our way along the trail. The 20 miles were completed along the easy cycle trail today. The surface was reasonable and the ride had a lovely cafe at Chatto Creek cafe, close to the half way point. http://www.chattocreektavern.co.nz/  It had a real cyclists buzz with cyclists coming and going all the time we were there.  We are camping once again, at the Omakau Domain campsite just outside the village, very good value and great kitchen facilities.  

Breakfast with Beth

Early morning Skype call

Starting the Trail

A good surface on the trail

At the cafe

We met lots of characters on the trail

A shady lunch spot

Just before we pitch the tent, relaxing after an easy days cycling

Monday 24th February - Cromwell to Alexandra

The wind was with us today during our ride.  So it was an easy day.  We cycled along lake Dunston to the town of Clyde. Clyde is where the dam and hydro electricity plant was built to make this manmade lake system. Clyde High Street was quite delightful and consisted of cafés, cycle shops and gift shops.  This is Catherine's heaven! Catherine bought a new cycle top from 'Bike It Now' (http://www.bikeitnow.co.nz/) and we were given two cards with a cycle theme.  The only worry is that there will be lots more cycle shops along the Otago Central Rail Trail which we will be following and starts at Clyde. Wonder how many extra cycle tops we will have by the end of the trail in Middlemarch in 4 days time.  

We are staying tonight with a lady names Beth who we met at Queenstown.  We are writing this in Alexandra high street after finding free internet at the pizza shop. 

This is Dunston lake which we cycled alongside for over 10 miles.

We had a bite to eat at the Old Bank Cafe in Clyde

Shopping in the high street at Clyde

Lovely complementary cards from 'Bike it Now' as we bought a cycle top from then.