Starting with the first cars around 6.30 I am on the road by 7.00. On the way to Tarras I see another cyclist on a pathe opposite if SH8. Not much traffic though, and going downhill is certainly faster on tarmac. I take a break in Tarras, but flies are annoying enough to keep it short. The town doesn’t offer much more than a gas station, café and the obligatory merino and possum clothing store.

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Around 11.00 I take my second break under an eucalyptus tree along a side road. This turns into a 3 hour blog-update session 🙂

A quarter of an hour after I continue on towards Wanaka, I reach the Clutha river, a much nicer spot for a break. I also find a marked trail and ask some local cyclists if this goes through to Wanaka. As they confirm it, I venture onto a superbe flowing path along the clear blue waters of the Clutha. Going first along the cliff above the river, it soon descends to the river’s shore and I cannot resist another break and a short swim.
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The trail emerges at Albert Town and as there is a council campground here, I decide not to go to Wanaka today, but to make this a slow day. I find a spot directly above the river and have set up my camp by 17.00. Lots of local teenagers here enjoying their summer holidays but the night is quiet enough.

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