Leaving Pioneer Park, there’s a gravel road to Fairlie. It passes some easy looking MTB tracks about 1.5 km after the park entrance. Lots of ups & downs but overall downhill towards SH79 7km before Fairlie. Going downhill and with considerable less traffic than yesterday, I reach the Opihi river, just before Fairlie, quickly.
Here I take a break in a sea of flowers.
Fairlie itself is fairly nice. Thankfully the supermarket is open despite it being Boxing Day.
The road to Burkes Pass is busy again. The pass itself is unremarkable, but the station afterwards is a fascinating collection of old cars, gas pumps and signs.
After the pass is a barren plateau, with a beautiful view on the Southern Alps and a lonely monkey.
At Lake Tekapo I decide to ride on once again after a rest stop at the lake.
I choose the route along the canal from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki. No cars here, as this road is only open to cyclists and walkers.
Not made for extra wide bikes
The start of the road is paved and with a beautiful view on the Tekapo river. Then, the road turns to gravel and the strongest headwind I’ve had so far begins.
I read the weather report that evening: 65 km/h gale force winds…
Finally reaching the end of the canal, the road plunges about a hundred meters down to the lake. Half an hour later I’ve found a quiet campspot a hundred meters from the shore.
