A ride Towards the West Coast
Posted December 13
Today is the last day in Wanaka, and since weather will preclude me from riding up the west coast from here, I decided to get as close as I could.
With only my tank bag holding some water, granola bars and my camera with a single lens, I headed out. The road runs northeast towards Lake Hawea, then up the west side of the lake, crossing over to the east side of Lake Wanaka at “The Neck” where the two parallel lakes almost touch. From there I rode north into Mt. Aspiring National Park and up to Haast Pass, which is the dividing line between Otago (where I am) and the West Coast. To the northwest I could see the clouds and bad weather I’m hoping to avoid. Looking back, blue skies.
The ride was beautiful. Near perfect small curves above the lake on the Wanaka side, and longer sweeping curves with some up and downhills on the Hawea side.
Tonight I’ll repack. I’ve passed along or sold some camping gear to others and got rid of some other items I no longer expect to need, so I’m already lighter. Tomorrow’s stop in Dunedin is just an overnight, then I’m back in Christchurch Wednesday and Thursday. After that I expect I’ll head north for a few days but will wait to see what the weather is like.
It’s become obvious that seeing all the things I’d like could easily take three weeks. Which just means I’ll have to come back.