Yeah, there was finally a fine day, reasonably clear sky and sunshine when I rolled out of the Motel shortly after 8am.

It was a nice, although cool ride to Clyde and then as soon as passing the Clyde Dam, it was a like a switch had been flicked and the wind kicked in coming right down the lake. No worries, I knew that the lake created different wind patterns, so was hopeful that when I turned at Cromwell, that it might be favourable.. how wrong that thought proved to be!

With an undulating road and big chip seal and a head wind, it was a bit of a slog to Cromwell and to rub salt in when I got to the cafe it was packed and I had to sit (with others) outside, so skull cap, double arm warmers and gloves remained on! Corn fritters with poached eggs on top were the order of the day as I was not going to risk asking for this at the cafe at Tarras as there is a bit of a history with this, ask Al.

While I was at the cafe, 3 other roadies arrived and as luck would have it by the time they arrived they got a seat inside and the newspaper..! Soft c…s!

Befriended a tabby cat while there which I suspect was attached to the cafe as did not look like they had missed any dinners..

While at the cafe there was a text from Emma who was with the BP Group and at the The Store in Tai Tapu, good to keep in touch and next week I will be back in the fold.

On getting back on the bike, it shows how much food was needed as felt a lot better, although getting off the bridge and Cromwell and turning left, although there was the first road sign seen since leaving home that has “Christchurch” listed which at least felt I was heading to home, the wind was fair on the nose.. and the big chip seal continued, buggar..

Caught up to an oldie on a road bike who was also heading north who stuck on my wheel for a while but apparently it was his first ride out for a while and I dropped him!! Unlike GK, this was done unintentionally!

It was a bit of a battle to Tarras and although it was only 30ks down the road, it was another cafe stop as after this there was nothing until Omarama which was still a further 80ks down the road.

Unfortunately after a couple of coffees the wind had still not abated, so it was a grunt down the road, often in the small front chain ring with head down just battling into the wind and muttering as to what I had done to deserve this.. The wind was coming from a totally different direction to yesterday..

There is a bit of an awful climb just out of Tarras, although thankfully today it was one of those climbs where it is worse going the other way, south…

It was getting quite warm as after Tarras I had been able to remove the double arm warmers and gloves and I was keen to dip my feet in the river, but although the river was tantalising close, there was always a barbed wire fence and access was not that easy.. I did not stop at our normal on the nice mown grass in front of a station driveway at the foot of the Lindis, but continued on and did find a spot where I could easily jump the fence and stand in the river…. that is soothing.. Filled up my water bottle and hoped that there were no dead sheep upstream!

Part way up the Lindis climb, the wind abated and it became quite an enjoyable climb even though there were sections at 14%, but mostly in the 8 – 10% range, until reaching the summit when the wind was again blowing at full force, so it was a quick photo in front of the sign, jacket on and then get going..

The decent was spoilt by the wind, but on reaching the plains out of the valley, the wind while not directly behind was fairly helpful and there were sections at 50ks+, but generally it was over 40ks all the way to Omarama.

The lupins on the side of the road and in the river banks were very pretty as were in full flower.

Found the Motel which is on the road to Benmore and got the washing done and out of the line which will dry in no time in this wind..!

Total for the day was 143ks and a climbing elevation of 1,438m.

A hard day in the saddle due primarily because of the wind, but also because of the big chip road surface.

Home is that much closer, although it is a big day tomorrow at over 170ks to get to Geraldine.

I am writing this blog at the Hotel on the junction and for the Ami followers I am looking directly at GlenCraig’s Clothing store, Craig Dawson being ex Ami.