Another fine cool morning. There was a bit of a katabatic wind coming down the valley but the forecast was for a nor’wester on our backs building during the day. I was feeling better and there were regular points of interest including where floods at the start of the year had moved huge boulders and a lot of debris.
The climb up Haast Pass was enjoyable and I actually wished it would go on longer. The road from Makarora to the head of Lake Wanaka is less interesting from my perspective, but by the time we got to the lake the nor’wester was really starting to kick in and it had become very hot. I ended up riding with Martin and Pete for a bit and it was fun pushing up the hills with the tail wind and speeding down the other side. The traffic had increased but it wasn’t bad. I found the big tourist buses to be very courteous; waiting until it was safe to overtake.
Sean and John at the Gates of Haast.
John happy to have reached Haast Pass.
We stopped for an ice cream at Lake Hawea and I felt this was probably one of my best days of the TA yet. Quite a contrast from yesterday when I was struggling.
John C had mentioned he had a friend that had offered his holiday home to stay in at Wanaka. When he phoned him to see if it was still available it turned out that it wasn’t, but his friend was so keen to help he booked and paid for John, Sean and myself to stay in the very nice Wanaka View Motel. Talk about the kindness of strangers!
That night we went to a local bar for a meal and as Sean is Irish we had a Kilkenny to belatedly celebrate St Patrick's Day which was yesterday. I ate far too much but slept soundly in a super comfortable bed thankful of our mystery benefactor.
