Day 31 - Queenstown

 Yup….you read that correctly…. I’m in Queenstown tonight….but I didn’t cycle all the way here.  😀

We got up early this morning to the sound of rain….well it was forecasted….but unfortunately it was true.  So off we went this morning to get over Haast Pass.   80km with over 1000m of elevation gain, and if you look closely at the photo…most of that gain is over 10km….😱😳yikes.

Last night we contacted Ian, another fellow TA rider who lives near Queenstown about a route we wanted to take.  The issue is that getting to Queenstown, there’s a massive gorge….spectacular to look at, but either way means a huge climb over questionable roads….so Ian offered to pick us up from Cromwell in two days time.  Ok….we have a plan.  

Off we went in the rain this morning….and although it looks flat for the first 50km….there were a lot of small hills.  I was feeling sorry for myself…cold, wet…couldn’t see through my glasses….ughhhh.  When all of a sudden there was another rider beside me.  Brian.  He finished in Bluff 3days ago, but his bike broke just before Haast.  He got a ride and bought another bike to finish the TA….but since he missed cycling the Haast Pass, he was back today to finish it off.  He was so positive and cheerful ….loving the rain!  Gave me some positive inspiration that just turned my mood around!!!  

Lots of waterfalls again today, didn’t take many photos not only because it was raining, but also because there wasn’t a safe place to stop.  Most of the time there isn’t a shoulder and sometimes there’s a big drop off right next to the pavement.  No place to be safe.  

Haast Pass is spectacular….despite the low cloud…I could see some of it.  Just amazing rock walls, super lush greenery, lots of waterfalls, spectacular.  The Pass was 320m high, and most of the grade was 13-17%.  Not rideable for me….so pushed my bike almost the entire way up this steep section….so I had lots of time to look around.  

Eventually it flattened out….and I made it to the town of Makarora which is where we planned to spend the night….but Ian had other plans for us.  He saw the weather warning for the area, so hopped into his car to come get us!!!  He is amazing!  Met us at the hotel with dry towels, a double bike rack and brought us to his place.  Although we had planned on riding tomorrow….it would not have been fun on the busy narrow twisting roads.  The scenery is spectacular through the gorge, but no fun on a bike.  

We had a lovely evening together in a stone house that he built over 40 years ago!  This is what the TA has really been about for me.  The people that I have met, the shared experiences, the shared meals, and seeing a new country.  I’ve really had a blast!  Tomorrow he’s dropping us off in Garston, and then it will only be two days to Bluff, with much improved weather….so I should be able to take more photos, and hopefully if the weather is good, Ted and I will be back on these roads in hopefully sunny weather in a few weeks.  😀😀😀