Distance 69.2 km. Ride Time: 4:48 hours.
According to Mavora lakes ranger Tim, today the weather would clear, and the winds would shift to southeasterly. So I was not in the least surprised to wake this morning to the sound of rain on my tent. Eventually it stopped, and I decided to pack up and get going whatever the weather, rather than hang around the lakes for another day.
With the late start it was 10am before I
got on the road, but I was optimistic of reaching Te Anau by mid-afternoon.
The road south from the lakes was covered
with loose gravel, with only a narrow wheel track relatively clear, but the
trend was downhill, and the wind was definitely a southeasterly – more help
than a hindrance. Looking down the valley there where some ominous grey clouds
gathered over the tops, but I managed to outrun all but a few brief wispy showers.
So I made pretty good time for all but the
last few kms of the gravel section, where a grader was operating, making the
final section very difficult – it was like riding on marbles.
Once the sealed road was reached I
enjoyed long sections of downhill running and with the assistance of the wind
covered the remaining 30 kms to Te Anau by 3:30pm.
I’ve planned to take a cruise on Doubtful
Sound tomorrow, so went straight to the booking office, then checked in at one
of the holiday parks. After a hot shower, early dinner and laundry chores done
I’ll be off to bed.
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| A last look up the valley to Mavora Lakes... |
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