Day 6 – Damn you weather. Damn you! (shaking fist at the sky).

Jack Daniels Remaining: 490mls

Kilometers Ridden Today: 36kms

Rain. Wind. More rain. More wind.

Last time I went up Haast pass it was raining so hard it could have put the fires of Hell (or Mordor) out. This time was no different. Only this time, the hell storm of rain and wind did not end once we “passed the pass” and entered Otago. We stopped by a lake for some sightseeing. Had we chosen to get out and ride here, we would have had a tail wind sure, but it was so brutal it would have been unsafe and being blown into oncoming traffic was a serious risk. So grumpily we barreled back into the bang bus.

It was a real shame we didn’t ride today. Of all the potential riding, Haast pass was the feather I wanted in my cap. It’s a stunning journey in a car, so a bike would have been even better – with the added satisfaction of yet another climb conquered. Apart from a few stop-offs to photograph waterfalls and lakes, it was a fairly benign journey. 

A few happy snaps along the way which I believe exacerbate the stunningly stunning scenery. Thankfully no one produced the tool accessory of the decade - the selfie stick. Well played boys.

Wanaka was not the picture of beauty when we arrived either – those that hadn’t been took some photos of the lake. I sussed out some accommodation and did what I do best before beer o’clock – drink coffee.
Oooooh. I feel a pano shot coming on.. here it comes...

BAM!

We stayed at the Youth Hostel. This was the only time we all stayed in the same room (a 6 birth dorm with kitchenette and bathroom). I was pretty chuffed with myself, as in talking to the lady at the counter, we were awarded the “low carb” rate for our efforts in riding so the room cost just $22 each rather than $32, (hey a win is a win and a little part of me likes to think it was my dashing good looks and fluttering eyelids that helped get the lower rate). The day was all in all pretty lazy with pub grub late lunch. We gave the 3 or 4 bottles of spirits we had with us a nudge and dined on finger food back in the room for breakfast. A bit of reading, sleeping, walking, hanging out, chatting etc….

The boys!

Most importantly, a council was held today in the hallowed halls of the YHA in which it was sadly decided the fellowship of the boys would split, albeit temporarily, to allow Samwise Gamgee and his companion Alex “Frodo” Varbola to find themselves on a journey to Milford Sound. We would all rendezvous in Queenstown the following day, before they set sail for Te Anau and Milford or “Milf Sound” as I preferred to call it.