TA day 29: Queenstown to Mossburn
Distance 118km, Elevation Gain 843m
Early breakfast at Queenstown Bakery then on to Joel’s mini-landing craft for a swift cruise across Lake Wakatipu to the start of the day’s actual riding from Walter Peak Station.
Smooth progress on gravel road until brought to a sudden halt by the tragic sight of an injured stag on the road - hind leg broken and unable to rise. Phoned through message for mission of mercy to put the beast out of its misery, and pedalled on, giving it as wise a berth as possible.
Crossing a ford, we met a stranded camper an and it’s occupants who’d suffered the misfortune of a double puncture crossing said ford.
Before long we came to Von Hill, the day’s only significant climb, but no minor obstacle at well over 200m We ascended into the low cloud, and eventually topped out just as the sun started to brighten the gloom.
Passing the Otago/Southland border, we descended to the valley floor and enjoyed 20-odd km of top gear euphoria on the pan-flat road, the biggest hazard being the strafed cow shit across the track at regular intervals!
Lunch was taken atop a rise, now in full sunshine, looking back up the valley whence we’d come.
Thereafter the road surface degenerated significantly - a cocktail of soft gravel, corrugating and rough rock- miserable!
Andy got to display his bike-shepherd skills as we negotiated a mile long mob of escaped (& freshly shorn) sheep, and soon thereafter the surface improved mercifully… although Andy’s chain did not, sounding like it was eating itself! A quick lube with the marvellous Fenwick Pro lube had things running much more smoothly!
Down to a riverside fishing access track for wonderful cruisy riding….but after 5km of the 25km to Mossburn everyone had had enough!
Finally reaching the Mossburn Railway Hotel we were fairly gagging for the ales readily provided by our mist estimable hostess!
