Feb 2013
Bill & Wendy, Dennis & Wendy, Glenda & Lex, Pauline & Barry, Sandra and Bronwyn gathered in Clyde on the evening of 28 Feb. Right from the start it felt like a good holiday: hot sunshine, a walk along the river, a drink at the pub and a fine dinner in the garden of the Old Post Office. Next morning we assembled at the Railhead at 8:30, organised the cars and pedalled off towards Alexandra. Sandra was our supporter: taking the overnight bags in her vehicle and popping up by the Trail often over the next few days to take photos and join us whenever the Trail came close to a road.
Vineyards and gardens soon gave way to the dramatic schist outcrops of the Manuherikia valley. We crossed the first of the many bone-shaking historic viaducts stopping in the middle to look at all the trout in the river. At Chatto Creek pub we had the first of our many essential coffee/tea stops in the shady garden. The following climb up to Tiger Hill was the steepest and hottest part of the Trail. It was a very picturesque spot with its large tarn teeming with birds. We stopped at the red tin shed –dotted along the Trail are the ‘ganger’ sheds formerly used by the railway workers but now converted into little information booths. Each one tells you some interesting things about the local history, plants, geology etc. Here too we found some big old apple trees, grown from the cores that passengers biffed out of the train windows many years ago. By early afternoon we had reached Omakau, where most of us were booked into the elegant old Commercial Hotel. 2 kms down the road is tiny Ophir where we spent a happy few hours eating lunch in a rose/lavender garden (such terrific food in Central Otago!), exploring the old gaol, the Post Office (oldest working one in NZ) and swimming in the river under the old stone bridge. By then it was well over 30° and my clothes dried on me as I biked back to Omakau. We flopped in the shade for drinks at the cottage Pauline and Barry had rented then ambled along to the Commercial for dinner.
Day 2 gave us some long steady climbs. We rode through two dark tunnels (it helps if you remember to take the sunglasses off!) and passed by the Idaburn Dam but the scenic highlight was the mighty Poolburn Viaduct . Sandra had walked the 3km from the road to meet us there and we all enjoyed the views. After that was a long decline –a lovely fast cruise in top gear. Whoever said a rail trail would just be flat?! Lunch at the Wedderburn station shed and on to Ranfurly in cooler cloudy weather. After settling into our various motels and cabins we met up for a roast dinner at the hotel.
Next morning we set off at 7.30am prepared for a strong head wind but it never came and the weather only improved. Running slightly downhill again we made excellent time, pausing at little places like Waipiata to admire the Waipiata Man made of railway bits, Kokonga, Daisybank and a pretty river gorge with the curiously named Red Dwarf hut . Morning tea was at Hyde at the terraced café on the main road, and then we stopped at the Hyde rail disaster memorial. The Trail was exceptionally smooth on this section making it easy to enjoy the views of the Rock & Pillar range. We arrived in Middlemarch for a picnic lunch and photos at the Railhead to celebrate our 150kms. The drive back to Clyde was a chance to see the scenery in reverse. Along to the pub and Bistro for a final meal together before returning to ChCh. What a wonderful trip – many thanks to Dennis for organising it so well!
Bronwyn
