Day 6: Omakau

We left Otematata in crisp conditions but what promised to be a beautiful day. After a brief ride towards Omarama during which I appreciated the unexpected fog and 7 degrees temperature by leaving all my vents open, we entered the 40 000 hectare Otematata station. This is a big high country station running 30 000 merino and 500 cattle. It was a privilege to be granted access. We followed the Otematata river south , having  a brief chat with some friendly fishermen who were having bacon and eggs for breakfast. It smelt so nice as we had yet another muesli snack for our  breakfast. Onward we went , at least briefly until Dave Mac realised his sunglasses had hung back for brekkie. Once he retrieved them we climbed up onto the tops at over 1500m. Morning coffee was spent looking at the distant Southern Alps with Aoraki most prominent. Big thanks to my friend Lucien who taught me the value of carrying a thermos  of coffee and consequently a succession of the most spectacular cafe stops  you could imagine. Thanks boet. 

Further south over rocky moonscape until we intersected the Johnson’s creek track where we turned East to eventually cross the upper Otematata river and then in and out of valleys with the multiple crossings of Guffies creek. 

Dave Lear endeared himself by coming to grief on a uphill corner wall ride above a cliff. All we heard was a yelp over the helmet comms, and then silence. He was fine but he decided to be thoughtful and pensive and not trouble us by letting us know he was alive. Dave Mac went to check on him and I took some awesome photos in memorium. 

Onwards on the Mt Buster track towards Naseby. Dave Mac showing the fire still burns tackled a gnarly hill climb on the 890. Unfortunately the fire fizzled out before he got to the top and he did a great impression of an armidillo as he tucked into a ball and rolled down. Fortunately the bike stayed behind and Dave managed to stop rolling before he came back down the steep bit. 

Obviously I had to have a go as well but only got a meter further than DM. Then the awkward realisation that the only way out was down and it was a long steep rut. I survived but it wasn’t pretty. 

So from Naseby to Omakau. 60km of road riding with all of us having totally different experiences. Dave Mac was so bored with his cruise control and what not that he started to fall asleep ( this is totally normal for him). His solution was to see how long he could hold his breath for(2km at 100kph -do the maths). He managed to find some kind of hallucinatory clarity , presumably just before passing out. How he is alive I do not know but this is what I put up with. He was mostly awake and quite pleased with himself when we arrived in Omakau. 

While Dave Mac was falling asleep I was having the best time. Still exhilarated by a fast descent off Mt Buster I got into road mode on the lovely stretch of sweeping turns between Naseby and Omakau. Finally some dry roads. Having spent the morning riding 30kph on technical trails it was awesome to be reminded that the 500 is a race bike. In a respectful way of course.

Tomorrow we traverse the Maniototo north to south on the old Dunstan and Gardiners trails, crossing several low ranges (Lord of the rings country )before heading west into the green and beech forest of Southland. 

The pictures include the best coffee stop and Dave Lear crossing the upper Otematata.