Thursday November 8, 2012, 43 miles (69 km) – Total so far: 873 miles (1,405 km)
It was a post card day as we cycled along Lake Wanaka and then Lake Hawea. We could not have asked for nicer weather with the sun shining bright and no wind at all. The lakeshore ride lasted about 35 wonderful miles. One of the things that really stood out was there are no homes at all around the lakes except at a small resort town at the southern end of Lake Hawea. We also saw only one boat. The water is perfectly clear and blue.
At one of the lake lookouts we ran into a group from Switzerland that we had talked with at the backpacker we stayed in at Fox Glacier a few nights ago. Like one of the guys said “It’s a small island.”
I fell for the first time today. I have been run off the road twice before but managed to stay upright. As we were riding a steep hill into Wanaka on the shoulder-less road a car came way too close so I moved a bit to the left and wound up sliding down a small embankment in the gravel. Falling on a bike isn’t good but with it loaded down makes it worse. People in a truck that saw it happen immediately stopped to help. I made it up okay and it was only a few more miles to our backpacker for the night – Wanakabakpaka. What a nice spot overlooking the southern end of Lake Wanaka.
We learned of a Mexican restaurant in town and it was really good. Those of you that read our first journal of crossing the U.S. know that we crossed the country eating Mexican food. In fact we crossed Texas one taco at a time!
Tomorrow Queenstown.
