Tag 37 - Alps2Ocean Trail (Part I)

Tag 37 - Alps2Ocean Trail (Part I)

Yesterday, while transporting my bike, the rear fender got slightly damaged, causing a screw to break. Since it was raining all morning, I sought shelter under the roof of the local gas station and removed the fender. In the process, I also removed the front fender, as it was not properly secured from the beginning and wobbled heavily on the gravel roads. Although I no longer have rear lighting, I can live with that, as I have never ridden at night in New Zealand and will continue to do so.

The trail led me out of the small and peaceful town of Tekapo, along the canal towards Lake Pukaki. Unfortunately, it didn't clear up until the afternoon, so I had to ride with strong headwinds and light rain. However, the road was well-maintained and there was hardly any traffic. One must focus on the positive!

When it cleared up, I reached a salmon farm not far from Lake Pukaki. From the bus, I had seen a parking lot for campervans where you could also set up your tent right by the lake, with a view of Mount Cook and the alpine panorama. That was going to be my destination for today. I was just setting up my tent when an American guy settled down next to me. He is hiking the Te Araroa Trail, which spans over 3000 kilometers from Cape Reinga to Bluff, right across New Zealand. Impressive! Unfortunately, the sky became more cloudy in the evening, so we didn't have a chance to see the impressive starry sky that this place is known for. Very disappointing!