4th January 2022 (warm, cloudy, hot, sunny, raining, cold, freezing!) 55km

Other than a possum causing a bit of havoc on the roof of the shelter, Pete and I had a really good sleep. Brody however struggled. I think he'd just seen too much (Pete skinny dipping can have that effect) and his mind was still trying to process it all.

This camp was paradise. However apparently half an hour before we got there, it was chock full of boaties. You would never have known except for the overflowing rubbish bin.

Woke about 6am and went down to the beach to wash my face and with no wind at all, it was incredibly still and peaceful with the mountains reflected in the water.

We had breakfast of weetbix and watered down milk with banana and a cup of coffee,  then packed up the tents. The two girls emerged and told us they had cycled from Mossburn yesterday but also said they'd camped the night before at Mavora Lakes.  All we really knew for sure was that they were exhausted. 

When they left to catch their boat, that was our cue to jump in for another dip as the water was so inviting it would have been rude not to.

The Earnslaw leaving last night.

As we left this idyllic camping spot,  I felt a twinge of regret that we couldn't linger there longer. A quick stop at the flushing loos by where the boat docked and then we set off up the gravel road towards Mavora Lakes.  

We were all feeling a bit weary from our ride yesterday so just took things slowly,  which wasn't difficult as the scenery was so lovely we were forever taking photos. 

After 10km we stopped for a snack as breakfast had been pretty meager and the road had been mainly uphill, even if it was just a slight gradient at times, and quite rough in patches.

Now Brody,  have you got everything? You didn't leave anything behind at our rest stop?

We carried on and it was getting warmer, up a fairly major hill when Pete realized he'd left his sunglasses back about 6km where we had stopped for morning tea.  He was fuming. I tried suggesting that some kind soul might find them and return them to him. "Seriously Ju?", he said disbelievingly,  and I had to admit, the chances would be very slim.  We'd seen one car and a motorcycle all morning. 

So luckily Brody had his Tifosi glasses which he handed over to his dad and dug out his $20 sunglasses. It was getting really warm now and Brody and I stopped for a swim, but Pete was still kicking himself and decided to carry on.

The water was beautifully clear and cool and we felt refreshed for awhile.....until we came upon Pete,  waiting for us at the bottom of Von hill.

Decided we needed some lunch before we tackled that beast so there was a handy shelter where we got out of the sun.  We also refilled our water bottles and set off with dread,  feeling drained before we started. 

It was quite steep in places and we climbed quickly and looking back it was surprising to see how distant the valley we'd just cycled through was now.

As we climbed we felt light drops of rain which were very welcome.  Finally we reached the top but didn't get to linger there to dwell on our achievements as the raindrops started to increase in intensity, so on with the rainjackets and on the gravel road again.

We were now up in the mountains and I'm thinking,  you got a nerve calling this the "round the mountains" trail when it's actually up and through the bloody mountains.

The rain eased off and we looked in vain for some shade or even somewhere to lean the bikes so we could eat our nectarines. The odd car was going past, throwing up dust clouds, and I said to Brody how good it would be to have a towrope and get pulled along. He fires back, yeah I've been dreaming of a rope for awhile but then I'd need to find a tree.

We finally saw a sign saying we still had 17km to get to Mavora Lakes. Brody's knee had been hurting since halfway up the big hill.  We'd made the classic error of doing too much with him, too soon. 

So we lay our bikes down where we were and sat and ate our nectarines.  At that moment the sun decides to come out in full force and there's no escaping it.  We all moan and tell the sun to get lost. Be careful what you wish for.

We're about to get back on the road when a farmer's ute pulls up.  Brody and I are secretly hoping they'll offer us all a lift but realise they haven't got room for all three of us.  Instead they say "has anyone lost a pair of sunglasses?", and hold up Pete's Tifosi's.  The joy and relief on Pete's face made it obvious who the owner was.

Back on the bikes and Pete takes Brody's backpack to ease his load and Brody attempts to pedal using just his right leg. But of course now a headwind had sprung up (as usual) and with the numerous little uphills, it was tough going.

Pete gets a fair way ahead of us and we can see a big black cloud approaching. Before we know it, it starts raining hard and a vehicle pulls up behind us. Craig and Jenny and their two kids are on holiday from Christchurch. We ask if they can take Brody to Mavora Lakes but they haven't got enough room in the car for his bike. Jenny whips out a knee brace for Brody and Craig suggests Brody sit on his bike and hold on to the window post of the car. Craig obligingly leaves both driver's window and back window down so Brody can do this, despite the rain lashing down and the temperature taking a sudden dive.

I wouldn't have wanted to have to hold onto a moving car, but was confident Brody would manage so we quickly unloaded his bike in the now pouring rain and Brody held on tight as they started to accelerate.

I'd had time to chuck my rain jacket on but by now it was pointless to try putting on my rain pants and Drysteppers.  So I just jumped on my bike and bombed it as fast as I could to keep up with the car. There's nothing like a bit of fear to inspire you to pedal faster and I did not want to be stuck up on that mountain on my own in those conditions.

Pete had pedalled on madly ahead, trying to protect Brody's backpack and camera gear from the worst of the onslaught,  but 5kms down the road we found his forlorn figure standing by a roadsign, wrapped in the groundsheet. 

Jenny-Craig lifted the excess weight of Bro's backpack from Pete (we hear that they're experts in that field), and carried on with Brody while Pete and I continued the chase. We had to pedal like mad, just to stay warm.  Felt sorry for Brody unable to generate any heat from riding.

The rain eased off slightly for ten seconds where I felt I could risk getting the camera out and snapping a quick photo behind us. Thought we'd outrun the rain at this stage, but I was wrong (it happens occasionally).

Finally Pete and I reached the turnoff for Mavora Lakes and cycled another 4km up there, hoping Jenny and Craig had brought Brody up here and not gone flying past.

Finally we see their car coming down the road and they tell us Brody's about 5mins up the road under some trees. Their kids are in the back with huge smiles looking like this is the best adventure they've had all holidays.  We thanked them profusely and are finally reunited with Brody a short time later.

We all quickly get some warm clothes on and pitch our two man tent which all three of us climb into.  We left Brody in there who instantly fell asleep with no mattress to soften the hard ground.  Meanwhile Pete and I did our best to try to arrange the clothes and shoes so they might dry overnight. Cooked up some Backcountry meals for dinner and had to wake Brody up to eat. 

After dinner Brody got talking to a fellow camper who is going to give him a lift to Mossburn tomorrow morning.   It's another 60km on gravel and his knee needs a rest....and we're hoping that's all it needs.

At 8.30pm we were all ready for bed so all snuggled down together in our very tiny tent. Brody's ride is picking him up at 6.15am and we don't want to make his tent all wet and dirty. Besides, there was nowhere else flat in the vicinity.