We had to wait for a 3 day spell of weather to fit this in before we left. Yes we wanted to test our gear but not our raincoats and no we didn’t need to prove that we were tough and leave from Wanaka. More civilised we chose Wye Creek to be the start and end of our circuit – does  a closed loop have a start and end?

Ask Alan about the head wind down to Athol – I was just enjoying being on the road. And yes Mum I wore that safety vest you gave me for Xmas a few years ago and felt nice and obvious in it. The busy Saturday traffic was generous in it’s passing manoevres.

Cuppa in Garston and bums were telling Alan esp. that Athol looked a good overnight option. No we weren’t breaking distance records (yet). Casual, cheap and very sufficient camping in Athol and pizza for dinner.

Gorgeous morning for early start to the Five Rivers cafe for breakfast. Strategic to miss the Milford busses. Yum. We turned off just past Mossburn for some nasty loose gravel – bring on the Caraterra Austral and a thousand km of gravel. Roadsurface improved, tail wind and some moisture pushed us to our beautiful camp beside the southern Mavora Lake. Into the tent to sit out the big rain event of the day, clearing conveniantly for dinner and a wee ride up to the next lake post dinner.

Stunning travel day 3 up the gentle highcountry valley to the saddle and into the Vonn catchment. Road was in great condition all the way to Walter Peak, Wakitipu was a mirror and the mountains at the head of the lake in full view. In time for the early afternoon Earnslaw sailing to an ice cream shop, before the joining up of our circuit in Wye Creek. These three days definately wet our appetites for more touring.

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