Who ended up with the gun?

The team

The whole team at the trail head at Middlemarch. All looking forward to a rest

Completed

Craig being welcomed home - that song by Mungo Jerry again being blasted out of the support vehicle stereo.

Finish

John glad to be finished after the last long straight - I think the term buggered about covers it.

Going for it

The girls prepared a little encouragement for Craig. A ribbon made of toilet paper to break through and a little soft shoe shuffle by Kim - accompanied by Mungo Jerry - you should know the song!

Yay!

Hyde at last! Finish for most. John, Craig and Cameron will carry on!

Finish in sight

Annette and Chaz nearing the end and a welcome rest. A small group will carry on through to Middlemarch where we will all meet again.

Viaduct

Crossing the last viaduct before Hyde. A tail wind and down hill to home

Last tunnel

Last run to Hyde

Near Hyde

Jamie and Kim nearing Hyde

Tunnel time again

The last tunnel near Hyde

On the way

Cameron heading for Hyde

On the way

Ella and Charlotte head for Daisy Bank

The starting gun

Cameron ends up with the starters gun on day three. The idea is not to have it if course - sometime during the ride whoever has it has to somehow pass it on with being noticed.

Crew 2 hits the trail

The second group heads off into the mist. Meanwhile we have heard the girls are having hot chocolate at Waipiata! That is trail commitment for you....

Into the gloom

They are away!

On the trail again

Today we head off in two batches. The first crew ready to ride.

Day 3

After the night chorus of snoring ( guess who ) we awoke to a chilly misty morning. Preparation for the last day beginning with breakfast and packing for the trail.

Rest

Civilisation at last! After pitching camp for the night we retired to the Naseby Hotel for a well earned meal. We opted to walk to the hotel instead of riding..... a nice break for weary bottoms.

Day 2 ends

The run from Wedderburn to Naseby seemed to be taken at speed by everyone enjoying the down hill run. We transported the bikes to Naseby and were soon setting up camp for the night. The trailer seemed to have sucked in an amazing amount of dust which covered much of the gear. Hot showers.... Ahhh.

Moving on

Craig John and Josh heading off for Ranfurly

Wedderburn

Passport stamp a Wedderburn Station and relief to have passed the highest point....

Climbing

The climb to the highest point

Crossing the range

On the trail up through Poolburn Gorge

Lunch!

A well earned break in preparation for the climb to the highest point on the trail.

Idaburn

In the middle of winter the Idaburn dam freezes - hard to imagine today! The riders have done well and are making good time despite the climb and the wind. Next stop Oturehua for lunch

Lauder

On the trail at Lauder Station. At each station you can stamp your passport as a record of the trip. Another fab day.

Day 2 begins

Ready to go for the big ride to Ranfurly via Poolburn viaduct and Oturehua. Most of us had a good nights sleep apart from the unexpected wild wind during the night. All the tents survived and thankfully the wind died down to a breeze. Breakfast over, water bottles full and raring to go! (well nearly everyone)

Trail food

Everyone is really hungry after the last run from Chatto Creek - which turned out to be quite a climb compared to the first part of the trail. Kim decided to cycle straight past the camp ground at the end and we are not sure how far she was intending to go into the night!
We are all ready for showers and an early night in preparation for a big day tomorrow.

Camp set up

We have all arrived and the air is cooling fast!

Time for a break

The weary riders enjoy liquid refreshments at Chatto Creak. Absolutely awesome weather today- Central Otago at its best. Next stop Omakau to camp for the night. A few weary bottoms so far but Josh and Cameron continue to forge ahead.

On the trail to Chatto Creek

On the trail

Cameron having a quick photo break near Chatto Creak

On the trail

The girls heading out of Alex

Trail head

Finally there and getting ready at the trail head

Locked, loaded and on the road

The ladies went and shopped for food first thing this morning while the men prepped the van ( not including sign writing) and we left for Clyde trail head at 9.30. Everyone is keen! This us waiting at Beaumont bridge.

We are off!!

The team loaded and ready to go!

The van

The girls decided to help pack the van. All the boys appreciated the contribution...... yea right!

Getting ready still....

Ella and Charlotte feverishly getting ready too

Getting ready

Some of the Browns stuff ready for packing - notice the cat to be packed too.

The track .....

The trail awaits us. I took this picture of the Rail Trail near Ranfurly today.

Not Quite Abroad but a wheely good idea

Well it have been a while since the Youngs have been abroad  - and could be a bit longer still so we thought maybe abroad could be outside our gate this time.  This coming weekend the Browns (who we travelled to Europe with) and the Wallace-Thextons (who we originally meet in England) are coming south and we will join them cycling the Otago Rail Trail.

Sounds like a lot of lycra and sore bums to me - we will record the journey here.......

A taste of things to come...