Day Six - Lake Tekapo to Omarama

omerama
Originally uploaded by bpelley.

Today was a very fun cycling day. The weather was perfect and there was very little wind (yeah!). In the morning, we rode along miles and miles of canals that run from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki. The construction of these canals was a huge project, but worth it. The hydroelectric power that is generated from the canals fulfills over 30% of New Zealand's electricity needs. It was the first time we have ever seen creeks and streams flowing in tunnels underneath canals!
We stopped for lunch at a spot overlooking beautiful Lake Pukaki. Like the other lakes in this mountain region, Lake Pukaki has a bright blue-green color which results from the sun being reflected off a milky glacial silt suspended in the water. Unfortunately, the clouds prevented us for getting us a good look at Mt. Cook in the distance. We are hoping to get better looks at it later in the trip.
Our pleasany day of cycling continued and we stopped for an afternoon snack in the little town of Twizel. This town was built up during the work on the canals to house and supply the workers so it had an artificial, built-up-overnight feeling. It remains, however, a big terminus for buses and other tours in the region. Our last 20km into Omarama, our stop for the night, was the hardest as the dreaded northwest wind began to pick up. We made it in good time and arrived at Omarama Station, our lodging for the night. The station used to be the manager's home and managerial center for the sheep herders in the area, but was sold to private owners in the early part of the last century. The house was amazing. Beautiful gardens, verandas, babbling brooks, vegetable gardens, a swimming pool and even a grass tennis court! The garage held a few vintage cars and an beautiful old tractor. We had fun petting the resident cat (quite a drooly animal) and walking into town for dinner and supplies. This is really a great country. Upon checking out at the food store, the clerk reminded us to get chocolate--as if it were a basic necessity like milk. We still can't figure out how these people stay so thin and fit with all this delicious chocolate around!
We headed to bed early (still daylight at 9pm) because the our next day was to be our toughest cycling day yet.
For more pictures of Day Six, click here.