63 and free

We are in the central Otago region again, this time close to Cromwell and Clyde. This place would be heaven on earth for Mr. Matt: vicious looking mountain bike trails EVERYWHERE! A place for the insanely fit to congregate.

When we were driving into the area we passed through Clyde then along the east/northeast shore of Lake Dunstan. Bernie’s eyes LIT up! On the other side of the lake was a rather cool looking bike path teasing her with calm sections along the shore and terrifying sections that seemed to be cut into the side of cliffs.

This became of some interest to my wife.

I knew I was in trouble.

Upon further investigation, it seems that the Lake Dunstan cycling & walking trail is a mecca for strange people that like to bike 42 kilometers over hills, up & down switchbacks, and along the knife edges of cliffs.

Why would anyone want to do this?

“Because it’s there!”

We went to a bike shop and inquired. They said there were two key issues:

(1) If you are not a world class mountain biker like Mr. Matt, use an e-bike.

(2) “Mr. Harris, given your past attacks of vertigo, I would not recommend you do this trail.” Heard from two different people in two different bike shops. 😳

I couldn’t argue. A narrow path cut into the side of a cliff, with certain death on the left (people pass on the left here), would likely ignite my vertigo.

I hated to disappoint my wife, but this was a bridge too far…

“What are our other options?”

“Welllll…there is the Clyde to Doctor’s Point route. Only one or two kinda scary bits…”

“We’ll do that!”

Later I found out that it’s also called the “Roxburgh Gorge cycle and walking trail”.

😑

I could not disappoint my wife again, so guess what we did today?

Once we reached Doctor’s Point, we enthusiastically embraced the return trip. Especially the forest run between Alexandra and Clyde!

In the end, we survived. Probably because THIS time we used e-bikes – though admittedly we used the power assist sparingly – and had gel seats. We are hobbling far less than we did after that insane bike ride in Nelson.