Chocolate, wine and Death defying Rides

Retired, active and lifestyle stories continue……

We left Dunedin yesterday; if you are following along on the map we are in Cromwell.  Along the way we stopped in Clyde where we discovered the best ever lemon and raspberry squares- so many of my travel memories on this trip are about food!  Oh the red cod fish and chips at the wharf on Sunday- so delicious and in such a humble setting.  Couple of picnic tables, order at the window only to have someone shout your name when your order is ready, extremely limited menu…. And don’t even get me started on how good the chocolate is; both the artisan chocolate that we have tried but also the grocery store Cadbury (made in Tasmania).  I am not much of a fan of New Zealand’s Whittakers chocolate, and trust me, I have tried a few different kinds and wanted to love it, but am quite taken with Pics peanut butter, so much so that we plan to do a factory tour next week when we are in the city of Nelson.

After driving hours through rugged, arid, incredibly hilly country, frequently carved with gullies and canyons, and looking ever so much like the setting for any old country and western movie you have seen, we edged our way out of ranch land (sheep, red deer, cattle) and into wine country yesterday.  We stopped at a few wineries for samples, and even had a gourmet charcuterie board on the terrace of one, but only bought 3 bottles.  Between all of us.  Because here’s the thing- we haven’t even quite made out way through one bottle in over a week.   I know, I know, some of you are rereading that and going “No way did she say they are still on their first bottle of wine!” but it’s true, we are!  It’s a busy holiday; we are on the go every day in some way shape or form and no one seems to have much, if any, appetite for wine with dinner.  Or not regularly anyway.  On one hand it makes me a little sad that I am not in the mood for it because in Canada NZ white wine is my go to.  And here I am, here!, and hardly indulging.  We all want to be fresh for the following day and I barely budge when hungover.  Ok, I can now hear you saying “But you don’t have to drink enough to be hung over!” and you would be right.  But sometimes that one drink simply whets the appetite for more so I am better off having none at all.  And I guess all the latest medical news about the harmful affects of alcohol are also playing on my mind……  Sigh.   

Today was a cycling trip we had booked ages ago.  The route was described in the bike rental company’s info as being intermediate, somewhat isolated with no cell service or easy ability to rescue should the need arise.  And we were like “-Hmmm, we are certainly up to intermediate cycling, I mean, what’s a few hills anyway?” And mercifully (thank you dear Mimi for the suggestion) we all rented e-bikes.  (Game changer for cycling that’s for sure.)  However, an e-bike offers no protection for going off the side of a cliff.  which were rarely protected by guard rails.  And were so narrow in places signage directed you to get off and walk when passing oncoming riders.  And switchbacks down that were hairpin after hairpin, with both front and back brakes engaged and with turns often too tight for me to do without dropping down a leg to the ground.  Or walking around the corner only to have to navigate getting back in the saddle on a steep downhill.  I have attached the link so if you want you can read more and see some professional photos of the route.

I am glad to have done the 45 or so km, and I guess I would recommend it to adventure seekers, but not so sure I would do it again now that I really know what I am setting myself up for.   But I will concede it was beautiful, hills on one side, lake on the other, that is when I had the time to actually focus on the view and not be intensely trying to stay on the trail. 

A Guide to Cycle Safety on the Lake Dunstan Trail | Central Otago (centralotagonz.com)

There’s so much more I could tell you but I don’t want this to be too annoyingly long so I will save the stories.  Thanks for coming along ‘Down Under’ with me, and if you have ever been interested in a trip to this country, I would say to give it some serious thought and start saving!

xo