It's raining again
It started raining in Makarora at 8PM yesterday, and continued all night. So we were in for a wet start regardless. Careful reviewing of all three weather apps confirmed that it was raining. Some suggested that it might clear a bit later, but the consensus is that Hawea will see a dump of rain around lunchtime. What to do, what to do...?
So we had a relaxed start to the day, leaving Wonderland just after 9:30. Incidentally, we wondered what all the kids were doing whooping and hollering while it was raining, until we worked out they were in the pool... Swimming in the rain. Try it, we've done it, it's weirdly fun!
Marg was off, pedalling like f-f-fury downhill with the wind behind her, apparently determined to minimize her exposure to the rain. We've decided not to stop for photos, partly to protect the phone, partly because there's nothing worth photographing. This plan is soon undone when a break in the cloud illuminates the hills above Lake Wanaka, coupled with the obligatory roadside waterfall shot. All while still raining steadily. This is stable-zone rain, not showers, though there is some variation in intensity.
If feels like an impossibly short time before a 'Lake Hawea Lookout 4km' sign appears out of the murk: this is our halfway point, surely our progress is not that rapid? Shortly thereafter there, is a 'discussion' as to whether it said Hawea or Wanaka, resolved in favour of the distaff side when the next sign announces the Lake Wanaka lookout is 2km ahead (on the right. Well, durrr!). I've been right once this year, so I can't hope for much... Shortly after leaving the lookout, climbing toward The Neck, the rain eases to almost nothing. We pass a sign for the first Lake Hawea (no 'discussion' this time) lookout, 2km. The building wind briefly heads us as it swirls around the peaks, but soon returns to its proper direction: behind us! The run down the right bank of the lake includes a few stiff climbs, but with plenty of battery and increasingly toned legs they are soon dispatched. At the second lookout we decide the views are not photogenic enough to be bothered with (which, oddly enough, is the conclusion we came to last time we passed this way), but the township looks tantalisingly close. A few more annoying little humps, and we're running downhill past the campground toward the turn to Hawea when, bugger me, a wind gust takes each of us a full metre to the right and back to the left. Fortunately we had a typically patient driver following us down at 35kph, rather than trying to pass.
Turn left, across the bridge (leaning into the crosswind at what felt like 45 degrees) and up another bloody hill to the Hawea Hotel (& Hostel: guess where we're staying). 12:18. Politely told we're far too early for check-in, and our room won't be ready until 2. We can wait in the bar if we like... Instead we head up the road to check out the shop and Cafe; as we get there the first fat drops of rain fall. We can see the weather coming at us down the lake, and soon it is raining heavily, with huge gusts of wind. 12:33, bang on schedule! We linger over coffee and pies (butter chicken pie and homemade sossie roll: yum!) until the Sunday lunchtime queue for an inside table embarrasses us into moving. Not before three young road cyclists have arrived from Wanaka and enthused about the tailwind they'll enjoy en route home.
Back to the hotel, to sit (undercover; or, more precisely, under cover: difficult to be undercover in our hi-vis rain jackets!) outside until the appointed time to get our room key. Once again we find entertaining and enlightening conversation in the communal lounge/kitchen. During which the skies clear and the sun shines. We take advantage of the sunshine to clean and lube the bike chains: the accumulated black gunk had the colour and consistency of the grinding paste you use to lap valves, and quite possibly the same effect. And we're sick of getting almost indelible black marks on legs and clothing. Now, it's raining again, which is where I came in...
where has all the sunshine(summer) gone, long time passing (apologies to Pete Seeger)
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