Omarama Saddle - St Bathans to Omarama 70kms

1,2,3- 68,69, 198, 199. How many times can you cross a river?

We strolled off from the haunted ghost stories of St Bathans up into the St Bathan's / Hawkdan Ranges. Legs refreshed after 3 days off the saddle being feed by the Angus's and Filmers from Te Anau, Progress was a slow gradual up hill with the odd muddy pockets to add to the slog.

Rain mixed with sun and lightening, jacket on jacket off. rivers dropping then rising. Adventures are better with unknowns.

Our first River crossing was deeper than we'd liked when we entered into the Manuherikia West branch river. This was thanks to the recent heavy rain that had caused flooding around Alex, and left us tent bound for 2 days at St Bathans.

1st crossing was carrying Charlie's bike across. Then reality hit, as you look back and see 4 more bikes, 3 more kids and 2 bike trailers, with a few gear bags.

Adventure racing mentality comes to mind. And so does packrafting. The kids were keen to push on in to new country. So the 22 trips across the river went ahead. We bumbled our way up the rough 4wd track towards Boundary hut, rain easing, clouds clearing to revel the stunning beauty of the Central Otago ranges. Bikes getting a fair work out from the bumps, mud and water.

After a comfy night out of the tent in Boundary Hut we set off early to beat the incoming rain. Rivers crossings came thick and fast, and after 200 I lost count, my feet were starting to web up. Kids pushed on like troopers, sliding around in the mud, then washing off in the next crossing.

Jazz, Mahe and Charlie would take off leaving Stef and I to bring our bikes and trailers across the water, only to get 500m up the track to another crossing. Eventually the river grew smaller, and the kids could start crossing as a team.

Top hut was a great place to call an early day. Fire going, clothes drying, food consumed, anything that would lighten our load for the Omararma Saddle grunt the following day.

The clouds hung low, hiding the true extend off what was to come as we set off in the morning. Jazz, Mahe and Charlie must of eaten a few too many harden up pills that morning. No moans, no groans or paddies. Just the determination of there's a big hill and I'm going to the top was their attitude.

It was slow. less than 1km per hour slow. With plenty of back and forth pushing each other.

And the reward, views for the parents. The kids just enjoyed the last of the chocolate biscuits.

And we sat there admiring the 25km of down hill that lay before us. This was a downhill that would be enjoyed on a gearless mountain bike. However steadily slow as you go to maintain and intact load. Stef flipped the buggy again and again, till all the remaining food became one big mess inside the food bag. The last 10km went fast, as we raced to the four square for our first pie and ice creams of the year.