Very tired legs after yesterday's climbs and today was supposedly an easier day — though it did not feel like it. Still fabulous weather. Second breakfast at Relish Cafe in Wanaka — great coffee and a gorgeous date and orange scone. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Caught up with friends and family of Gavin and Helena who shuttled us over the Crown Range to the summit as the road is too unsafe to ride — huge amounts of traffic and no berm at all. We then hurtled down the hill and took bike paths through to Arrowtown and, of course, a stop at the bakery for a great pie. After a small rest, it was decided we should sample the gin at Ayrburn Winery — a great idea at the time, though it is harder to get back on the bike afterwards. Fatigue was setting in hard and a couple of nasty hills saw me off. We eventually made Queenstown. Usual admin then into town for dinner at Pog Mahones Irish pub. A great meal; the girls all stuck to water tonight. Into bed for one more day.

Rinse, reset, repeat.

Controversial leg. A bit off course today as we skirted Lake Wanaka to reach Wanaka township — a great way to see it compared to the road. Up to the awesome Cardrona Hotel for the compulsory pint of Speights. The road to the hotel was awful — traffic was dangerous and plentiful. We had arranged for a friend of Gavin's to transport our bikes up to the top of Crown Range Road, avoiding the zero-shoulder climb and enabling a full-speed descent on fresh legs. Wicked, brake-pad-melting descent. Into Arrowtown for the compulsory pie at the bakery — and two cinnamon rolls. Then Helena wanted a gin at Ayrburn, and who was I to say no. Suffice to say, navigating into Queenstown proved somewhat challenging after that. Two more sleeps. Toodle pip.

Three legs today: Lake Hawea to Wanaka; Wanaka to Cardrona Hotel; Crown Range to Queenstown. A chilly start that even required long-finger gloves for everyone — even me. Lovely track around the lake which was a great change from all of the road yesterday. We had all decided the road from Cardrona Hotel to the top of the Crown Range was not conducive to safety — absolutely no shoulder, twists and turns, and mid-morning to midday traffic very busy, including articulated trucks. So our third leg was more in tune with life preservation. We had a wee detour finding the track into Queenstown up Littles Road, affectionately referred to as The Wall on Strava. I managed to hang on to the top, albeit with what was a loud, self-produced cry of anguish. Queenstown was crazy busy, however we had an awesome meal at Pog Mahones. Love their number plate at the bar: Pog mo thoin — translation, kiss my arse.

Loving life.