After Christchurch it was on to Timaru to meet with former BT colleague – Pete Smith – Womble (Wimbledon) supporter. Peter has a rather nice place set in very beautiful countryside about 30 km from Timaru. Our intended chill-out turned out to be one planned rest day plus one inforced rest day while we attempted to arrange to hire a car for a couple of days to see Mt Cook. Alternative was estimated 5 days cycling including 55 km up and back down a dead-end road which most touring cyclists dislike – including us!

Mt Cook – fantastic everything – the drive there and back – the scenery – the Edmund Hillary Visitor Centre – walk to view glacier – views of Mt Cook – but unfortunately the weather too bad to view Mt Cook from the air and land on the glacier.

Following our trip to Mt Cook it was another night at Pete’s place (thanks again Pedro/Piotr!) then drive to Timaru to return the car and start cycling again towards Oamaru. We were fortunate enough to get off the main highway and find a rather interesting traffic free gravel road with fords to paddle across.