Length of the South - Day One

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Route

Slope Point to Roxburgh via Catlin’s back roads, Clinton, Clydesvale, Lawrence and the Otago Gold Trail to Roxburgh.

Day One Map

Distance: 217km

It’s still dark as we creep out of the unit and coast down the drive. About 20km later we’re at Slope Point. It’s reasonably well sign posted with access from a small pull-off area by a gravel road and a short walk down a casual path at the edge of a paddock. On the windswept headland there is a slightly shabby sign and a navigation shed. The sun rises and after a few photos the trip starts at 0615 hrs.

Where it all starts; sun-up at Slope Point

And he’s off

The Catlins’ roads are pretty much deserted. It’s mostly good gravel with a long sealed stretch around Waikawa before the route turns north up the Waikawa valley with a light following wind.

The valley is small with lush pasture hemmed by bush clad hills, it narrows until the road dives into beautiful bush climbing to a low saddle. There’s virtually no traffic for 55km as I follow my notes around gravel roads, through farmland, and past occasional stands of bush as I filter northwards.

Things start to get a bit busier on the Owaka Valley Road, and then the busy SH 93 gives a fast descent to Clinton just before 1100 hours and 91km; time for a toasted cheese sandwich at the café.

After a very short (and only) stint on SH 1, some arbitrarily chosen roads (mostly sealed) cover the next 20km to the Clutha River (labelled “Clutha River / Mata – au” on the maps). A few phone calls confirm that the historic Tuapeka Punt across the river is not scheduled to run between 10 am and 4 pm but that Fulton Hogan might be able to arrange something – at least they might have, if they ever answered their phones! The slightly longer Plan B means crossing at the Clydevale bridge (for reference, there’s a petrol station just off the main road near the bridge) and following the sealed road up the left bank. Crossing the single lane bridge it is good to look down into the familiar deep green river. If I was to say that I have a river I guess this one would be it.

I pop into the punt for a nosey and chat to a couple in a camper bus, who are taking their time exploring the area and look set to wait for the punt operator.

Disappointed punter

The day is cracking hot now, with little wind. The next road is on the itinerary because a) it wasn’t the main road and b) who could resist the promise of a name like that.

Dunno what the fuss is about; looks OK from here

The white gravel road is a typical rural access road and winds up and down and up and up following the contours of the ridge between Tuapeka and Lawrence. I’m baking by the time the top of the ridge rolls around. There is no shade, and no water, and it is a relief to finally look down over the rolling hills to see Lawrence nestled in the valley. The next part of the road must give it its name, because it’s a fast descent to arrive in Lawrence a little after 1500 hrs with about 155km on the clock.

There’s plenty of day left so I’m happy to spend an hour liaising with the support team (already ensconced in a B&B), topping up on iced coffee at the Wild Walnut Coffee Bar and taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi the town offers, before heading off up the Otago Gold Trail around 1615 hrs. The town has a good feel to it and everyone is amazingly helpful. A bottle cage on my front forks has broken during the day but the local second-hand-shop-and-bike-hire chap sells me a good solid used one for $5. The i-site provides info on the Clutha Gold Trail and takes my donation for using the track (no guidance on how much but I gave $20 as an annual subscription seems to be $25).

Marching rations in Lawrence

Wobbling off up the Otago Gold Trail

There’s plenty on the net about the trail, so I’ll just note that the surface is generally pretty good, apart from short sections that follow a rough-as-guts gravel road between Beaumont and Millers Flat. I prefer it to the Otago Rail Trail, as a more interesting biking trail with the river and trees.

The trail shadows and crosses the main road from Lawrence to Beaumont (20km) with a reasonably gentle climb (120m or so) to a saddle with a tunnel (don’t need lights). Beaumont has a pub across the river but little else. There were a few cyclists near the start but pretty soon I have the whole thing to myself. After Beaumont, it heads away from roads and wends quietly beside the Clutha to Millers Flat (about 25km; shops, camping ground and pub).

Random riverside scene; Beaumont to Millers Flat

I arrive around 1815 hrs but there’s still light and a little energy so arrange to meet Sally at Roxburgh, about another 20km away along similar trails, under now cloudy skies.  Arriving at 1915 hrs it is getting dim and I decide to leave the final few kilometers of trail past Roxburgh for the morning. This is now territory that I covered in the opposite direction in the Brevet last year. One regret is that I didn't get the chance to pop into the Roxburgh café where the owner was tracking the Brevet on his lap top and greeting riders by name.

It’s a longer day than expected and a relief to relax and be shuttled back to the Jailhouse B&B in Lawrence, who have held us a reservation at Gabriel’s Café and Bar (good food and very obliging hosts). We'd highly recommend the  B&B – quaint, clean and comfortable with a great host who has an eye for the details.

Options
The original plan was to follow the Chaslands Highway eastwards then come up the Owaka Valley but this was longer and had more seal. There are various other options but I went for the direct, quiet route through Clinton rather than Balclutha. There are also alternatives for getting into Lawrence but I couldn't resist Breakneck Road. The punt operating hours were disappointing but made no big difference.

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