Otago Rail Trail Day 2

Friday 09:00 - Jan transfered us and the bikes to Oturehua to start the next leg back to Omakau and we were pleased to see blue sky and have a lighter crosswind than yesterday.

Inside Hayes Engineering's factory

Ernest & Hannah's Homestead

Enroute we visited the Hayes Engineering works which was started in 1895 by Ernest Hayes and is world famous for his design and manufacture of agricultural implements, particularly for his invention of wire strainers and windmills. The company has been working out of a factory in Christchurch since 1952.
Soon after leaving Hayes Engineering we passed by the Idaburn Dam which can freeze over in winter for iceskating and curling - the dam looks much smaller than the pictures we have seen of it complete with iceskaters and curlers! Close by is the large camping site for the Brass Monkey Motorbikers annual event. Bikers from all over NZ gather here in Midwinter June when temperatures are below zero, hence the name.

Safely through the long dark tunnel!

More info to try to remember!

The section of the trail between there and Lauder was especially scenic with bridges, tunnels and gorges. We were looking out for the NZ falcon which can be found in the Poolburn Gorge as they are the only remaining bird of prey peculiar to NZ but unfortunately none turned up!
We had a nice rest and lunch at the Stationside cafe at Lauder before continuing back to Omakau where we collected our own bikes which had been serviced for us in the shebikeshebikes workshop, did a big load of washing and had showers for a small fee in the campground and then drove back to Oturehua where the friendly Publican has insisted we park on the grass beside his hotel instead of in the dusty truckstop carpark!
Total distance ridden today was a mere 31 km.