Day 22: Fox Glacier to Lake Paringa

From the really wet night in Fox Glacier I spent until 11am working on the bike to make sure that all was ok - like changing the brake pads at the front and getting some oil on it and sorting out a few other things - drying the tent etc. Nice to have clean clothes again .

Knew it was quite a short day with just 69km down to Lake Paringa. A number o f hills along the way and met quite a few cyclists usually in twos or threes going the other way. I was trying to work out whether to continue on to the Hasst but as it was over another 50km to get there and having stopped a lot along the way taking piccies of the stunning scenery that wasn't an option as had left too late.

Met a german couple who were cycling in my direction and we passed each other a number of times along the way. Seemed to take a long time to get to Bruce Bay but I think that was due to the fact that I had left late but could feel my mussel around my knees starting to kick in.

I stopped just outside of Mahitahi to have some lunch and that was my definite downfall - it was a Salmon Farm and had the most gorgeous soup with lots of their local salmon appearing in it. Unfortunately when I hopped back on the bike it was obvious that that was not going to work for me having filled me up too much - still lovely to have had but meant that by the time I had hit Lake Paringa I was ready to stop even though it was only around 70km.

Lake Paringa was beautiful but talk about sandfly city - horrible but lovely people who were staying and met up with this french lass 'Olivia' who was also cycling on her own- the other direction.She seemed to have all my gear plus a whole trailer. How she was getting up the hills I don't understand! Must have great low gears unlike mine. Was really impressed with all she had done- arrived in NZ bought the bike and panniers off Trade Me and then hired the trailer offa local bike shop so there you she obviously had it sorted.