It was not weather to motivate us as we looked out our window. So we chilled a few more hours because we could today.

We have two nights in Dunedin, and today’s ride was one we could easily tweak, or cancel.

We did get cracking a few hours later, and headed up the Otago Peninsula, it was a head wind the entire way.

Looking back towards Dunedin.

Looking up the pathway. There is a cycle path all the way to a ferry crossing some 17 km or so away.

Bar the headwind slowing us down, it features plenty of nice bays, little villages and an occasional beach.

This is Macandrew Beach, and on our return was very busy with swimmers and sun seekers.

There are little fishing huts along the way, noting one for sale.

Nice art work.

Distant hills on the other side of the bay.

Very large obstacles. He’s on the cycle path, and we obviously pulled off onto the road, on the wrong side, to join a crowd of people watching.

Tony is not as close as this photo looks, it is zoomed up and cropped.

We were nearly at the end of the road, and we decided to turn.

Nice playgrounds.

Paths that get around rocky outcrops.

Black swan haven.

We stopped at Portobello village for lunch. Not much choice, but the seagulls did not mind. Tony went to resecure our bikes that had moved in a gust, and a two seagulls swooped in.

As I looked one sat on his hot chocolate, the other swiped a potato wedge. He was unimpressed and the hot chocolate seagull then sat on his bike saddle, leaving hot chocolate remnants from his feet. 🤣

The culprit or a lookalike?

The view from where we sat. the weather was improving and quite warm.

There is the option of a ferry crossing nearby, but $70 for a 15 minute crossing seemed excessive, when we had a tail wind!

We enjoyed the tailwind for maybe 10 km.

Then around a bend, we stopped to readjust a rear bag, started off and boom, an incredible headwind.

How did that happen? WT?

There were waves on the water, and we had this for 6 km back into Dunedin.

Crossing the causeway, the waves were wetting us and at times, we had to stop as we just could not pedal in the gusts.

We soldiered on, albeit slowly and carefully, detouring to head into the city.

We ventured to a motorbike shop, yes we needed more power in the wind!

A deliberate deviation to meet Dan Hedges, a Zwift pal who I used to ride a Trek event with on Saturdays. He was a dab master at scoring free socks as nearest to the beacon at the top of the volcano climb.

A nice guy too!

We left without more power though and headed back to our unit.

Today’s route. 60 km and 444 m climbing. Wind factor intervals probably the hardest we have ever ridden in. Certainly scary at times trying to keep our line.

But the day was not done. Norman was a friend from way back when I lived in Melbourne. He has lived in Dunedin for many years with his wife Julie, and it was a delight to be able to catch up after far too many years.

Thankyou Norman and Julie for spending the evening with us, as we enjoyed a meal together.

Another day done, may the wind die down and keep us safe tomorrow for our 102 km next stage.

Thanks for reading 😊❣️