Beyond The Horizon . . . Bob Dylan

Clyde To Croydon    157 kms

The food on this trip is amazing.  Last night I had salmon again and this morning two poached eggs and mushrooms. We set off to Alexandra to refuel taking in the Clyde Dam and from the viewing spot we could see the extensive fruit growing opperrations in the Clutha valley.  Cherries grown under cover in the 1st extra.  From Fruitlands we turned and started to climb up to the Old Man Range at 1600 mts/5,000ft.  Again we got into the alpine vegetation with schist outcrops.  At the very top are two amazing features.  ( I remembered to do an in camera pano) The tallest being 26.6 mts/85ft known as the obelisk.  2nd extra me to prove I am on this trip. Being so high reminded me of The Bear Tooth Highway if anyone has driven that.   We trundeled on to have lunch by a little hut and then the fun started.  John our leader said I don't usually go any further but because it has been so dry I think we will go down this way.  Are you up for an adventure?  
What we did was decend down drop offs like going down steps.  (to be continued)
 I had to go to breakfast.  The last extra is to show the vechicals in front of us lurching from side to side as they ease the wheels over the rock.  When I saw a wheel lift off the ground I was concerned but it dropped down again and everyone reached the bottom in one piece. It was very slowly done and I did enjoy it.  
At the bottom was the Waikaia River and it was a suprise to see the clear river surrounded by Beech Trees.