Ranfurly Rest Stop

Morning in Naseby — quiet, except for birdsong and light rain, which clears up before we finish breakfast. We depart Church Mouse and stroll through the main part of town (about 5 buildings on a single street corner) and head over to the Maniototo Curling Rink for some international curling action.

Entering the spectator section, we’re greeted with hushed conversation among the curling fans, all sitting on the edge of their seats. We hoped to be sitting down by the rink, like with an ice hockey game, but apparently curling takes intense concentration and we’re sealed off in a viewing area perched above one end of the lanes.

Unfortunately, Team Kazakhstan was eliminated early on, as were the Kiwis. We watch matches between the men’s and women’s teams for China vs. Australia and Japan vs. Korea. It’s exciting to see teams from all around this part of the globe, but…curling’s not really an electrifying event. After watching a few ends, we pack up and ride 10k down to Ranfurly.

Today is our “rest day”, so that’s the only biking for today. Not much going on in Ranfurly but a hot tub and a comfy bed, so we take the afternoon easy and then head to St. Bathans for a walk around Blue Lake and dinner at the Vulcan Hotel. St. Bathans is 10k down a gravel road, and while it’s now in the middle of the country, it used to be an important spot for gold mining. Blue Lake is just a watered-down gold quarry, which in its heyday was called the “Glory Hole” by the locals. Really.

The Vulcan, like the Ancient Briton last night in Naseby, is full of locals and locals only, and serves up a great plate of meat and veggies. We explore the tiny town, check out the old church, cemetery, and school ruins, and drive home to Ranfurly alongside a beautiful sunset in the “Big Sky” land of central Otago.