Once again, the day broke with scattered, light clouds and the promise of building heat through the day. Hardly able to contain our excitement for the day ahead, we took a quick breakfast at the campsite. Loading up on protein bars, lunch and plenty of water, we set off for the return ride to Lake Ohau Lodge and back. Once leaving the village and its backblocks, the bike path took us along the turquoise-blue water of the Twizel Canal. The McKenzie (or Waitaki) hydro canals are a series of man-made canals joining three lakes (Tekapo, Ohau and Pukaki). The riding is flat and easy with high banks sheltering from any wind. Soon the Lake Ohau Canal Dam is reached and a chance to view the power of the water flowing from the canal into Lake Ohau. Quite a few people were fishing hoping to get a bite from the huge trout and salmon that make the canal their home. From here until the end of the section at Lake Ohau Lodge, the bike path hugs the lake. Some twisty, narrow, gravel sections test technical ability and I found myself ringing my bike bell on blind corners. But it is the views that at times make concentration on the track difficult. The blue lake stretches westwards down the valley with the Southern Alps towering majestically in the sparkling, clear afternoon air. Even at this time of the year, the middle of summer, snow caps the peaks. We took our lunch on the edge of the lake in the fierce afternoon heat. Indeed, a lot of water was consumed on the return ride and the temp topped 34 degrees by the time we reached Twizel. A wonderful 71km round trip ended with a beer in The Razza Bar in Twizel township. An awesome day!