THE WHEEL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2337, 31 March 1892, Page 3

THE WHEEL.

A Bicycle Trip to the Otago Lakes via Central Otago, February, 1892.,

By C J. Goldstone and Jas. Gillespie. [Written by Cushion-tyre.]

(Continued.) After a run of two and a-half hours we came into Balclutha, prettily situated in the hollow below, amidst green foliage, with the sluggish Clutha winding round the town. It was our intention to stay a week here and arrive in Dunedin the following Saturday to attend the Bicycle Sports. Whilst at Balclutha we took the opportunity to run down to the Nuggets, about twenty five miles down the coast, and see the wonderful sights that Nature in that lovely spot bestows on the tourist. Accordingly we sent word to Mrs Ottaway, proprietress of the beautifully, situated seaside boarding house, that Ave were coming. On*Wednesday afternoon we left Balclutha at 3.30, and, going by way of Waitepeka and Romohapa, we soon reached Port Molyneaux, once a thriving port, but now quite deserted. The state of inactivity there is attributable to the mouth of the Clutha, once going out there, being blocked by sand. Consequently the steamers and small craft come in at the Kaitangata side, and Port Molyneaux

now seems a dreary, swampy place. From Port Molyneaux we go along the beach for six miles to the accommodation house. The scenery down there is really grand, and an artist would find ample scope for his genius. The coast winds in and out, f oming a succession oflovely shelving bays, with dense bush to the water's edge. There is a place called je'isherman's Creek in Wiltshire Bay, a favorite resort for picnics, as there is a beautiful natural lawn and an abundance of fresh water and fuel. The road is here the beach, when the tide is suitable, and, being composed of very fine sand, it is just like a racing track. It is splendid going, and perfectly smooth and hard. We reached our halting place at 7.30 that night, and, after a refresher, we did full justice to the good things provided by our obliging hostess. Nugget Bay is but little frequented by tourists, for it is not sufficiently advertised, and is comparatively unknown, but in the course of a couple of years I may venture to say that it will be swarming with visitors. There is everything a tired and exhausted mind or man could wish for to renew and buoy up the spirits. Beautiful scenery—sea and land—excellent situation, safe and handy sea-bathing, retirement and ease, and, above all things, every attention paid by the amiable hostess, Mrs Ottaway, and her kind daughters. It is a place I should strongly recommend to anyone wish-

ing a month's or week's retreat, and I am sure that at Ottaway's or Campbell's they will find every comfort. There is only one thing we would advise Mrs Ottaway to do, and that is to get a bell that is not speechtew, as the one we had Ipsfc iss tongue every time it was rung. On the following morning (Thursday) we, in company with two ladies, set off on foot along the beach to the lighthouse. It is distant about 3 miles, and affords an excellent walk and appetiser for lunch. The road agcends gradually from the beach up amongst the pretty bush and native foliage. Here the coast runs out to sea for a distance of two miles, forming two picturesque bays, one on the north Nugget Bay, already described, and one on the south, Roaring Bay, famed for its shells. The lighthouse is situated far out on a promontory overlooking the broad expanse of ocean. At the foot of the stupendous cliffs, perhaps a hundred or more feet in

perpendicular height, are clustered several small islands termed "nuggets" and hence the name Nugget Point. We found on our arrival at the keepers' house that neither were at home so we were in a fix. However, by the courtesy of Mrs Parkes, wife pi the head keeper, we were shown through, as she sent her son along to satisfy our curiosity. For some reason best kn«wn to themselves we were not permitted to see the interior 1 until the male portion of the party had removed their boots. This we considered rather humiliating, as some of our socks were " more holy than righteous." Though the males had to remove their boots the keeper allowed the ladies to enter with i theirs on, and a s £key had walked over ex-

I actly the same ground as we.we thought the idea a peculiar one. However, that proceeding over, we stepped inside and saw the wonderful structure. The interior where the lamp stands reminded me of a ship s eabin.andsemeda very cosy retreat, quite safe from the angry wages below lhe light is visible in fine weather at a distance of 23 miles. Paraffin oil is burned m the lamp, and the consumption is about :s gallons a night in the winter and rather less in summer. The light burns from sunset till sunrise and the two keepers take watch about. The front part of the burner is composed of highly-polished glass cost and over £IOOO. Here the keepers have every convenience,the telephone being laid on to other stations along the coast. After signing our names in the visitors' book, we thanked the lad and returned home. That afternoon we left Nugget Bay, and returned to Balclutha, doing the journey along the upper road in 2 hours 17 minutes. Our holidays were now beginning to close in, so the following afternoon—Friday—we said " Good bye " to our kind friends at the Clutha, and at 1.15 p.m. left for Dunedin, distant 56 miles. The ride into Dunedin was a very pleasant one, as the roads were in good order. Passing the Taieri we saw the fearful havoc made by the late floods, and the general destructions to all the crops, many of them completely covered by mud and water. People here in Canterbury may think they were badly off, but they would see others far worse than they were were they to seethe state of affairs on the famous Taieri Plains. Dunedin was reached after a severe ride from Greytown, Saddle Hill and the one coming into Caversham being too much to ride. However, at 7 p.m. we found ourselves slowly peddling along Princess street, and a few'minutes later we were at our destination—the Gladstone Hotel. As the next —Saturday—was the annual sports day, we wended our way to the trysting place at Carisbrook, and saw an excellent afternoon's ■port. In the evening we, with the other visitors and competitors, were royally entertained at the Shamrock Hotel, at a smoke concert Whilst in Dunedin we were fortunate enough to meet with various officers of the Dunedin Cycling Club, and to them we must express our very best thanks for the trouble they took to entertain us, aud show us round. As we had another week to spare we decided to stay and see the Cup run. This done — unfortunately for us—we left next morning at (!, against a head wind for Oamaru. After a long walk we reached the top of the hill over North East Valley, and came in sight of Port Chalmers, looking lovely in the morning sun. After about three miles of grand down-hill riding, we ran into Waitati at 7.45, with a jolly good appetite for breakfast. It is needless to say that we had a good one at Saratoga House, and after a few minutes spell we were off at 9 for Palmerston. The country around there is very hilly, and, after reaching Blueskin, we came to the formidable Kilmug Hill, a mile and a-half of ascent to the top. Of course, up this Ave had to walk, and on the way up we met a troop of school children off to school without any boots on. This practice seems usual in the country districts of Otago, for we met them elsewhere. Palmerston was reached at 11.45 a.m., and here a halt was made for dinner at our old haunts, the North Western Hotel. It was exactly three weeks since we had been there before, and we had that day completed our circle round Central Otago. Dinner over, we left at 1 p.m for Oamaru, and soon we had to tackle our old friend, The Horse Range, which we found much better than on our outward journey. This was safely negotiated, and we were soon bowling along past Hampden into Oamaru at 6 p.m. We had been twelve hours on the road, including all stoppages, and had been riding all day against a head nor'-easter. This was our best day's work. Next morning at 7 a.m. we turned our backs on Oamaru, and made for the Waitaki. It had been raining through the night, and the roads were heavy, and, added to that, we had another head wind. At !) a.m. we crossed the Waitaki, and as the road was bad for the next few miles we had to walk. We struggled on, however, and reached Studholme at 11 a.m., had a little refreshment, and reached Otaio in a thoroughly tired and hungry condition at 1.45, and here had a good dinner at farmer Martin's hospitable board. After a chat over our experiences we left at 3.15 p.m., and after fording the Pareora, in six different streams, we reach Timaru in safety at 5.30 p.m. We had a little to eat here, and at 5.50 left for home, arriving at 6.45 p.m. all sound in wind and limb. We thus arrived one day short of four weeks from the time 'of our departure, but it must be remembered that all that was not travelling time. We were travelling 14 days and had encompassed 700 miles, or an average of 50 miles a day. On the whole we enjoyed the trip very much, and would recommend it heartily to any who have the time to spare, as they will, see some country, not only worth seeing, but what they may never see again. The trip could easily be performed in about 18 days, and would cost about £B. The following table of distances may prove useful to other intending tourists : Temuka to Timaru 12 miles

Any information in connection with roads, accommodation, &c, will be gladly given to intending tourists by Cushion Tyke, Cafe of this paper.

Timaru to Otaio 16 miles Otaio to Waimate 14 miles Waimate to Oaraaru 28 miles Oamaru to Palmerston 40 miles Palmerston to Naseby 56 miles Naseby to St. Bathans ... 26 miles St. Bathans to Blacks 20 miles Blacks to Clyde ... ■,-. ■,■ 20 miles Clyde to Cromwell 14 miles Cromwell to Arrowtown 30 miles Arrowtown to Queenstown 15 miles Queenstown to Kingston (by boat) 25 miles Kingston to Lumsden 88 miles Lumsden to Gore 40 miles Gore to Balclutha 50 miles Balclutha to Nuggets and back... 48 miles Balclutha to Dunedin 56 miles Dunedin to Oamaru 80 miles Oamaru to Timaru 58 miles. Timaru to Temuka .., „. 12 miles Total 698 miles