18th June 2011 Lauder to Alexandra 36 km

Nice easy down hill ride to Alexandra.  After we checked into our motel we set off on the bikes to explore the town and do some shopping only to discover that Ash's bikes had 6 broken spokes on the back wheel again.  We raced to the bike shop who said that he did not have a mechanic available.  We bought the spokes from him and Ash did the job in the hotel room, which was quite a feat.
Alexandra is quite different to the other towns.  Two rivers join to form a lake on the town's edge.  There is a giant clock built on the cliff on the mountain overlooking the town.  It had a really cowboy feel about it and one almost expected a cowboy to come swaggering out of the local hotel.  Stayed in a really nice place, very homely and fresh chocolate muffins provided by our lovely host.