Heading home

Friday 11 Feb - just about to fly back to Wellington from Queenstown. I delayed travel by a day to hang out with Bill and family, Trevor and Hulio, and suffer some incredible hospitality. Stayed at Jagged Edge (photo) and chilled, and also enjoyed a jet boat ride up the Shotover. I bet the commercial passengers don't get the bonus experience of getting out and pushing a beached boat through mud and silt for half an hour.

Job Done

Arrived at Bluff at about 7:30pm. 17 days 7.5 hours. What to do now? Cycle back to Wellington?

Queenstown and beyond

Great ride through Wanaka (breakfast) and the Crown Range, and then the Queenstown cycle trails. Sunny and warm but with a headwind most of the way. Just made the 4 pm SV Earnslaw sailing. Didn't have time time shop first so we cleaned out the cafe. Southland here we come.

Monday 7th - Lake Poringa - Hasst - Hawea

It is a pity I was Maths teacher not and English teacher as I may have had more chance of describing the subtleties of West Coast rain. It had poured down overnight but wasn't raining when we left. But wasn't dry either. For the next six hours we experienced heavy rain, very heavy rain, and rain that hurt due to weight of drops.
I Was A bit lacking in energy, probably because Bill has started to out eat me. He has learned from the the master!
Haast - you wouldn't go there for the food but better than springs junction cafe

At Haast I noticed a couple of loose spokes but hopefully fixed in time to prevent damage.

The climb over Haast Pass was short and sharp with resurfaced road making it harder. The weather slowly improved as we got nearer Lake Hawea. An after dark sprint toAlbert Townhas us setup to push on through Queenstown tomorrow. Not far now! Only about 400 to go.

Photo has Bill resting in Haast

Wet aviary - Part Deux

Lake Paringa: Sunday evening. I am now cleaner than I have been for a while, as is my bike and all my gear. Got thoroughly drenched with pure West Coast rain across the course of the day as we toured the glaciers and other sights. I looked very jealously at a tourist carrying a slab of beer back to his warm dry campervan as we squelched back on to bikes and ride off towards Lake Paringa.

We have a big day tomorrow to get across Haast Pass to Hawea or Wanaka, which will let Bill visit a bike shop and get some TLC on his gears. Not being able to change gear has been a feature of today (and the last day into Wellington) which adds stress and slows progress. I will be using the bike shop time to rest over coffee.

West Coast - now it is raining

Well we had a good start to the day. But then the rain started. Not cold but doesn't add much to the enjoyment or the views. Coffee at Franz and probably the same at Fox. Time to go biking.

West Cost travels - Sunday

Enjoyable day yesterday doing the West Coast trail from Greymouth to Ross. Dinner in pub and then another couple of hours to Lake Ianthe and a great nights sleep in the DoC Camp site. Just had breakfast in Harihari and no time to push on. There are big gaps between towns down here when you are on a bike

Travelling Companion

Just to introduce Bill Brierley. A Wellington lawyer I have known for ages through multisport, biking and adventure racing. We rode the original Kiwi Brevet together in 2010 so had a vague plan to join up this time.

Day 12 Update

Reefton- 4/3/2016
Beautiful days riding yesterday from Tapawera through the back roads to Kawatiri Junction., up to Lake Rotoroa, over the Braeburn Track to Murchison. Wheels fell off a bit in the afternoon, we have both had a bug for a few days and were a bit lacking. We made it over Muria Saddle and onto the Lewis Pass road but were to late for cafe and couldn't be motivated to push on over the hill to Reefton. Camped under trees opposite truck stop. Very peaceful.

The cafe was open early. Their only positive feature. Any cafe that can make a big breakfast unattractive to someone who has ridden almost 2000km is a special place. It was so bad I had to have muesli in Reefton.

Just about to head into Big River - Waiuta track for last bit of technical riding we get, then hopefully Greymouth tonight.

Q&A time

Q&A time. Thanks for all the messages of support and questions, I will try and answer a few. 

Terence of Singapore

No of course I don't text while riding. That would be both illegal and bloody difficult. 

Colin of Edinburgh

No you can't come back to New Zealand, stop asking.  

Kim of Karori: Stupid question (SQ) Of course my butt hurt. Eleven days in and a winner is starting to emerge as my saddle is complaining and asking for more chamois cream. 

Jenny of Karori: Later next week but don't count on me being interested in chores or visiting friends for a few ... years

Jerome of Churton Park: No honestly, I would rather be at work (SQ)

Michael of Karori: Yes, there have been a few times when I have asked myself why? Mainly when I can't see myself getting a good meal in the next 100 km. I try and keep myself in a good mood by remembering every time I have a bad thought a kitten dies. 

Emma of Christchurch: Well obviously the South Island is better. (Except for the wasps and sand flies, and lack of Panhead beers) 

Steve of Karori: Touch wood the bike has been great, especially since being reunited with the front wheel. I got the drive chain cleaned in Wellington, and lube up a couple of times a day and so far all is good. 

Lin of Tawa: No, there is nothing I  should have brought or not brought. I still haven't used my warm fleece top but probably will further south. I have a cycle top, 2x cycle shorts, 2x socks, polypro top and legs, a good coat and over trousers, and a t-shirt and shorts for evening wear. 

Tina of Petone: At the moment, subject to weather, acts of God etc, it looks like I will make back to work on schedule. Lucky me!

How to spoil a lovely mornings ride

Bloody Wasps! Twice in five minutes. First one snuck inside my shirt and did a nasty dance until I stopped and let it out. Then his cousin decided to get trapped between helmet and sunglasses and tried to dig through my skull. That one at least perished but it has left a bit of a headache.

A fine mornings work

A beautiful but chill start from Linkwater. Coffee and awesome pie at Pelorus Bridge cafe then climbed the Maungatapu Saddle (760m). Track not in great conditions so quite a bit of pushing not riding. Now it is off down the hill for lunch in Nelson. I am almost enjoying today!

Island One - Recap

Right - quick recap of the past 9 days. We have done 90 Mile Beach, the Kauri Trail, survived the Kaipara Harbour and Auckland's cycleways. We rode the Hauraki Rail Trail, the Waikato River Trails, the Timber Trail, Kaiwhakauka to Bridge to Nowhere and wandered by to Wellington via Wanganui, Hunterville, the middle of nowhere, Ashurst, Palmy and the Wairarapa, the Rimatuka Incline and the Hutt River Trails. Have done about 1500km, slept inside twice, in tent twice, under the stars twice and under various ad hoc shelters 3 times. I haven't had enough sleep and I Look like shit (too tired to think about blogging or taking photos most of the time). Have showered (small number) and also swam in Waikato to cool off. I did clean my teeth every day. Have drunk bottled water from dairys, tap water and from streams. Have eaten shit loads (and still lost 2kgs) including more fruit than I have in a long time. Drank beer twice. Have got through one bottle of chain oil, two tubes of suncream, and a large tube of rider/saddle interface cream. 

Did I mention it has been stupidly hot? If you have been watching the tracker and wondering why we stop for so long, it is because we were passed out in shade after cramming in as much food as would fit. (On arrival in Wanganui I dived into first gas station for an Coke, iced coffee, pie and fizzy fruit drink, and then demanded double takeaways for dinner ). I am pretty sure I have had mild heat stroke on several days, and then we frozen in southerly rain in 'rapa. 

Has it been fun? No, not yet. Probably won't be fun until it stops. 

Thoughts on the South Island. Potential to be so much better, and so much worse. Some big hills and beautiful places to go. Bring it on. 

Thanks for all the messages of support - don't expect an answer !  And to those who popped out today on Hutt River Trail and in town. Missing you all already. 

North Island - DONE

On ferry heading south for more joy

Living the highlife in Wanganui.

Another big day with a lot of great riding. Started at Owhango after a great (short) evening catching up with Paul Chaplow. Started riding at the crack of 7:30 with 45km of gravel road to the Blue Duck Cafe at Whakahoro. Pretty disappointing breakfast there then it was in to the single tracks through to The Bridge to Nowhere - another 50 odd km with more than 500 m of climbing.

Jet boat down to Pipiriki and then the long slog along the river road down to Wanganui.

My bike is desperately in need of some TLC. It has taken quite a beating. The same could be said for the body. Apparently the menu is the same for tomorrow. Rise, eat ride etc

A Long Hot Friday

Friday. Day six of my punishment (weight loss program) Timber trail is fun but not quite so much when knackered. Very hot. It is the first section I have really enjoyed.

Bill had bad day yesterday so of course that me feel a bit better. Every time he shows a bit of life I get worried he will bounce back and crush me.

Just having some food at Ongarue before cycling the back road to Tamaranui. Last food stop before Wanganui except for Chaplows Open Home in Owhango.

Fun is always fun, or is it Fun doesn't have to be fun.

Day Five - Waikato River trails and then The Timber Trail

Thursday. 2:30 pm Maungakino Cafe - the kitchen closed at 2! Better day today. Still stinking hot but at least we are off the long hot straight roads of the Waikato. Camped out at Waipu Reserve and hot a good breakfast at Arapuni. Then it was back Onto the river trails. Much slower going with lots of climbs and switch backs, and one of the team had a minor technical issue. Almost enjoyable but ran out of water an hour before Maungakino. Had a really nice swim in Waikato at one point, good job there is no zoom function on the spot trackers!

This is the last stop for food until Taumaranui as we are heading into the Timber Trail (86 km) next. Probably be camping out halfway at Piropiro and then Taumaranui for a late breakfast.

Day .... ? .... Wednesday

Bit of a lazy night at the Clevedon Oub last night. Probably should have done a few more hours but the temptation of a bed, shower, a hot meal and beer were too much.

Cruised off round the bay's about 7:30am and now at Kopu for a pie and top up with fluids. It is very flat round here so making good progress but it isn't that interesting so doesn't take your mind of the job in hand, or the tenderness in the bike - rider interface area.

Just about to turn off into the rail trail so no cars for a while which will be nice. Hoping to dine in Matamata, and then sleep in Arapuni but that does mean another 140km, and it is 28 degrees!

Two wheels! The right ones

Excellent job by Mt Eden Cycles. I now have my front wheel with dynamo so can charge the gps, lights and phone although I have been enjoying cycling late at night by moonlight.

The bastard who set the course just sent us up Mt Eden for a laugh. Done now so heading for south Auckland and the Haraki Plains ( to be honest I prefer hills). Thinking about a motel for the night but that might be a bit too much after two beautiful night under the stars.

Day 3 - a bit more relaxing

Yesterday was a long day. Very hot with some fairly big hills and quite a bit of gravel to slow us day. Decided to have an extended stop in Dargaville to try and avoid some of the late heat. That did make it a late night but we made in.

Currently on the beach at Poutu waiting for the boat.

Rawene Ferry

Day 1 (Language Warning)

Fucking beach. Fucking southerly fucking hot. Apparently we are supposed to enjoy this, and that was just the first six hours.

What I meant to say was "while 90 mile beach is a stunning spot, and a lovely drive, it does go on a bit when cycling it. That combined with disadvantageous wind direction made it even more tedious.

Bill and I are inhaling fluids (not beer) in Ahipara and will make a decision soon how much further to go.

Calm Restored

Ok. All order has been restored. My wheel will be in Auckland for me, and I have had a small amount of Amber rehydration fluid to calm my nerves. Will be any early start tomorrow to drive up to the Cape and head off. The performance of the replacement wheel may or not be a excuse for an easy day. Main problem I can see for the day is the heat! Bloody hot up here.

Kerikeri Update - Opps

Spot the deliberate error.

Slight hiccup in the smooth progress of the trip. Having boasted about how light my bike box was compared with Bill and Barryn, I realised what was wrong when I opened the box and counted the wheels. Emergency protocol 17 kicked in so I have borrowed a wheel and mine is heading for Auckland so I can pick it up in the way through on Monday. It has given everyone else a laugh and hopefully it will be the biggest issue of the trip.

Stage -1 completed

Arrived in Kerikeri ok and relived to see the bikes all made it. 8 riders and boxes.

Tour Aotearoa - Almost Ready To Go

Thought I had better post this wee bit of positive before I get anxious about the challenge. Had a good last (ish) big ride, a 170km loop from Karori up the Hutt, over to Waikanae, then back via Paekakariki Hill Road and Makara Beach., the bike is back from final service so it needed to a solid work out. Not fully loaded so I compensated by including numerous cafes and other watering holes. Thanks to Jenny Cassie for the pace-making through to Waikanae (The pace drop after that was due to southerly, honest!). Thanks to Ollie Roadworks Bicycle Repairs for the wheel build, & Ricky at Mud Cycles for the tune up. It was all running so smoothly I had to keep checking there was actually a chain in place, it was too easy.

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Tour Aotearoa - More stupidity

Tour Aotearoa starts in late Feb 2016. It is a 3000km cycle tour from Cape Reinga to Bluff following a mixture of New Zealands backroads and cycle trails. All riders are unsupported so carrying tents and other equipment (credit cards!) needed to get them through to Bluff. All the details of the event can be found here - http://www.touraotearoa.nz/ -

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