Travelled: 393 kms (Total 4,061 kms) Departure day, Thursday, dawned clear and tranquil, perfect cycling weather. With Sue as our very able guide, we rode from Havelock North and connected with the Hawkes Bay Trail through to Napier and stopped for lunch at Hapi, (imagine a macron over the “i”) the excellent café at Chantal’s, …
Travelled: 175 kms (Total 3,668 kms) The morning dawned cloudy and a brisk Southerly carried with it both the promise of winter and of a tail-wind. Stuart kindly waved us off as we headed out into the delightfully light mid-morning Palmerston North traffic on fresh legs and following the scent of adventure. This by now …
Travelled: 250 kms (Total 3,493 kms) We’re leaving the South behind today as we start our journey homeward. Plenty of riding and challenges still to come. Bring it on! My first challenge is ride back down Richard and Heather’s road (not that I actually rode up it - not even riding at 3km/hr could get …
Travelled: 376 kms (Total 3,243 kms) Our first destination on leaving Christchurch, was only a short ride to Ohoka to spend a couple of nights with Nick and Sharon who we had met during our first couple of weeks in the Motueka Valley. Not bothering to check any cycle trial routes, we headed out following …
Travelled: 251 kms (Total 2,867 kms) Leaving Tekapo we had a steady climb up and over Burkes Pass and into the delightful settlement of the same name. Leaving Tekapo Heading over Burkes Pass An eclectic collection of historic buildings with a mix of motor themed memorabilia. Burkes Pass settlement Leaving Burkes Pass A lovely downhill …
Travelled: 242 kms (Total 2,616 kms) The Alps to Ocean official brochure recommends to do the ride from Mount Cook to Oamaru due to wind direction and the downhill elevation. But no, we are going to do the Ocean to Alps version. Doing it backwards! Starting our O2A Starting from the campground in Oamaru, we …
Travelled: 139 kms (Total 2,374 kms) We woke to our first frost. Our tent had been touched with the white brush and we’d remained cosy throughout – a promising start for the colder weather to come. A touch of frost A quick trip to the cosy camp kitchen for warmth where we met Martin and …
Travelled: 191 kms (Total 2,235 kms) Incredibly we hadn’t planned to the Central Otago cycle trails, so when we realised they are all flowed together (and with encouraging support from our friends Ann and Michael), we thought it was an opportunity too good to miss. Starting with the Clutha Gold Trail we had a lovely …
Travelled: 265 kms (Total 2,044 kms) It’s hard to believe the it is three weeks since we have really ridden our bikes and the high luxurious lifestyle we have been living has come to an end. Invercargill has been a wonderful staging point over the last month and saying goodbye to Joanna and Russell for …
Travelled: 36 kms (Total 1,779 kms) A lovely calm journey back over Foveaux Strait to Bluff and the Bluff Campground. Leaving Oban The start of the bluff oyster season encouraged us to walk the 2km through town to Fowlers Oysters for the freshest oysters I have had. Battered and deep fried – delicious! A small …
JG on balance 