Day 26 Lower Hutt to Wellington

Today we will complete the very last piece of our journey. Lower Hutt to Wellington. After today we just have to take a train home. (A couple of weeks ago we decided to leave the South Island until next summer, when the days will be longer and generally getting warmer as we work our way south.) We have had no real problems (except on our first day) No aches or pains to speak of. Everything has worked much as we planned :-) We have stayed in many lovely places, met many lovely and friendly people, eaten a lot of very good food. Day after day we came to beautiful places and went through amazing countryside. I am sure I have not done the experience justice in my descriptions. The ride has been better than we expected, a joy. Our thanks to the many people who helped us along our way, hosted us, made us feel welcome and special. We will try to pass your hospitality on.

Barry and Yu Cong are working from home, we decide to join them for the morning and also work, each in our own room. I've also got the trike to look at, as expected one of the rear tyres is flat again. I change the tube and discover the cause - a blackberry thorn - not a surprise after some of the places we have been riding, with the trike back wheels on the sides of the track. I also find the rear brakes hardly work at all – that won’t do! They are hydraulic, a bike shop’s job.

Barry has a meeting in town at 1pm. He will ride in - and guide us at the same time. Yu Cong is in a meeting when we leave, I don’t feel we have said goodbye properly. Thanks again Yu Cong. Misty rain and a head wind greet us for our last ride. Barry wears just shorts, t-shirt and light coat, he makes us feel very soft.

Me following Barry and Sau Keng along the Petone esplanade

Petone shoreline. A bit bleak and windswept today

The cycleway from Petone to Wellington is pretty rough, but work is underway to build a new track on the seaward side of the railway. It’s a big operation: Reclaiming a 10 kilometer strip of land (this will also address erosion problems that have stopped train services several times) I expect the new track will be excellent, the standard is high these days.

We reach the downtown area and farewell Barry. He has a cycling adventure lined up in July – 700 kilometers in Tibet, Wow! We hope it goes well.

Downtown Wellington! We have done it! Time for photos to prove we were here. The beehive is a good landmark, a handful of protesters wanting more effective action on climate change are here – we can support that cause and take photos with them.

Location evidence collected, we find our way to Sau Keng's favorite restaurant in Wellington, Little Penang, for an authentic Malaysian meal.

Next stop is the Get Lost bike shop. I had phoned and booked in – but had not told them they would be working on a tricycle. Dual back brakes makes the job more complicated and the mechanic is understandably cautious – but still accepts the job. We are near the Mt Victoria suburb and presumably our motel, the Victoria Court Motor Lodge. Nope, it’s on Victoria Rd, where we just came from, very close to the Little Penang restaurant. We ride back, unload and I return to leave the trike for repair.

Work for the reminder of the afternoon. I pick up the trike at 6. They have done a good job, the brakes are nice and solid. Many thanks for fitting us in.

9:30pm I have my second round in the Go tournament. Today is against a young player in Australia. I have to give him 10 stones start – he plays solidly and I never had a chance of catching up. Bedtime when the game finishes. We have to check in at 7am for our train tomorrow, so we will be getting up at 6.

Statistics (This must be the easiest leg of the journey, certainly the shortest with least climbing, it did not feel like a proper day's ride at all)

Distance: 24.3 km

Climbed: 76 m

Time: 2:13