It's over for now. South Island next summer

This will be my last post until we resume our ride - down the South Island next summer. It feels good - and a bit strange - to be back home. There is a lot to do of course, in the garden and around the house, and we will be going to Malaysia soon for a wedding - and staying a month - so I better get busy.

I feel very satisfied with our ride. We rode 1730 kilometres - and climbed 18 and a half kilometres (a touch over two Everests) We rode on 27 days spending about 5 and a half days on our bikes. It was, mostly, easy and a joy. The weather treated us well. The route kept us away from traffic amazingly well, most of the time there wasn't a car in sight and we had the road to ourselves. (There were exceptions, two of which burned themselves into Sau Keng's memory - but they were very much exceptions) we glided through the countryside, soaking up the views. Hills slowed us down, but rewarded us with magnificent vistas and an effortless glide down the far side. Most days our goals were: To not get lost, to find a morning coffee stop, a good place for lunch, our accommodation, and the best place handy where we can get dinner. Not a lot for a whole day - and it was a shared effort! The days were mentally very relaxing. For me on most days writing this blog was by far my biggest mental effort. Sau Keng's work was busy, so her evenings were often full keeping up email and urgent items. She says she does not want to mix work with riding again, not this much work anyway. Cycle touring may take some physical effort, but overall it's a very relaxing and good way for us to spend our days.

We stayed in luxury. Sau Keng found and booked our accommodation and did a great job. Motels, Air B&Bs, Holiday parks. No camping. After a day on the road anything comfortable feels good - but the places we stayed were mostly very good and several were excellent. We enjoyed meeting our hosts, which often happens with Air B&B accommodation, we much prefer a place with friendly hosts to somewhere anonymous and impersonal no matter how shiny. We ate well too, though we did not find as much Asian food as Sau Keng would have liked. When we did find Asian food it was a treat for her.

Our bikes gave us little trouble, partly good management and partly good luck. I should have noticed my broken spokes earlier, how many can you have before the wheel collapses? (I see plenty of conversations on the Internet on this topic, but no one saying their wheel collapsed - more than 3 it seems.) I would not have liked to have try my luck though, I would have been very nervous. Finding the problem in Palmerston North, when we had time to spare, was very convenient. The frame holding the trike basket broke. I should have realized something was wrong a day earlier than I did - I noticed the basket rocking slightly and did not put 2 & 2 together at first. We were lucky the break did not affect things much and could be tied back together effectively. Needing new brake pads for the trike in Wellington is just fair wear and tear.

Our bodies did even better. I had absolutely no problems, lost a couple of kilos and definitely got better on the hills. Sau Keng was good too. Towards the end she got a strange pins & needles feeling in her good leg, annoying but more a puzzle than a problem. Otherwise everything was 100%.

The ride is Sau Keng's creation. She made it happen, committed us, set the dates, assigned the tasks that needed to be done to prepare and did her share of them, including most of the organizing (before and during the ride). I was more than happy to go along - without her it would not have happened. Sau Keng is a great riding companion, her attitude is great and her enjoyment of the ride infectious. We pause frequently to better appreciate what we see and to take photos, often of each other. Sometimes we chat as we ride. Sau Keng needs a bit of help very occasionally but never without reason. Most of the time she cruises along at a nice speed, not quite as fast as I would ride. Alone I would ride faster and get tired. Tired I do not see as much, and start thinking about how far to go instead of appreciating what is around me. Riding with Sau Keng is best. I have a very special lady and love her deeply. Thank you for this wonderful experience.

Sau Keng says

In March 2022, Colin and I took a 3 month cycling and working holiday in the South Island. We cycled some days and worked others. We visited many towns and rode many of the well known trails. I found I could ride much further than I had expected and enjoy trails much more advanced than I had imagined. It was one of my best holidays ever. I wanted to do more.

The idea of riding from Cape Reinga to Bluff developed gradually after that. I thought it would be a really cool thing, that I would enjoy while doing and could look back on as an awesome achievement. I didn’t know much about cycle touring then, so I researched online and came across the Kennett brothers “Tour Aotearoa” books, a guide to riding the length of the country - while staying off the main roads as much as possible. I read and re-read the books to see if it was possible for me.

I doubted my ability to ride the length of the country as I am nervous about riding on busy roads, let alone state highways. I didn’t know if I had enough strength and stamina to ride day after day. I did not know what other skills I might need. Many big unknowns. But I thought about the ride off and on, kept studying the riding books, and talked to friends, family & workmates about the idea.

By the end of 2023 I felt I’d told so many people about my plan that I better do it, so I set dates, organised my work and set Colin to organise the details. Colin very patiently mapped out every day’s riding, changing and adapting the Tour Aotearoa routes to suit us (more to suit me) and we were finally ready to give it a go.

I was excited and nervous when Mathew dropped us off at Cape Reinga to begin

our long journey. Soon we were on 90 Mile Beach, a very special place to ride, hard work (because of a headwind) but being alone on the huge, wide, beautiful beach was relaxing in a zen way.

I got better at coping with busy roads, gravel roads with loose stones and awkward cambers, even state highways. Most of the time we rode along quiet back country roads with beautiful landscapes where it was a pleasure to be. When rain was forecast we stayed ‘at home’ and worked. Only on two mornings did we have to ride in the rain, we dried when the rain stopped, it was not a problem. (It was not a lot of fun either)

We met a number of people along the way. Some we just said a quick hello to and moved on. Often we had conversations. I enjoy talking and exchanging stories with people.

Many people gave me very encouraging words and lots of praise, sometimes I felt a little embarrassed.

towns

I am very thankful to have Colin riding with me. Without him to support me, none of this was possible. He is my route planner, navigator, technician, trike fixer. Most of all he is always there to help me - when I am stuck at a camber, unable to get over a big rock, need something carried, stuck for words when writing, whatever. I love sharing the journey with you. It has been an awesome experience. I’m looking forward to riding the South Island together when the weather gets warmer.

Towns we stopped at or passed through

• Cape Reinga

• Hukatere

• Waipapakauri

• Ahipara

• Herekino

• Broadwood

• Kohukohu

• Rawene

• Whirinaki

• Opononi

• Omapere

• Waimamaku

• Waipoua Forest

• Donnellys Crossing

• Whatoro

• Kaihu

• Arikihi

• Maropiu

• Mamoranui

• Dargaville

• Arapohue

• Rehia

• Matakohe

• Paparoa

• Manguaturoto

• Kaiwaka

• Mangawhai

• Te Arai

• Tomarata

• Pakiri

• Whangaripo

• Martakana

• Warkworth

• Waiwera

• Orewa

• Silverdale

• Dairy Flats

• Browns Bay

• Takapuna

• Devonport

• Highland Park, Home

• Manukau CIty

• Ardmore

• Hunua

• Mangatawhiri

• Mangatangi

• Miranda

• Waitakaruru

• Kopu

• Paeroa

• Te Aroha

• Matamata

• Arapuni

• Mangakino

• Pureroa

• Ongarue

• Taumarunui

• Hikumutu

• Owhango

• National Park

• Raetihi

• Pipiriki

• Juresalem

• London (Ranana)

• Athens (Atene)

• Matahiwi

• Koriniti

• Whakaihuwhaka

• Upokongaro

• Papaiti

• Whanganui

• Fordell

• Hunterville

• Rangiwahia

• Apiti

• Pohangina

• Ashhurst

• Palmerston North

• Pahiatua

• Eketahuna

• Mauriceville

• Kopuaranga

• Masterton

• Gladstone

• Carterton

• Greytown

• Woodside

• Featherston

• Maymorn

• Te Marua

• Upper Hutt

• Lower Hutt

• Wellington City

Where we went and where we stayed

Date	From and To	Day	Accomodation
Tue 6 Feb	Drive Auckland to Northland		Pukenui Holiday Park
Wed 7 Feb	Cape Reinga to Hukatere Lodge	1	Hukatere Lodge
Thu 8 Feb	Hukatere Lodge to Ahipara	2	Ahipara Bay Motel
Fri 9 Feb	Ahipara to Rawene	3	Airbnb Rawene
Sat 10 Feb	Rawene to Waipou Forest	4	Kauri Coast Holiday Park
Sun 11 Feb	Waipou Forest to Dargaville	5	Air BnB Turiwiri near Dargaville
Tue 13 Feb	Dargaville to Paparoa	6	The Pheasant Lodge
Wed 14 Feb	Paparoa to Mangawhai	7	Our bach
Thu 15 Feb	Mangawhai to Warkworth	8	Walton Park Lodge
Fri 16 Feb	Warkworth to Browns Bay	9	Yvonne and Angela's place
Sat 17 Feb	Browns bay to Home	10	Home
Mon 19 to Fri 23 Feb	Full time work		Home
Sat 24 Feb	Home to Miranda	11	Miranda Holiday Park
Sun 25 Feb	Miranda to Paeroa to Matamata	12	Maple Lodge Motel/10 Kiwi Street/Tower Road Motel
Wed 28 Feb	Matamata to Arapuni to Mangakino	13	Lake Maraetai Lodge
Thu 29 Feb	Mangakino to Benneydale to Ongarue	14	Blackfern Cottage Ongarue
Fri 1 Mar	Ongarue to Taumarunui to National Park	15	Adventure Lodge & Motel
Sat 2 Mar	National Park to Raetihi	16	Ranfurly Cottage
Tue 5 Mar	Raetihi to Whanganui	17	AnnDion Motel
Wed 6 Mar	Whanganui to Hunterville	18	Hunters Cafe & Motel
Thu 7 Mar	Hunterville to Rangiwahia to Apiti to Makoura lodge	19	Makoura Lodge
Fri 8 Mar	Apiti to Ashhurst to Palmerston North	20	Airbnb PN
Mon 11 Mar	Fly to Christchurch for Sau Keng's work		Airport Gateway Motel
Fri 22 Mar	Fly back to Palmerston North		Airbnb 576 Featherston St
Sun 24 Mar	Sau Keng flies to Christchurch. Colin stays in Palmerston Nth		Airbnb 83 North Street
Wed 27 Mar	Sau Keng returns to Palmerston North
Thu 28 Mar	Palmerston North to Pahiatua to Eketahuna	21	Eketahuna Inn
Fri 29 Mar	Eketāhuna to Masterton	22	62 Manuka St Landsdowne
Sat 30 Mar	Masterton to Gladstone to Carterton	23	Airbnb 20 Kent St, Carterton
Sun 31 Mar	Carterton to Te Marua	24	Airbnb 256 Plateau Rd, Te Marua
Mon 1 Apr	Te Marua/Upper Hutt to Lower Hutt - See Barry & Yucong	25	Barry and Yucong
Tue 2 Apr	Lower Hutt to Wellington City	26	Victoria Court Motor Lodge
Wed 3 Apr	Take Northern Explorer to Auckland. Ride home	27	Home

Statistics

Day by day distance, climb and time in the saddle

Day	Kilometres	Metres climbed	Hours on cycle
1	77.6	458	05:59
2	37.1	86	02:37
3	69.7	945	04:48
4	76.1	1329	05:59
5	42.8	389	03:32
6	52.6	562	04:14
7	51.2	827	04:24
8	65.5	934	05:16
9	55.9	948	04:51
10	47.1	472	03:56
11	86.8	950	06:17
12	117.1	235	08:12
13	96.9	1168	06:58
14	85.3	1116	05:26
15	73.1	1305	06:18
16	39.3	193	02:24
17	107.5	1313	07:21
18	64.7	909	04:19
19	73.9	1192	05:18
20	69.8	638	05:05
21	77.5	916	04:40
22	62.6	493	04:12
23	53.8	225	03:46
24	67.9	472	04:35
25	33.1	65	02:22
26	24.3	76	02:13
27	21.6	217	01:35

Day by day total distance, total climbed and total time in the saddle

Day	Kilometres	Metres climbed	Days	Hours
1	77.6	458		05:59
2	114.7	544		08:36
3	184.4	1489		13:24
4	260.5	2818		19:23
5	303.3	3207		22:55
6	355.9	3769	1	03:09
7	407.1	4596	1	07:33
8	472.6	5530	1	12:49
9	528.5	6478	1	17:40
10	575.6	6950	1	21:36
11	662.4	7900	2	03:53
12	779.5	8135	2	12:05
13	876.4	9303	2	19:03
14	961.7	10419	3	00:29
15	1034.8	11724	3	06:47
16	1074.1	11917	3	09:11
17	1181.6	13230	3	16:32
18	1246.3	14139	3	20:51
19	1320.2	15331	4	02:09
20	1390.	15969	4	07:14
21	1467.5	16885	4	11:54
22	1530.1	17378	4	16:06
23	1583.9	17603	4	19:52
24	1651.8	18075	5	00:27
25	1684.9	18140	5	02:49
26	1709.2	18216	5	05:02
27	1730.8	18433	5	06:37
Averages	64.1	682.7		04:41