Simply beautiful

So why did we bother with the North Island at all? Sorry Northern folk but that's just the way it is - as far as the cycling goes this is the place to be.

We kicked off from QEII Park in Christchurch City and finished the days ride at Mt Hutt Station 102 kms later - this is the kind of mileage we were expecting to be doing all along. Hills, crap roads and tire troubles hampered our efforts up North. Great roads, new tires and long flat straights played into our hands here today.

Thanks to Justin and Jenny for making all the arrangements for us down here - very much appreciated. Graeme Condon, Christchurch City councillor, saw us off with some encouraging words and rode along with us some of the way. We were also accompanied by another Christchurch handcyclist, Rob, who suffered along in our wake when he could have been flying on ahead. Unfortunately for our Rob, Christchurch Rob has a rather impressive physique and the inevitable comparisons were made. Christchurch Rob was respectfully nicknamed Man Beast by our crew, whereas we just laughed at our Rob for looking several months pregnant.

It was also great to meet Jane Ellis from Earth Sea Sky, our clothing company sponsors, who took the time in a difficult day to support us this morning.

If all goes well we will alter our route to take in more of the back country tomorrow - it's simply too beautiful out here to want to get back onto a truck infested highway.