The fellas have all been swaggering around muttering 'good on yer mates' any chance they get. There have also been a few bottles of Speights beer consumed, though not by Rob and John of course, as they are both wary of dulling their finely honed edge. An edge hardened by 1,100 kms on the lawless highways and backroads of New Zealand. Yep, we have South Island Highland fever. Rob has even taken to telling John to 'get in behind' when he wants to get under way. However, there was one awkward evening when the lads found themselves watching Brokeback Mountain together after Karen had retired to one of her many luxurious suites.
This evening we are staying in our 17th or 18th motel/holiday park in a town called Omarama. The boys clocked up a relatively easy 90 kms to just beat the encroaching dusk to the motel. They were held up by an impromtu photo shoot with a Christchurch photographer who is collaborating with local artist, Bruce Hunt, on a High Country themed publication. Not ones to pass up an opportunity to strut their stuff they willingly obliged.
The country up here in the mountains is extraordinary. Our ride yesterday through the pass was hard but also highly satisfying and todays ride across the plateau, skirting the stunning mountain lakes, was in a league of its own. Nowhere we have cycled on this tour comes close to it.
And so tonight we are suddenly looking forward to our last days cycling tomorrow - 108 kms, largely downhill to Oamaru, from the highland plateau to the coast.
Hi to the lovely kids from Twisel Area School.
5 comments:
Hello Team
Congratulations on your progress to date. I am thoroughly enjoying reading of your progress and frequently having a laugh at the same time. You write well Rob. In fact, I am amazed that you have enough energy at the end of the day to write at such length.
Bad luck on the 102Km/hr speeding ticket. That was really mean spirited. Hope Karen isn't meeting the cost of that? How are you now Karen, free of the virus you acquired?
Have been watching the weather and for the most part, you seem to have been reasonably fortunate a lot of the time. Do hope the ferry crossing was smooth and the SI leg is progressing well.
We received an email from Back-up asking people to support you when you got to Napier. They obviously did a great job. There is a lot of goodwill in this country. Helps to overcome the awful events of the weekend with the gang drive-by shooting that killed a 2 year old in bed and the deaths at the teenage party in ChCh. What are we coming to?
Keep out of mischief and good luck with the rest of the tour.
Congratulations
Vivian
PS. I wrote this message a week ago and then found I didn't know how to send it. So have got advice from a work colleague. Lucky I saved the message... We never stop learning!
wiked guys... sounds like its been an allround success and good time :) me and espen and mette have been showing every one your blog.. and every one over here is VERRY impressed! (and looking forward to meeting you.) the picyures are awsome.. it really looks beautiful down there. spounds like it to.. and that praise is coming from a guy who continuously goes on about "how boaring and cold and flat (although i expect this was exsclusive of the mountains) the south island is (rob)
well hope you all are pleased..
take care..
xx erin xx
10 out of 10, not only for all your efforts and endeavours, but also for the wonderful photos that have been posted. A few paintings in the making we thinks. Enjoy some well earned R & R and know just how proud we are of you all -
Kev & Em xx USA
Hi Rob,
" skirting the stunning mountain lakes, was in a league of its own. Nowhere we have cycled on this tour comes close to it."
It certainly all looks the part, what a great effort from everyone involved in this event.
Success with the final days, Cees
Post a Comment