Homeward bound

Finally something broke. Just as we were driving out of Taihape the suspension on the trailer fell apart. It was immediately obvious something was wrong as smoke started coming from one of the tires and a length of metal once an integral part of the trailer was now roadside debris.

Thank the Gods this happened in small town New Zealand. The lady at the Mobil station immediately thought to call Steve, the engineer and blacksmith, who forfeit his hot lunch to assist a bunch of Aucklanders in need. Steve disappeared under the trailer, just like that man who jumped in the pool in 'A Fish Out Of Water', and when he resurfaced the trailer was able to be towed to his workshop for repairs. An interesting feature of the workshop is the train whistle fixed to the roof which they blow to let the whole of Taihape know it's smoko time. Four hours later we were back under way, arriving in Auckland around midnight tired and looking forward to our own beds.

Alright, so we said the posts had finished - old habits and all that. It's like any addiction, you don't want to go Cold Turkey. Maybe we qualify for a methedrone (sp?) program?

For those interested, there will be a story on the tour aired on Attitude (disability program on TV1 sometime early on Sunday mornings) in the next month or two. We also hope to get a half hour documentary aired on Sky later in the year that maestro Sean Wallace will be working on (the handsome fella from the last post).

Great adventure...nice to be home.

Note the exhausted little blogger in the picture...clearly too demanding a schedule took its toll.


Sweet dreams.

End of days

Our apologies for this delayed entry but we had no internet access where we were staying in Oamaru.

Friday morning saw the boys heading out in the worst weather we had experienced in the 3 weeks we've been on the road. Although the strong southerly was coming from behind, it was pushing the trike around more than was comfortable on dangerously wet roads. Still worse was the bitterly cold rain.

Come lunch time Rob and John were both wet through and cold and it looked as if the days ride would have to be abandoned. After some food and a change of clothes we took a look outside to find that the clouds had rolled away to present a clear blue sky. Great. The rest of the ride to Oamaru was largely downhill and went quite quickly.

To our great delight we were met on the final stretch by several members of the Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club and were given an honour guard of sorts into the town center. A recumbent tandem flanked by several penny farthings provided the locals with a rather interesting spectacle.

We were greeted by Oamaru Mayor, Alan McLay, and a number of locals who soon whisked us off for a celebratory drink at the North Otago Club. After a delicious roast meal we were then escorted to our diggs - the most incredible backpackers lodge imaginable (see links of interest). The Old Bones Lodge is situated among farm land overlooking the Oamaru coast, comes complete with log fire, comfortable chairs and centrally heated rooms, in addition to being totally wheelchair accessable. We loved this place.

More later...

So there you have it, we made it! Not a bad effort really, even if we say so ourselves. However, we made it only because of the support we received from the numerous organizations and individuals referred to in earlier entries and in our supporters list.

For those interested in the numbers:
3 tires blown (probably human error)
5 punctures
18 motels/lodges/homes
1,100 kms cycled (admittedly, not one for the record books)
5 schools visited
many friends made

Not surprisingly, it was the characters we met along the way who have provided the colour to an otherwise fairly monochrome canvas - you cycle one road, you have generally speaking, cycled another. With one exception - we have already mentioned the rugged beauty of the South Island high country, the particular sense of satisfaction we derived from having slogged it out to get there. If you get a chance, cycle it for yourself and make up your own mind. Our mission of course, besides going adventuring, was to inspire others to make a place for recreation in their busy lives. So do it...get on yer bike, as the saying goes, or walk, or do whatever else takes your fancy - make the time and enjoy.

A special thank you to our new, and not so new, friends in Oamaru. Annie, Marilyn and Gai - we would like to especially thank you for, well everything - for being you.

Our camera crew - you may have seen their names pop up from time to time. Sean (tiny dancer) and later, Marcel, turned out to be 2 of the nicest young men any of us have had the pleasure to spend time with. Admittedly, we were unsure about taking a film crew away with us, especially a crew who were virtual strangers. These guys added a fun and energetic dynamic to our group - and got the work done. There are several, not quite so young, ladies in Oamaru who would happily have kept them as permanent house guests - thanks fellas, sorry ladies.

And thank you to our readers and posters for your support and feedback. We have also enjoyed the company of our friends in Norway and those traveling abroad - the beauty of the digital age. It truly was encouraging for us to know you all were interested in our venture, following our progress from day to day.

As far as a daily log goes, this is the final post. There will however, be some personal reflections posted sometime in the next week or so.

Thank you, and good night.

Nanu, nanu.

PS. Yes Sean, you are incredibly handsome. We will post another pic as proof undeniable.

Southern men

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.

Into the mountains

Well, it could all end here and we'd be satisfied. Todays ride was the defining point for the tour; a ride uphill for most of the day, culminating in a final hard climb through Burkes Pass and on to Lake Tekapo.

It felt appropriate that the mountain pass, coming at the end of an already challenging day, should be such hard work. At the summit we thought the slog was over and prepared for a cruise down to the lake, no such luck. As we came over the top we were greeted by a strong head wind, a wind that pounded us for the next 15 kms. We only just managed Lake Tekapo before the sun got too low.

The day started with controversy after John was exposed for having snuck out early to enjoy a bacon and egg breakfast from a cafe, while the rest of us ate cold toast and drank sachet coffee from the motel - shame on him.

Karen took advantage of the mountain scenery to park up and snooze on the side of the road. When she unexpectedly received a call from the fellas requesting her assistance she didn't know where they were and had to be helped herself.

What's needed is a rest day but we can't afford to have one. On to Omarama (or something like that anyway) tomorrow, then Oamaru on Friday, all going well.

Thank you Brendan for correctly naming the white tuft under a Tui's chin (do they have chins?) as the 'prosthemadera'.

Another 93 kms notched up today in perfect conditions - not a cloud in the sky. Karen called a halt to proceedings due to poor light 12 kms the other side of Geraldine. Tomorrow we'll push on to Lake Tekapo, all being well.

A couple of wee problems today, but the writer has been instructed by all parties not to discuss them on this blog - bloody censorship!

Two nice ladies under the mountain gave us free coffees this morning. Thanks to Vicky and Claire for their hospitality.

Treated ourselves to a decent meal tonight - we've had way too much food on the run.

And introducing our newest team member Marcel the camera man and all round cool dude.

That's all folks...too tired.

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.

Sailing away

Where were we?...oh yes, we were listing all of Rob's minor ailments. Rob has insisted that reference be made to his infected toe (a minor toe - the 'this little
piggy had roast beef toe')and his decision to self medicate with antibiotics...yawn.

Right now we are on the Bluebridge Ferry crossing the Cook Strait after an unpleasant 5 o'clock start this morning. Even Karen wasn't her usual bubbly self, at one point even threatening to harm Sean in absentia - he had made the mistake of leaving his film equipment at our motel while he went partying in Wellington. She wasn't seeing the humour in having more gear to load.

Sean, for his part, is asleep on the floor of said ferry after what sounds like an all nighter - how sweet, we have named him Tiny Dancer.

John is somewhere out on deck (hopefully he hasn't talked the captain into letting him pilot this thing) with the wind once again in his hair.

Forgive us if we take the time to list some of the friends we made along this leg. The list isn't comprehensive as we forget names at times so we hope anyone left out won't be disappointed.

Margaret - our Masterton coffee shop and roadside friend.
The Avanti bike shop fellas in Masterton.
Ross Palmer from SPARC.
Jane, Sam, Brian and the rest of our cycling mates from Lower Hutt.
The judo girls we met on the side of the road - we hope the competition went well on Saturday.
Debs, Tracy, Kirsten and Ivanka from Backup, who met us in Napier with some bubbles as well as getting tires to us.
Kirsten, Paul and Jane for the wonderful breakfast - thank you, thank you, thank you. It was a pleasure to eat Charlotte with you and your beautiful little girls.
Wayne from Fergusson Motel in Waipukerau (sp?) - best motel so far by a country mile (see links of interest).
The cafe in Norsewood for our morning coffee.
Helen from Free Ride'n for getting our tires to Napier.

Anti friends:
Breakers restaurant in Napier for reminding us it is always better to pay a little more for good food. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether we enjoyed their meals or not (clue: yuck, yuck, yukkity yuck).
Our tire.
The policewoman who gave Karen a ticket for driving at 102 kms/hour.

We're happy to say that John was emboldened enough by the sparkling wine coursing through his exhausted body to jump into the treacherous Napier Sea (a body of water extending from the Napier coast out to some undetermined point), though he still had the presence of mind to keep his clothes on - the butt shot will have to wait I'm afraid ladies.

And so, leg 2 is behind us...get it - behind us/butt shot? Oh man, we're cracking up here, falling about the place laughing. Been on the road too long.

Christchurch, here we come. The weather report is favorable for the next few days, even as far as the promise of a tail wind - hallelujah.

We have forgotten to mention that the tandem has been christened the 'Tui' - another pun I'm afraid, with reference to the 2 cyclists of course. The trike has a ball of white fluff under its chin (front of trike) to represent the white thing real Tui's have. Does anyone know the name for this thing?

Bye for now.