Today we travelled up from Kaitaia to Cape Reinga to get a nice panoramic view of the point where two oceans meet.
We took a few photos, checked out ninety mile beach and enjoyed TWO nice pies. Check out the video!
Day seven is finally finally over.
150kms of hilly and beautiful terrain and nine hours of solid ride time. I am so grateful for having not only my family from Blenheim with me today but also to have my biological dad, grandad and nana all show up to the party. I was also so fortunate to have the awesome Andrew Hobbs driving one of three support cars today all to roll down into Kaitaia late this afternoon.
To everyone who has supported this ride over the past couple weeks and also those who've given support and prayers over the last few months in preparation, thank you! And thanks to everyone from VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai! I did not do this alone, this was a result of enormous support and I couldn't have done it without everyone. Seriously. Thank you.
We have raised $5260.
www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/cycleforchildren2017
But we have also elevated the status of VOYCE throughout New Zealand and around the globe significantly.
Tomorrow I will be heading for the cape to take a live stream video at around 8:30am NZT so be sure to tune in for that!
(1100km/1100km) - Done.
Day six was particularly challenging because I wasn't contemplating how massive Auckland is and how long it would take to get out of Auckland. Anyway, 3 and a half hours of riding later we made it and we took the old motorway via Waiwera and over the hills back down to Puhoi.
I also managed to find the pink bridge highway in the middle of the CBD which was great. Then we had a quick photo shoot for VOYCE.
I crashed on Thursday from Hamilton to Auckland so took the bike into the shop to see what needed replacing. We had a quick check up, spent a few hundred bucks on a new helmet and some food for the hectic day ahead.
After getting back on the road again we left for The East Coast Road all the way to Waiwera.
Then there was a massive lead up to the Brynderwyn hills which ended up finishing off my legs. So I caved in at 40km to go so that I could rest for the last and final push from Whangarei to Kaitaia.
Today I'm going to find my way across from Mt Albert through to the Pink Bridge cycleway so that I can ride to the city center and catch a ferry across to North Shore city.
Beyond that point I will continue north-east through to Takapuna and then north bound for Silverdale. Then attacking through to Orewa & Waiwera. From there continue to ride up the Waiwera hills down onto SH1 and then suffering on through Dome Valley, Brynderwyn hills and time trialling it until I reach Whangarei.
A big day indeed.
See you out there.
So yesterday I cycled from Hamilton to Auckland. Along the way, however, we were met with bad weather so I had to get off the bike and get into the car towards the middle of the afternoon. So it was a bit lame if I'm honest but I managed to sneak in just a few hours of meagre cycling to make up for it. But anyway so I've made it Auckland all rugged up watching Ellen on the tele. It's been a cold Friday morning so far but in all honesty, i'm just focused on eating well, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping well-rested in preparation for the rest of the tour. Tomorrow is a mammoth of a day with almost 180km of hilly and traffic infused travelling. It's a day mixed with toll road tunnels and large narrow hills so be prepared for some epic complaints and a whole list of analysis on what went right and what went wrong.
But for now, I'm meeting up with the team at VOYCE for lunch, hanging out with another awesome advocate and former trustee for VOYCE, Tupua Urlich. And then I'll be having a massage and getting plenty of deep sleep before tomorrow's big stage, can't wait!
So take the day off and I'll see you tomorrow!
Cheers, Mana
Day Four is kind of a transition day between Hamilton and Auckland. The weather is shaping up to be something terrible so I might call this one off half way in. With severe rain, hail and wind all kicking off at the foot of the Bombay Hills we'll see how I'm actually doing.
Day Four is 180km to the cusp of Auckland in Mt Albert. It also marks the second of three massive checkpoints, New Plymouth, Auckland and Kaitaia. Although it's not quite 2/3 of the way through the trip it sure will feel amazing to say I've biked from Wellington to Auckland before...
See you at work.
What a mammoth of a day... It started off raining quite heavily through New Plymouth to Mokau. With severe rain in Mount Messenger which forced me to get in my support car until a place beyond the Awakino Gorge in Piopio.
We stopped there where the weather had cleared up and then I kept going. For the next 120km it was all rolling terrain.
We stopped in Te Kuiti for a breather and then Otorohanga for lunch. We then carried on a long SH3 towards Te Awamutu where I met up with the lovely family from STOP THE BUS NZ who interviewed and took some videos of me riding.
It was then all straight shipping back to Hamilton, with a couple of really bad construction sites making it dangerous for me to ride but hey what's life without excitement!
So that was day three. A horribly long and terribly fun day.
Lets do it all again tonorrow!
Day Three is the biggest day on the tour. With hilly and windy terrain and two large mountain passes it will be a difficult day in the saddle.
It begins heading north from New Plymouth wrapping around the West coast and reaching the summit of Mount Messenger. It then follows a long to Te Awakino Gorge with barely anywhere to stop for over 100km.
The road then heads down to Piopio where it flattens out a bit and continues for a further 120km to Te Awamutu and then another push through into Hamilton.
Bad weather is forecasted for today's stage but I will remain positively optimistic that I won't have to call it off at any time.
Looking forward to chatting with you soon.
See you at work.
I woke up this morning fortunate enough to have the most amazing people ever look after me in Whanganui. We then set off for Waverley in the brisk cold and busy Naki morning.
I then met up with my dad and younger sister who then supported the rest of the day through to New Plymouth.
The weather was actually surprisingly sunny with a headwind in the morning and a tail wind in the arvo.
Overall I think it was a successful day in the saddle. But I'm ultra tired and worn out. So I think I might have to sleep an hour longer tonight 😂
Stay tuned for more as we go. Tomorrow's a big day.
Anorher bright and early morning in Whanganui. Porridge for breakfast and a nice warm shower, easy as that!
Three hours ride to Hawera
Two hours ride to Stratford
Two hours ride to New Plymouth
I've adjusted the times to suit the rainy weather that's coming. If worse comes to worse i might call it off in the afternoon.
Thanks guys
The first day started off bumpy. With poor sleep, broken saddle and top tube bags and also a go-pro that won't turn on. It was a stressful night for sure.
As mentioned it started with a karakia and good company to set off onto the road.
The first two hours I attacked the road to Porirua. After taking a rain check with the overwhelming traffic I chose to jump on a train to bypass Kapiti coast.
Jumping off at Waikanae and riding down to Otaki I met up with my first support car, Natasha. From there it was straight shipping.
We made it past a whole group of townships, Levin, Foxton and finally to Sanson. It was at this point I realised I had been running on a flat wheel and that my tyre had been split by debris on the road.
After a quick wheel change, kudos to Natasha, we then continued on until we made it through to Whanganui just before 14:30 as the clouds began to blot out the sun.
After running into a bike shop to get a new tyre and some cycling foods, my first day finished with a ice big kebab & a pot of boil up.
Thank you Whanganui, thank you Natasha and your awesome whanau! Tonight will need a nice long sleep with heavy rain predicted in the forecast for Taranaki.
See you for work tomorrow.
Good morning everyone! As at 6am this morning Mana and a small group of people gathered at the National War Memorial to celebrate the start of a seven day journey.
Mana received karakia, and then it was all go. Keep posted for all of the ongoing updates along the road!
Hey guys, I have posted the new action sequence film of the bike ride up on youtube. You can view by clicking on the Givealittle pages play button in the description section.
Enjoy!
Mana
Kia ora to all friends, whanau and generous supporters!
Thank you for your kind and generous contributions to this year's mid-winter road cycle to raise funds for kids in care.
This is a major update to inform you of the developments of the ride and what action is in motion at the moment.
IT'S ALL GOING AHEAD AS PLANNED
On the 10th of July at 6am I will be leaving from the Wellington War Memorial to begin my journey north to Whanganui and beyond.
I will be on my travels for the following seven days and will arrive into Kaitaia on Sunday the 17th of July to the sound of a nice long sleep and heaps of food.
SO FAR
I have arranged two support cars. The first meets me in New Plymouth and travels across to Hamilton. The second guides me.from Hamilton and follows me through Auckland, Whangarei and Kaitaia.
This page will be where all of my progress will be posted by my awesome friend who will be using my itinerary which will be finalised this week and posted as a photo in the gallery section of this post.
The itnerary will keep my family and friends posted about my whereabouts but they will also let donors know that their support is being earned with each pedal stroke.
Hope to see you all soon!
Kia ora you legends! I am extremely grateful to announce that I now have 3 support vehicles travelling different lengths of the journey with me covering the entire journey!
The first support car between Wellington - New Plymouth.
The second support car between New Plymouth - Hamilton.
The third support car between Hamilton - Kaitaia.
Also I've written a blog to discuss the journey so far and the entire journey planned out below.
https://manawilliamseade.blog/2017/07/06/blog-098-solo-cycle-for-children-2017-the-journey/
Nga mini nui,
Mana
