That's A Wrap!
18 March 2021
On Monday around lunchtime I made it to Bluff - 23 days and 3,000km after leaving The Cape. The rain was pouring and a Bluff Westerly was howling but considering how lucky I was with weather throughout the trip I can't complain.
And what an awesome trip it was. There was something cathartic about waking up and knowing my only job was to cycle this beautiful country. So many small towns and friendly people I wouldn't have otherwise met.
There's a real sense of community on the tour. All the riders are dangerously tired and hungry so as you sit together demolishing a pie at the Mangakino 4square, you may not be talking, you may not even know their name, but you know what the other guy has just been through and that's enough.
The small towns get behind it too. From the dairy owner up north who watches the tracker and stays open late, giving everyone a chance to buy the required chocolate and Powerade, to the publican down south who will put aside a serving of bangers and mash to heat up when you arrive at the hotel, hours after closing.
But the biggest take away - the generosity of friends and family who have come together to raise more than $3,000 for Bowel Cancer NZ! Thank you all so much for donating to a very important cause and giving me a boost to keep turning the pedals even when I really didn't want to.
A special big thanks to Natalie and Jason Barlow who picked me up from Bluff and leant me their car to get back to Queenstown!