Thank you to all who have supported the fundraising effort and pushed it past the goal. So pleased that the net funds raised for I Am Hope has exceeded the target of $2000.
The day after. A good sleep in at Bluff and a short ride back to the finish for the mandatory daytime finish line shot. Watched a few others ride in who I rode with earlier in the trip.
The next day was a very easy going ride back to Invercargill for the trip home.
Early morning ferry ride out of Queenstown, the mood among the many riders was high, the end was so close. (Picture, arriving at Walter Peak)
After meeting my first Southlander ( a very large bull blocking the track) we had a huge tail wind and a gradual downhill run that led to a fast run into Mossburn and near Lumsden. I can't say the same for the Sounds to Sounds riders we passed going the opposite direction.
On a high. At Winton I made the decision to push on and go all the way. 10 minutes later the weather turned to driving rain and a headwind that slowed progress immensely. Despite that I was still feeling good and eventually arrived at the Bluff signpost around 12:30 am, a not to be repeated day of 250 km ! A huge feeling of relief as I sat for a while and took in that I had reached the finish line. I was determined to not have to get up the next day to ride.
Strong Tail winds leaving Makarora made for an enjoyable and scenic ride along Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. Saw some water spouts on the lakes. Wonderful to catch up with old friends and work colleagues along the way, today was Rick for a coffee in Arrowtown.
New brake pads fitted and adjustments in Wanaka (thanks Outside Sports)
Then the hill of the trip , the Crown Range. It just kept going up.
A big day, made it to Frankton just on dusk. The caravan park at Frankton is fantastic, wonderful common areas, filled with so many different languages being spoken. Highly recommended.
Too many great photos this day to just pick one
A famous climb that I had to break up into manageable 100m climb blocks. Fantastic feeling to reach the top. Then a nice descent into Makarora. Damon rode on, after an earlier start, we wouldn't cross paths again until the finish.
I'm already planning a return trip to some of the most breathtaking scenery in NZ. Stunning ride with snow capped mountains to the side. Photo of Damon and I at Fox Glacier. Lake Paringa campground was quite busy. We managed to have a refreshing dip in the lake at the end of a long ride.
Loved the trail into Hokitika, including the Cowboy Paradise ghosttown. Fish and chips in Hokitika with Karon and Paul before pressing on. Met up again with Damon where we pushed on to Harihari, a tent site at the hotel.
Dropped phone in Greymouth (photo at the breakwater) but lucky there was a Noel Leeming in town. ( it wasn't till I was home that I could get the photos off my old phone ). Start of the West coast wilderness trail, one of the best in NZ.
Ended the day in Kumara, met by old Air Force friends Karon and Paul, and Perry. A night glamping in the campervan and a delicious roast. Thanks Karon!.
Feeling good after a good night's rest. Caught up with Damon who was rained out 2 days before. After quite a climb up the Rahu Saddle we had the most amazing long and fast descent into Reefton. Pushed on to Ikamatua where Perry met me later on for a pub dinner.
Lovely morning in Lake Rotoroa, but with wet riding gear and facing a cold day in the mountains I decided to stop early for the day and dry off in a cabin. An afternoon snooze was also helpful. A good gathering of riders at the Murchison Hotel.
Fire hazards had closed Spooners Tunnel, which meant a diversion to get to Tapawera. Lovely scenery and a major highlight, a most amazing reststop setup like a shop but running off the honesty of the patrons. A great rendezvous for lunch with my son Perry in Tapawera. Then, a major front came through with cold and driving rain, leading to a very cold and relieved finish in Lake Rotoroa. So lucky to meet Perry there at the campground , a chance to warm up in a dry spot.
I managed to get some sleep on the floor of the ferry, I was so tired I could of slept anywhere.
Scenic ride through to Havelock, Pelorus Bridge, then a monster climb, or should I say walk, up to the Maungatapu Saddle (picture with my 3 fellow climbers at the top). The guidebook was right, it gets "less ridable"!. On the other side I was met by a friendly and familar face, Dave Mason who rode with me back to his place at Richmond (after a beer in Nelson). Another night of wonderful hospitality.
A late start out of Martinborough after fixing a slow leak, the first tyre issue of the trip. Lots of people in town for the annual markets. A steep but very scenic ride up to the Remutaka Summit. Very windy, I walked across some bridges and sections to stop getting blown off the bike. Waiting for the ferry in Wellington allowed me to catch up over dinner with an old friend, Roger. A snooze and long wait for the 2am ferry.
Another great day, the lower North Island terrain allows for longer km days. Or am I getting fitter? A few highlights, Ekatahuna to thaw out, Golden Shears was on in Masterton, and a warm welcome to stay with my old boss , Lee Mauger amongst the olive trees at Martinborough.
A cold start but a good ride into Palmerston North for a big lunch. A very steep climb on the way out with lots of wind turbines at the top.
A great day, starting with a lucky encounter with the Durie Hill Elevator operator who opened early to give me a lift to the photo checkpoint. Great views of Whanganui, then heading out through Hunter Valley, Rangiwahia, then into Apiti for the night. A cold night but luckily I was able to pitch the tent on the shearing competition stage at the Apiti Domain, with 3 other riders.
A very early start, trying to make up for yesterday's wrong turn and extra kms I now had to ride. It also meant I missed out on the jet boat ride from The Bridge to Nowhere. The ride into Pipiriki was scenic, and then a ride following the Whanganui River (photo) down to Whanganui. A tiring day, at least it felt that way as I was still upset over the previous day's navigation mistakes.
What a day, an exhilarating feeling when I rode past the point of last year's fall and my early exit from the TA 2023. It felt good riding into Taumaranui for a morning coffee.
Then onto a very steep and muddy climb up to the Mangaparua Trig. I was very much looking forward to The Bridge To Nowhere, but after a short break and snack at the top, I mistakenly turned left, not right, (see thecsugn) only to realise my mistake at the bottom of the descent . This was the low point of the trip, I missed the bridge, spent the night with rats at the Ruatiti Domain, and had to ride an extra 40 km or so to get back to the course.
A wonderful trail and the first wet day. Managed to get all the way through to the campsite at Ongarue.
Photo of the new Arataki swing bridge, a huge improvement on the old one.
A good day and a variety of riding tracks, trails and roads. I was fortunate to stay in the same bed I slept in last year , at Mangakino.
After the previous day, a wonderful day of no hills, and lots of cows. A 100k or so of easy riding through Paeroa, Te Aroha and into Matamata. Grateful for the wonderful hospitality of my cousin Julie and Laurie. Great to see them again 1 year on from my earlier attempt.
My alternate route around the Kaipara harbour put me behind my original group by about a day. Day 5 was also a challenge. Instead of taking the coastal route like most, which I had ridden several times as part of the Tour de Ranges, I chose the Hunua Traverse which has only just been opened to the public and was so steep up and down. My first day of walking up hills. I had changed my gearing to make it easier up hills, but now realised it was not enough. (It wasn't the last time I had to push the bike up some hills). An exhausting long day and I was relieved to finally roll into Miranda.
Back home early afternoon, it was great to have the time for a little extra rest. I followed the course to the city and then a ferry ride home
I decided to take the alternate route across the Kaipara harbour, as I did the ferry trip last year. It was about an extra 100km of riding. First night of forest freedom camping too. I highly recommend the Dutch cheese shop in Kaiwaka !
Stunning views over Hokianga Harbour with some early morning fog
Where the stream meets the ocean, everyone trying to clean the sand off their drivetrain
A beautiful morning at the Cape for Day 1. Being there at sunrise was spectacular.
