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Tour Aotearoa for scleroderma awareness

  • TA Day 21 Greytown, Kūmara, Cowboy Springs, Hokitika, Ross

      23 March 2026
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    Day started with me finding a huge spider inside my tent next to my head, this ride is full of challenges! Off to the breakwater for a photo shot then cafe to stock up calories again. Greytown have set up the best cycleway sandgravel trails 💯 scenery beyond words- a magical world of forest and water. A fantastic day, hot, amazing and I spread the scleroderma word to two ladies, one at the supermarket was so stunned as her friend had died of it at 32. Her partner couldn’t shake and congratulate me enough and it was a bit emotional. A crazy day that ended with me camping on the beach near Ross and losing my steak dinner to a weka. Which is now a story retold to all the other TA riders 😂

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  • Day 20 - Reefton to Greymouth via Big river track

      23 March 2026
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    Got away earlier and climbed well in the cold morning The track then deteriorated after the hit especially on the downhill with narrow track, rocks roots fallen trees that required me to lift fully laden bike over. Had a few spills and the bike took a hammering. That section is for an expert mountain biker not a full bike packer!! I took 6 hours. So lucky myself or bike relatively undamaged. Downhill to Ikamatua was fast. The straights and hills to Greymouth were exhausting and I was pulled along by Mike and Greg for part of it. Arrival of planned 4pm became more like 7pm😳 but good camp at the top 10 and another icecream reward 🤣

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  • Day 19- just flying by. Murchison to Reefton

      18 March 2026
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    Misty then drizzly morning, over Maruia saddle 580m over nice steady gravel up through lovely forest with 6 stream crossings. Rode with Andre and Gordon who started the same day as myself. Rain set in as we approached Springs junction. Plenty of rest stops and food and legs felt great after the first climb. As we got over Rahu saddle 696m the sun came out and it was an epic downhill all on seal into Reefton. One of the best days of the tour 👍👌122km

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  • Day 18 - Dovedale to Murchison

      17 March 2026
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    Yet another hot fine day , usual hills to warm up, coffee and second breakfast at Tapawera and a long climb over Tadmor saddle, a lunch stop by the river, into Lake Rotoroa for another photo checkpoint (sandflies here are just too much!) then another climb on gravel over Braemar saddle.. Despite going through 6 water bottles and a tonne of food and snacks I just had no energy over the last 30km. The scenery is absolutely stunning, also passing through hop farms ear Tapawera. Arrived Murchison around 5pm and had treated my weary self to a large yoghurt berry ice creams and lemonade before heading to the Riverside camp grd.

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  • Day 17 TA - Pelorus, over the Maungatapu saddle (700m) finish day at Dovedale

      17 March 2026
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    Misty start by the river , quick cappuccino up the road at the campground then onto my highest strava climb, there were a few pushes, the last 150m is very steep and rocky, hard to ride, once you stop might as well push to a flatter bit. Track very rocky in places especially extremely steep downhill which was fun to ride down almost over the back wheel. Met up eit’s Wendy and Danny for lunch then scrambled to make the Mapua ferry but missed by 11 mins. Had to wait another hour which meant my afternoon target of Tapawera was not quite reached. But I was done, another hot day and gotpicked up by my friends again, had a great dinner and sleep. They will drop me back at Dovedale in the morning 😆 Thanks so much, the visit and being looked after was so appreciated 😊

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  • TA day 16 - Lower Hutt to Pelorus

      17 March 2026
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    Thankyou for putting me up Fiona and John. A great rest and dinner

    I got away late (620am) got lost on the under construction cycleway in Petone and then had to put pedal to metal to make the 1hr before 815am ferry. Once in Picton took the link track option, great single track to avoid the hwy. Decided to have an easy day with a few refreshment stops instead of pushing over the saddle in one go, The day was hot and the road fast and camped by the river. All set for the saddle tomorrow

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  • Day 15- Martinborough Lower Hutt via Rimutaka track

      15 March 2026
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    Grey drizzly day rain jacket on, along with some wind . Can’t complain as had a great run recently. Steady climb over the hill and through historical tunnels then onto the Hutt river trail - great ride

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  • Day 14- Paihiatua to Martinborough via Masterton

      15 March 2026
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    Another stunning riding day. Coffee and photo stop in Eketahuna. Icecream stop spreading more info on scleroderma and managed to squeeze in a business meeting lunch in Masterton as well , 25deg in Gladstone. Saw a dog round up a small herd of cattle, great to be riding on quiet roads and gravel experiencing real rural life

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  • Day 13 - Rangiwahia to Paihiatua

      15 March 2026
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    Day started with ice on the inside of my tent, 7 deg gloves on and first few hours lots of gear changes on and off. Some epic gravel roads and downhills, a welcome Pohingina school drink/snack stop. Super day. hot as again and max effort to climb the new Manawatu gorge freeway cycleway. Not sure if a cyclist designed it…. A few looks from the 530pm pub locals as I checked in to the Paihiatua Post office hotel truck stop accomodation $60 , bargain!

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  • Day 12- Whanganui to Rangiwahia

      13 March 2026
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    Late start due to realities of this journey - laundry must be done! Food must be replenished (daily and for emergencies) Trio up the Durie lift for the photo shot ( there are 32 locations required by the tour rules) Highlights of the day- my disc brakes work well after coming upon a herd of cows on a downhill conwe at 60kmhr. It is possible to outsmart a 400kg bull on the loose and staring you down. The storm damage through Hunterville area is huge, 100’s of trees down, a lot of work. Really enjoyed seeing the rural farmers and dogs at work, size of the ‘1’ scoop ice cream at Hunterville - along with all the other food I bought for lunch 😂. Hills at the end of the day were only walkable, Rangiwahia community camp area has great hot showers. Another awesome day

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  • Day 11- Whakahoro - jet boat - Pipiriki to Whanganui

      13 March 2026
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    Rather is still fine, nice cafe across from camp but it doesn’t open until 9.. have to head off to make the jet boat at 330pm. Great single track up to the Mangapurea trig some 600m of elevation. Excellent route following the river cut into the hillside and the early settlers clearings, eventually to ‘the bridge to nowhere’ lots of rockfalls to negotiate and swiftly move past!. Managed to make good time due to dry track and made the 130 jet boat. Good feed at Pipiriki the landing point and then the decision to go for Whanganui another 78k. Great section also following the river then brutal climb up ‘gentle Annie’ before arriving in Whanganui in the dark. I missed my accomodation and did an unwelcome 9km more which meant shops shut and no coins for the laundry 😟 Big day of 40km average speed 11th 32km of exciting jet boat average speed 50kph 😁 then 80km at 17.7kph about 1600m of climbing

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  • Day 10- Piropiro - Ongarue, Taumarunui to Whakahoro

      12 March 2026
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    More climbing 200m and 150m hills through the timber trail , it really is a fantasy trail, other day tourists also out and about. My luck appeared again when I was running low on snacks I found an unopened choc cookie packet on the trail. Megan? 😄 Into Taumarunui for supplies and new gas cylinder before a monster climb (farmers in ute’s grinning) to Owhango, up again before the bumpiest corrugated 52km of gravel I’ve ever been on . Lost a large bag of cranberry nut mix and arrived at the DOC camp at Whakahoro in the dark . Big day 134km, 1687m climbing and 8.5hra riding - pretty exhausted!

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  • Day 9 to Piropiro flats

      12 March 2026
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    First a visit to the geographical centre of the North Island , then start of the real mountain biking sections climbing up Mt Pureora. Awesome forest track, a few black robins about. Highest point of the tour at nearly 1000m. Cooked up some lunch at the top but had no energy to go on to Ongarue so pitched up at Piropiro flats campsite - free and foraged on blackberries all over the place for energy and even found a tasty wild apple tree behind my campsite. I think the last few long days have caught up, in bed at 7pm lol only 59km but another 1207m of slow 1st gear climbing

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  • Day 8. - Te Miro to 25k past Mangakino

      12 March 2026
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    First cold morning, gloves jacket on! Breakfast in Cambridge, past Lake Karapiro- another photo point. Another stunning hot day, but some bad luck- wasp sting to the hand when I took a rest, came off on first section of Waikato river gravel trails and lost a water bottle (Now only 3) some sections of the track are washed out so more road climbs around the river. supplies replenished headed out to the start of the Timber trail and camped in the bush for the night. 135km, 1791m climbing

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  • Day 7.- Miranda to Te Miro

      12 March 2026
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    Great day to ride the rail trail, stop at Kopu for supplies, lunch with my parents in Paeroa, after Te Aroha a long dry stretch to Cambridge with no shops. I ran out of water, started to worry when I came across Kiwitahi school who to my absolute luck was holding a fundraiser themselves so had a few great chats, 2 slow cooked lamb rolls, water, sprite and a bag of lollies to take away! I’m sure my sister is helping here? 😁 Didn’t make Cambridge so made do with an improvocamp spot. 128km

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  • Day 6 Chatswood base to Miranda

      12 March 2026
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    Rode back to the point I left the Tour route at Westgate shops - was getting a lift but my car broke down picking up the rear carrier yesterday. Onto cycleway into town 2 x coffees and large muffins to power me up Mt Eden the next photo point. Chose route through airport and over Hunua ranges, wise? Auckland’s highest point, some sections unrideable at 13% gradient. At the top I donned my jacket to avoid chilling on the decent only to find zipper had broken… Great scenery and dam vistas but so cold had to do an extra 13k to warm up at Miranda, arrived in the dark. Big day 151km and 2152m of climbing

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  • Day 5 - Pouto to Parakai and back to base for repairs

      11 March 2026
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    Up at 4am with another guy seeing if the boat was

    Coming over. Wind still high, ending up helping load 45 bikes on the roof, boat pulls into the sand, wheel them over a plank and the lifted to the roof, tied down. The highway 16 was a bit dangerous with the trucks but another hot day, back home to sort read carrier and new bag. Boat cancelled has meant losing a day against the ‘snail’ (see MAP Tracking)

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  • What I’m packing

      11 March 2026
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    In case some are interested, here’s all food, equipment sleeping gear etc and it all has to be packed and fit on the bike. So far I’ve had to change my rear bad that lasted 2 days ripping apart, so opted for rear carrier instead of seat fixed. Everything needs to be tied down well as I’ve found out on the rougher tracks !

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  • Day 4 - Dargaville to Pouto point

      11 March 2026
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    High headwinds still at 32-50km hr but have to catch the boat at 530pm. Some Tarseal and then gravel all with hills sprinkled in. Hard ride and arrived 10min after they cancelled the boat due to rough seas. Can only wait until next sail 630am which means4am start. At least I have a tent and sleeping gear not like others to have to lol on floor mattress or couch 😁

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  • Day 3 - Waipoua to Dargaville

      11 March 2026
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    Great morning after the rain, climbing up through kauri forest , got a flat tyre after valve came out pumping it up. Great gravel trail and net the trail angels who had tracked me , water and sweet watermelon on offer. Head winds today up to 50kmhr means I’m cancelling the leg to Pouto

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  • Day 2

      2 March 2026
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    Nice morning heading out of Ahipara, coffee stop in Broadwood (NZs northern most English named town) getting hotter then onto gravel hills, rain, super downhills to Kohukohu, ferry over and then monster hills to Opononi and after Omapere . 5.5km climb was hard and more heavy rain. Got to Tane Mahuta photo checkpoint 2 hrs after closing 😁 then an absolute cool downhill for kms through kauri forest to pitch tent in the dark at Waipoua, rain and plenty of mosquitoes. Hard day! I’m sure my altitude recorder is wrong at 1614m of climbing

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    • 02/03/2026 by John

      I feel tired just reading about that leg. I don’t think that it is too hilly down to Dargaville and across to SH1😎😎

  • Day one

      28 February 2026
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    104km comprising hills, then soft river bed, hot sun, head and cross winds and then very heavy rain. Had a ball, Best buy $50 water filter straw- used it after I drank all water before 50km 🤣

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    • 01/03/2026 by Katty

      Hmmm should have let me fill your water bottle 🤭🤔😘

    • 02/03/2026 by John

      Bon voyage!!!!!!….are you coming through Orewa???

  • Prep update

      4 February 2026
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    Charging along with the ride preparation and planning. Bikes got the headset and seat posts suspension fitted, sleeping gear has arrived and got in a 82k, 1056m training ride Whangamata/Tairua return :)

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