We're Off Again!


It's December 1st 2020 and we are itching to get on our bikes and go cycle touring again!

It's been 2.5 years since we returned to NZ from our Cairns to Perth trip - which actually finished in Geraldton after I came a cropper and ended up in hospital. (See www.cairnstoperthcycle.blogspot.com)

We sold our bikes and trailers in Geraldton before returning home, and, immediately after getting back,  bought two electric bikes. They are perfect for cycling around our hilly Bombay region (South of Auckland).

It didn't take long, though, for us to realise that, as electric bikes could not be carried by passenger plane, we'd need sturdy, non-electric, hybrid bikes, too, especially if we were to consider further trips in Australia.

Again we chose Merida bikes. They have been reliable work horses on all our tours to date.

COVID sabotaged our long awaited 2020 cycle trip in Europe and our planned winter cycle tour in Australia. After the initial disappointment and more deliberation, we set our sights on a new venture.

We will circumnavigate the beautiful South Island of New Zealand in our kiwi summertime.

                                     

In preparation we ordered two new cargo trailers from Christchurch and two pairs of Marathon Plus Touring tyres from Spain, one pair for each of our rear bike wheels and a smaller pair for the trailers.

The route has been carefully planned (daily distances, holiday parks, DOC camps, motels etc) and cycle fitness is building. 

To avoid the school holiday crowds, we fly to Wellington on January 28 2021 with boxed bikes and trailers. We'll reassemble them, then catch the ferry to Picton to begin our adventure. Can't wait!!


                                                                             










Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What a Cycle Path! Kaiapoi to Christchurch - 30kms

Image
The Riverland Holiday Park, where we spent last night, is adjacent to the Riverland Golf Club and seems to cater for groups of visiting golfers. Great facilities - motel units, cabins and camping areas. Yesterday we encountered a new, tarsealed cycle way into Kaiapoi. Today we found the continuation of it, just a kilometre from the holiday park.                                                A group of well endowed bulls watched us as we left and we passed one of the large irrigation systems that keep this area so green. The many arches span the entire length of the field. We quickly found the cycle track.  Wow! It is tar sealed, wide and runs beside the motorway, protected from it by a sturdy, iron fence. Apparently it takes the rider all the way to the city centre! We were enjoying it so much that we missed the turn off to Hornby! After many checks of the Google map, we left the cycle lane and cut across to the west of the city to our motel in Hor
Read more

Rain! Picton to Blenheim - 28kms

Image
Heavy rain during the night. Woke at 5.15am and spent some time extracting the bikes and trailers from the shed, in the dark and rain, then manoeuvering them up and around all the obstacles in our way to the front door. Breakfast was a banana and cold water.  We sprinted off, walking our gear down to the Bluebridge Ferry in the rain, only to find that sailing was delayed a whole hour! The ship's passengers are interesting!  A large gang of patched Mongrel Mob officianados are heading off for a big convention down south. Lots of back slaps and secret hand shakes! The hold is packed with their motor bikes! And- the captain's just announced we can expect a lumpy ride and 5metre swells! Yay!! One big wave sent rubbish bins flying and kitchen gear crashing to the floor. Passengers leaving the cafe staggered from left to right to left as they made their way. Our bikes had been lashed to the side of the hold so were undamaged and, as we were near the exit, we managed to ge
Read more

A Very Long Day! Palmerston to Dunedin - 63kms

Image
Got off to a good start at 7.00am this morning. No rain so far and little wind. Walked a long hill out of Palmerston then enjoyed a good cycle.  Full of energy, we cycled over the Waikouaiti River and through the town. Around the 23 kms mark, things changed drastically. We walked virtually the whole 3 kms, only to find that another 5 kms followed. More walking! We stopped for coffee and a snack to re-energise at The Spot, a convenience store at Blueskin. Previous cyclists had suggested that, to get to Dunedin without the heavy traffic, we should head for Port Chalmers and take the cycle path from there into the city. A good idea, we thought. Just south of Waitati, we left the highway and took the Blueskin Road. It was quiet with virtually no traffic, but it quickly became steep, winding hills. More walking - in fact - these were the steepest hills we'd come across.  Eventually, after endless walking, we were rewarded with
Read more