Nelson to Murchison

78 miles of this today:

Nature in it's raw state is the greatest entertainment there is. Cycled along today in a state of euphoric wonder, gazing at the lush green mountainsides and loving every moment.

As we left Nelson behind it was out into the wilds and we'd been forewarned of very little in the way of refreshment stops. Exciting! Although there was a little apprehension at breakfast for some in the group, about the longer mileage. Jan and I, being mileage junkies, were full of enthusiasm!

Some bigger ups and downs followed and my legs felt strong today, happiness is a powerful drug indeed.

Cycling is a great leveller, as Phil remarked earlier. Kim and I were on a level when I caught her up after 15miles, chatted about boils, then I pottered off.

Everywhere looks so lush and alive, the grass a vivid green, the trees shades of rich deep green and the cows, deer and horses look gleaming and content. 

Much like us!

There was a cafe at 30miles so I waited for the others there. The coffees were really nice so I had a couple and took in the sun-soaked landscape.

The road wove a path through the valley, sometimes then taking us up high, then back down next to the creek. By 50miles we'd done most of the ascent. 

In winter the river must be a torrent but mid-summer it was just a creek babbling away. 

Saw fields of deer, some more hawks and my favourite bird, the tui was there tooting away for much of the day. They have a brilliant cheery call, perfect for a ring-tone hahaha

So now we're in the heart of kiwi land and staying in a pub. There's a county show on so it's all very rural! Kim has remarked on the robust locals, wearing unsuitable attire for their hearty frames. 

When I stopped earlier for a drink en route a local came to chat and started telling me about the gold rush as I downed another cappucino. I'd gone a bit funny as the barman had asked where I'd cycled from today and I thought, I haven't the foggiest. Luckily he hazarded some guesses in the awkward silence and he was right fourth time.

Jan also had a funny 5 minutes earlier in the day forgetting how to change gear, essentially, how to ride a bike! A near kiss the tarmac incident.

Gonna go and look for Jan and Phil now, wondering if Jan might be trading handyman Phil for some lambs at the show, now she's got a taste for the local meat.

Picton to Nelson

We arrived just after midnight at the motel in Picton, all a bit groggy as it was well past pyjama o'clock. I did get a bit over-excited partly due to the late hour and partly the horror of standing at the front of the ferry, with a load of lorries half a metre behind revving their engines. What is it with men and their vehicles here?!

So, Picton was a very pretty surprise as after breakfast outside

(Jan's skin didn't seem to have melted in the night) we took in the harbour before climbing the headland.

Wow.

Having told myself that while it was a pity not to be able to sail in during daylight yesterday to see the Sound, we'd had the chance to see lots of the capital. Well, nothing much beats two-wheeled sight seeing of Marlborough Sound. Cycling along Queen Charlotte Drive is the definition of awesome, usually a much overused word in my view. It simply took your breath away how naturally beautiful it is. It made for very slow cycling as I had to stop for photos every 800metres!

Saw the most cyclists yet today, often loaded with panniers. I expect you could count on both hands the number of cyclists seen on the North Island.

Euphoria abounded today and I ran out of superlatives in my head amongst the pine forests.

Today was what I'd dreamed about when I thought of a bike adventure here, and so clearly had Steve.

Simply perfect (apart from the obvious lack of my valentine, who I chatted to anyway). There were a lot more proper mad looking people about today, the first one was skateboarding down a col with a go pro on his helmet. Many big beards about too!

4 climbs today, the last was the biggest. Was fun beating a log laden lorry who couldn't find a small enough gear. 

So 70 miles today and as Jan said, this is living the dream. 

Rest day (!) in Welly

A change of gear today, no cycling! Time to give the buttocks a little rest and a day free to explore Wellington.

Steve, our leader, absolved all responsibilty for us and we were free to run amoch.

So run I did. Couldn't resist an 8am jaunt along the quayside and round a few bays, really glorious in the sun and a perfect start to the day. 

We all stowed our bags in the van and the bikes in the basement and took what we needed for the day. Jan and phil went for a long walk to mount victoria and I went off to hunt breakfast in the sun, then coffee in the sun then reading in the sun! Then thought time to escape the rays and paid my second visit to a kiwi pool. What a location for a pool and feeling part inspired by Mark Allen in my Iron War book and part by the fit fellows in adjacent lanes I decided to try one of the pools suggested workouts-2500m later it was lunchtime! Time for some more sun and sushi.

Spent the rest of the day wandering about, with the challenge of buying things that wont take me over my baggage allowance. Might have to cull some items!! Was 'forced' to buy new sunglasses as both old pairs with me have been obliterated, oh well😃😎

So now we've regrouped ready for the 8pm ferry. Exciting for several reasons, 1: the scenery,2: steves sea sickness and 3: typically by 8.30pm we're all in bed drinking hot chocolates, so a late wild night is in store!

It's now 9.40pm, the ferry was late leaving but we're lucky to be on it with the debacle of one ferry having lost a propellor, so we're on the freight one! Thankfully we've still managed to source some hot chocolates for our usual bedtime routine! Every night before lights off I read Jan a bed time story, the daily blog. Just been forced to read the whole thing, the Omnibus edition! 

It was a bit chilly on here but thankfully Jan's sunburn/ solar panel body is working a treat here next to me. 

Night night everyone.

Otaki to Wellington

What an adventure today's ride was! As explained before the trip there would be some unknowns route-wise and that's to be expected in my view and part of the fun.

10miles along was the first bit of cycle path, I wish I'd listened to my little inner voice that said "don't do it" but I didn't and sure enough a mile later I was punctured!

Having forgotten my own pump for the trip (my one omission, learning point one) Graham had kindly loaned me his. Sadly when needed it turned out to be broken ( my learning point number two:always check your tools function). Donna came to the rescue with her silver weopen and some fiddling about later I was back pumped up. 

So, 10miles further on when the route took us off the road onto path again I thought non and decided to deviate from the yellow pages! I decided to trust my in-built sat nav and off I went. Jan and Phil decided to return to the route so I was again a solo adventurer. 

Felt rather pleased with myself as I made it back to join the route via the road, just in time for our first big climb of the trip. Loved that! I do like a big old hill! And brilliant views up there along the Kapiti coastline. Big smile firmly in place!

Back down the other side and the nitty gritty of the route to Wellington really got underway. Three yellow pages today as opposed to half, or even the minimal 3 daily instructions to come on the South Island!

Again, felt pleased with my navigating and got a bit emotional today with the first view of Wellington, truly breathtaking.

What a road into the city....the city proved challenging to say the least to orientate through to the hotel. It's now 3pm and no Steve or anyone, which suggests quite a few navigational adventures for my companions. Glad I trusted my nose👃

Hotel seems really nice, quite a treat for our rest day. 

Now nearly 4 and in my room getting ready to explore....still no jan or phil!

Feilding to Otaki

Otaki beach

What a simply perfect day out on the bikes! 4 hours of fantastic roads and warmth!!

Holiday mode is well and truly engaged today for the whole group, I say this as I type sat in the garden at today's motel soaking up some rays😃

So, for the most part we were on back roads with only some short stretches on Highway 1. There's a hard shoulder for cycling on, when we're on there. So you can keep away from the trucks and heavy log transporters. I've only had one beep (quite typically for no reason at all) so I just waved back haha (gone are the days of being intimidated by drivers hiding in their tin cans!) I do think of you waving like that my love❤️

Generally drivers have been fine and no problems.

It was a flat fast day, except for a mile of pebbly road where I walked (my bike nor elbow would thank me for attempting it, though jan and phil did). 

Was fun to put my foot down after to catch everyone up, a sudden flat dry day made me feel on full beans and phil collins was back on a happy loop.

It was actually so glorious it was impossible to not smile away to myself zipping along. 

Saw some kittens on the roadside today and had a fleeting thought of popping the alive one in my rucksack as a little furry companion. 

Got to Otaki and then we walked 4km to the beach, a 40km stretch of unspoilt coast, really glad decided to walk there. Had had a notion of swimming but only waded up to my knees in the end. Will get in the sea another day!

60 very fun miles today.

P.s Note to Al/Michael: a trail of postcards are on their way, Jan's not looking at her phone, she asked me to mention.

P.p.s She's busy eying up properties on a daily basis here so it's uncertain whether more than some postcards will make it back!

Taihape to Feilding

Leaving Taihape we got in at least a mile and a half of dry before spit spot batten down the hatches.

I'm not going to bang on about the conditions today (well, just a bit), as if you decide to cycle New Zealand you inevitably take what nature throws at you. However, once numbness sets in, the inner chitchat really begins: This is painful/ you're on holiday- this is bad/ nothing bad lasts forever- It looks cosy in everyone else's passing vehicles/ you'd rather be cycling, there is no end to this rain cloud/ it'll make you mentally stronger....on and on and on it goes.

As the milestones on the yellow pages rolled by and I rolled over and through some awesome hills, valleys and gorges 40miles approached and the much awaited coffee stop. Sadly it wasn't to be as Kimbolton town was closed for the day! Snag! Onward, at quite a pace (speed up or die from pneumonia!) to Cheltenham where I pulled into the local shop for an essential hot drink as my fingers had stopped functioning (never a happy state of affairs in Katie land). Had a peculiar tasting black forest dairy milk bar then pressed on. Was a good few degrees warmer as the road was now  lower and the rain eased😃

Quick pause for some tree felling, then on to Feilding and sought out another hot drink, aware yet again how mental a cyclist must look in these less than clement conditions!  But who cares, I made it!🎉

Phil thankfully had survived the night, although not sure he'll have another Gumboot Cafe mixed grill!!

So week two has begun. Last week I notched up 411miles on the bike🚲

Time for a siesta, feeling very much battered and shattered. 

Tongariro to Taihape

After a substantial fish and chips and yesterday's meteorological onslaught, sleep came quickly last night, with only some brief midnight clatterings to look at the stars.

The sun was back out, blasting at us on full power as we prepared to wave goodbye to the volcanos.  It seemed so hot I raided my bag again for a second layer of factor 30.

What a cruel trick mother nature played! 10miles along, into the unrelenting headwind the drizzle started and the temperature dropped. 

The next 20miles made me think of a cartoon where the character has a raincloud over his head, that just follows him wherever he travels. Just as I seemed to spot blue on the horizon we'd veer off, the law of sod in full effect.

It didn't feel as mentally hard as yesterday though. NZ must be toughening up southern fair weather cyclists.

The weather here is remarkable, as just when you're feeling it's the depths of winter a few kilometres on it's tropical heat. This cold spell is apparently unusual!

The lumpy ground was strange today, humps everywhere. Perhaps they are made by the earth moving about here so often. Donna assured me later I didn't want to experience an earthquake, not even a little one.

The day ended on a high as by 1pm the sun had re-instated itself so we could sail down to Taihape. It's an odd little town that was half shut as it's Sunday and I'll remember as the town where I saw Phil have his last meal (if his poor body survives the night with that monster size mixed grill in it, it'll be a miracle!) 

63miles today.