After cycling 4,500 km, and driving 3,800 km, our computer finally crashed so new post and pictures will be added once we return to Victoria (end of May). We are doing well, Patti hurt her shoulder playing in the waves so we are now finishing the trip on 4 wheels and an engine.
Thursday March 18th 2010 - We cycled to Cathedral Cove, a 10 km ride to Hahei. Cathedral Cove is a super beach with a rock arch, a place for tourists...not to be missed. We are having a great day, playing in the water, soaking up the sun, body surfing. We are getting tired so we decided to take one last wave and surf to the shore and call it a day. Here comes the big one, I dove under it but Patti decided to jump in it so the wave took her strait down and she hit her right shoulder on the sand. The hit was hard enough that she felt a “crunch”. The first thing she said to me is, I hurt my shoulder!. We got out of the water and made it to the bikes. She rode down the hill to Hahei and ask for some ice at the Orange Restaurant. It doesn't look good at all for riding. Patti iced her shoulder and the owner of the restaurant, Lesley, gave Patti some anti-inflammatory cream (Arnica) to take the swelling down. We decided not to ride right away so we ordered a pizza for dinner. As I am getting the pizza, Lesley offered Patti a ride back to the campsite if she is not feeling right. As the time passed, she was not feeling right so she took the ride in Lesley's pick up truck and I rode back to the campsite. The shoulder is not getting any better and we were told that she should go to the hospital for x-rays.
The next day, we decided to go to the hospital. The closest hospital with x-rays is in Thames, 55 km from Hot Water Beach. This is where the Hot Water Beach Holiday Campground owner, Sharee, offered us a ride to Thames Hospital since she had to drive to Auckland. We accepted the offer and got a ride back to the campsite at the end of the day.
A day at the hospital the verdict – The end of the bike trip
No broken bones, Patti has what is called a Football shoulder' basically, a bruised AC Joint...something like that...Soft tissue damage...she is out of commission for the next 12 weeks which means, IT IS THE END OF THE BIKE TRIP! YEAK!
The day after – Riding in a car
After spending 7 days at the campsite, Patti felt well enough to move on. We found a car rental company and hired a 1996 Toyota Caldina for 31 days at $30.00 per day (insurance included). It is a wagon style car so we can fit the bikes and all the equipment inside. We are since, driving around, from Coromandel; to East Cape and where ever we will have the time to ride to. We are doing hikes along the way and Patti enjoys her beach time...man there are a lot of beaches along this coast!
Cheers!
Yves and Patti
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Motupiko to Auckland
Feb 8th to March 8th, 2010
Motupiko.- Motueka - Nelson - Farewell Spit - (Golden Bay) - Picton - Ferry to Wellington - Train to Auckland - Coastbusters Kayak Symposium - International Kayak Week - Boat builder get together at Bleu Lake - Back to Auckland.
Distance: 178 km
Total distance: 4179 km
Because our time on the South Island was getting short, we hired a vehicle in Nelson for 6 days. We got a good deal on a mini van so we were able to fit our bikes inside. We drove to Farewell Spit and took the time to visit the area. Not far from Farewell Spit (via car), we spent an afternoon exploring Wharariki Beach. This was by far the best beach day ever! We had so much fun amongst the sand dunes, sea caves, and rock formations. We made it to the base of Able Tasman National Park, but the weather wasn't the best for kayaking. So we decided to drive for a day, hoping the weather would improve. We made it to Portage where we biked the Queen Charlotte track. We tried to go kayaking again, but the winds were too high. Instead, we went to Picton, and then drove the coastal road towards Blenheim. This is an amazing road that we would love to have done on our bikes. At Picton, we hired kayaks and paddled in the Queen Charlotte Sound up to Davie's Bay. The next day, we took the ferry to Wellington, and stayed at a Hostel downtown. We took the train the next day to Auckland to prep for the kayaking portion of our trip with Paul, Natasha and the folks involved with the Coastbusters Symposium.
Before the Symposium weekend, thanks to Gerry's coordination, We had the opportunity to go on a 5 days paddle trip in the Bay of Island. We kayaked through the hole in the rock...a big tourist attraction! Then the Symposium itself where we met a bunch of great...wonderful people. After the symposium, we participated at the IKW (International Kayaking Week) at Martin's Bay (4 days) where we did a few day trips, 1 surf day and had a lot of fun. Apres kayaking included a winery tour and a visit to the nearby hot pools. Back to Auckland to prep for our next weekend. We participated at another kayak gathering at Blue Lake near Rotorua. Another great weekend with kayakers...! We are now back in Auckland at Steve and Sue's place who have hosted for the past 2 weeks. They are great...great people. We are now getting ready to hit the road again for our last 7 weeks in New Zealand.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Dunedin to Motupiko
Jan 18 to Feb 7, 2010Distance: 1 527 km
Total distance: 4001 km
Lyell to Motupiko (Feb 7) 107 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QNA9CUpjpoqaB7M46
We were on the road by 7:15 am to beat the heat. Our motivation was Emma and Brian, our incentive was the sand flies and the catalyst was the bloody rooster that woke us up at 6:00 am! We continue to follow the Buller River with gentle rolling up and downs – very scenic. We had a cool morning ride of 35 km before stopping at Murchison for a late breakfast. We are now on a mission to get to Nelson – so close and yet so far. After a 100+ km day, tired, and hot, we stop 50 km short of Nelson at the best campground ever (that's what the sign reads), called Quinney's Bush Camp. It was the river swimming that sold Patti on the place. It was so refreshing and heaps of fun on the waterslide and rope swing.
Westport to Lyell (Feb 6) 90 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2nJ6shWDiqASqb4h7
Another super hot day...is it suppose to rain on the West Coast ? This is a rarity, 3 weeks in a row without rain...wow ! We had a relaxing start to the day - I replaced a spoke on my back wheel, while Patti went for a swim. The beach is ideal for horse and cart training, which is really big in NZ. After shopping for groceries at New World, Patti spotted a back country road that leads to the highway. We took that road, it was supposed to save us time and distance and cycling away from any cars is always nice. So here we are on 9 Miles Road, an 8 km road that took us all the way to the highway – almost. The only divider between us and the highway was the river. There is no bridge, and we are stuck in a dead end. After looking very closely at the map, there was no bridge and the dot is on this side of the river....darn! We had to track all the way back to Westport to get to the highway, where we were first supposed to go...a detour of only 16 km...or 1 hour of riding. We now know why this road is called 9 Miles Road, it is because the 10th mile is missing...! 2:00 pm, we leave Westport for a second time and cycle to Berlins, a one tavern town who was hosting a Country Music Festival. We had dinner while enjoying performances of various country Artists from NZ, chatting with the locals, a very unique experience. It is now 7:00 pm, and we decided to cycle another 30 km to a DOC campground in Lyell. After the sand flies settled down after dusk, we chatted with two cyclists, Ema and Brian from Australia. Who knows, we may see them again in Victoria in July!
Punakaika to Westport (Feb 5) 72 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yXXhKCSU1HUhKGks8
Another super hot day. We visited Punakaika (Pancakes rocks, Blowhole, Cavern) and got going around 1:30 pm. This was the kind of day where we did not expect long and steep hills, easy riding all the way to Westport ... but guess what...? it was a tougher ride with long and steep hills throughout the day...! It was overcast but humid, we are sweating and getting tired out on the hills. We finally made it to Cape Foulwind, stopped at the tavern...we kind of enjoy the tavern feel...had a big burger and cycled to Foulwind Lighthouse. We spent the night just outside of Westport at Carters Beach, at the Top10 campground across from a beautiful long sandy beach. Patti is in heaven!
Ross to Punakaika (Feb 4) 123 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TReGd7ZsoFEQ1t6b8
Once again, another hot and sunny day. We had an easy 25 km cycle to Hokitaka where we were delayed by the beauty of this little seaside town. After Patti fell into a wild rosebush, she had to go for a swim in the ocean to clean herself up. Then we decided to have lunch overlooking the beach. We kept saying how we wished we had our kayaks with us – great surfing waves and beautiful sandy beaches. We decided to ride into the evening, less traffic and better riding temperature, we did another long day to Punakaika, arriving at 9:00 pm.
Lake Mapourika to Ross (Feb 3) 105 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cGyFCNkqPv3yTRhV6
Another hot and sunny day, over 30 degrees. We cycled in the morning and stopped several times to soak ourselves in creeks, it is very very hot. We stopped for lunch at Whataroa, Patti remembered that she stayed with a family there 27 years ago, she asked the cashier at the general store if she knew them...fair enough, she told us exactly where they lived so we biked to their house and met with them. We chatted for an hour and got on the road late afternoon Pretty much flat, tale wind, we hammered the rest of the day and made it to Ross late in the evening. We stopped at the local tavern. Patti had a beer that knocked her down and decided to pitched the tent in the tavern backyard for $10.00.
Fox Glacier to Lake Mapourika (Feb 2) 40 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3iHoubD9j8cyksku8
We decided to splurge and spend BIG money on...a helicopter ride. Since Patti had never flown in a helicopter, we thought that it would be a great way to visit the area and view the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers and Mount Cook . So here we are flying around, taking pictures and playing the role of rich tourists. We got on our bikes in the early afternoon and had to battle a few steep and long hills to make it to Franz Joseph. After stopping for lunch we cycled to Lake Mapourika, a DOC campground. This was the first water we have been in water where you can actually stay in longer than 2 minutes. It is a pretty little lake, with a mountain view. Other than the wildlife (possums) that kept us up all night, it was a perfect spot!
Nights Point to Fox Glacier (Feb 1st) 97 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/peMJqDF4mUszjtL78
Another hot day, the sun is burning, we had a tale wind all the way. It was surprisingly flat for the west coast. It was basically a riding day, where our main objective was to get from A to B without suffering from heat stroke. We stopped to cool off in creeks and rivers along the way, as well as wetting our t-shirts when ever we could.
Boundary Creek to Knights Point (Jan 31) 125 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GJZYCAnZFD4fHgQ17
It is the day where we have to cross over to the west coast. Haast Pass is 564 m but the climb is gentle to get to the top. The fun began on the other side where the down hill is steep with sharp curves, another bike rush for speed lovers! The rest of the ride to Haast follows the river and it is fairly flat. Since we had the wind with us, lets make it to Haast and get a campsite there. SUPRISE, all the tent sites are taken, no room for us at the campsite, What to do? The evening is great, nice and sunny, a lot of day light left, we decided to keep on going and play it by ear. We made it to Knight Point where we stayed for the night at the DOC camp.
Wanaka to Boundary Creek (Jan 30) 54 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZYrYi31qduPmGCrcA
Patti's bike will not be ready before noon so we took the time to get groceries and wandered around town. It is now time to get on the road, it is 3 :00 pm, it is a nice and sunny day, lets see how far we can go. We made it to Boundary Creek around 8:00 pm. We had a great evening ride, not so hot and the traffic was not so bad, big buses were parked for the day. We set up the tent at the DOC campsite for the night.
Te Anau to Wanaka (Jan 29) 0 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cxDAVPqYTSeuxizh9
We decided to take the bus back to Wanaka since we've already biked a section of that road. We hopped on the Topline bus company to Queenstown and on the Wanaka Connexion to Wanaka which saved us at least 3 to 4 days of riding. Patti took her bike to the shop, it needed a little bit of TLC (Repacked rear hub, new bearing and cones) We stayed at the campsite in town so it was easy for us to go to town by foot. We had supper with Charlotte and John, a Canadian couple we met at the Auckland Airport when we first arrived. It was a great relaxing “Made in Canada” evening.
Milford Sound to Te Anau (Jan 28) 0 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XouS3P41TTSQhvo3A
It is time to ride back. We though about getting on a helicopter to Queenstown, at the price of $600.00 per person. The owner of the company told us to come back at 2:00 pm to see if there were seats available. We decided to ride “in town” and see if there was any people going back to Te Anau. I (Yves) spotted a pickup truck and asked if there was room to take us and our bikes with them. Lucky enough, we had a ride back to Te Anau. A great way to get back quick as we did not want to spend another 2 days, as well as ride up the hill to the tunnel. We meet Lucie and Richard Demers and decided to stay at the same campsite for the night, We had a ride in town with them and watched the semi-final of the Australia Tennis Open in the local bar.
Mackay Creek to Milford Sound (Jan 27) 70 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DyCAX7UE4vyY7gD67
We got up early since we wanted to cycle before the hot sun for the hills. It turned out that it was kinda cold and overcast with a face wind. Despite the elements, we had a great ride and looked forward to the big climb before the tunnel. The tunnel, at an altitude of 900 meters, is a 2 km downhill that took us to another spectacular downhill on the other side toward Milford Sound. 14 km more of downhill, switch backs, stunning views of the mountains, so far, one of the best rides of the entire trip. We took a campsite at the Milford Sound Lodge and decided to take a 2 hours boat tour of the Milford Sound at 4:30 pm. The boat ride was so great, exploring the Sound, it is very impressive.
Manapouri to Mackay Creek (Jan 26) 80 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zP7Gxb66ud7FLmKDA
We talked about renting kayaks, doing an overnight cruise, but everything was booked solid, no possibilities at this time. We decided to cycle to Te Anau, only 24 km and play it by ear once at Te Anau. We checked out few options, nothing really appealing, we had a bite to eat and at 5:00 pm we decided to keep on cycling toward Milford Sound. We cycled 54 km until 8 :00, a great evening ride, where we stopped at Mackay Creek and set the tent up for the night.
Riverton to Manapouri (Jan 25) 132 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hdWmS2ErRxEKqNUt5
We left Riverton at 10:00 am, having in mind that we would make it to Tuatapere, a distance of 50 km. The day is fantastic, the wind is with us, here we are rolling to Tuatapere, stopping here and there along the way, playing tourist. It is 2:00 pm, we are entering Tuatapere. We stopped and had a bite (pizza and ice cream cone). The day is still great and Patti can't wait to get to Manapouri which is still and extra 82 km to go. We had a thought, lets check out the price to be transported to Manapouri instead of riding. The shuttle bus charges $40.00 per person, no way we said, lets ride it. So at 2:45 pm, after already riding 50 km, we are now going for an extra 82 km. The day is still fantastic, the wind is still with us and we know that there is only one big hill to climb, the rest being relatively flat...lets go for it!. The first 40 km was very fast since we draft each other every 10 km, we are going a good pace. My back is bugging me since yesterday so I am not in a perfect riding shape but I am keeping up with Patti...ouf! We stopped and had a water break after 40 km, Patti went and rinsed her shirt in the creek while I laid down and tried to stretch my back as good as I can. The next 40 km is a bit harder since we climb and climb gently, no way to get a good pace and hit that big hill that took us from 31 meter to 409 metres, it is hot, my back hurts and I am tired but I manage to keep a good pace and kept up with Patti. For the rest, it was a cake walk from then in since it was mostly down hill to Manapouri. Arriving at Manapouri, I got myself a good 1.5 L of Pepsi and Patti had a beer. We had supper (bread, peperoni, red pepper and cheese) outside on the picnic table and got a cabin at the Possum Holiday park ($50.00) and relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Invercargill to Riverton (Jan 24) 56 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/c9keYA5Swk8qNecq5
Very windy day, overcast and sunny, on the cold side. We basically rode head down to Riverton and stopped at the campsite after 40 km. The road is flat, not much to see. We arrived at Riverton around 2:00 pm. We stopped and had lunch at the café and decided to stay, the wind is too strong, it actually picked up after lunch time. We rode to the campsite and wanted to stay in a cabin for the night but the price was too high. The owner showed us around and she told Patti that when the weather is bad, people with tents sometimes sleep in the community room. Patti asked if we could stay there for the night and she accepted. We took our gear off the bikes, put then in the community hall and headed out for a ride to discover more Riverton.We rode along the ocean up to the cul-de-sac and then took a trail up the hills. Cross over a fence and ride for a while without knowing where we were going to head out. The trail took us down hill and we were actually riding in horse field. Found and exit, hop over the fence and rode toward the beach. The sand is hard pack so we got off the road and rode the beach up to the bridge. Went to the store, bought some food and head back to the campsite. We had a great day at Riverton, the “panier free' ride was great and we are hoping that the wind will die off for tomorrow.
Curio Bay to Bluff to Invercargill (Jan 23) 135 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yN57rCD6iLurSHem6
We rode with Alex who happened to find my Velcro strap on the road and was fast enough to catch up with us on the road and gave it back. We started the day on back gravel road, up and down and by a lake. Once on the paved road, Alex took the initiative to lead the pack and draft us a long way, long enough to cover more than 60km before 1:00 pm. We stopped at a restaurant for a meat pie and took different roads at the Invercargill intersection. We kept on going to Bluff, Alex to Invercargill. We arrived at Bluff pretty tired, late afternoon and went at the end of the road of the south island. Took a few picture and went for fish and chips. Bluff is not a pretty, friendly, touristy place to stay. After eating and re-energized, we decided not to stay at Bluff and cycled an extra 30 km to Invercargill, it is a nice evening, tale wind, lets go to Invercargill. We arrived in Invercargill at 6:30 pm, went for an ice cream, got a campsite. It was our longest day and we were pretty much tired.
Owaka to Curio Bay (Jan 21-22) 80 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/28cuYwxsN3GuViVC6
What a great riding day! We were able to ride on back roads with very little traffic for the first part of the day. The skies cleared up by late morning and we had glorious blue sky for the better part of the day. We cycled with Alex, a 20 year old racer from Melbourne. Both Patti and I worked a little harder than our usual. I call it a “losing weight day”. As we climbed Florence Hill, the coastal beaches came into view through the clouds – very cool! Followed by a fabulous downhill, we were now on paved road. Our timing was perfect to make a stop at Cathedral Caves at low tide where Patti was in heaven walking barefoot in the sand and playing in the waves. The last hour, the weather turned ugly as we made our way to Curio Bay. We were greeted by another impressive beach view with Hector Dolphins surfing the waves. The evening was spent watching a few yellow-eyed penguins return from the ocean to their nests. There were only 7 pairs on the beach, and we were able to see 3 of them. We decided to stay another day to just hang out on the beach, and take in the wild life and the surf. Patti got up early to wander the beach while I had a well needed rest.
Kaitangata to Owaka (Jan 20) 52 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1EazFsKc6HEGnpVU9
We are still tired of yesterday's ride, the sky is grey, the wind is picking up, not too sure where we are going to ride today. Looking at the map, we decided to go to Kaka Point (We learned later on that Kaka means “shit”...what a name for a place!) We stopped at the local restaurant and check out the map. Nugget Point would be great place to visit but the wind is against us and it is a 14 km there and back before getting back on the main road, lots of steep hills, not too sure if we want to do it. The rain and the wind are now picking up...should I stay or should I go...! We started to think about hitching a ride to go to Nugget point instead of biking. Lyn, who works at the restaurant is informing us about what's there to see and do so on...! We than talked about not going to Nugget Point but because of the wind. She told us “...My shift finishes at 14:00 pm, I can drive you up there if you want...” This is an offer that we can not refuse so we waited until the end of her shift, hopped in her car and off we went to Nugget Point. On the way back, we had a tour of Kaka Point, Lyn drove us around and talked about her little living place. Back to the restaurant, it was a short peddle to Owaka where we found a nice room at the Catlins Coast YHA Hostel.
Brighton to Kaitangata (Jan 19) 81 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/iNdbY6WmnCNJJCeM9
A great gravel road (good conditions) that follows the ocean. Lots of hills, steep hills but great view along the coast. The road goes inland on Gully Road to get around the river (big down hill just before the bridge) and flattens out all the way back to the coast. The last 4 km before Kaitangata is paved and it is down hill...a great way to finish the day.
Dunedin to Brighton (Jan 18) 28 km
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BKPBm8M126KrzUFo6
Sunny but a lot of wind...tale wind...yeah! Before leaving Dunedin, we had one more stop to do, we visited the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. 10:00 am, we are inline to do the factory tour. Since the factory re-opened after being closed for a month, there was not lot of live action in there. We did see the “making of” the Easter Bunny though! We tasted different chocolate bars and candies, etc. Over all, an OK tour...not much to say about it. After being full of sugar and chocolate, we had to go to the food market after and got ourselves a big jug of milk. We are now on the road...almost since Patti spotted a homemade meat pie restaurant, we stopped and had lunch. We are now on he road...almost...I spotted a yard sale sign and stopped at a community centre to check out the items, nothing we needed but it was fun to check if there was a good deal, we also chatted with the locals. It is now 2:00 pm, I think we are ready to roll...not yet. We stopped at St-Clair beach and enjoyed the view. Are we there yet? Now we are ready to go...really? Not before climbing a huge hill because the road detour off a cliff to get around and plunges back to the seashore, maximum speed, 81,5 km/h...what a ride. We made it to Brighton, a short 28 km where we stopped at the caravan park. The tent sites “sucks” so we decided to take a cabin for $60.00. Patti went and roamed the beach for the rest of the day, I stayed at the cabin for a rest.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Middlemarch to Dunedin
Jan 15 - 17, 2010Middlemarch to Dunedin
Distance: 155
Total distance: 2 474 km
Pictures
Middlemarch to Dunedin (Jan 15) 83 km
Overcast in the morning than clearing in the afternoon. It's hill time! The first 30 km is climbing and climbing. Steep and long uphills, the view is magnificent and the reward is a biker burger at Clarks Junction Hotel. After lunch, the down hill to give you a thrill, top speed at 70 km/h, you go down and up and down again all the way to Outram. You think it is over? Think twice. To go to Dunedin, the most direct route is to go over three mile hill since bikes are not allowed on the freeway. Three miles hill says it all, a three mile steep climb to Dunedin. At the end of the day, it is a true 82 km in your legs...but what a great day!
A day in Dunedin (Jan 16)
Sunny day, cool wind, we decided to give our legs a rest and went for a walk down town and on the waterfront. No rest really as we walked all day in the hilliest city I have ever been in. We visited a free museum and went to the steepest street in the world, Baldwin Street. We walked up it and yes, it is very very steep. On top we met a family, 4th generation and they gave us candies called Gaffreys. We thought that it was to eat, but it was to throw down the hill, apparently a long Kiwi tradition. So Patti lined up with the 88 year old great grandma and threw the Gaffreys, for respect of tradition. The old lady was hilarious, and we had a riot with the family at the top of the hill. It is getting late and we still have a good distance to walk so I (Yves) decided to hitchhike just for fun, Patti felt a little bit embarrassed but she put her thumb out with me and we caught a ride all the way to the campground, approx. 5 km, which saved us a good hour of walking, with the last 2 km being up an extremely steep climb.
Dunedin, Otago Peninsula (Jan 17) 72 km
A great, no, a fantastic day ride to the Otago Peninsula. Leaving the campsite, there is a huge down hill to down town, top speed 69 km within 1.5 km, very steep hill. We choose to ride the high road first and then come back on the low road. The high road is steeper to climb but shorter to get to the top. The 9 km downhill to Portobello was great, we stopped at the Portobello Hotel for lunch. From Portobello, we rode to Royal Albatross Centre located at the end of the peninsula, a 12km ride from Portobello. After checking out the centre and taking in the views of the east coast seascape, we tracked back to Portobello to get on the Low Road that follows the seashore all the way to Dunedin. Appreciation: An excellent circuit to ride. The morning was very overcast and the High Road was in the clouds so not much to see, once in while, we had a view but it was wet most of the morning. The road goes up and down and around, very exciting for a cyclist. We didn't find the climb that bad such as describe in the Lonely Planet Book. On the way back, the Low Road follow literally the seashore so close that if you get off road, you are in the water. The wind was with us on the way back, we did good time and appreciated the beauty of the scenery and really enjoyed the ride. From downtown to the campground, the climb starts again - a good push at the end of the day and a reminder that the hills are always there for us...! We stopped at a Chinese restaurant, take away food, and I had a great super sized extra veggies chicken curry and Patti a chicken satay extra veggies too. Over all, a great day...72 km...what a rest day!
Otago Central Rail Trail
Jan 12 - 14, 2010Otago Central Rail Trail
Distance: 178 km
Total distance: 2 319 km
Pictures
Clyde to Omakau (Jan 12) 47 km
Finally a sunny day. After roaming a little bit in Clyde downtown, we headed for the Otago Central Rail Trail (http://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/)
“...Otago Central Rail Trail, or as it's sometimes referred to, Central Otago Rail Trail, Otago Rail Trail and simply, the Rail Trail, takes you on a cycling or walking adventure of a lifetime through 150km of some of New Zealand's most memorable scenery and awe-inspiring gold mining history...”
This is a great trail if you want to get out of the traffic. The trail is sometimes rough and make sure you have good tires on your bike, most of the “touring cyclists” we met had problems with punctured tires. One of the people had to hitch hike to the nearest bike shop for tire replacement. A mountain bike is also recommended, I kind of like the suspension and the 26 inches wheels, it really makes it easier for the rider and for the bike. Taking the trail starting from Clyde is mostly a gentle climb. We had lunch at Alexandra, by the “Shaky Bridge” and the giant Clock. There are great places along the river to stop for a lunch break. We cycled to Omakau where there is a neat campsite, $10.00 per person, it is a great deal. It was a hot and sunny day.
Omakau to Ranfurly (Jan 13) 65 km
A hot and overcast day. The rail trail gets better since it goes through gorges and tunnels. The scenery is interesting, lots of rocks and boulders. It follows the rivers which is easily identified by the trees growing around it. The trail still goes up so even if it is not a steep climb, you feel it at the end of the day. At Oturehua, you have to stop at the Tavern and get a “Big Biker Burger”. It has everything you need in a burger...and more. stopped at Ranfurly campsite and took a cabin, only $40.00 for 2 person. Since the forecast was calling for rain, and for that price, might as well stay in a cabin for the night.
Ranfurly to Middlemarch (Jan 14) 66 km
Rain in the morning, we left the campsite at 11:00 am, the rain had subsided by then and the forecast was calling for better weather in the afternoon. We had a light headwind all the way to Middlemarch with a gentle downhill ride home. Another nice part of the Otago Rail trail. Once again, the bridges and tunnels are back, it makes the ride enjoyable. At Hyde (3:00 pm) we wanted to have a bite to eat but at the Hyde Hotel, the kitchen closes at 3:00 pm so impossible to get food other than the cold sandwiches in the fridge. We kept on riding and had peanut butter sandwiches on the trail. The last 30km from Hyde to Middlemarch is the roughest part of the whole trail. We were really happy to have a mountain bike. The weather held on all day, overcast and colder but no more rain. We made it to Middlemarch for 6:00 pm. After getting milk and fruits at the general store, we put up our tent at Blind Billy's Holiday Park.
Wanaka to Clyde
Jan 5 - 11, 2010Distance: 215 km
Total distance: 2 141 km
Pictures
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZYrYi31qduPmGCrcA
Wanaka (Jan 6) 33 km
It is the day to go play so we went mountain biking at Sticky Forest. The day started sunny and nice blue sky with white puffy clouds. We rode along Lake Wanaka all the way to a campground where we go on a single track trail leading up to the hub. At the hub, we met a cyclist that told us where to go (the bike store was out of maps). We rode up on a nice single track dirt/sand trail to the top and made our way down. Once again, not technical, but a nice riding, cruising down hill trail. Up a second time, we went for a black trail named Venus that took us down on the other side of the mountain, once again, long descend with switch backs. Patti had a smile on her face and so was I. We came up on another single track named g-spot...yeap, g-spot and went for the view on top. We could see that the bad weather was coming in so time to go back home. Back on another single track trail that goes up and down to the campground, Patti's bike chain broke. Dam! The only tool I don't have in my tool box, that day is a my chain tool. Patti walked and rode down to the hill and we used the cable lock to tow her all the way back to town...5 km. While setting up the tow system, I noticed that the sole of my bike shoe is soft, too soft. Sure enough, my bike shoe is broken...shit, a brand new pair bought 2 month ago. It is 6 pm and and we are entering Wanaka, with me pulling Patti. We decide to head for the bike store, Racers Edge in Wanaka, hoping that it might not be closed. Lucky enough, the store manager, Lucy and the mechanic guy, James are still in the store. Lucy asked if “the bikes” were our only mode of transportation...Yes it is, we answered. She then let us in and James took the time...after opening hours...to fix Patti's bike while I am shopped for a brand new pair or bike shoes. 320 NZ dollars later, we had the bike fixed and I am walking out with new shoes. I have to say, they were so helpful and kind to take the time to put us back on the road. It is now 7:00 pm and it is pouring rain - time to go home after a Subway for a hot shower and a good rest.
Wanaka to Arrowtown (Jan 7) 63 km
For this ride, we took the Crown Range road from Wanaka to Queenstown. It is a gentle climb until Cardrona (30 km) and then, a steep climb up to 1080 m for approx 6 km. On top you get a great view over Queenstown and Lake Wakapitu. The reward is a steeper down hill on the other side through a series of sharp curves and great speed! Just when we thought the fun was over, we pulled out to a view point that display another down hill covers with switch backs all the way to the main road. So far, the Crown Range road is one the best “down hill roads” (top 10) we experienced in New Zealand. We rode by Arrowtown, a very cute old gold mining town. We took a river trail into town and then decided to rent a cabin at the campground since the weather was turning bad.
Arrowtown to Queenstown (Jan 8) 30 km
It is cold, cloudy with a sky threatening rain, but we still decided to ride into Queenstown, a short distance (30 km) The wind and the rain picked up but it did not discourage us from playing tourist, stopping here end there, visiting the area (Arrowtown Chinese settlement, Lake Hayes, Old Lower Shotover Bridge). We really enjoyed riding along Lake Hayes, a great gravel trail high up on the hill. Arriving in Queenstown on a Friday evening, it was pretty hard to get a room since there was a Rugby Tournament this weekend, everything is fully booked. We finally got a room at the Pinewood Lodge. The sky cleared out at the end of the day and we went for food and a walk in town. Patti got very excited when she literally got picked up by a bunch on “testosterone Puffy Buffy” rugby team boys.
Queenstown (Jan 9 - 10)
It is cold outside, it is like our winter in Victoria. The rain is coming down hard and it is around 10 degree. Winds picked up a bit, not the weather to ride in. We planned to ride the Mayora Lakes Road, a 84 km gravel road across the Eyre Mountains toward Te Anau. To get there, you have to take the TSS Earnslaw, a steam ship to Walter Peak station but there is no way that we will get on that wilderness road with these weather conditions. The only thing we can do right now is to wait!
Queenstown to Clyde (Jan 11) 89 km
Since it is still very cold and raining, we decided not to go on the Mayora lake road. Instead, lets go inland hoping for better weather. We left Queenstown under heavy rain, full gear on. We stopped at Kawarau Bungy Centre (27 km), for a break and to get dry and also to watch people bungy jumping off the bridge...quite entertaining. 1 ½ hours later, we are back on the bike, the rain has stopped, we continue to Cromwell. The road follows the Kawarau river, a scenic highway, winding, mostly down hill... a pleasant surprise. The landscape is quite interesting, rocky, nice mountain views, a really enjoyable ride...! At Cromwell (61 km), we went grocery shopping at New World and headed out for Clyde, our final destination for the day (89 km). The weather held on pretty good for the rest of the day but as we were deciding on a campsite or a cabin, it started to rain very hard so we took a cabin for the night.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Christchurch to Wanaka
Dec 28, 2009 - Jan 5, 2010
Christchurch - Rakaia Gorge - Geraldine - Fairlie - Lake Tekapo – Omarama - Wanaka
Distance: 541 km
Total distance: 1926 km
Christchurch - Rakaia Gorge (Dec 28) 101km
On our way on the inland scenic route, this ride was an easy one since it was slightly down hill all the way to Rakaia Gorge. It was a great opportunity to ride distances down south. Rakaia Gorge is a pretty place and the camp site has a great view overlooking the gorge. If you want to spend money, you can jet boat the river choosing from one of three different companies alongside the river.
Rakaia Gorge - Geraldine (Dec 29) 87 km
Another easy ride, not much to see. Geraldine is a cute little town. Since Patti's cousin is named Geraldine, we made her a tribute by taking pictures of “Geraldine'. The campsite, right in the middle of the town, when full, is not a great place to stay since we were squeezed in between camper vans.
Geraldine - Fairlie (Dec 30) 48 km
The climb starts. I think we must be in better bike shape as we climbed Burke Pass in our middle front gear – a great cardio and personal challenge. Patti cursed me most of the climb, but was with me all of the way! What was really impressive was the family we met from Holland, Richard and Erica and their 2 young boys (2 and 4 year old) who are biking throughout NZ – pulling the kids, the gear and the toys – WOW! Fairlie is a good place to stop if you do not want to put the distance from Geraldine all the way to Tekapo. The Top 10 Holiday Park is great, internet is free...yeah! There is great facilities and it is located walking distances from town to get food and supplies.
Fairlie - Lake Tekapo (Dec 31, Jan 1-2) 49 km + 43 (rest day)
Happy New Year! A short ride but a beautiful view at Lake Tekapo. Arriving at the campground, we were told to pitch the tent in the overflow site, which happened to be right alongside the lake, away from “tent city”. We had the best tent site of the whole campground! The next day, we decided to take a down day and went for a 41 km ride...go figure. We rode to Lake Alexandrina and then rode the 'hiking trail”. While going back to Tekapo, we decided to ride up Mt John to the Observatory, a 4 km steep climb that takes you on top of the world. After a cheese cake and drinks at the café, we decided to take the trail down but the wind had picked up...I mean really pick up - up to 130 km/h which was to strong to stay on our bikes. So we made it out on the trail for the first down hill but had to get back on the road, the wind was way to strong, Patti couldn't stand upright and it was getting a Little bit dangerous to keep on going. Back on pavement, the wind was so strong that it pushed us, without peddling, up a small hill and strong enough to feel the acceleration on flat...something we never experienced before. Back to Lake Tekapo, we were worried about the tent and the tarp...will they still be there? Lucky, everything was still at its place, only the tarp was rapped around its line but the tent held on pretty good. We didn't think the wind could get any stronger, but that night it did. We didn't sleep much as the wind howled around us. Day number 3 at Tekapo was really a down day – we didn't leave the beach even to skype Patti's sister, Lea-Ann , from our tent site. Very cool!
Lake Tekapo - Omarama (Jan 3 - 4) 93 km
After 3 days at Lake Tekapo, we rode to Omarama, a 93 km ride under heavy rain but mostly down hill all the way. The sun came out around 2 pm after riding in heavy rain. We wanted to ride up Mt Cook but because it was overcast and raining, it was no sense to go up a mountain with no view. We decided to keep on going at least to Twizel and see how we felt. At Twizel, we had a late lunch and decided, since we were already wet, to ride an extra 30 km and make it to Omarama where there is a Top 10 Campground with all the facilities. Arriving at Omarama, the sun came out and we pitched the tent, had a hot shower and dried our gear. The next day, Patti got sick (something she ate) and stayed in bed for the day, while I did maintenance on the bikes. She felt better around 4 pm and got some food.
Omarama - Wanaka (Jan 5) 120 km
Our longest distance to date... Looking at the road profile (elevation, passes, distance, etc), we thought we would only make it half way. Lindis Pass was supposed to be the challenge of the day, but compared to what we have already ridden, it was an easy gradual climb with an amazing downhill payoff. Gotta love it! We were at the pass by 12:30 pm. After an ice cream break at Tarras, the last 35 km to Wanaka was harder than the first 80. We had to battle a head wind, which made the whole distance feel like uphill all the way. We are now in Wanaka, and plan to spend a few days checking out the area...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
A day in Geraldine
This is a tribute to my cousin Geraldine... Geraldine is a small town, a country village, of 3500 people in the central Canterbury. Geraldine has atmosphere, with majestic old forests, early settlers cottages and little arts and crafts corners.
As you can see, Geraldine is every where so we had fun riding through the town taking pictures "in" Geraldine.
Other than my cousin, who is Geraldine? Originally called Talbot Forest, Geraldine was renamed FitzGerald in 1857 after the first superintendent of Canterbury, the Irishman Edward FitzGerald. The name was finally changed to Geraldine, which was the FitzGeralds' family name in Ireland.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Peakakariki to Christchurch
Peakakariki – Picton – Blenheim – St Arnaud – Hammer Spring – Hununui - Christchurch
Distance: 458 km
Total distance: 1384 km
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/5eooVH5E2GRFA3D38
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/1nx9NwBCNsCPc2Ro7
Paekakariki to Picton (Dec 16th) 33km
The morning started with a 4 km climb (the Paekakariki hill) that led to a spectacular view of the coast. We then had a long and winding decent to Pimmerton where we caught the train to Wellington.
We may have spent 5 minutes in Wellington between train and ferry...here's why. We got to the ferry at 2:10 pm, the ferry leaves at 2:15 pm. As we rolled our bikes into the terminal, we were asked to get on but we hadn't even purchase our boarding pass yet...not much chance to make this ferry. The ground crew told us that we have 2 minutes...hurry up and get your boarding pass. Patti rushed to the counter, while, the crew held the ferry for us. Quick quick quick, no credit card or debit card accepted, the computers are down, Patti had enough cash to pay and we got on without a voucher or any proof of purchase, no time to wait for a receipt, the ground crew rushing us to the train deck, here we are on the 2:15 pm ferry on route for Picton...that was a close call! We'll spend time in Wellington wnen we return to the North Island.
Picton to Blenheim (Dec 17th) 41 km
A good back wind and mostly downhill all the way to Blenheim. We stopped at Annie's food factory to get some dried fruit. We then met Toni and chatted with her. After we informed her of the Christmas Cracker event happening in her own town that evening, within a couple minutes she then invited us to stay at her place. She is the owner of Fanny Adams Superior Underwear (http://www.fannyadams.co.nz/) . This evening, I got my Christmas present early, and played my new harp at the Cafe Cultura open mike night!
Blenheim - Wairau River (Dec 18) 42 km
Thanks to Dennis, we stopped in Renwick at Windsong Orchard where we met Jenny and Bob. After trying our hand at blueberry picking and then visiting over a great lunch, we had to battle a strong wind, gusting up to 100 km/h. We only got as far as the Wairau River Hotel, midway between Blenheim and St-Arnaud. After having dinner, I did not feel very good and I got sick, food poisoning, so I did not have a good night sleep...!
Wairau River to St Arnaud. (Dec19) 70 km
And easy ride, just a hill to climb about 12km before the turn off for the Rainbow road. For the rest, it was downhill all the way. At St Arnaud, we stayed at the Travers-Sabine Lodge. We stayed there an extra day, I took the next day off to recover, Patti went for a 25 km hike along Lake Rotoiti. There is only a general store if you want to get food at very high prices. We now learned that it is not the price anymore, it is more about if it is available...just like the Queen Charlottes Islands.
St Arnaud to Sedgemere Hut – Rainbow Road (Dec 21) 59 km
Sedgemere to Hanmer Springs (Dec 22) 62 km
According to our plan, we were supposed to keep riding toward Westport on the west coast but Patti read about an alpine route that crosses the Wairau Valley called the Rainbow Road.
The Rainbow Road is a 115 km gravel road that crosses private land between St Arnaud and Hanmer Springs. The road was built in the 1950s when the electricity pylons were built through this area to supply electricity to the Nelson and Buller regions. It is a spectacular road that takes you to the heart of the mountains and lonely landscape. The views are stunning while following the Wairau River. About half way, we stayed at a DOC hut for the night and finished the crossing the next day. The second half of the ride is mostly downhill but not before climbing to 1350 m to the Island Saddle pass. For the rest, it is a gently down hill all the way down to Jack Pass, just before Hanmer Springs. After climbing over Jack Pass, not that hard of a climb, there is a steep, very steep 6 km descent to town on gravel...be careful and hold on to your breaks, it is steep!
The road can be rough on the bike and equipment so be prepared and bring extra spare parts for potential breakdowns. Patti's rear rack brackets broke. Luckily enough, I had bought a spare one in Canada (can not find the same bracket in NZ...it doesn't exist). At Hanmer, we met Kevin, a Kiwi who used to live in LA. He works at the bike shop. We decided to go mountain bike the next day with him since he offered to take us to the trails.
Hanmer Springs to Hununui (Dec 24) 56 km
9:00 am, we hired MTB and took off with Kevin on the trails. Kevin is a former MTB racer in the states, who just moved back home to NZ two weeks ago.. We took off for a good 2 1/2 hours going up and down on single tracks. It wasn't great until we decided to interchange the break cable on the bikes. Yeap, in NZ, front break is right and back brake is left, the opposite of what we are use to on our North American bikes. ..can you imagine...we tried to adjust but going down on a steep hill at full speed, no time to thinks about which is front and back. We had a great time, great trail, it was a good rush!
We than decided to keep on going on our trip and cycled to Hununui, about 60 km out of Hanmer Springs toward Christchurch. We found a great campground, 5$ a night, not heavily use by tourists, mostly locals. Fully self-sufficient except for one major thing...toilet paper. I (Yves) had to ask a camper for TP. Shari, offered to give us a roll so we followed her to her camp site where the whole family (Mom and Pop, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces) gather for Christmas for the last 5 years. We ended up having a bubbly and a fuzzy and got invited to their Christmas Brunch on Dec 25th. Toast, bacon and egg, that was so good. Later that evening, we had pudding with the whole gang. On Dec 25th, I slept most of the day and Patti went for a soak in the river and exploring the area on foot.
Hununui to Christchurch (Dec 26) 95 km
Easy easy ride, a great 95 km downhill with a back wind, we flew all the way to Christchurch. After checking out all the downtown bike stores, we stopped and hung out at the Square for the evening. We finally booked a room at the Stonehurst Lodge , walking distance from the Square. We decided to stay another day and need to figure out if we will go to the West Coast or take the inland road (weather dependent). We also took the time to do a major bike clean up...chain, gears, etc.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Taumarunui to Paekakariki
Taumarunui - National Park – Ohakune – Pipiriki – Otumaiare – Wanganui – Foxton – Levin - Paekakariki
Distance: 437 km
Total distance: 926 km
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/C9wnrvj2zGuwTsge7
Fine cuisine : For burger lovers, you will be pleased to know that you can get in NZ a burger that covers all the meals of the day. It comes with a beef patti, bacon, a steak, an egg, brown sauce (HP), salad, tomato and of course, fries plus at certain restaurant, a green salad. Talk about a burger...mmmmmm good.
At National Park, we took a day off and went for a 8 hours tramp, 21 km, (tramping is hiking in NZ) to do the Tongariro crossing. See pictures at: https://goo.gl/photos/dVVxJuze1G6ssDho7
At Ohakune, we went up the “Old Coach Road” To ride through the Hapuawhenua Tunnel build in the 1920's. It was a good ride up hill to get there, no panier, super light. The next day, we rode to Pipiriki - a fantastic road that goes through valleys, loose gravel that threw me off my bike. Luckily no damage to the computer or me. We set up camp at Bob's coffee shop for free but not before having a swim and ice cream. We kept on going on the Whanganui River Road that follows the river - narrow, single lane and gravel for some good variety. We camped at a DOC (Department of Conservation) camp site. The following day, we completed the ride to Wanganui where 3 kids on BMX bikes escorted us through town to local bike shops...all of them were closed!
Our longest ride so far was from Wanganui to Foxton (110 km). Initially, we had to cycle on highway no.1 with a super strong back wind that took us to Bulls in no time where we stopped for our first North American fast food at ...McDonalds. Now full of carbs, we made it to Foxton not without battling another strong wind that blew us off road when gusting. Change of plan, we decided to get off the highway and take back roads to Foxton which made the day a little bit longer. As if it wasn't enough, the wind danced with heavy rain that soaked us to the bones, So wet that at Foxton, we broke down and checked in to a motel....ah so good!
Now fresh and clean, we road the next day to Levin, we arrived at 11:30 am. This is the day where the equipment started to fall apart. Patti's front rack broke just before Levin. I had to improvised a support with zap-strap and electric tape until we made it to Levin. We found an engineering company that specializes in welding aluminium and had our front racks fixed. Now it is my freewheel clutch that starts acting up...darn! Levin has has a great bike shop who took my bike right away and fixed it. It is now 4:30 pm, we are still in Levin... we decided to stay for the night and rented a cabin at the “Levin Motor camp and Holiday Park” From Levin to Paekakariki, after riding the no. 1 highway for about 30 km, we got on the Kapiti Coastal Cycle Route that takes you along the Coast through residential areas with beaches and wonderful ocean views. We finally stayed at a Backpackers hostel for the night.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Raglan to Taumarunui
Dec 1-5, 2009
Raglan - Kawhia - Te Anga (Hotel) – Waitomo – Te Kuiti - Taumarunui
Distance: 298 kmTotal distance: 478 km
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/C9TBeTffZGu9XR286
About New Zealand
In New Zealand, we quickly found out that there are two kinds of hills, steep and F@#$% steep! For reasons that only Kiwi understand, instead of building roads around the hills, they build them straight up...and straight down. No kidding, these roads are absolutely great for cycling, the climb is challenging and demanding with fantastic views and the descent is so exciting, sharp curves, narrow roads at top speed up to 70 km/h...men what a rush!!!!!
Also, food is expensive in NZ....more expensive than Queen Charlotte Islands... and pop is also more expensive than wine. A 750 ml bottle of Pepsi or Coke sells at $2,40 but you can buy a bottle of wine starting at $5.99...go figure!
Camp sites are also expensive, $15 to $20 per person but the “Top 10” rated campgrounds offer great facilities such as full kitchen, hot tubs, pool, laundry room, etc. Very clean and well maintained, you can't go wrong with them. In smaller communities, campgrounds offer sites for $10 per person. It also possible to rent a small cabin for $45 to $80. In Te Anga, the owner of the Hotel let us sleep...in the hotel (bar). Since there was no campground to be found and it was pouring rain, late afternoon, she offered us to sleep in the hotel. After a few beers with Patti, she walked back home leaving us alone in the bar, we only had to lock the doors and sleep on the carpet for the night.
Police are not armed, it was very strange to talk to a police officer that looked “bear”. No gun, no teaser, not handcuffs, basically, no belt with all the bells and whistle.
In NZ, you can drink in your car if you are not the driver and you can also drink in public.
As we cycle the country side, it is amusing to see the herd of cattle and sheep running away from us...they are use to cars, not cyclists. Patti also found out that the fences are electric...no need for more explanation. As for myself, the kiwi accent is hard to understand, Patti has to explain the meaning of certain words...I just don't get it!
The people we met so far are very friendly. We had the opportunity to sleep in a real bed in Buckland and Te Quiti and on the Tavern floor in Te Anga.
Since Dec 1st, we ha a lot of rain...did I say a lot of rain?...pouring rain but we manage to keep the gear dry. The tarp does a wonderful job over the tent and staying in houses also helped.
We are now use to the “left driving (riding) thing” since I almost died on the 2nd day of the trip. Crossing the street, I looked in the wrong direction, the small pickup truck slammed the breaks, locked all four wheels and stopped at less than 1m from my bike...a very close call but no one got hurt...thank God! The driver told me “you are a very lucky guy”, I told him “You are dam good driver!”
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Auckland to Raglan
Nov 22 - 30, 2009Auckland to Raglan
Distance: 212 km
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/gsK9z6mBDiemLmxg6
It has been one week since leaving Canada, and already so many stories to tell: Received a fabulous welcome from fellow kayakers, Paul and Natasha and hoping to attend the Coastbuster Kayak Symposium (http://www.mmcl.co.nz/CB2010); Got oriented with maps, money and traffic in Auckland; Set off out of Auckland by train to Papakura; Picked up in Buckland by Antony and Roger who have a habit of collecting travellers and spent the night at their place; Soaked in the hot pools at Waingaro; Strolled the surf beaches of Raglan! So far, so good!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Getting tuned up
It's time to ride... The bikes are now ready and so are we! We are riding to get our butts in shape before the big trip...ouch!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Getting Ready
On November 22, 2009, we are flying to New Zealand for a cycling adventure. - Destination AUCKLAND. I am looking for bike boxes (2) so if you have one or know someone who has one, let me know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)