The nerves arrive. Im awake at 6am despite my ferry being at 11.15 and 10 mins away. However I think i will repack as I didnt pack in a logical way last night.
Just sat at laptop...6pm here awaiting FA cup game on TV...you'll be fine, steady away on the hills....and away....
Loving this TJ!
You will be awesome and laugh at the hills
Now that i doubt very much ?
Plenty of time for a haircut, marginal gains and all that.
First mishap. While loading up the bike a car reversed into it! I was going to give him hell then realised that it was completely hidden in a bush. Broke a pedal but no other damage..
Went to the bike shop for new pedals which was fine but left my card in their machine.
Now waiting for my ferry to pine harbour.
Don't panic ! Arrggghhhhhh.
Brutal climb this afternoon on forest roads into th Hunua park. I think ill lose signal as i drop into the valley where the campsite is. 3 or 4 miles to the campsite. Bloody pannier mounts broke. Thats what i get for buying halfords not ortlieb. Easilybodged tho
Top of the climb. Best part of 2000ft. Took 3 hours ingranny gear
Nice. Love the updates. Enjoy
Flipping freezing here this morning.Mucho jealous.
That sounds fantastic.
I was there about 20 years ago, so it’s probably different now. One thing thst won’t have changed is the ferocity of the ocean at the southern end of the eastern side of the north island. Absolutely awesome, in the literal meaning
Have a good time.
Have a bloody good time!
Lovely campsite last night but it got rather cold in the night.
Took my bike for a lovely walk up a sodding great hill this morning but now heading to the coast again hopefully getting a cold beer
Disaster. The pubs shut
Time to join the dry January thread?
Pfftpt
Ta
I might just do that
Pub closed?
Now that is a disaster.
This is great news, I look forward to the pics and reports to get us all through the gloomy weather here. Enjoy the ride
Enjoy.
Just don't talk to any strange women.
9 hrs sleep. 2 cups of coffee. Bowl of porage. I feel like a new man.
Not a cloud in the sky. A flat days ride ahead
Yipeeeeeeer
Awesome! Loving this thread and the pics*
*except the one of you with a lid on - stuff of nightmares!
Second breakfast
Just as i was thinking its time for a break I found a random chair nailed to a tree right beside the trail
Crisis averted. When I enquired hopefully about beer on arrival on the campsite this lovely lady gave me one
Result!
40 miles today thru coastal flays with mangroves then an old railway thru farmland. No hills. The railway route has sun shelters every few miles and each one has a bit of local history on borads and a route map and milage chart. At least one more day on it
Looks and sounds incredible!
Thanks for the updates; it's a lovely diversion to dark & dreary old blighty.
*looks outside at snow
*looks at TJ's pictures
*consults credit card for trip to NZ...
*consults credit card for trip to NZ…
*Weeps quietly.
*Applies for new credit card...
Have a couple more pics
Ohhh that last pic is pretty inviting....
Have a couple more pics
What's the plan for when the flat bit turns into that lumpy bit in the distance?
Looking amazing this TJ....I have left the house once in 4 days FFS....really not getting the work/life balance thing very well so far in 2025. These pictures are going to make me redress that!
Every picture brings back amazing memories of the times I’ve traveled around NZ. Thanks TJ, I really wish you a great adventure!
T.j - Have you seen any interesting birds/wildlife?
The purple ice cream - what flavour please?
