I have discovered that posting pics to signal reduces them a lot so then save from signal allows me to post them here. Sometimes the phone takes less than the limit sometimes more 
. Im baffled
I dotknow if todays pics have posted. If anyone can see them please post
Can see pics TJ 👍
hiya, Im enjoying the thread. The pictures have uploaded and the tent pitch looks quite tranquil.
It's ruddy weird. I still cannot see today's pics nor two post I have made
Yes, can see loads of sunny sky!
Now the pics and several posts have appeared. Someone gave the hamsters a kick
Thought the upgrade would have moved us on to something a bit more robust. Rats maybe.
Anyone know any good recipes for Wekas? Theiving wee barstewards stealing my food and this morning I caught one stealing my soap.
Ffs
Canoe guide when I was in NZ said 'tastes like chicken '. I think that's allegedly.
Quite comic beasties and at least they don't shriek all night like Kiwis and have less tent attack instinct than Kias do.
PS hope Buddha granted you a peaceful night.
Anyone know any good recipes for Wekas? Theiving wee barstewards stealing my food and this morning I caught one stealing my soap.
Are you leaving food unattended?
It's a problem in Oz at popular campgrounds because people feed the wildlife so they become accustomed to it. The risk being that the get aggressive. I think you'd freak out if you see a Goanna coming for your 'nanas 🤣
Fabulous day today riding the wilderness trail. Almost all off road. Not much more than a thousand feet of climbing that went well. Lovely trails thru dense forest right up to the foothills of the southern alps. Loads of lovely singletrack including a long winding descent. 
How's the Liv holding up tj?
Thieving bloody Weka came into the porch of my tent and took a bag of cereal bars.
I think im going to have a rooftent on my ute in Aus. Aus wildlife scares me
I think im going to have a rooftent on my ute in Aus. Aus wildlife scares me
just sleep on the trayback. You could even pitch your tent on it. Ute we had, had a huge canvas tonneau on the trayback so we just kipped under that in swags. Felt like a proper adventure when we crossed the Simpson. But a tent up there would’ve been better.
Arrgggghhhh
Folk are replying from the post count but i cannot see the posts. Cant even see my own. Hit the big button please Mark.😜
Whoohooo
I can see it now
How's the Liv holding up tj?
Tickety boo.
Had to replace a worn out rear tyre and straighten the mech hanger. Thats all. Glad i put a 22 tooth granny ring on it.
Im broken not the bike. Easy day back to the coast tomorrow a d pick up a hire car. Im just not going to make it to see the best of the south on the bike. I seem to have gone into limp mode. I can spin along the flat fine but the slightest hill im doing 3mph in granny gear.
Ill still do some day rides.
Lovely sinuous singletrack
Well thats the last day of touring done. Im back on the coast in Hokitika which is a faded port from the gold mining years. I pick up a hire car tomorrow. I'm just not going to be able to get right down south on the bike and have any energy to do anything once im there. The next section is mainly road as well.
Todays ride was short. Just 20 miles and almost all dowhill. The slightest upgill had me in granny gears doing 4mph. My ecu is fried and I'm in limp.mode.😜
Ill drive to the south now and i wont be doing daily updates as it don't seem right seeing as this is a cycle forum.
Ill probably do some day rides and ill post those pics
I stll cant see the repies😭
Definitely keep the updates coming.
enjoy your adventure
Yup, keep the updated and pictures coming. Much better than looking out to the gloomy Scottish weather
We do like the pictures and updates....but perhaps TJ may want a rest and chill out without social demands from the other side of the world;)
The key is flexibility....and beer....which helps flexibility...:)
Not sure what the rules are for bringing stuffed birds back to UK...maybe just go with a nice BBQ...
Enjoy!
Cycling up hill at 4 mph is normal for me and always has been
It disnae feel right doing a daily update when I'm nor cycling but have a few photos from the south west anyway.
I did ride a bike today. Just a 25 mile out and back along the lake then river. More fabulous scenery. It was the right call to bail on the tour but it was nice to be back on a bike particularly with no luggage 
A few more
Absolutely amazing TJ. Good call on not flogging yourself to death on the bike.
Tried queenstown again. No room at the campsites. £300 for a hotel. FFS. Found a DOC campsite not to far away. I hoped to do some canoeing here but to windy and the don't let you go far anyway.
I also visited Bannockburn
Im bailing on queenstown 
It was way back in spring 2001 when we visited, but we really weren't enamoured by Queenstown and only spent one night there - plenty of other quieter and less touristy places to go so you really aren't missing out.
I think last week was the coldest I’ve been. I’m not sure if it’s age or just not wearing the right clothes. But the wind chill on walks was brutal. Not so bad on a bike with more heat generated internally. So yes enjoy your ice cream
Thats my last day of cycling in NZ more than likely. Im back on the coast at Greymouth and just did a few km along the coast to the very start of the west coast wilderness trail. Ive been driving around the south doing the tourist thing. Friday I get a train over to Christchurch and have a couple of days there then on to Australia.
Im disappointed to have had to bail on the cycle tour but I'm content it was the right call. I would never have seen and done the things i have otherwise. Ive had a couple of half days on lakes in canoes. Ive seen mount Cook and Milford sound. I've seen the worldsfastest Indian and exored Dunedin and found the sister stone to the one that's a hundred metres from my flat.
The stone from Edinburgh in Dunedin 
Random scenery dump 
Burt Munro - the world’s fastest Indian (motorcycle).
Awesome stuff and definitely the right call. You still did a hell of a lot of touring by most people's standards too!
I maybe reached 1000 miles but maybe less. 50 000 ft of climbing at a conservative guess
Well rhats tbe end of that. Sold the bike; spares and magic plastic hat for $300. That means the whole thing cost me around $550 dollars or £250.
I think thats an ok result.
All in all mixed feelings. Im disappointed to give up early on the tour but it was the right call. The trails were tougher than I expected both in terms of surface at times and climbs.
I did miss some classic rides
I still did a great tour and managed to see most of the country. I have a slight unfinished business feeling but i doubt i will be back.
Onward to the next thingy
Congratulations!
Keep us updated with pictures on the next stage of the trip. Have fun.
That unfinished business feeing give you something to look forward to doing later. I prefer to call it a day before the trip becomes a route march.
Well done!