My Adventures Down Under (ooh er,missus)
Spectacular Coastal Scenery
Whilst everyone at home was safely tucked up in bed on Christmas Eve and Santa(Amazon) was out delivering those Rapha Kashmir finger bootees, Assos elbow warmers and Oakley diamante sunglasses you were no doubt all hoping for, I was part way through a 44 hour journey and flight that would take me from Birkdale to Auckland in New Zealand.
I have now started a 3 month trip which will see me ride around the North Island before crossing the Cook Straits to circumnavigate the rugged South Island. Then from there I plan to fly to Sydney for the last part of an epic tour of the Antipodes.
The week between Christmas and New Year was spent in Auckland recovering from the journey and jet lag. I did, however, enjoy some cycling around the coast in the 30◦ temperatures and summer sunshine, much in contrast to what I believe was seemingly endless rain experienced at home, although things would change soon enough in that respect.
Like being an Audaxer, sheltering in bus stops
After seeing in the New Year with a spectacular firework display in the harbour, I set off on the first part of my tour of the North Island on 2nd January with a 2 hour ride in heavy rain. On reaching Bombay (I might have misread the map, there) I crossed the Hunua Ranges on a roller coaster 12 mile ride before ending up at Thames, my port of call for that night, after an 82 mile day in the saddle.
Sunday 3rd January saw me heading around the coast to Coromandel in wet & steamy conditions before climbing the longest steepest hill I’ve tackled for many a year, in the scorching heat. With 4 further climbs it made for one of the toughest days I have ever done on a bike not made any easier with panniers. The day ended for me in on the coast at Whitianga.
Nev & Thelma at home in Cambridge
Nice Jersey that, Nev. Can see it from 12,000 miles away.
The following day was again a hilly one, taking me southwards down the eastern coastline to Waihi Beach where I was able to meet up with Southport CC stalwart Nev Holgate. As you may recall, Nev and his partner,Thelma, emigrated to New Zealand in 2012 and now live in Cambridge. I spent a couple of days with Nev who took me on a tour of the area including the newly built National Velodrome where we were able to watch the national squad train. As you would expect from such a sadly missed couple, they treated their clubmate to great hospitality and shared their vast knowledge of the area to help me with route planning, accommodation etc.
Trip Advisor 5*? You must be kidding!
After leaving my friends behind, albeit briefly, it was back on the road, this time to the spiritual home for the Maori people in Rotorua and then on to Lake Taupo. Here I was able once again to meet up with Nev & Thelma who took me back to the coast to Napier as the mountain roads are too dangerous with huge logging trucks thundering past struggling cyclists. Anyone who has ever read Josie Dew’s book “ Long Cloud Ride” will appreciate the dangers of sharing the road with such vehicles in some of the more remote parts of New Zealand.
After a brief stop in the famous Hawkes Bay wine growing area, the next leg of my journey takes me on a 3 or 4 day 200 mile route to the city of Wellington, the nation’s capital to boot!
To be Continued……………..
