I had a late night watching F1 on my phone as mobile data was faster than WIFI. Awoke to grim weather, cold and wet, and it didn’t look like it was passing. At breakfast Bas suggested a change from the scheduled ride to Kurow. We jumped in the bus
Sunday dawned (very) cold and (comparatively) fine. After breakfast in Twizel our destination was Lake Ohau Lodge for lunch. I’d ridden in this area before, on road long before the trail, but was looking forward to revisiting it from a new perspective. Up early after staying up too late
The short walk to breakfast and view across Lake Tekapo was sufficient to see the forecast grim weather had arrived. The good thing about riding with people with extensive local knowledge is they know where not to go. Instead of battling head/side winds, and rain, on the first part
Travel
The start of the A2O Cycle Trip proper meant getting rid of AHBART for a week. I’d been offered a free secure park but it was on the opposite side of Christchurch from where I was staying so had an early start. Although Friday, workday for most, there was
Driving the Inland Route from Kaikōura to Waiau
Finally got “Rapid Rob’ out of the car and, from this photo, it is pretty clear why I need to take both wheels off to get it in! It was warm enough but there was lingering low cloud, or sea fog, which I hoped would burn off. The plan, as
Had a very early start for the interisland ferry. Other than it and getting to Kaikōura by the evening I had no other fixed plans for the day. Not much traffic on the Wellington motorways at 6:00am, even though it was a normal weekday for most. Bluebridge Ferry check-in
The only cycling activity today was fitting my bike back into AHBART for the trip home. ‘Bart’ had been safely stored across the road from Left Bank in their secure parking area. It was that which made the trip viable, five days parking for a very modest cost which could
A four-day ride based on the Pou Herenga Tai - Twin Coast Trail and some road riding around the Hokianga, Bay of Islands and (based at) Kaikohe
Another fine day, so much for the tropical cyclone forecast! Had breakfast in the motel (self catered) and set off for Paihia on the ferry from Russell. I was the only one on the little ‘Waimarie’ ferry, not Fullers. The skipper, solo crew, was busy doing chores most of the
I was glad to see the sun shining when I woke up on Sunday morning. The plan was a relatively short 45km trail ride to Opua with a ferry ride and short road section to my overnight accommodation in Russell. That gave time for a leisurely start with breakfast in
Awoke to better weather, still overcast but warm, no rain and still no wind from the threatened tropical storm. Opononi Lighthouse Motel was great, quiet, clean and right on that beautiful harbour front. It was straight back on the bike, I skipped breakfast in Opononi as had another destination in
