Time Out Drive/Cycling Exploring New Zealand 2021 - 2022

Ten months exploring New Zealand

Robin Capper

Robin Capper

— 13 min read
Time Out Drive/Cycling Exploring New Zealand 2021 - 2022
All but three...

I spent October 2021 to early August 2022 exploring New Zealand both cycling and drive/cycle road tripping. This index was updated as that journey progressed, not always to plan, with links to blog posts and other external resources.

'The Why' and 'The Plan' sections have an overview of how I decided to do that, initial plans, and changes along the way but I've since retro-blogged 'The Reality', in depth as it happened, with near daily significant ride/drive summaries.

The Reality:

InkedTo21-22_Map_LI_2022-07-26
Ride areas completed to August 2022


This is what I've been up to:

Planning | July - Sept 2021

Looking back:

Blog Posts by ride base:

Total Distances:

  • 2021-09-25 to 2022-08-06
    • Cycled | 7882 km
    • Walked | 172 km
    • Driven for South Island Road Trip | 6034 km
    • Screenshot 2022-08-07 Total Activies
      Ride, Hike, Drive, Summary (click for full image)
  • Great Rides Done: (a couple more were added as I rode!)
    • Screenshot 2022-05-19 130022
      Aqua = Great Rides Completed (click for full image)

Relive videos of all rides/hikes:

Relives are 2–3-minute video summaries of rides showing the track and photos taken along the way.

Auckland | 25 September 2021 to date

Auckland region in lockdown August 19 to December 15

Codes in the Index: RobiNZ Personal Blog RPB | RobiNZ CAD Blog RCB | Flickr: FLK | Twitter,: TW | Relive: RL | FB: Facebook | Ride Number: TO2121-## | Social Media Tag: #TO2122

The Why:

On July 26, 2021, at 12:41 I stopped cycling, snapped this photo (how I know the time), absorbed the view and decided...

Limestone Downs - About 8km South of Port Waikato

A few weeks before, July 9th, I saw Kiwi (albeit US based) musician Greg Johnson at the Powerstation; a stunning evening:

Greg Johnson on stage at the Powerstation 2021-07-09

Since then, I have been listening to his ~200 Track 'Box Set' on repeat or shuffle. At 4:32 on August 3 I was wide awake, thinking about some upcoming work changes, and the phone shuffle playlist picked one of my favourite tracks, from the early 'Vine Street Stories' album: 'Don't Wait Another Day'

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBF4hiaoqEw&w=480&h=270]

Taking that advice, I picked up my phone, fired up OneNote (how I know the time) and wrote what I said at work later that day:

Thanks for sharing the new tribe/chapter/squad design with me yesterday (Mon 2nd). After due consideration I have decided, although included, I do not see a place for me in it.

What next?

I've yet to visit Europe, had saved for that but then COVID-19 changed the world. With no desire to travel anywhere for a long time, even though fully vaccinated, I'm taking this opportunity to invest some of that locally with a summer break in New Zealand.

It will be from October to at least the end of March. Then I will decide what's next, find my Lemonade Stand?*

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBfczLmeUsQ&w=480&h=270]

* Greg shared how hearing wealthy friends talk about their retirement plans (shares, investments etc) made him think about his own...

The Plan @ 25 Sept 2021 (COVID-19 status permitting)

I have no firm plans for the next few months but have put together an evolving list of things to consider:

(re)Connecting

With myself, people, activities I have drifted away from...

Was looking forward to seeing/doing more with Alfie which wasn't to be but (if anything) it reaffirmed this move.

Cycling/Drive Touring

Visiting parts of NZ I haven't been, or which have changed since last visited. I have travelled/cycled most of the South Island but that was before most of the cycle trails were established. Have yet to visit Golden Bay/Farewell Spit or spend much time on the Wairarapa Coast so those go on the list.

  • Italics are tentative, removed if completed or confirmed.
  • Links in this section will go to resources, like area or cycle path sites, not my content:

Local

  • Woodhill MTB
  • Day/overnight trip | Any time
    • Waiheke (Jan 2022)
    • Great Barrier
    • Manukau South Head Awhitu (Jan 2022)
    • Kaipara North Head (Pouto)
    • Kaipara South Head (Jan 2022)

North Island

  • Northland Revisit | 2021-12 | Cancelled due to COVID lockdown and area vaccination status (purple)
    • Whangarei Heads
    • Twin Coast (Hokianga to Bay Of Islands) reprise
    • Waitangi MTB Park
  • East Cape/Napier Revisit | 2021-12 | Cancelled due to COVID lockdown and area vaccination status (orange)  

South Island

InkedTo21-22_Map_LI

Reading

This is a few of the books I own, but haven't had the motivation to read... now with time...

Just some of the To Read heap

And that is all. Was surprised how little time I had, or felt like, reading other than on-line content. Carried the Fiat book on my whole South Island trip without opening it!

Listening

I haven't listened to much music recently. if did it was just a background shuffle. Now I'm listening to music, not tracks, not shuffled, albums, as the artist intended. 

Work through my backlog of thirty-One episodes of Matthew's brilliant "Ice Coffee: the history of human activity in Antarctica', and about 30 hours of Sean Carroll's excellent, but demanding, Mindscape podcast.

Gear for the trip

  • Tailfin Aeropack Top Bag: This adds to my existing Tailfin rack. I got as found in wet weather opening the panniers for 'mid ride' stuff, like camera or money, let in the wet. Having that sort of stuff in the top bag will be much better. Also allows a more 'bike packing' (rear bag only) setup for tighter trails.
  • Personal Locator Beacon: For when I get lost.
  • Full Suspension Mountain Bike: Recommended, strongly, for the Old Ghost Road Track. I could either rent, just for the track, or buy...

And whatever else comes to mind...

Another view of where that photo was taken. Waikawau Stream Valley, Limestone Downs, about 8km South of Port Waikato.

Waikawau Stream Valley, Limestone Downs, about 8km South of Port Waikato

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