Day 21 - Wellington!!!!!

 I’m just over half way!!!  Whoop Whoop!  I didn’t think I would get this far!!!!…,one day one km at a time.  

Thanks to everyone following and commenting and texting.  Not sure if you know, but the even has a website where you can track everyone.  It’s at ta26.maprogress.com   My name is Loose Wheel.  It’s fun to see how everyone is moving along.  

I think today was the longest riding day so far….but it’s done and I’m eating dinner now…at 9pm!

I got up early-0630, and to my great surprise, no dew this morning on the tent.  Yippee.  A quick pack up and off into town to find a tea and breakfast.  A nice quiche and a cinnamon roll and off I went.  I wasn’t in a hurry this morning….just enjoyed the day…even the gravel roads leading to the rail trail.  Nice quiet back roads and I stopped often to take photos.  

The start of the rail trail was after 25km of cycling on paths, paved and gravel roads.  At the car park the rail trail began….single track, up and down, super narrow with steep drop off….but I managed.  That was the first two km, the next 4.5 were a steady 7-8%grade all the way to the summit.  It was actually ok, and I was able to cycle all of it.  At the first tunnel I pulled out my front lamp, and walked through it…same for the second and third.  They were between 150-250m long.  Much too long to attempt without some kind of light.  

And then I was at the summit.   Awesome….and the downhill was a gentle 2%…..even better.  I’m not comfortable on the steep gravel downhills, but this was perfect.  I knew it was about 10km….and I watched the markets counting down….but wait, at the 7km mark there was an uphill….a steep uphill.  What?  I checked my Garmin, I checked my guide book….yup, turn off and go up hill….steep.  It started at 11% and went up to 17%!!!!  What is going on????  For 1.5 km.  I was pushing my bike up this steep hill, putting my bike in a track, while I walked where the grass was growing….but there were thistles in the grass….scratching my legs with every step….up and up….ughhhh!  When I was almost at the top I met someone coming the other way…..’what are you doing here’ he asked.  I explained that I was on the TA and the route came this way.  No….he shook his head.  Both paths lead to the car park….but the original one just kept going down…while the one on the route was up!!!  *%#%€>+.  You can fill in the blancs, and I said them all!!!  A change just for this year!  

After that it was still 48km to Wellington, and it was after 3:30!  I needed to get a nice on.  A few missed turns, a few extra km….but eventually I was close.  I got onto this perfect path, and was wondering why I was the only one on it….after about 1.5km security arrived!  It was closed, and I missed this sign too.  They should put the signs at my eye level….I’m not used to scanning the sky in case something might be there!!!!  😀😀😀.  He was kind, but escorted me to the proper place to ensure I got going on the correct path.  

Eventually I made it to the hostel, and got some food.  It’s going to be be an early start tomorrow, I need to be at the ferry before 0745….its only about 2km away….but with my lack of directional awareness who knows how long it’s going to take me😂😂😆

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Day 20 - Martinborough

 Nice easy day today….just 50 km and 280m of elevation gain.  I took my time and just enjoyed the day on paved backroads.  A place where you don’t see a vehicle for 20+minutes until you stop for a comfort break 😱😂

A short day today, as tomorrow I will make it all the way to Wellington….just over halfway on this journey!  Yeah….I’m starting to feel like I’m going to accomplish this.  There are still some long and difficult stretches ahead, but I’m getting there. 😀😀😀

I’m in wine country here, lots of tourism and of course grapes growing!  

Day 19 - Haooy St Patrick’s Day!!!

 Another fabulous day of cycling on my own….quiet backroads just enjoying life!!!  😀😀😀

Loving the scenery and all the cows and lambs….not liking the associated smells so much!  Everything is still very green, but there are signs of Autumn coming, some of the leaves on the trees are turning yellow and starting to fall.  And many of the flowers at the garden gates are fading.  Such a great time to be out as it’s not as warm….temp today was mid 20’sC.  Glorious.  

Photo checkpoint #13.  Eketahuna Kiwi

I rode into the town of Eketahuna and started looking around for the giant Kiwi.  Kiwi birds cannot fly.  As flightless nocturnal birds native to New Zealand they have evolved to live on the forest floor relying on strong legs for running rather than wings for flying.  

This giant brown Kiwi at Eketahuna was adopted from the Mount Bruce Wildlife Sanctuary just up the road, where Kiwi are bred.  It’s coloured white at the moment in honor of a famous white Kiwi that was born at the sanctuary in 2011.  During national rugby games, the Kiwi is painted black.  

It was a nice easy ride into Eketahuna….just a few hills.  The next leg getting into Masterton had a total of 15km of gravel.  It wasn’t too bad….3-4km at a time with pavement between.  The gravel was deep at times, but only a few hills which was great.  

I booked a cabin at the campground tonight….the biggest luxury is a towel….a real towel that is a proper size - heaven.  It’s nice to be indoors too because outside the tent gets soaking wet with dew, and I hate to take the few hours it requires to dry off, as sunrise is at 0720 in the morning right now.  Sunset is at 1930 so I really have to be careful to make it to a town before it gets dark.  

Thanks to everyone who is following….and a special shoutout to Terry and Julio!  😀😀😀😀

Day 18 - Pahiatua

 Another fabulous day in paradise!!!!  Well - if your idea of paradise is not eating all day….cycling 90km and smelling your sweaty clothes all day.  😂😂😂

We had a lovely evening at the tavern…..the food was fabulous, and there were only a few other customers there.  The two couples from Edinburgh pointed out an alternative route for today.  The book had us going to Ashhurst via 31km of gravel roads, and 11km of pavement.  Gravel is not my favourite, especially when it’s deep.  The alternative is a bit longer, about 200m more of elevation, but it’s all in pavement.  Worth a try.  

Well the alternative was fabulous.  Minimal traffic and just a great road.  One hill was a bit steep that I had to walk a bit of it, but otherwise it was great.  Passed by so many farm yards….and saw so many with beautiful flowers.  Lots of sheep again today…..even saw a sheep herder.  Not on foot, and not accompanied by dogs….but rather was racing along behind the sheep on a dirt bike!!!!  An older gentleman with a button up shirt, and an Australian type dark brown wide brimmed hat, racing around on a dirt bike!  It looked like so much fun 😀😀😀

I got into Ashhurst and everyone was waiting for me….I was about to enter the grocery store for some food….breakfast and snacks was only two granola bars so far, and it was 1:30.  They were adamant….so I headed over….surprise, Mary a trail Angel was there with a coke and muffin!  She has been doing this for years….watches the website, and is ready for when the cyclists arrive.  I sat down and had a 45min visit with her.  So lovely.  Drank down a chocolate milk and headed off.  

The first hill was massive, but I rode up the entire way….stopped twice to take some photos.  Just a couple of hills, and then it was mostly flat….with a headwind, that changed every time we turned a corner to go a different direction!  Finally I was in town.  Annabel had made arrangements for a cabin for us….allows a quicker start in the morning.  So I headed to the only restaurant in town that was open….takeaway.   I ordered two cheese burgers and fries….chatted with another cyclist- Bill from London who wants to cycle across Canada!  Those were the best two cheeseburgers ever!  I was so hungry after not really eating all day.  I almost wished for a third!!!!😂😂😂

So a nice night in a warm cabin, with new friends….a great shower and laundry being done.  Trying to figure out how far to ride tomorrow.  

Day 17 - new friends 😀 in Apiti

 Last night I met Freddie from Canmore….nice but so strong and fast that we won’t be cycling together.  I also met two couples from Scotland and Annabelle from London yesterday.  One of the guys is riding the tandem on his own, while pulling a trailer!  His wife isn’t comfortable on the gravel, so has purchased an e-bike to finish the tour.  We cycled together today, and are in the same place tonight….tenting in the backyard of the tavern.  Very nice company.  

Today was another great day….just 11km of gravel which helped to make it a great day!  Lots of great views, and the hills were manageable 😀.  Love seeing the yards with all the flowers.  The topography remains quite hilly, and looks of sheep grazing here, very few cattle, while farther north it was the opposite.  A warm sunny day….and just awesome 😎 

Tomorrow will be slightly longer day….longer as I’m going to try to stay on pavement the entire day instead of a long day on gravel.  I think all the others are going to do the same.  Edging closer and closer to Wellington every day!!!!  I’m thinking 5 days before I’m on the ferry to the South Island.  

I have made so many friends, and we catch up every few days.  Except for Elizabeth….we check in daily.  She is only one day behind me….so strong, she cycled the three days that I skipped on the bus and I’d only one day behind.  Amazing.  The people of New Zealand really are the best, and it’s the people that make the country.❤️❤️❤️  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me up ahead!!!