A Northerner goes South...

Bags are packed, we're ready to ride. Bikes are waiting on the drive. We hate to leave here but we have to go. We're leaving, on our ebikes (though Andy says we'll have to hike!)... [with apologies to Peter, Paul & Mary; younger readers can ask Google].

I'm new to this blogging malarkey, so this will probably look crap and not work as you might expect. Bear with me as this old dog learns new tricks.

It is intended to be a shared record of our adventures on the Tour Aotearoa cycle route down the South Island (of New Zealand). It may of course turn into a whinge-fest of sore limbs, numb bums, lots of hike-a-bike and swearing never to do anything like it again (or in fact, just swearing!). We depart Picton bright and early on Thursday 19th January. Wish us luck!

Comments

  1. RejoyceJanuary 28, 2023 at 9:36 AM

    I hate to be a pedant (although with Simon I always make an exception), but actually P, P & M stole Leaving on a Jet Plane in 1967. It was John Denver who wrote and recorded the song in 1966 when he was just 23 years old. It was included on his debut demo recording as “Babe, I Hate to Go.” He made copies and gave them to friends as Christmas presents that year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RejoyceJanuary 28, 2023 at 9:42 AM

    Meant to say that THAT comment was very late as it has taken me all that time to figure out how to be allowed to publish comments(!)
    (Btw, I know that that THAT that that that qualifies is in all caps.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simon and MargJanuary 28, 2023 at 7:57 PM

      I was aware it was a John Denver song but not the alternative title (only because I had to Google it to make sure it was PP&M not the Seekers😉). But PP&M's version is better known!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What a difference a day makes...**

Arapuni to Mangakino 54.7km The sign could have said North. Cross the swing bridge and turn right to rejoin the Waikato River Trails NORTH. If they really want to be kind, they could even say turn right for North and turn left for South. Which is why we did a 2.8km loop around Arapuni before finally picking up the WRT in the right direction. We'd set off wearing our warm tops because the day had dawned bright and clear and chilly. By the time we'd wound our way through the single-track toward the dam, at the top of the final climb we had to stop and strip off. On over the dam, uphill the other side and on out into the farmland. Sudden stop by Marg. 'I don't have my gloves'. My offer to return the 3+km to where we'd disrobed was (thankfully) refused, and we continued, in discussion about where another pair of gloves could be sourced. While stopped I also posted on the TA FB page where we thought they were lost and where we are staying tonight. I was also hopeful ...
Read more

Papa don't breach

Image
Whakahoro to Pipiriki 40.9km (+33.7km jet-boat ride) The forecast was wrong today. Again. And boy were we happy about that! For the last week or so, it's been forecast to rain today, and it didn't. Well, there was just a shower as I write at 22:30, so I guess it wasn't wrong, just mistimed. Any road up, as we said in Lancashire, we are mighty glad we are here a day earlier than originally planned. We arrived bang on schedule on Plan C. Plan A was to spend a rest day in Forest House at Blue Duck Station, where our friend Sandy is working in the cafe for the season, and Ken was taking the opportunity to finish off some building work on the owner's house. We would enjoy some good company, wine, proper home-cooked meals, beer, and a touch of deluxe living. Did I mention they would bring wine & beer? Completely rested, we would enjoy a leisurely ride over the 'notorious in TA-world' Kaiwhakauka/Mangaparua tracks to the Bridge to Nowhere, and a jet-boat ride to Pi...
Read more

Well_ngdone!

Image
 Featherston to Wellington 83.2km Day 31 of 30! If you're wondering about the title, we (I) originally intended to ride on through to the sign at Te Papa and make the final photo 'Welliington'. But instead of the 4km extra round trip from Bluebridge I settled for a quick half at Trax before catching the last bike-friendly train home! A blustery, slightly chilly start from Magnolia House just before 8; the gale had abated but the wind turned Southeasterly overnight, with a hint of a shower in the air. We never felt more than a few drops, despite the cloud being well down on the Remutaka as we cycled out to rejoin the route. The forecast was for morning showers coming through from the South, clearing to a sunny afternoon, so we were going to meet and pass through any weather coming over the hill. Long sleeves while riding for the first time in the trip... The run out to Cross Creek Road was longer than I recall, the cycle track weaving on and off the road shoulder as we cross...
Read more