24 March

Two days ago I went and picked Michelle up from Manapouri. It was a lovely drive.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipP6tDneq3whMtMhxQ9ckGnVAjM-lYD-KEwPQE0N
The snow was thick on the high mountains.
We came back to Gore via Bluff. I thought that we couldn't send her back to America without having seen the end/beginning of the road. As always the views from the hill were amazing, although Stewart Island was hiding.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMICXPCmsO7j7Db2d0-qcbYeGruzhp4u3exJTth
We decided that we would ride the Clutha Gold Trail from Lawrence to the Roxburgh Dam. A few months ago this would have seemed impossible to me - a two day ride in one day! And we didn't get to Lawrence until midday so we really only had the afternoon to cover the 73 km.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNOII7R4Fkh0XECqPoChpZpgQQ9iiva1yopMcfG
This is us at the beginning. Note the medal sround my neck. Michelle thought I should wear it while riding but I declined. I got the medal as I had completed the journey from Cape Reinga to Stirling Point. Thank you to the Invercargill City Council who think that it is a journey which needs to be acknowledged.
It was a lovely day for a ride. The river was slightly high and discoloured but still had its usual greenish tinge.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNl0jsYylGy7Fl_CjISakpFxr8a0Jw6UZkGs1Yl
We made the dam at 6.15 which was pretty good time really.
Then we took Michelle to Alexandra, helped set up her tent and went for dinner at Monteiths Brewery before we left her there to return to Gore.
There was wildfire puting on a spectacular display from Ettrick to Gore. I was so tired I just wanted to sleep bu then I didn't want t miss the display either. It was trying to rain when we arrived in but we didn't get wet so that was a bonus to a wonderful day.

15 March

The day started overcast and the day comtinued that way. It was lovely to realise I was so close to Pam and Billy's place so we called in to say hello. KylieAnn arrived as well. She had a ride on the bike and I think she liked it almost as much as I do.
I carried on and there it was. Bluff Hill was finally in sight. Not that I was going up the hill.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMCPjAMtP6d10FxEi62RajgZqonNcV4f_hDcF9P
Carried on into Invercargill and at the Waihopai bridge I met a couple of other TA riders who were getting their photo taken with a genuine Southlander. I got talking with the woman and discovered she was Marea from Kaikohe, and she knows Shelley. How linked are families in New Zealand! Amazing!
 https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOJ4H4a6KVrHMqJPkHxR4RiJ1vMTvTLdRx7pljV
We rode the Waihopai Trail together and then we saw a white heron. By the time I got the camera out it was flying off.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMSPt2ISHPrmgERKgHbm5cxmrBlg_tgu0PP50OU
Not the best photo but the best I could do at the time.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPcnUdQql3h8HtjypO4WQ4VW93vw5GaZy1xSGDK
Finally I had made it. There was quite a crowd at Stirling Point. There were other cyclists and TA walkers.
And then Carlitos stood in front of me. It was such a surprise to see Tammy, Carlitos, MightyJoe and Te Rau.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNF9Ri6UAekvDXRjC6yTXPYLAbO951GHIuYWyOb
Ron and I went home with Winsome and Brent and stayed in their lovely home for the night. I am so lucky to have such a lovely family. The view across the harbour was something it would be possible to sit and watch forever.
My journey has finished but I will continue cycling.
I have loved the travelling. We have met fabulous people and seen parts of NZ that I would never otherwise have visited. I would highly recommend that you do something similar befor eit is too late.

15 March

Not so cool this morning but that sky is looking ominous.

14 March

View from the top of the Avondale Hill. I love Southland.
I didn't love this road so much though. Southroads have decided that the road needed regravelled - just in time for the Brevet. It was thick and difficult to ride in. I ended up riding a good deal in the grass at the side of the road.
In case you don't know the Brevet is the same ride as I am doing but self supporting and to be done in between 10 and 30 days. That's a minimum of 100 km per day every day for a month. Those people really don't need a road to be harder than necessary. On the plus side the actual hill climb was sealed.
This afternoon the wind picked up. Mostly tail or side wind but as we got closer to Winton it was turning. With a little luck I will get to Bluff tomorrow about 2 and miss the rain.
We are staying tonight with Jenny and John. It is so nice to be able to catch up with friends.

14 March

If it was the UK and there was a pile of rocks like this then it would be the site of a Neolithic burial. Here in NZ it is just where some farmer has been clearing paddocks for cultivation. I hated that job when I was a kid.

14 March

Looking back toward Mossburn.

14 March

There is a definite chill in the air these mornings. We left just after 9 and that was just in time to be on the road with the tourist buses travelling from Queenstown to Milford. Luckily it was only for about 3 km and then we turned south. There was little or no wind at road level but the White Hills wind farm mills were turning lazily.

13 March

The sky was threatening all day and as I pulled into the camp there were some spots of rain but it came to nothing.  Dinner at the pub. Our food supplies are getting a bit sparse.

13 March

I loved how the trees made a tunnel on this tunnelless trail. It was warm and still and scented inside. A welcome respite from the wind.
The section of trail from Athol to Five Rivers is bedevilled by gates. Sometimes there are gates and cattlestops. It made what could have been very pleasant slightly less so.
Lunch at the Five Rivers Cafe cheered me up and the downhill to the Lumsden bridge was good. There were other riders in the trail -all going the other way.
After the bridge came the long straights to Mossburn.  And the headwind. There was little shelter from the wind and it just kept getting stronger. I was glad to get into shelter at Bracken Hall. Marilyn came and joined me for a cuppa. It was good to catch up. Ron went and booked us a cabin . It is cold tonight.

13 March

There is little evidence of how much of the Round the Mountains trail is actually rail trail. There is the yards and lines at Kingston, the station at Fairlight, and these, almost hidden.

13 March

These huge puffballs were beside the trail just after Athol. I have never seen such big ones. There were quite a few mushrooms about too. And the apples are  ripening. Some trees have better tasting apples than others. They mostly have a tartness missing from apples now. We have become so accustomed to sweet.

13 March

Near Athol. The day was chilly with a light breeze. We had a lovely evening staying with John McIvor. I can highly recommend staying there. Look out for Naylor House accommodation in Nokomai.

12 March

Beautiful views on this valley. And so nice to be riding without traffic.

12 March

Peter Rabbit's tree. This has been extended since last time I saw it.  The children at Garston School have done a great job.

12 March

Kingston. The end of the line for these guard's vans - or maybe the beginning.  It was the beginning of the Round the Mountains trail for me. I had already ridden from Frankton.  Tail wind today. Bring it on.

12 March

Outside the door tonight.

12 March

The first crossing of the Mataura.  I wish it still looked like this in Gore.

11 March

We stayed in Cromwell last night with Steven and Bev. This morning as we were about to leave Ron discovered my back tyre was flat.

10 March

There are great views up here

10 March

Made it to the top of the Crown Range. My legs felt like jelly. The back wheel did not feel right either. I stopped a couple of times on the downhill to check it but it seemed OK. Ron thought that when I said the bike felt as if it slipping at the back I had the speed wobbles. I thought that if I didn't get the speed wobbles at 70 I wasn't likely to get them at 45.

10 March

The road was incredibly busy. At this point I was pleased that most traffic was coming towards me but that changed. It was the Wanaka Show, Motutapu,  and the Wanaka Rodeo. Plus the usual tourist traffic.

10 March

The inscription on this read shine on. And on the Tour sides were written love laughter beauty passion. It is at the outflow from Lake Wanaka.

10 March

Kayakers enjoying a great day on the river.

10 March

The Hawea River bridge.  Once across here the Hawea River was left behind and the trail followed the Upper Clutha.

10 March

One of two created waves for kayakers to play on.

10 March

Do it was off down the Hawea River Trail. There were a lot of rabbits on this busy trail.

10 March

Lake Hawea Holiday Park.  The morning was clear and still. And cold. But no wind.

9 March

At the highest point on today's ride.

9 March

Looking towards Hawea. There are a few hills between yet.

9 March

Lake Hawea on the other hand was blue and sparkling.  And the wind was as bad, if not worse.

9 March

Wanaka looked dark. But beautiful as ever.

9 March

Head of Lake Wanaka.  The wind is still blowing. Harder than yesterday. Hopefully it will be better over on the Hawea side.

8 March

View from the tent tonight. The stars were beautiful.

8 March

The Makarora river. At last a river flowing to the east.

8 March

Oh my goodness I was pleased to reach the top. We had stopped for lunch at Pleasant Flat and met two Tour Aotearoa riders. We gave them water and in one case food. I left before them and we stopped at Makarora. They were planning on going much further.

8 March

Haast River.

8 March

The Gates of Haast bridge. The river here is stunning but it is a very dangerous place to stop. Here is where the climb really started.

8 March

The valley is beautiful.  If it wasn't for the wind it would have been a great ride.

8 March

The pretty Orman Falls. Next was the Imp's Grotto but it was too dangerous to stop for a photo. 

8 March

Leaving Haas and heading up the valley. There was a headwind, and if you look carefully, you can see the silt being blown about from the riverbed. This headwind continued all day. At times there was some shelter but not a lot.

4 March

Lake Ianthe.

4 March

Big sandflies at Pukekura. Nothing much here but a shop/cafe/bar with rude owners. No one was taking care of the shop. The cafe had two signs.  One said open and the other states it was closed.
It was also for sale.

4 March

There are some very long straight stretches on this part which was an old railway line. I stopped an had a chat with a German man who was touring the lower South Island.

4 March

The trail is quite lovely despite the rain and the pain.

4 March

This is on the Mahinapua Walkway, part of the Wilderness Trail. It was just after I misjudged the height and width of an opening between two posts. One post caught the handlebar and off I went yet again. My left hand landed on the right hand brake lever which had made am interesting bruise.  Something hit my arthritic toe and something else scraped my shin and has left bruises and swelling. Luckily nothing broke.
It was fine leaving Liz and Cliff's place but was raining by Hokitika and rained steadily until I was almost at Ross. We had lunch there with a couple doing the Tour Aotearoa Brevet. And then it was inward to Harihari.

8 March

This lovely scene belies the reality. There was a head wind. It was a blistering, boisterous wind, blowing directly down the valley. Pedalling was hard work. I was conscious that there were 50 odd km to travel before the climb to the pass so I was trying not to use the battery.  The wind played havoc. It would stop and just as I thought I was getting underway again back it would come. Sometimes it waited until I rounded a corner and there was a hill and in it blasted again.

7 March

Haast River. We stayed at the camp. I asked the boss man about the weather for tomorrow and he thought it would be much like today. I mentioned a tail wind but he said no.

7 March

Knights Point. Just before here several cyclists passed me. They stopped in the car park. It is a large group of Australians cycling for charity.

7 March

Lake Moerangi

7 March

I love these cascades of green. 

7 March

A glimpse of the mountains.  Lovely to see considering that all I have seen the last few days has been the edge of the road.

7 March

And then came the lively Bruce Bay.  The storm had caused some damage here too. Driftwood was piled up on both sides of the road and in places the road was under repair.