Aweinspiring trip Mike! I have really enjoyed your blog and have felt myself along for the ride without the discomforts that you have put yourself through. No doubt it is those discomforts that would have made the good moments so special.
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on a marvelous achievement!
creative ideas Your idea about the glass wipers reminds me of your thoughts for me to go on the road pedaling those boxes of african music CD's that have been in our garage for years. I'm still thinking about that one.
Its kind of funny that you are getting soaked down there while we are still in drought up north.
We're thinking about you Mike!
Ross, Sarah and Tai
Hi Gordon, I'm glad I offered a few minutes of escape from time to time. Hope life is treating you and Patricia well - be keen to catch up at some point. Regards, Mike
Thanks Louise Great to hear from you. I don't know about "inspiration" but it's all been good fun. Just going to have to drag Judy along on the next adventure. Love, Mike
Congratulations Hi Mike Congratulations and am very proud of you. You are an inspiration and I will be telling your story for a long time to come. Enjoy the easy ride home and enjoy the last days in the South Island. Louise
well done Mike --- I'll miss those few minutes reading from time to time about your journey. They transported me away briefly from this world of news of which you know only too much about. It was a grand experience and thanks for sharing it with me and your other readers.
Cheers
Gordon
Hey Mike,
I have really enjoyed keeping up with your travels throughout New Zealand (especially when I had assignments looming - it was the perfect and justifyable procrastination technique - like now with my 4000 word that needs writing!!).
It has been great to hear that you have completely enjoyed your 3month break which resulted in some amazing experiences for you and incredible photos.
Can't wait to catch up properly!
Fiona :)
Places Still To Go Hi Chris, How nice to hear from you! The places you mention are ones I haven't got to yet. Having just reached Bluff, I'm at a bit of a loss about what to do next. But am working on it. It really is a different world down here, and you sound as though you had a good time touring the Dunedin region etc. All the best, see you back in the office in May. regards, Mike
Cycling I've just returned from a trip to Dunedin, Oamaru and gorgeous back country environs and every cyclist I saw I thought might be you. You're everywhere, in the middle of nowhere, taking photos, peddling along empty roads, stopped for a drink. Even though I knew you weren't in that area, you might be eventually, and I've seen what you must feel as you peddle along. (That's a bit weird, but I'm sure you know what I mean!) Love, Chris L.
Nice to hear from you!!! Hi Margaret, Lovely to hear from you. Yes, I remember meeting - we were trying to work out which native trees we were standing under! Will keep an eye open for you next time I'm in your patch. regards, Mike
Getting Colder Hi Lesley, yeah, the icebreaker gear would be a good idea. The temperature here is all over the place, freezing one moment and lovely hot sun the next. Always a nip in the air once the sun goes down. Take care, see you in a few days. cheers. mike
Fantastic Scenery loving your blogs...see you soon...we leave tomorrow for Picton in 1 day...ferry sails 7. 25pm.
Off to a beach wedding in an hour, so have the sleeper van set up, bed made for an earliyish get away in the morning!
think we''ll take icebreaker gear to the SI!
love Lesley
Such a delight ... ... to read you and see your photos - "Shovelling Down the Food" has such a fantastic background. I sit and sigh at the beauty of it all. And I loved the Kotuku bulletin. Hope you got my reports that the climb went fabulously well - postcard sent to Summer Street. Will send more detail/photos to Judy. xx
Wilkin River Valley shot What a lovely photo...looks almost like a painting! Am really enjoying your SI journey...pre Alasdair and Fiona I would go to the SI every year, tramping...not as strenous as you and Judy, you understand! Mind you, I still seem to find excuses to get there...Enjoy.
Snow goose Hi Mike, As a child, my brothers and sister would all sit around the old PYE gramaphone and listen to the snow goose on vinyl. No matter how often we listen to it, it never failed to bring a tear to our eyes.
I had no idea that this attraction existed. You have given me another reason to go to the South island.
Okarito Mike, I have the tour you did in mind for Spring one year soon! When we stayed at Alister's, 2 years ago, I kayaked up the Okarito Lagoon, with the tide, and found kotuku around the first bend. I was delighted, as had been to a DOC lecture when I was 16 at Franz Josef and never had a chance to get closer to them. Truly lovely birds. xx
Kotuku in Otago Hi Wayne, yeah, maybe there's more of them around this part of the country. Nice to hear from you - you must be on the late shift in the newsroom. Cheers, Feral Mike
A LATTE SIPPING, PONSONBY DWELLER GOES ADVENTURING BY BICYCLE
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THE BIG PLAN
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I made a solo cycle ride from one end of New Zealand to the other over the southern summer - 2009/10. I kept off the busy highways as much as possible, and even managed a few 4WD tracks in some of the more remote corners of the country. I finished on 9 April 2010 and returned home ... full info
Ross
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Aweinspiring trip Mike! I have really enjoyed your blog and have felt myself along for the ride without the discomforts that you have put yourself through. No doubt it is those discomforts that would have made the good moments so special. Thank you for sharing and congratulations on a marvelous achievement!