Even after the big day i had yesterday i was feeling great. great clear morning but my worst fears, theres was still a really strong wind. the trip want gunna be easy. I farwelled my new friend and had to clime out of this place but that was the least of my problems. I road the 5k north to cape Reinga and with ease mind you because of a tail wind. the cape was really nice clear sky. It was about a 1ks walk to the light house so i road down there. It was amazing to see the clashing of the Tasman and the pacific oceans was a great sight. Some Mauri (native)people believe the cape is the jumping off point for the soul into the next world. So after a good look around i ... read more

The day started bad, the old guy in our dorn snored all night long and even with ear plugs he keeped you up. I stated heading north east and there was a head wind from hell. Im not sure what speed it was but im sure i was rolling backwords. but i new as long as i could get the 30ks to Hokianga harbour i would be set. 30 ks isnt far but the wind was so strong i was lucky to be doing 10kph and when you have a avg of 18ks it kills ya. About 15ks in with wind strill hard in me face i got sight of another solo bike rider she was comeing at me, and flying i must say. We stoped and chated for a bit s she was was quiet ... read more

Early start but daqm sore body. My arse kills and a very tender hamstring. Im gunna have to get a new bike seat ASAP. Ive desided on a short day today to try and recover. i got about 50k then got to Dargaville then had to stop at backpacks were sore as. I got the whole backpackers to me self and it was a nice place as well. The owner told me of a german couple who went up the west coast then cam back 2 days later. They just couldnt do all the hills and they were a fit couple. They waited at a train station for 4 hours then worked out that the train station no longer works. But the bottom line, they couldnt do it. This coast is gunna be interestiong. Im gunna ... read more

First day on the road trying to get out of auckland was shit. Within 5ks the straps on the peded some how undun themself. So with no screws to put in it cable ties will do, i got heaps of them. I sat lookin at the motor way for a bit knowing i shouldnt, but were thinking bout it then the cop pulled up nexted to me. "Dont even think about it" he goes. So i gussed i had to go the long way following highway 12. Once out of auckland i was laughing, Well for about 10k anyway. Then the hills begun i thort i might just ease into it but no went from nothing to shit hills in seconds. Was a dam hard slog for a first day but i guess i better get ... read more

Well where do i begain well at the start i guess. I came to NZ last year i started in feb 2010. Once i bit the bullet and quit my job stored away anything i wanted to keep (no dout you all will agree that the hardest thing just doing it) I hitchhiked for 7 months covering all the south island and most of the north but loved ever secend i was here. Hitching was easy and the people are just great. I got home in nov 2010 and i wasnt happy i didnt get everwhere i wanted i missed Northland and arnt rdy to settle down. I read a huge number of books while i was away and read one that really hit home and got me thinking (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Cycled-World/dp/0593062337) Hitching was great but going more ... read more