24/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 39 - a much needed rest (half) day.

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Distance cycled: 57.7km from Greymouth to Lake Mahinapua campground (DOC), South Island, New Zealand
Average speed: 21.9km/h
Moving Time: 2h38m
Elevation Ascended: 213m
Total Distance on Current trip: 2,760km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 5,647km
Money spent: $17

Taking things slow and easy was exactly what both Spencer and I needed today. These things involving Sleeping in, gradually and slowly packing up our things and spending 5 hours in the Library playing catch up on all things Internet related including making a plan for the next week or so of cycling - we didn't leave the town of Greymouth till after 4pm.
We took the west coast trail south towards Hokitika that was a new cycle trail that was more than entertaining with hard packed gravel path specifically for cyclists.
It's nice once in a while to have a bit of a change from always cycling on the highways and not having to worry about stupid motorists that often get too close to you.
Our pace was excellent with a slight tailwind blowing us along the coast with not a single hill climb that hindered our speed and as such we were able to cover some considerable distance for such a short day.
I know I said yesterday that the coast line would be beautiful but unfortunately this section was not to interesting.

22/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 37 - Once again receiving Free food.

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Westport Beach, South Island, NZ

Distance cycled: 85km from Bobs place to Westport, South Island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 19.7km/h
Moving Time: 4h13m
Elevation Ascended: 750m
Total Distance on Current trip: 2,592km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 5,815km
Money spent: $8

My GPS has screwed this one up slightly… a descent of 500m below sea level??

I mentioned in yesterday's post that this morning would be awful as it was peak season for sand flies but thankfully but also disappointingly it was raining. For whatever reason the sandflies found refuge in Spencer's tent vestibule and didn't bother me so much.
Anyway, we took our time with packing and waited for the sun to come out before we set off.
It was 85km of cycling in the mountains, hills and valley of the Buller national park and most of it was descending to the coast, it was a staggering road with little in the way of townships however we did stop off at a small cafe only asking for a pie to munch down but due to the microwave blowing up our pies were left cold and the waitress offered us something off the menu for free, we both opted for the Niger which was delicious but far to much food to eat before having to mount the bicycle and cycle the last 30 or so kilometers.
Before dark we made it to the town of Westport and as we were a little damp from a quick shower we tried contacting a member on warm-showers, Janet wasn't all that keen on having us over and just by the tone of her voice I really didn't want to stay with her so we headed to the free camping spot on the beach.
Meeting a smiling German couple on arrival we pitched our tents and as we started cooking they gave us some fried fish, this with the leftovers from yesterday and rice we had a fantastic feed before both heading to bed.
Please don't rain tonight, I really do want a good nights sleep.

On our way to the coast

Camping at the beach

23/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 38 - It's almost like Jurassic park.

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Distance cycled: 110km from Westport to Greymouth, South Island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 17.5km/h
Moving Time: 6h17m
Elevation Ascended: 1256m
Total Distance on Current trip: 2,702km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 5,705km
Money spent: $18 for accommodation at hostel (camping), $21 for food and snacks

If there was a term to best describe the scenery for today whilst cycling the west coast of the South Island, it would be "Jurassic Park like".
Both Spencer and I were in awe from the shear size of the mountains that were often partially obscured by the high clouds that drifted above as we strenuously and exhaustingly tacked the steep parts of the road toward Greymouth. This coastal road is renown to be a very scenic drive so imagine the 360 degree views you would have on a bicycle whilst having in the back of your mind that you had made it here by using nothing more than the strength in your legs. This is why I cycle the world!
We broke up the day by taking an extended test at one of the touristy cafes beside a major tourist hot spot, the Pancake rocks. Unsurprisingly these rock formations look somewhat like a stack of pancakes. The boardwalk that looped you back to the road was interesting but with so many people blocking the path and wanting to photograph the blowholes and the rocks the experience was spoiled.
It has been a little under a week and spencer and I have not had a break from cycling, so as we can shower up and rest we are just going to have a half day tomorrow. Something that is much needed.
This is only the beginning of the Great coast road so over the coming days we expect some incredible views of what the South Island of New Zealand has to offer.

 

21/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 36–Stung by a bee.

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Distance cycled: 123.3km from Wakefield to Bob's place near Murchison, South Island, NZ
Average speed: 18.2km/h
Moving Time: 6h45m
Elevation Ascended: 1846m
Total Distance on Current trip: 2,507km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 5,900km
Money spent: $20

Mid afternoon whilst having lunch a bastard bee crawled between my toes and stung the bottom of my foot. Man was it painful and as much as I would have liked to nurse it I knew I had to continue on this beautiful road towards the coast to the place we will be spending the night at Bob's place beside the Buller river.
It was a tough day of cycling having to not only cycle steep gradients to the top of two passes but also 123km in a single day exerts much energy.
Despite getting stung, having drenched my shirt in sweat, fixed two punctures (now 11 punctures in total), had some stupidly close calls with a couple of vehicles and pushed myself as far as we had today it still was an awesome day with incredible backdrops that resembled oil paintings, occasionally empty roads with little traffic, clear rivers and many nice people including our host for the evening, Bob.
Bob lived 15km west of Murchison in what he called the shed, a small home he and a friend had built beside The Buller river with camping for cycle tourists who pasted by.
As there wasn't any cell reception he preferred people to show up and pitch there tent rather than go though the process to request a place to stay for the night. So this is what we did, Spencer and I showed up and as he was there, you could stay even if he wasn't home, and pitched our tent before having a shower and cook dinner.
Bob had spent many years traveling the world and has now cycled a huge chunk of it, an intelligent, friendly and open minded guy who would no doubt get along with anyone who spent a night or two at his place. And because he had used warm showers on his previous bike trips he set up his place to return the favor of offering touring cyclists a place to stay.
We all chatted to close to midnight and the only problem I had with Bob's amazing 6 acres of land were the Sandflies that swarmed us when we arrived but the mornings are suppose to be worse so tomorrow will be interesting.

Climbing up Hope Saddle Summit

Camping at Bobs Place

20/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 35 - Arrhhhgggg SANDFLIES!!!!

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Distance cycled: 82km from Rai Valley to Wakefield, South Island, NZ
Average speed: 18.9km/h
Moving Time: 4h21m
Elevation Ascended: 926m
Total Distance on Current trip: 2,384km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 6,023km
Money spent: $25

Waking up to sandflies sucking your blood leaving you itchy and irritated is shitty but having to deal with them in the evening too is even worse.
I have had my run ins with Sandflies before in the past and whatever measures I made to prevent them from biting me has failed, they always find a way... The little bastards.
Last night it rained somewhat and I didn't sleep all that well because of it having to get up and fit my tarp over my now spacious tent ( no longer having Marlieke with me). It's a little sad not having her with me but I'll be seeing her soon enough somewhere on the west coast.
The super French family (Spencer's name for them) of touring cyclists who we camped beside have spent the last few months traveling New Zealand but have a year of traveling Australasia together were amazing, they would show so many that traveling on bicycles around the world with kids is possible and they all seemed so happy together. It was amazing to see and meet them.
There were some decent climbs today but the downhill descent from the 500 meter climb to Nelson was the best I had experienced in New Zealand so far, both Spencer and I just gunned it down and were so pumped after it was over.
Making it into Nelson we didn't see anything that interested us in terms of touristy things so after a small stint in the library we headed off out of the city to find a free camping spot outside of Wakefield.
It was relatively full and the majority of people there were from Germany (no surprise as most travelers are from Germany). There were a noisy bunch camping beside us but as I sleep with heavy metal music it was not a problem.... Until they started playing the fucking bongos.

19/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 34 - Have a new cycling partner.

 

Distance cycled: 67km from Picton to Rai Valley, South Island, New Zealand
Average speed: 19.8km/h
Moving Time: 3h22m
Elevation Ascended: 816m
Total Distance on Current trip: 2,302km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 6,105km
Money spent: $20

As we were camping in our tents at the hostel the checkout time of 10am did not apply to us, so we all took advantage of the wifi, showers, included breakfast, coffee and the sheer comfort of this hostel.
It wasn't until 1:30pm when we left.
Spencer, the American we met on the ferry yesterday who was also cycle touring and I decided to ride together for a while as we all got along very well; however Marlieke will be traveling around the South Island on a bus, but there will be opportunities that we get to meet up along the way.
I think it's a good thing as I get to cover more distance towards my goal of cycling the distance of the circumference of earth and she doesn't have to climb and difficult hills.
So, cycling the South Island.
So far it is amazing, just a beautiful backdrop of dramatic mountains with turquoise waters and friendly people.
The hills that Spencer and I tacked today were steep but nothing we couldn't handle. Although I made the mistake of leaving my helmet at the hostel having climbed the first hill out of Picton up the scenic Queen Charlotte road, but of course I turned around and picked it up.
I also received my 9th puncture, even though I changed out the better tires from Marlieke's bike to mine I still managed to annoyingly get one, however it was more valve related... Please no more!
Spencer and I ended up the day in a rest area on the side of the road where we ran into the French family who we met not only on the ferry crossing the Tasman but also in Picton yesterday.
It is unbelievable to see a family of 6 touring the world for a year, and to see them do it as cheap as they are it is great to see. Kudos to them. It's amazing.