New Zealand

My road : Dunedin, Brighton, Taieri, Milton, Balclutha, Nugget Point, Owaki, Papatowai, Waikawa Curio Bay, Slope Point, Otara, Fortrose, Invercargill, Lorneville, Riverton, Colac Bay, Tuatapere, Blackmount, Manapouri, Te Anau, Mossburn, Five Rivers, Frankton, Queenstown, Frankton, Cromwell, Wanaka, Makarora, Haast, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, from 01 to 2010/03/18, Whataroa, Harihar, Ross, Hokitika, Greymonth, Arthur's Pass, Christchurch, 20 to 2010/03/21, Kaiapoi, Amberley, Waipara, Culverden, Waiau, Kaikoura, Seddon, Blenheim, Picton, Wellington, from 25 to 2010/03/25.

On 1st march, I continue my journey with Holm and Julia having ordered a new wheel that I would take to Queenstown. On the road again with a gray and uncertain weather, but without rain. After leaving the city, you reach the coast that we follow up to Taieri for a quiet trip. Hence we follow a gravel road on which only bumps, even Holm found the ride difficult, but with a nature not unpleasant. Before finding a place for the night, we stop in a school to fill with water. From rainy announced, the night was calm and at the morning the weather is beautiful. The road that lead us to Balclutha is not very easy and with that traffic, you're on the highway number 1. As we keep going towards Kaka Point, the weather becomes gray and cloudy, the wind sprang up. At lunch time we should dress like in the winter with cutting winds. In the afternoon we reach Nugget Point. From the path that leads us to the end you can see seals on the rocks. The point is marked by a lighthouse and in front a succession of rocks emerging from the water, the place appears wild. Leaving this place the weather is threatening, rapidly coming to install our tents in roadside, taking our dinner, and at 19 h 30 are taking shelter for a long night. The next day, passing Owaki we learn that a strong wind at 100 km/h is announced, staying here a day at rest. But this strong wind is late, arriving a day later, deciding to try a departure at 1 pm. Our progress is so slow to 12 km/h, the latter facing us, the descent to Papatowai somewhat dangerous with the gusts that sweep us. Passing Florence Hill, we discover a huge beach, finding to camp in the back of this one, eased with the wind for the evening. In the morning, nobody comes out of the tent, outside the weather is as gray and rain. It is 8.30 am when we decided to have breakfast, preparing to leave this place. Before leaving, we're already wet, thinning occurring a few kilometers away. We can then make a stop at the waterfall Mc Lean for a walk, finding a green area, a waterfall dropping several levels before reaching the stream. We finish our step to Curio Bay with a wonderful weather. This place is also superb, in the bay swimmers are in the company of 2 seals. In the evening we went to the beach, be deemed to meet the yellow-eyed penguins. On the rocks there are only 2 youth awaiting the return of adults to feed them we are told us. From there we ride to the extreme southern point of the island, up to Slope Point, saying myself that's the end of my road to the east, from here taking back the way home. In this place I am also at 4803 km from South Pole and at 5140 km of the equator, as it were midway between the both. The remainder makes us pass quickly Invercargill, going now to the west coast and also up north and Auckland. After several days of short steps, we ride over 100 kms on march 8th, this time with the sense of moving our way, finding back a good weather too, with even hot temperatures with over 30 degrees. We reach then Te Anau, being a touristic spot with the departure to Milford Sound, fjord known and highly visited. It's a trip I make by bus for a day, while Holm and Julia will get there by bike. The road with 120 kms that lead us there are wild and nice, but when passing through the tunnel that crosses the mountains, we are in the fog and clouds, seeing nothing around us. By reaching the fjord, a one-hour tour by boat allows us to discover it, but with a gray sky does not have the advantage of its most beautiful colors. This place is an excessively tourist spot, having the feeling of finding myself in a transit station, starting again not very impressed of this place. Rather, it's the mountain and the gigantic rock that fascinates me to this place where we cross the tunnel.
Leaving Te Anau, I take back the journey alone, leaving Holm and Julia again after several weeks together, a meeting which will remain important and beautiful, Holm giving me something for my 46 years old, not to open before the date. I'm going with the rain but which is short, taking the direction of Queenstown. It is an axis frequented with the nearness of Milford Sound, crossing a large number of camper van. The temperature is low, and on my bike, I did not warm. But in the 39th km, a car passes me and stops, the man offering me to go with him, accepting and driving me to Mossburn, arriving for lunch. I can then make a step longer than my expectations, stopping at 58 km from Queenstown, providing to get back my wheel the next day. But when I wake up at 6.45 am, I just time to go to the toilet as the rain arrives, taking lodging under my tent. Patiently waiting, I finally turn on my stove, preparing and swallowed my ration of noodles. At 9 am past, I can load my bike and take the road, cold it is. I make a stop to Kingston and book a night in a youth hostel for the night. So I reach the lake Wakatipu that I follow a long time, on the other side is the mountains. The weather is again bad, receiving as a slush, then passing a bridge at the entrance to Frankton, a gust of wind pushed me to the railing and made me fall. Queenstown is only at 7 kms now, recovering in the afternoon my new wheel. I leave this town, reassured about my bike, my way now is the west coast. While riding to Cromwell, I cross Gibbston Valley vineyard, then going down a road through Kawarau Gorge, a pleasant journey despite the wind. At lunch I'm to Cromwell with 60 kms to my speedometer. So I continue to Wanaka, following in first the lake Dunstan, passing after a fruits area fruit, then nothing, like desert, arid. Arriving to Queensberry, I must find a place to camp, but mostly water. I walk to a wood sculptor, but nobody is there, at least starting again with water. The next house, another attempt this time is open and empty, finding the guy in his garden, named Tony, telling me that his girlfriend is French with Florence. Asking him to camp, he offered me the house of his neighbor he has custody. Then I meet with Florence, entitled to the shower, eggs, vegetables and fruit from the garden. After Wanaka the journey is superb, discovering and following 2 lakes named Hawea and Wanaka. But again a difficult trip with a headwind, coming to reach Makarora and stay there for the night. On the way I meet 2 couples, a Dutchman and a German, the both by bike and with children. From the night the wind has not stopped and is still as strong in the morning, being undecided to start, leaving at 10 am, a man announcing me the forest after 7 kilmeters and I will be sheltered. By getting a high point, it is a severe and rapid descent, then following the Haast river with a wild trip, this one taking me up to the village of the same name and reaching virtually the ocean. This time I'm on the west coast known for being wet, the rainfall reaching in its southern part up to 6 meters of water. Before leaving I therefore ask the forecasts are not favorable for the day. By taking information for a bus, it is uncertain if my bike could be carry. I then decided to leave, the weather far from reassuring. I ride along the coast in a universe gray and wet, passing 3 bumps and getting a panorama to the last. Leaving this place, I am not spared, the rain appeared to be thick and swing, feeling alone on this road, with traffic virtually nonexistent and that nature rules over me, feeling a little wetter every kilometers. I try to stop, leaving my bike on the edge of the road and trying to take lodging under the trees, but what good, moisture continuing to grab me. By reaching the campsite of lake Paringa, cold and moisture invaded me, finding a small shelter and being able to eat something. The guardian of the place tell me to go 2 kilometers further, that I will find an inn. I arrived at Ken the manager, saying that with the rain I'm spoiled for my 46 years which are tomorrow. He told me that 17 is also the birthday of his wife that tonight he celebrates it, inviting me to join them in celebrating mine. First I take a hot shower and dry clothes to feel better. The evening is so superb, surrounded by about twenty people, getting to know Mata, my sister of 17, many of these people coming to talk to me and hear my story, around barbecues cooking various meats. All ready, lining a sumptuous table, Ken invited me to go and serve a tasty and hearty food. Then to the dessert, Mata comes to look for me and to blow out the candles with her, again enjoying and taking pleasure with what is present. Leaving again the next day, I greet and thank Ken for his generosity and this sharing with me. The day promises to be beautiful, nature still damp from thenight, the sun giving to it some glittering reflection, the latter dense and green, with tall trees and huge ferns. End of my step I rediscovered Mount Cook, arriving at Fox Glacier, gonna see in the afternoon. I discovered a second the next day at Franz Josef, that with Christian, a Belgian cyclist. Again it is an uncertain weather that awaits me, leading a long stage with 125 kms, hoping to escape the rain, which I reach me in the evening. The next day is worse, with just enough time to reach Hokitika. At the tourist office we announced to me that the day and the next 2 days are catastrophic, deciding quickly to take a bus to reach Christchurch, going on the east coast which is more lenient. I found my friend Jeff, spending 3 days with him, becoming a moment beekeeper.
Leaving this city, my road is then to rally the north Island, leading a long first step, passing the night with Graeme and Christine, this couple running a farm, big like a factory with 800 cows, this man bringing me at the morning to see the milking. Between Culverden and Kaikoura, the journey is more difficult and rugged, but picturesque and pleasant, this time stopping in a farm with sheep, meeting Kevin, who on returning to Kaikoura leads me home, spending the evening in his company and that his wife Shirley, offering me dinner and to sleep in their caravan. One last long stage as it makes me reach Blenheim, being at 40 kilometers from Picton, where I have to take the ferry. On March 28 I'm crossing to Wellington, finding on my arrival Gary, a New Zealand cyclist who is waiting for me and took me home where I take a few days rest. Now I still have one month to ride and reach Auckland before going to Japan.