Photos

All Photos here

Photos... Queenstown to Christchurch

I'm slowly making my way through the 1000 photos we took in the past few weeks.
With so many I've grouped them into a couple of lots of cycling photos, then some from the other activities, such as kayaking and doubtful sound.

Here is a selection from the first part of the cycling: The day from Queenstown down to Te Anau (which Sharon probably doesn't want reminding off) Then the five days up the West coast, then over the Southern Alps to Queenstown.

Queenstown to Christchurch cycling photos
click the bottom photo, then 'play' to see each photo and where it was taken.

Alternatively 'Back to album view' to see them in a less geeky manner.

Home Sweet Home

We've been home for a few days now, and survived the long flight with no obvious signs of jet lag. Thanks really to a very good nights sleep in the transit hotel at Singapore Airport. I highly recommend it - though really only if you're on the way to NZ or Australia, probably not good enough to warrant a trip there on its own.

We had a few hours to kill in Singapore, so headed straight up for Wine and Tapas as we had on the way out. Really good again, and I needed some food as the last meal on the flight was pretty ropey! All the other meals had been good, but their chicken lasagne left alot to be desired.

Singerpore Airport

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Abel Tasman - Hopewell

Today we cheated for the first time and took a bus part of the way. We were due to cycle something like 105 miles to arrive in time for a water taxi at 4pm but the lady at the hostel we were staying at was concerned that this was impossible. So we got a bus to Nelson and rearranged for our taxi to pick us up from Havelock. We ended up cycling only 45 miles but made the right decision. The cycling was pleasant with two climbs and no time pressure. We arrived in Havelock in plenty of time and decided to chill out at a waterfront bar taste the famous green lipped mussels. We got a taxi across to Hopewell on the Kenapuru Sound. The journey was lovely although Mark wasn't too impressed with the weather as it was overcast. When we arrived at Hopewell (Youth Hostel) it was like arriving into a commune! There were a lot of over friendly people and most of them were German. Our room was perfect though, not like a hostel at all and it had a lovely little terrace where we enjoyed a bottle of wine and views of the sound. Later on we were called for mussels which was awesome. Every so often the owners pick up a load from the mussel farm nearby and cook them all up. They get poured on the table with fresh bread and dips and everyone digs in. The mussels enough to satisfy the biggest hunger... delicious. That evening we didn't really need much for dinner which was good.

The following day we had another water taxi booked for 4pm so we had enough time to enjoy the sounds. The time wasn't nearly enough though. It would have been nice to go out kayaking as the sun was shining and everything looked really colourful but we were quite tired so settled for a walk to a nearby farm by the water. The lady at Hopewell suggested we chill out on the meadow but with the number of wasps around and my wasp phobia, it wasn't going to happen. I must point out though that NZ wasps are nice, they don't bother humans, it's the bees that are a pain.

It was a shame we had to leave so soon but we had cycling to do and wine tasting next on the agenda :) The ride from Te Mahia to Renwick was one of my favourite rides. The views were amazing and this time it was sunny as well. The winding roads were very queit and the weather perfect. Not to mention the ride was only 40 miles!!! As we approached Renwick vinyards galore came into view, rows and rows of vines was all we could see. Arrived at the B&B which was lovely and was greeted with a glass of wine and some cheese and biscuits, yum, this part of the trip was going to be good.

Abel Tasman Kayaking

Today got up early (as usual) and went down to the kayak base to load up, do safety procedures etc... This was the worrying bit as we had not kayaked before and Mark had forgotten the safety manouvers he read on the internet and we weren't sure if they would let us go as novices. However, on arrival there were two glammed up German girls also going it alone so in comparison we looked like pros! Once we had done all the boring safety stuff, had a couple of rolls and been told we were in for rough weather, we were up for it. We tractored out to sea and took off in our floating vessels. It was great, the sun was (at this point) shining and the sea was calm. The bays were real pretty but we didn't get a close look because we were miles out to sea trying to avoid rocks. We couldn't understand the other kayakers taking such flagrant risks, paddling so close to shore. We decided to be brave and risk landing in a small bay for a snack, perhaps not the wisest idea as we later discovered we had forgotten food for the next day (oops). The mad mile was mad, we fought the gales and the surf and of course we were miles from any rocks. Soon we reached the bay where our campsite was and decided to to land as the weather was coming in thick and fast. Mark erected the tent and Sharon looked busy. Before long the rain set in. By night fall torrential downpours were beating down our tent like a herd of elephants. All the camping equiptment was hired and so everything was smelly... the tent, the sleeping bags, all grim. The campsite was a small one so the facilities such as flushing toilets and sinks for washing we somewhat limited, i.e non exisitant. At this point Mark realised he had left the first aid kit, complete with torch back at the hostel so no night time trips to the toilet. In summary the camping truely horrendous (Mark thought it was ok). In the morning we felt grotty and the weather was awful. It was raining for ages and whilst I hibernated under a stinking sleeping bag Mark wandered along to the lookout in persuit of good weather and photographic opportunities. By mid morning we decided to pack up and leave. What a plan, once in the kayaks the sun was shining and the world was good again, I was happy. Only one small problem. We had eaten all our food and we still had a days kayaking to do. Mark swears blind I had forgotten the food in persuit of losing his ever decreasing belly but I swear I don't know how it happened. We kayaked on through the afternoon crossing another dodgy area to Little Tonga Bay, then back to Bark Bay to catch the water taxi back to base. By the time we got back we were starving so we ate loads of snacks and then went out for a lovely meal in Marahau, delicious! Our kayaking trip was cool, we loved it and the most dangerous part really was cycling back to our hostel with no lights on our bikes.

Glenhope to Abel Tasman

details to follow....

Glenhope to Abel Tasman

details to follow....

Maruia Springs to Glenhope

details to follow....

Hanmer Springs to Maruia Springs

details to follow....

Christchurch to Hanmer Springs

We had been studying the weather forecast for several days, and it hadn't been looking good. Together with tales of Nor-Westers (winds) and Microclimates, we thought we'd be in for a bad day, but there weren't any inter city coaches that went to Hanmer Springs, so we'd decided to ride come what may.
Waking up to a light drizzle, had another great breakfast at the B&B and set off North under some grey skies.
The first 40kms flew by, the road was flat, there was no wind and the roads were good. This had been one of the only places I'd been able to find some secondary roads to take, and it was nice to be off the busier, though still quiet by UK standards, highways. All was well till we reached a cross roads,and the road ahead, left, and right were all gravel tracks. Doh! didn't see that coming :(
We took the right turn as it suggested there was a town in 5km and I hoped they might have a sealed road. we got lucky and only had to skitter down the gravel for about a mile on our very thin ungroved tyres before the gravel ended.
The rest of the ride can be described pretty quickly...
It got hot, then humid, then damn hot, then damn hot and humid.
Scenery wasn't anything too special, as we both prefer our mountains green, and these certainly weren't. It was all pretty arid.
We got to Hanmer Springs by early afternoon and took a quick walk into town to pick up supplies, ie some basic food and controversially no wine!
We went back into town later to the Hot Springs. Great after a days ride to sooth those muscles. Also to point out exactly which bits had got burned as they sting when meeting the 40'c water, ouch!
we relaxed for quite a while, then relaxed a little more in their bar with a couple of coronas - feeling in quite the summer holiday mood now :)

Christchurch

The night we arrived in Christchurch we where whisked off to meet up with everyone. We took a little too long getting ready, after the ordeals of the day, and managed to miss meeting up with my cousins, Dan and Nick who'd gone off to watch NZ get whipped by England in a 20:20 cricket match. We did manage to catch my parents, Uncle and Aunt, Bride to be and her family. Was great to see everyone again, and meet some for the first time. We were forced into finishing off the remainders off the food, which were excellent, before another few drinks and a pretty late night for us.
Wedding Day!
A big game of golf had been organised for the wedding morning, to keep Dan distracted I think.. By the time we surfaced mum and my sister Kirsty had already played 9 holes and come home. A quick trip into town followed to pick up a new bike tyre and try to find a smaller kilt for me. Unfortunately the one I had was the smallest they do: this either says something for the size of Kiwis, or that I (Mark) need to start putting on the pounds when I get home. We managed to find time for a quick dip in the spa and pool before getting ready :)
The wedding was at a really nice church, and it was our kind of service. Fairly short, with some well known hymns and good readings. Strange going to a summer wedding only a few weeks after a proper winter one, and everyone was certainly dressed for summer, including obligatory large sun glasses.
Afterwards the reception was at a smart local golf course, with enough Champagne and canapes to keep Sharon happy.
It was really interesting that the speaches were done totally differently to home. We had the starter then a few speaches, before the main course and some more speaches.
I think everyone had a great night and Dan and Caroline had dozens of friends from all over NZ and plenty over from London to enjoy it with.
Nick had managed to break a bone in his wrist a couple of weeks before, so managed to trump me by still being in a cast - a nice black one with white trim, for the occasion.
The day after the wedding we were back to the 'parents in laws' for a get together which seemed to include most people from the wedding. Again great hospitality.
We had a relaxing family meal that night before saying goodbye to uncle Jim, aunty Mary, Nick and girlfriend Mia, Kirsty and mum and dad.
Thanks again to mum and dad for putting us up in such a great place for the Wedding, we really enjoyed the space and luxury of the B&B.

Some photos

Here are a few photos from the trip so far...
photos

Arthurs Pass - Christchurch

Today we thought would be relatively easy and whilst is wasn't one of our toughest rides it was quite challenging. It was 90 miles long and our 5th consecutive ride. There were some steep hills, no major climbs but with tired muscles it was exhausting. Once we made it to the top, it looked straight forward down to Christchurch but we were plagued by head winds again. It wasn't as bad as it had been before because it was down hill all the way but it was harder work than it should have been.

Having reached the top of Arthurs Pass the day before, the scenery changed completly from lush green mountains to dry arid mountains. Something I've not really mentioned enough so far is the remoteness of everywhere we have been. We are really out in the Wilderness and today it certainly felt like it in the burning heat .

Despite the winds we made good progress across the Cantebury Plains until Mark got a puncture. We stopped and Mark replaced the inner tube but there was a huge hole in the actual tyre and we had no spare. He patched it up as best he could and managed to go a further 10 miles until the new inner tube punctured as well. We were only 16 miles from our B&B and Mark's sister Kirsty offered to come and pick him up, what a stroke of luck! We decided that we probably wouldn't be able to get two bikes in a small car so I dumped all my luggage, grabbed the map and made my way to the B&B. Amazingly I didn't get lost and I made it back just before Kirtsy and Mark. As it happened they had a bike rack and I would have fit in too!

The B&B is amazing, really luxurious and my kind of place, I'm not sure how I will cope going back to youth hostels! We are staying here for 3 nights and I am writing this in the guest lounge upstairs. There is a swimming pool and a spa in the garden and we have been in already. We must take a few photos as it really is a lovely place and what a contrast to the hotel in Ross. For once we are eating proper food again. We had been surviving on cheese and ham or pate rolls during cycling with ceral bars as snacks and 2 minute noodles for dinner. Not exactly getting 5 a day! I did attempt to cook a meal once with (frozen) roasted vegetables but it didn't work out too well in the play oven we had in our room. We've decided for simplicities sake, noodles are the way to go.

Ross - Arthurs Pass

Today was one ride we were not looking foward to. As you can see from the elevation map the whole thing is uphill with a steep climb right at the end. Furthermore it was our 4th consecutive days cycling so our legs were getting fatigued. Suprisingly, the cycle up to Otira (first 70 miles) was ok. I think we had mentally prepared ourselves for the worst so it was better than exected. The main climb at the end however was really really really tough. We did stop and at one point we walked too, shameful! According to Mark we would have been ok with our old bikes because the gears are lower and you don't have to push so hard. I blamed it on heat and fatigue, my legs were burning up and refused to push anymore. We did eventually make it to the top and thankfully our accommodation was good.

Having worked so hard and with an easy following day we thought we'd share a bottle of wine and have a lie in the next morning i.e get up at 8am - very civilised!

Fox - Ross

Todays ride was one of our favourites so far with two climbs almost immediately and then a long stretch predominantly downhill and little wind! The climbs were quite short and not as steep as we'd seen before so relatively easy. The scenery was really pleasant too, lots of mountains, some snow capped and lush greenary everywhere. The weather was great and we were feeling pretty good. The final climb in the middle of the route was awesome. The road was ace a bit like apple peal if you peal the whole thing at once. We had been used to long straight climbs so this was a bit different and very pretty too. As we got closer to Ross the west coast came into view and it got a little breezy but nothing major.

We arrived in Ross quite early as the cycling was relatively easy. We had visions of getting supplies for the next day and chilling out for a bit. Unfortunately our "hotel" room wasn't really the sort of place you'd want to chill out. In fact it was the worst hotel I've ever stayed in. We were offered a choice of rooms by the very friendly manager. We collected our stuff together and walked up the stairs with threadbare carpets and cobwebs hanging off everything in sight. At the top of the stairs was really long corridor of rooms, beds all made up but empty, no other guests. It was a bit eery and as Mark pointed out, a bit like the hotel from The Shining, except tired, dirty and dusty. The room we chose had a nice view and that is all it had going for it. It was dusty, dirty, the bed was on its last legs and there was no ensuite. Instead we had to use shared bathrooms, not that there were any other guests to share with. In light of what I have just said, why didn't we leave and go somewhere else ? Our alternatives were to camp (not easy without a tent) or hire a backpackers cabin which was literally a shed with a bunk in it. Ross is an old gld mining village with a population of about 100 so we really were a bit stuck in terms of options. On the plus side thought the hotel had a nice bar, very traditional/local rather than something modern! There were several locals in there each with a jug of beer and glass in hand. Mark found it quite amusing when a couple of tidy girls walked in the bar and back out again and the locals were craning their necks to get a good look at them... a bit like when a fit girl walks in the Cha Bar.

photos

Makarora - Fox

Todays plan was to cycle to Haast and get the coach to Fox Glacier. We were unsure the night before whether or not to get the coach all the way because some bad weather had come in. Mark got up at 6am and checked out the weather. It looked a bit miserable but decided it was ok to cycle, the wind at least was light. So, we managed to set off just after 6.30am, a bit early but we had to get to Haast by lunchtime for the coach.

The journey to Haast is one of my favourite so far. It was overcast and cool to begin with which was perfect for the early climb and it did look like it might clear. Having reached the top the scenery was amazing, lush green mountains and clear blue streams below. Because of the rain the night before we were treated to more waterfalls. The decent for me was scary, Mark loves the steep decents but I'm a bit of a wimp and am not so keen. The views were great though and when we'd reached the bottom of the really steep bit there was huge gushing stream/waterfall. The colours are so vibrant, the water tends to be bright blue/torquoise which will hopefully come out in the photos. The remainder of the ride was pretty easy, lots of ups and downs but predominantly down which was nice. There was very little traffic on this day and it was so peaceful. All you can hear is the flowing water, birds and really loud crickets.

We made it to Haast with plenty of time to spare so we grabbed a snack and waited for the coach to Fox. We arrived in Fox about 3.30pm and got settled into our room. The room itself was ok but it was smelly so I didn't rate it too highly. We had a beer and a rest and then decided to cycle to Lake Matheson (mirror lake reflecting Mt Cook). I had been there before and the view was cool so I thought it would be a nice thing to do as we had spare time. We had to walk about a mile to Reflection Point. When we got there, the lake was not reflective because of the wind and Mt Cook was completely covered in cloud... grrrr. Oh well, we needed the excercise after only 1/2 day cycling.

Queenstown to Makarora

Todays cycle ride was pretty good. The climb early on (see elevation map) was tough and I had to stop half way up to catch my breath but managed to get up there without walking. The next part of the journey down to Lake Wanaka was downhill and more or less straight forward. From Wanaka, the journey to Makarora was really pretty, cycling past Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. The views were spectacular but the cycling tough, as once again we battled with strong unfavourable winds. The steep downhill stetches were dangerous with the wind, and at times I thought I was going to get blown off my bike. The following is a quote from a book that more or less summarised my feelings on the downhill windy stretches today:

"WIND: The wind can blow strong and hard. If it is so strong you have to pedal downhill to keep up momentum, then it is time to stop at the next location, or even turn around and go back. You're on holiday and this is supposed to be fun! Apart from the frustration of going nowhere fast, it can be dangerous and there is less control of the bike. "
(Chance of death, greater than average!!)

Having left the Lakes behind it was a bit of a hard slog to Makarora but we got there in the end. We stayed in an A framed, self contained unit which was a bit different. Having showered and had some food I fell asleep curled up in a ball on the bed, thoroughly exhausted. Mark woke me up to wash and go to bed and he'd done all of the prep for the next day... result!

Doubtful Sound Cruise

Woke up in Te Anau and it was raining. Got some supplies for the boat (lunch + wine) and sat and had a coffee until we got picked up from the hostel. Made our way to Manapouri town with our six fellow cruisers, on first opinion a weird beardy couple, a lesbian couple and a couple from the UK. From there we got on a small boat across Lake Manapouri to the Power Station. I could tell you lots of educational stuff about the power station but if you really care, google it! The trip across Lake Manapouri was a bit wet and choppy. Luckily none of us were sea sick. The views were really good especially as it was raining because there were lots of waterfalls. Unfortunately 4 of the others were yanks, made worse one woman befriending the English woman and cackling away like a couple of old fish wives.

We got a mini bus to the boat on Doubtful Sound, driven by the skipper, who seemed like a nice chap. Once abort the main boat the weather started to clear and it turned out to be a really nice day. The views were fantastic (apolgies for lack of photos, Mark cannot get to grips with the technology!), lots of waterfalls, mountains and wildlife. It was really peaceful and we only saw one or two other boats. At one point we sailed past a school of dolphins larking about, that was really cool. Sitting on the top deck with a glass of wine was awesome. Plenty of time to sit and think and take in the views.

In the evening the skipper caught some fish (blue cod and something else) which we feasted on for dinner. We all had early nights as we were exhausted and we had an early start the next day. We had a cabin to ourselves with bunk beds. I (SS) drew the long straw and bagged the wide bed much to Mark's disgust. In the morning we sailed some more. It was really clear but freezing cold on deck so not much outdoor action. Mark and I managed to work out the relationships of the other guests which were:

Beardy Couple - Mum and Dad
Lesbian Couple - Daughter and partner

I mention this especially as we discussed these relationships and kept changing our minds.

So, headed back to Manapouri across the lake, this time it was sunny and the views were amazing and the lake less choppy. We got a coach back the way we cycled to Queenstown. It was a lot quicker and easier on the backside.

Wrist update

Quick update on the wrist situation.. After the nice ride to Te Anau I barely noticed any problems with the wrist. This may have something to do with other bits and pieces hurting alot more, but hopefully it means it's well on the way to recovery and I can take the support off in another week or so and not end up with a watch mark suntan line from hell.

Cycle ride from hell (Queenstown - Te Anau)

Today woke up early and headed to Te Anau which would be our base for a cruise around Doubtful Sound.

The start of the ride was dull and overcast some might even say it was raining. Nonetheless the view of Lake Wakitipu was pretty good. As we progressed the cloud began to clear, the sun came out and it was pleasent cycling weather. The journey was enjoyable and when we stopped for some grub I thought we were making good progress and would be in Te Anau by 4pm (silly me). Within 1/2 hour the wind that had been pushing us along quite nicely turned against us making the straight down hill stetches a pain in the bum. Speaking of which I (SS) vowed before our next journey to buy a better pair of cycling shorts. Continuing along long straight roads, with the relentless wind and the fierce sun beating down, scortching my (SS) pasty white skin, we started to get tired, weather beaten and a little bit hacked off. Our average speed was shameful and the day was dragging and my (SS) patience wearing thin. Towards the end (only 20 miles to go) every muscle ached, sunburn was taking its toll, I (SS) was on the verge of tears. We made it though, 10 hours after we started. I (SS) can safely say this was the 2nd worst cycle ride of my life, Mark rated it as OK, slightly below average!!

Alive!

Flight went ok, stopped at Singapore to swim, eat tapas (which was delicious) and drink wine. Computer games came in handy as the films were pretty poor (even though one had GOG action!!). I (Sharon) am now stumped on Mario and can get no further than World 2, any tips to avoid those spiky things would be welcome (GP).

Stayed in Christchurch yesterday, wandered into town for food and wine and managed to get a bit burnt. Returned to B&B and slept for 12 hours having not managed to sleep much on the plane and determined to avoid jet lag.

We are now in Queenstown, assembled bikes at airport and cycled into town (5 miles). Backpackers very nice, clean and has the best shower ever, a bit like a pressure hose. Wandered into town for food and wine by Lake Wakitipu followed by a nice ice cream and then back to the hostel for a (power) nap.

No photo's as yet, Mark was supposed to take a picture of my cankles last night but forgot. I looked like I had the feet of a 20 stone woman, luckily antihistemene sorted them out. Mark reckons I was bitten by a Singaporean ant but I think that's a bit dubious though given the lack of bite marks.

Heading into town now for some food, no wine this time (much to Mark's displeasure) as we have a 105 mile journey ahead of us tomorrow.

Carbon Offset

Someone suggested (in the pub) last night that perhaps our bikes, being carbon fibre, might offset the amount of CO2 produced from our flights to NZ.

A quick check on carbonfootprint.com has ruled that out...

Here are the calculations:
Bike: 8kg
Return Flight to NZ: 4335 kg (4.3 Tonnes)

Doesn't quite add up unfortunately.
So we'll need to start planting some trees when we get back.

Google Adsense

When I signed upto blogger I got an email about google adsense. Reading through it and doing some research, there are people out there making a decent amount of cash out of it.
The basic premise is that you let google put adverts that should be relevant to your blog.
If people click the links and actually go to a advertised site then you get a few cents.
I've been impressed with the relevance of them so far, one for bone fractures, one for NZ, and one for flight.
Have a look at them, if enough people click through them regularly enough there might be enough money for a drink or two when we get back.

BBbbbrrrrrrr

It's been 30'c for a while in Christchurch, but the past week has seen it drop.
Boo...

Still better than the UK at the moment though.











Update on the hand..
Saw the specialist again today, He reckons it should heal up in about another 4 weeks.
Cycling and Kayaking should be fine.

He suggested that in a couple of weeks I could take the support off when relaxing, or going out for a drink.
Somehow I don't think that last part would be a good idea.....

Bionic Arm

I saw the Osteopath today. Had another Xray and he spotted a small fracture.
He seems to think it should heal fine if the movement is restricted, and
because of the holiday coming up, and the cycling, I got a wrist support
rather than another cast.
Certainly makes things easier, and I can almost type two handed again.
As in, I can type two handed, but the left hand throws in lots of typos.

So it looks like the cycling is back on, might just have to take it a
bit easier.....

Broken wrist

I got a call from A&E saying they'd looked at the X-ray again and think they can see a small fracture.
So I'm of to the doctors tomorrow to get an appointment with a specialist.
To discuss what my options are as far as recovery times, and what activities I can do in NZ.

Also my right (good) hand now hurts from typing one handed at work all day!

Damn Football

Slight complications to my plan of getting fir for the cycle round NZ...
Playing football on Wednesday night I got shoulder barged, hit the floor and landed on my wrist.
Visiting A&E today to get it checked out has resulted with a cast being stuck on my left arm. A possible scaphoid fracture.
This comes off in 10 days time, when hopefully the wrist will show that either there wasn't a fracture in the first place, or it's pretty well healed.
Worst case is if it shows a fracture that still needs sorting out, in which case I'll need some sort of funky cast (and plenty of pills) to let me get on with the cycling.. if that's possible...

Stage 1 of the routes complete! woo

I've finished the details for the first half of the tour tonight.
A quick trip down from Queenstown to Te Anau, for a couple of days on Doubtfull sound.
Then after a coach back to Queenstown.
We're off up northwards, through Wanaka, Haast Pass, past the Glaciers, then up the mountains to Arthur's Pass, before dropping into Christchurch.

The notes, route map and elevation profile for each day are linked off www.lejog08.co.uk

Test post from pda

Just testing out emailing a photo from the pda to the NZ blog.