Today we drove down to Bannockburn to restart the Sounds to Sounds. Unfinished business from 11 months ago now. Andy and I are staying at the Nevis Inlet Airbnb that I tested positive for Covid at – so nice to able to stay there again this time well and not sick. Shona, Lynne and Kevin…

Andy is a super star. Over 6 hours of driving to pick me up and then the same back home. I drove one section and it was a long day for Andy. The covid symptoms have been mainly coughing, congested and blocked sinuses and a very light fever – based on a few night sweats.…

Today I woke up with definite head cold symptoms- I had a scratchy throat yesterday but put it down to a brisk cold wind early in the day. I decided to ride to Bannockburn – drop off my gear at the accommodation and go find a rat test. When I got up to the accomodation…

Up a bit later today as I only had 80km on mostly flat terrain. My accommodation at the Crows Nest was superb. Bill was a great host and it was a fab combo of quirky and very comfortable. Continental breakfast and a nice spin to Omakau for lunch. I had a great chat to the…

6 hours, 1000m climbing, 78.something kms. This was one of the days I was a bit worried about. The saddle is at 1250m and it’s 32 river crossings once you descend past the first hut. Everyone talks about walking the uphill of the saddle as it’s so steep so I was thinking about length of…

Rest day today before a big climbing day tomorrow. I rode 40km today and just under 3 hours at a very relaxed pace. The climb up the high point on Tarnbrae is gradual and nice. I had fun with the selfie stick and a nice long stop at the top. The descent was as fast…

Today no instructions or guidebook needed as I had ridden this section with Lynne, Kev and Dave prior to Christmas. Weather forecast was somewhat variable – rain early morning, then clear then a second flick of rain, then clear. I hoped to get up and it would have passed through. Not the case. Fine when…

My accomodation in Geraldine was fantastic and despite best efforts to be pedalling by 7.30am it was 8am before I hit the road. We had a diversion as the Hanging Rock Bridge was under repair and closed. The diversion was via Pleasant Point – Taking me over Seven Sisters Road and the end of Talbot…

Such a good weather day today. Sunny around 23 degrees and great biking weather. I left Rakaia Gorge with a strong wind blowing so it was jacket on fir the first hour. Once away from the gorge the wind dropped off and it was easy biking once up the climb. Coffee at Staveley Store and…

The last bit of the alternative inland route. I biked 18km to Sheffield – easy biking and enjoyed crossing the Waimakiriri Bridge – built in 1876! After the floods in the North Island you realise how much of a lifeline for communities bridges are and also how long ago some were constructed. Once in Sheffield…