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 are 3.5 km away and we are eating dinner together. Tomorrow Lynne and I bike up to Duffers Saddle and through the Nevis Valley and out to Garston. Hopefully the coffee bomb is open and I get to celebrate a long ride with carrot cake… Read more: 17 February 2024 – unfinished business.

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. Andy had set me up well for recovery – 4 different types of cold and flu meds, Vicks 44 cough syrup, litres of orange juice and high strength vitamin C. I don’t usually take any of this, however the cough syrup was very helpful during… Read more: Covid isolation day 6

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 they had rat tests in the drawer so I explained to my host that I felt mostly ok but a bit off and just wanted to rule out Covid. Positive immediately- there were tears. Gutted but it explained why I had no lungs today (legs… Read more: Day 15 Sounds to Sounds Alexandra to Bannockburn via Lake Dunstan trail

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 guy who owns the secondhand store – and he made a point of waving me off after lunch as well as wishing me well. After Omakau it was another 30km to Alexandra. I had booked accommodation half way along the rail trail between Clyde and… Read more: Day 14 sounds to Sounds Oturehua to Alexandra and Clyde

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 time out there, food, whether I would be completely on my own, and of course the weather – the one thing you have no control over. So not sure if all that thinking translated into a sleepless night but I only got 3 hours sleep.… Read more: Day 13 Sounds to Sounds Omarama to Oturehua via Omarama Saddle.

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 as ever and before I knew it I was zipping along the gravel road down from Quailburn. The gravel has been graded and has some interesting deep drifts but was fine to ride as long as you kept sharp and read the gravel. The motel… Read more: Day 12 Sounds to Sounds Lake Ohau to Omarama

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 I rolled down to the Greedy Cow for breakfast but raining when I left the cafe to start. The Greedy Cow – 10/10! Superb coffee and more nice food then I could eat. I started pedalling at the rain and wind were freezing. After about… Read more: Day 11 Sounds to Sounds Lake Tekapo to Lake Ohau