Just 60km today, from Tihoi to Turangi, but we did it in style – gently, powerfully, enjoyably, with inspiration and fun. Despite/because of the hard work.

It was as far as we wanted to go, knowing that a big 90-km ride awaits us on Monday morning, first day of Week Three on the Tandem Tour Aotearoa, as we grind up into and through the Tongariro National Park, around one of  New Zealand’s biggest volcanoes of the same name.

We’re nearly 800 km into the ride now, and after re-oiling Daisy’s  salt-compromised gear cables for her fabulous Rohloff 14-speed integrated SpeedHub (there are NONE better – ask any long-distance cyclist), the tandem is behaving almost as well as her riders.

We’re keeping in close touch with our daughter Katie and partner Mela (fund-raising for a Kiwi young people’s cancer charity), as they await their own start on the TA on Tuesday from Cape Reinga.

They’re among 300 officially-registered riders from NZ and abroad doing the proper tour, including all the difficult off-road mountain-bikey bits we’ve had to avoid because of our weight and length.

Also, as you can see below, Katie’s bike is much more delicately loaded than Daisy, and just admire those 29-inch wheels! 

As ever, as to our own 14th day on the road, let the pictures and the captions speak for themselves – and thanks to many friends and colleagues for the enthusiastic comments on how much they’re enjoying travelling vicariously.

Note, however, that just reading this blog does nothing for your thighs. You have to do the trip to get the effect…