Bruce Bay, NZ West Coast, on our way south towards Haast. One amazing beach.
As Katie Brayne and Carmela Snooks rapidly approach us from the North, Jutta and I now realise that once we reach Wanaka in just two days’ time (big and steep 1500-foot climb today looming over the Haast Pass), we’ll be just 300 km away from our final destination in Bluff.
Given how we’re now able to cover distances, we could do it in three days – so with well over 2000km already behind us from Cape Reinga over the month since we set out, we’re beginning to feel as if we’re nearly there.
HOWEVER, a plan, and public suggestion to the girls.
How’s about we hole up in Wanaka where yous two (LOVE the way the Kiwis say yous with an S when they mean you in the plural) can catch us up, and we all process the final stretch down to Bluff in a magnificent convoy?
In the meantime, we’ve had two wonderful days where the three of us (that’s Mark, Jutta and Daisy) have been spinning along from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef and on, on, on down the NZ West Coast here to Haast last night (123 km in one day) with gentle tail winds and mostly fabulously cycle-friendly weather.
As ever, pictures tell the story, with captions to add the detail. And to cycling friends who’ve been asking about Daisy’s configuration, a couple of images included which show how she functions in a bit more detail.
Long day’s ride ahead, to Haast from Franz Josef.Proof we made it to Haast. Though there were still 10km to the backpackers and a welcoming, warm meal and inn. Why this sign is so far out, mystifies us… Boy, was this steep. Three BIG climbs in just 25km between Franz Josef and Fox. Thankfully, of course, followed by three BIG whizzes down the other side. Though it gets scary on a tandem over 60kph…Mount Cook/Aoraki seen from the road as we pedalled out of Franz Josef. Lucky with the weather.Bruce Bay, NZ West Coast, on our way south towards Haast. One amazing beach.Jutta’s permanent view from the back. Nice trees though.Daisy’s dashboard, with Garmin GPS, small Cateye bike computer for distances, Ortlieb bar bag and Rohloff twist-grip changer on the right for the 14-speed hub,Daisy’s pride. A 14-speed Rohloff hub, completely reliable and brilliant German engineering. Just as most serious long-distance cyclists use Ortlieb panniers and Brooks saddles, many of us swear by and never at our Rohloffs. Far better, especially for tandeming with two up, than complex, skittish Derailleurs.Mark’s nearly 40-year-old B17 Brooks saddle, from Daisy1. Well worn and moulded to nether regions, though painful still after 2000+ km…Daisy’s S&S couplings which allow us to separate her into front and back for loading into smaller vehicles. On planes, though, she’s packed in a big, strong, transparent plastic bag, so handlers can see what she is and not chuck her around. Has worked well so far.
The PsychloTherapists 