Braynes’ Tandem Tour of Aotearoa New Zealand – Jutta’s final stoker view looking back

As we watch the South Island fade into the distance, swaying with the Bluebridge ferry’s wave-riding, my thoughts float back over our rich, smooth and eventful 2900-kilometre tandem journey the length of New Zealand from the very North to the very South, with thanks to the Weather Gods and what must be a chorus of […]

#TandemTA Tour of Aotearoa/New Zealand officially over, with 2900km on the clock

So this looks like being Mark’s last post (Jutta’s is still to come) from our Tandem Tour Aotearoa of New Zealand, with warm thanks to those who’ve followed our progress these past six and a bit weeks, a most rewarding 2900 kilometres from Cape Reinga in the far North to Bluff in the far South. […]

We made it!

We made it! Hard, hard day’s 140km final ride to Bluff from Mossburn for Daisy, Jutta and skipper, but after very nearly 3000 km, the #TandemTA #Touraotearoa is done, and we’re celebrating at the oyster restaurant overlooking the Bluff signpost at the very bottom on New Zealand. What a journey, six weeks and a bit […]

Wanaka to Queenstown, and the 3500-foot Crown Range.

So, Daisy’s first full day seriously cycling with the girls was just amazing – 90 km over the Crown Range from Wanaka to Queenstown (a cool 3500 foot pass, scaled with elegance and ease, and a bit of pushing) and some of the most amazing views of the trip so far. Lovely to be pedalling […]

Braynes/Snooks reunited. Milford Sound, and a Week’s Downtime for Daisy in Wanaka.

YAY! as the girls would say. They made it, and we had a magical reunion moment yesterday, Friday, 51km out of Wanaka back along the road to the Haast Pass almost exactly where Daisy broke down last Sunday.

Why the Rory Peck Trust

As we approach – amazingly – the end segment of our Tandem Tour of Aotearoa/New Zealand, with some 2400km behind us from Cape Reinga and only 400+ to go to Bluff in the south, some words on why Jutta and I are raising money for the Rory Peck Trust. And with those words an encouragement […]

We’re in Wanaka. And Daisy’s in trouble again.

Again, the best-laid plans. We had hoped to cycle triumphantly into Wanaka today, scene of the fabulous Winter Wedding of Katie Brayne and Carmela Snooks in August 2014, but Daisy had other ideas.

Tandem TA with just 400km to go.

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 […]

Franz Josef the Glacier, and 206km in two days…

Incredible 206km cycling from Greymouth to Franz Josef Glacier in two days, and the clouds have just lifted. Eighty km first on Tuesday along the most amazing bike trail (West Coast Wilderness Trail) we’ve ever encountered, even on a tandem, And then a stonking 136km yesterday from Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier… …arriving in the dark […]

TandemTA Day 29, we reach South Island West Coast

Day one of Week Five of our tandem tour of New Zealand has brought us from Blackball right onto the West Coast, and the rain. Bearing in mind that this edge of NZ gets up to 18 METRES of rain a year in parts, it’s perhaps not surprising that we’ve finally had a soaking. […]