I’m now halfway through my time in Australia and just outside Melbourne. I am going to cycle past Melbourne and out and back down the great ocean road to catch my flight on the 18th. It is a bit of a shame that I won’t cross the whole country and make it to Perth, but that just gives a reason to come back.
One of the questions I get asked a lot about my trip is ‘what has been the best bit?’. For Australia it has been meeting a wide variety of kind, interesting and generous people through the warmshowers home stay for touring cyclist’s website. In New Zealand I only used it once but over here I have used it several times mainly due to the price of accommodation ... one campsite wanted $35 !! The hostel was only $23. So all of this has meant that what is shown in this blog posts video has been kept to a minimum. I would just like to say thank you againto all of the people who have put me up over the last week and to any future hosts who put me up over the coming week. It really is much appreciated.
Well that’s New Zealand well and truly cycled. I pretty much went everywhere apart from Taranaki, Northland and Milford Sound and covered 5400 km in 259 hours of cycling. Some of the highlights from the last few weeks and some strange quirky things in New Zealand are in the latest video compilation so take a look to save me typing about them.
So I am now in Australia and it is not what I expected in terms of weather. It has just been pouring with a very strong South Easterly wind which since I’m heading down the coast from Sydney is not welcomed. I don’t mind the hills, in fact I like them, but the wind is tough. Oh well, just have to get on with it.
My original plan was to cycle from Sydney to Perth, but that has changed to Sydney to Melbourne for various reasons. Mainly as Mike, the guy I spent the last few weeks cycling with in NZ, is in Malaysia from early March and we have decided to cycle up to Hanoi together. So it is just 18 days in Oz with the aim of getting to Melbourne but hopefully also up the great ocean road. If I just go to Melbourne it will be about 1000 km and another 600 km to do the great ocean road, so it should be achievable.
On the 18th of February I fly from Melbourne to Bali where I’ll have a couple of weeks to mainly finish off some things I need to get done and a bit of cycling around. The island isn't that big but is meant to be quite hilly. I’ll probably stay in one or two places instead of moving from point to point each day. In early March its then of to Singapore and about 350 km up to KL in Malaysia. It will then be up to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. If I can get the required visas for central Asia I’ll cycle all the way back to Europe otherwise I’ll head through China then double back on myself through the Pakistan and Indian Himalaya regions towards Nepal. This way I’ll be there in the cycling period of July, August and September and miss out Tibet where individual travel is not permitted. If I do this I’ll then have to fly back to Europe missing out central Asia.
The football scores are really depressing at the moment and the run Villa had over Xmas must be the worst run of results I have ever known any team have. I am starting to fear for relegation which would be a total disaster. Anyway, other than the football, I hope all is well back in the UK.
Well its been over a month since I've posted a blog entry and basically in that time I've been cycling around the South Island. Its all summarised in the video below so no need to write too much. Trip is going great and looking forward to the rest of it. Went through a spell of really bad weather so I really hope that is behind me now. I've met some other cyclists and a few cycling family's as well and spent the last week or so cycling with Mike from Canada who I am trying to convince to extend his trip. Anyway, i'll write another blog a bit sooner than the gap to this one. Hope you enjoy the video. Cheers, Neil
After the last post I continued along the Pacific coast highway and up round the eastern peninsula on the north island. Was following the road but then did a 56k round trip to the East Cape lighthouse and the most eastern point in the southern hemisphere which is outlined in the video above.
It was a great day for a ride out to the lighthouse and an easier day with the reduced distance and no luggage however the next day I woke up to server gales. The worst wind I think I have ever experienced (and I remember the hurricane which hit the UK in what was it 89ish)... I thought I’m staying in bed... well my sleeping bag anyway. It got worst throughout the day and the telegraph pole which brings the electricity into the campsite got blown over which meant no electricity... luckily there was gas to cook on. I was a bit concerned about my tent as it was bending right over but it stood up to it, thankfully. The next few days saw some massive climbs, oppressive heat and also relentless headwinds ... but that can wait for the next post.
I’m currently in Wairo and heading south towards Wellington, the nations capital where I’ll be meeting up with Steve from uni (the first time) which I’m looking forward to but apparently a lot tougher cycling on the way. The campsite I’m now in has internet for 5 bucks a night. I’m currentlywaiting for the video to upload whilst having my post ride coffee, but I really wish it would hurray up as I desperately need to get in the shower... but at least its keeping the kitchen empty!
Anyway, it’s been good to see Wolves and Villa pick up some much needed points and I hope that continues. Anyway, best go, hope you’ve enjoyed reading and watching and any feedback is always appreciated.
Well my bike and I got here in one peice .. a long few days of travelling
but it went pretty smooth.
The first few days of cycling and camping have gone OK too, just taking it
easy and settling in to life on the road. The first day was a very hilly 80k,
then 96k and yesterday 105k. Average speed is between 20 and 22 kph depending
on the wind and terrain. Today I have done about 25k so far but then stopped in
Whakatane to upload the video (below) which is taking a long, long time .. the
sun has come out and I'm sat inside an internet cafe on my PC. Oh well ...
anyway, below is a video of the first week or so. it covers travelling,
shopping and an overview of my bike.
Before I left I was always being asked if I was doing it for charity, which
I wasn't. However I always said that I may add a justgiving page to the blog
incase anyone wants to donate anything. At the moment it just seems that I am
on holiday so it doesn’t feel right trying to raise money. However if at the
end of the year I have got home and covered > 30k km it would be a challenge
which people may feel warrants supporting a worthy cause. In the meantime I
have decided to have some mini challenges which I will aim to raise money for,
sections which may not be too much fun e.g. crossing the Nullabor plain or
cycling the whole of China. This will also enable several different charities
to be supported. I will add more details as and when.
In the meantime, I’ve been really impressed with NZ. It’s totally stunning
and I haven’t even started to scratch the surface. I am heading east, around
the north Island East Cape, which should get me to the furthest east mainland point
in the southern hemisphere (I think). Then it’s time to start heading home.. well after
looping the south Island and getting back to Auckland for the flight to Sydney
on the 1st of Feb .
