Dude. Not a digression. This is seriously useful information for cycle tourists who follow you! :)

Great to get to Milford Sound! Well done Andrew!

Thanks Grum, you are truly an inspiration. Keep on keeping on, creating a better world for your community, and entertaining all cyclists you encounter along the way.

Have a great trip with your mate!

Well done mate. Loved following your blog. We are off on S2S next week. Safe riding and adventures from here on.

Thanks Rich, I’m continually encouraged by all the supportive messages I’ve received.

Your message was well crafted. That’s exactly what this situation entails.

The first problem is the road has no shoulder. There’s a white line and then either rock or ditch. The drivers have the option to sit behind as you describe but in this case the driver slowed down and didn’t wait long enough. He then passed me not realizing the width of his rented camper. It wasn’t malicious. Just a combination of the road, his inexperience, and impatience.

I want to ride in Europe and get that will likely happen in the future.

Thanks again for reading and adding a thoughtful comment.

That’s a nice spot right there!

Great accomplishment! I'm totally in awe of your riding. Congratulations!!

Good work keeping your cool when provoked by inattentive drivers. I might not have been so controlled. As their behaviour implied, often the drivers don't intend to scare you. They just don't really "see" you. As in "see you and then move to avoid you".

One of the great things about riding here in France is that drivers are way more used to seeing cyclists on the roads. And the odds are good that the driver has a family member who cycles. So they really do "see" you in the good way. Bad experiences with close passes have been very, very rare for me over the past 10 years of cycling here.

I could never do the riding you've put in on this trip, but I've really enjoyed seeing it through your eyes. Thanks for keeping this blog!

Great pic...reward for the hard yards!

Renowned at skifields for destroying car wiper blades, rubber gaskets, aerials . . .

Kea

Those weather apps! They suck you in with accuracy and then open the taps when your not expecting it.

Yes but not very often now!

Looks like California poppy.

https://www.nomadichorizons.com/californain-poppies.html

Thanks! Tough start but great finish. I am very excited about the scenery. It was really great getting here! And yes, I’ll have loads of time but I prefer that to being on the road. There are a few sections with railings and minimal shoulder. Was happy to have almost zero traffic.

Great effort to get to Eglington. There is a high chance of meeting adverse weather somewhere between Mossburn and Milford. A short ride tomorrow with a good climb to the Homer tunnel. You will be in bikers paradise from there to Milford. Long wait for the bus. It will be worth it when you look out the window at the climb you are not doing. If it's in the right direction for you, the track you were on into Te Anau goes on to Manapouri. Great ride.