Hi Scott yes it’s disappointing that Joel and Tony couldn’t ride the last few days. Fortunately they did ride the most epic part over the range. That was quite an experience.

Now that I’ve just finished that final stretch of backroad to Masterton, I’m convinced we made the right decision.

If they’d pushed on with Joel’s injury, (and Tony also had respiratory problems) we’d have turned a minor problem into a major one.

Hi Michael thanks for following the journal and for the helpful tips.
I’ve had a big day of riding to Masterton, and then lucked onto a train. Great rail services and staff here. Very helpful.
So I’m now back in Wellington and booked onto a ferry to Picton tomorrow. From there, all I need to do is make it to Nelson in time for a wedding next weekend.

Good progress Graham. We cycled the Rimutaka cycle route from the Hutt over to Wairarapa - nice easyish trail. Coming from the Wairarapa side there was a bit of a hill, though there might be a bridge there now. You can also just keep pedalling around the headland and either turn off to Wainuiomata or keep going around to Eastbourne. Happy travels!

A shame about your friends. Glad you made it in safe.

Pretty big bird, but a pretty short name: Kererū.

Oh, there it is. I was trying to get the point from the previous slide. Pretty long, alright.

Rich I’m hoping this wine is a myth. By contrast to the description of Purple Death, NZ makes some of the world’s best wines.
Country pub drinkers I’ve seen, seem to favour beer.

This varietal sounds like it’s perfect for me, the box wine connoisseur.

Mike it’s plantation timber. Pinus radiata is my guess.

What species are they logging?

Michael the truck traffic wasn’t too worrisome. The weather was excellent and visibility was good. There are a few places on the Whangamoas were I chose to get off, just in case there was. a truck around the curve. But mostly it was a pleasant ride, albeit quite a climb.

Andrea funny … that’s almost exactly what the motel manager said when they arrived.

I didn’t get the team memo about the dress code and haircuts. So I’m the odd one out. Plus my bike is a 20” wheeled folder. Joel and Tony have proper, big wheeled bikes. They look like real tourers.

Those trucks! I admire your courage Graham- we’ve cycled a few open roads in NZ but tried to avoid quarries and forestry. Which is impossible of course. Well done on those hills.

So, when are you going to reveal to us that they're twins? Do we just speculate amongst ourselves?

Steve NZ back roads often reduce to single lane. Either because of washout damage such as this, or single lane bridges. Road building and maintenance in such a hilly, high rainfall country is a constant challenge.