In October 2010 I made my first cycle tour of New Zealand. I arrived in Christchurch shortly after a severe earthquake, and was shocked to see the damage wreaked upon this charming provincial city. So I vowed to return and try to make some contribution, however small, to the economic recovery of the region. Little did I to know that far worse was to come - a second major quake devastated large sections of the city, many homes and many of the historic buildings that gave the city its charm and character were destroyed, including the iconic Christchurch Cathedral, and sadly, many lives were lost.

My first attempt at a return visit in 2011 was thwarted by a volcanic eruption in Chile - the ash cloud from the eruption circled the globe, and my flight to New Zealand was cancelled at the last moment. Now, two years later, I'm preparing once again to tour.

This time, I'm going fishing. My fishing gear is packed, and I'll be taking to the back roads in search of  a trout or two. Wish me luck - I've never fished for trout before and have no idea if I'll catch any, but I'm going to give it a try.

So, return flights to Dunedin are booked, leave is approved, and a new expedition touring bike awaits. I'm ready to roll...