Milestones: 4000 Miles

Four thousand miles, adding another 1000 miles of wonderful New Zealand to the total. So here are the facts and figures for these 1000 miles.

Cycling

• Continents: 1 (Oceania)
• Countries: 1 (New Zealand)
• Nations: 1 (New Zealand)
• Cycled distance: 1000 miles (1609 Km)
• Climbing so far: 145,020 feet (44,202 m)
• Cycling Days: 20
• Rest days: 5
• Longest day: 65.66 miles (105.67 Km)
• Average per day: 49 miles (79.4 Km)
• Punctures: 0
• Blow ups: 0

Not stopping for unexpected security crisis makes the distance in time between milestones seem shorter and yet it is still the same 1000 miles. Cycling New Zealand has been a treat in the last 1000 miles. I have done two very testing passes (Haast and Crown Range) and in general kept a very healthy average climb per day record.

The Otago Central Rail Trail was fun and was the first time I spent some considerable time on unsealed roads. The bike performed and won a clean up in Dunedin. Now I’m on the way back up the south island and in another 7 weeks I’ll have finished new Zealand, probably there will be one more milestone here if not two.

I took one train and two busses. The train for tourist reasons (50 miles), the busses to avoid busy uninteresting roads (189 miles). This makes the cycled distance less than 1000 miles but, after a lot of soul searching I have deliberated that I’m not going to be anally retentive about it.

Accommodation

• 2 Hotel/B&B
• 1 WarmShowers
• 3 Hostel
• 19 Camping

Camping is still taking the lion share of the evenings, I find that I spend more time in commercial campgrounds but the price is really low. Excellent WarmShowers experience in Dunedin  and the 2 nights in hotel cost me less than camping while the hostels, perhaps as in Dunedin, were quite expensive.

A few night of real cold where I was wearing all that I owned. I must consider getting a new and better sleeping bag.

One of the aluminium support of the tent is broken, still working but it’s a problem waiting to happen.

Food

• Average spent: £16.11 per day
• Most expensive day: £52.91 (Queenstown steak)

Food is the thing I still find more expensive, in saying that I have had a few good meals out in this stage.

Other things

• I am getting used to sleep in the tent and actually find it very comfortable.
• Lost quite a bit of weight I think, all cloths are now baggy
• Seen penguins, seals, sea lionso and highland cows.
• Want to do more parachute jumping, loved it.

Commentary

The south of the south island is superb. It is beautiful full of things to see and do and great to cycle in. I am sorry I did not get to see Fiordland and only now have learned about another 3 trails to do on the bike. These are all good reasons to come back.

Another reason to come back are the incredible tramping tracks, including the one that goes from the top of the north island to the bottom of the south island.

Taking to the sky and both staying up, with the paraglider, and falling down, with the sky dive, was an highlight of the month. Quenstown and Wanaka are places I’d like to see in the winter too.

I have almost booked the sailing course for the beginning of May that should crown a staying in New Zealand that is being truly remarkable.