Monday and Tuesdays Blogs.

Monday 28^th Feb  - 11pm

Well that was the toughest days cycling I have ever done in my life and I am exhausted. I arrived at David and Belinda’s house in Northern Dunedin at about 7.30 pm and had to push my bike the last 300 yards as the road they live on is a 20% hill and I would never have been able to climb it even after 2 miles never mind 102 miles. Today I have burnt off almost 8000 calories and climbed in excess of 6000 feet which is roughly two Snowdon’s. The wind has been against me for about 50 miles and for some reason I could not stomach much food which hasn’t helped at all. Even tonight I only ate a regular sized meal. I’m not sure what the problem is but I need to increase my calorie intake or I won’t have much energy before long.  My legs ache, my arse is sore but I feel great having completed a tough day pretty much on schedule.

David and Belinda have been fabulous especially since they have never met me before.( David is the brother of Richard who is a mate of my mate Tony Capstick !! ) I have had a great meal, a well deserved beer and my clothes washed. I am now sat in bed much in need of sleep so this will be brief. The house I am in is amazing and full of Character. It sits atop of a big hill looking out over the whole of Dunedin and the view is amazing. You would need to be a millionaire to live in a place like this in the UK.

Tomorrow is a 72 mile day to Oamaru but again it is a hilly day with two big ones to start off with. My legs are gonna be screaming for the first hour tomorrow and I will need a rubber ring to go on my saddle ( too much information Andy !!!! ) Nevertheless it is less than today and I’m not bothered if I fall short as I will be staying in a hotel if I can find one. Most down here are booked up with Earthquake victims who have no house to live in anymore.

I’m glad today is over but at least I am a day ahead of schedule and have a bit of leeway built in to the trip in case of any unforeseen circumstances. There are bound to be some problems ahead but bring it on I say !

Can’t keep my eyes open any longer so bye for now.

Tuesday 1^st March   - 7pm

Well I have just arrived in Oamaru having completed 70 miles and some pretty steep hills. When I Woke this morning I did not feel like getting on my bike. It actually hurt to sit on my bed so you can imagine what it felt like when I first tentatively placed my backside on the racing saddle that adorns my bike. I will say no more !

I spent a leisurely morning having breakfast and being entertained by 19 month old Violet,  David and Belinda’s daughter. She didn’t seem quite as scared of me as she did last night when I arrived looking all sweaty and with 5 days of facial hair. This morning she was mildly cautious which I have learnt over the last 40 years is all I can reasonably expect from most females.

I set off at 10.30 and within 50 yards I was climbing a 1000 foot hill that takes you out of Dunedin along the A1. This hill went on for ages and then dropped into a 40 mph decent to the foot of a 600 foot climb and once this was over there was a 500 foot climb and so on. After 90 minutes I was ready to pack up and fly home as the rain started to pour down and I met a headwind but ten minutes later my faith was restored as I found a flat bit which went on for about 10 miles.

After promising myself faithfully that I would not rest until Palmerston at the 30 mile mark I saw a café and my resolution failed immediately. I could not get off my bike quick enough and dived in looking like a sweatier version of Grizzly Adams in lycra. I nearly cried when I saw that they had carrot cake and ordered a massive piece together with a coffee and a bottle of coke. I then inhaled all that within seconds and sat and chatted to the staff there. They thought I was mad. Not because of the way I looked I hasten to add but because I was cycling the length of their country. I don’t think either of the staff had ever been further than the South Island.

That carrot cake was like rocket fuel as it turned me from a very weary man into a dynamo and I ate up the next ten miles before hitting more hills. My reaction to the first hill was to stop and get an ice cream  and a can of Iron Brew which I consumed in the shade as it was now 78 F. The weather has been warm but it was now getting hot and the shade was a blessing for a while. As I sat there another cyclist went past on the most laden down bike I have ever seen. I don’t think you could get any more on the bike if you tried. We exchanged pleasantries but he didn’t stop ( probably scared of the beard too !) and I sat for a further 30 mins before heading off again.

After the hills and passing through Palmerston the road met with the beach and I cycled along the coast for a few miles past “ Shag Point” my first photo opportunity of the day and enjoyed the scenery. It really was a surfer’s paradise except of course for all the rocks that lined the beach making it suicide for anyone who would be mad enough to try surfing there.

Further up the coast there was a turn off the A1 enabling you to follow the coast for another 25 miles until reaching Oamaru. I had asked the lady who sold me the ice cream if this was a good route and she said it was lovely as the A1 was really steep and hilly later on and the coastal route was better and more scenic. She said “ You can’t miss the turn off as its next to the chicken laying an egg !!“ I looked at her somewhat mystified like she was some sort of Clairvoyant who knew there would be a small chicken laying an egg at the precise moment I reached the intersection but she saw my confusion and interjected. “ It’s like 20 foot tall, trust me you can’t miss it! “   Well miss it I did,  and before I knew it I was heading up some horrid flipping duel carriageway with massive cattle trucks wizzing past me with about 6 inches between us. ( They all drive like that here )

Anyway, The next hour or so flew by and I felt great which was a bit of a shock considering yesterday’s exploits. I finally arrived in Oamaru at 5.50pm just as I  caught up the guy on the laden down bike from earlier. ( No wonder I caught him up ) We had a chat for 20 mins or so and his name is JT and he is from Korea. He has taken 2 years out to cycle round the world ( hence all the gear ). We exchanged contact details and I said I might meet up with him in McDonalds tonight to exchange manly cycling stories !! ( MD’s has free WIFI )

Today I have climbed 5000 feet and burnt off 6000 calories. 

I now find myself in a snazzy motel type place in a studio apartment costing about £55 a night. It has the most amazing shower and free WIFI too. I now need to get myself the biggest bowl of pasta I can find and skype my lovely girlfriend. I hope she won’t freak at the sight of wierdy beardy face !!

Sorry I went on so much tonight, hope I haven’t bored you all…..if your still reading that is