Long Way Up

Thanks to the charity of everyone on the trip, all the people who put us up and feed us and supported us along the way, to our families for their support, to all those that have donated to canteen (the last time I checked we raised almost $1000 for Canteen) and to the optimism of those people we meet along the way.  It has been a challenging 27 days of cycling with some great experiences that we will remember forever.

Many people have done this ride before but were not faced with the challenges of no support vehicle, camping most nights, headwinds and rain 90% of the time, and caring all our gear with us in our bike bags as well as taking that extra day to make it the actual northern point of New Zealand NORTH CAPE so its makes the achievement extra special.

Also a big thanks to dad for stepping in from Auckland and keeping me company when andriy had to pull out.  Max is already planning to do the entire trip at the end of 2009.  Im sure Andriy will also finish the last bit (Auckland to the Cape) within the next year as well.


You can still donate securily online on:
http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/longwayup

We all know someone who has been sick or died from cancer so if you have an extra $5 lying around it would be great if you supported Canteen, they are a great charity  doing great stuff for young people living with cancer

One last thing.  We collected $20 in donations at Invercargill airport and $10 at bluff.  I lost the piece of paper with the addresses to send the receipts so if that was you txt or ring me on 0273585079 and I will forward those addresses onto canteen

Thanks Tania and Hadlee for picking us up

Te Paki sand dunes, NZ's largest

It was a long drive back to Auckland with holiday traffic backing up for miles with many crashes including an upturned fonterra truck.  The 7 1/2 hours of driving home showed us just how far we have come in the last few days and its funny how we remembered all the hills very well along the way : ) We just missed Andriy who flew back to Aussie this afternoon, so will catch up you in Perth in 2 weeks.

The final stats are:
2572.4km (average of 95km per day)
27days
4 days off (3 for christmas and 1 in christchurch)

North Cape in the distance

Spirits bay

Te Paki sand dunes

We made it!!! Cape Reinga





The meeting of the oceans

Day 27 (Jan 1) Spirits Bay to Cape Reinga 37.7km =2572.4km total

We woke up to the new year with a refreshing swim and hike up to the top of the mountain at Spirits Bay to see an awesome mist looking out to Cape Reinga on one side and North Cape on the other.

We jumped on the bikes and cycled the last 36km out to Cape Reinga.  Again, we had another scorching sunny day with blue skies.  There was a lot of holiday traffic on the metal roads with lots of dust and rugged parts.  We were welcomed to Cape Reinga with the last 5km being tarsealed and some amazing 360 degree views of the Te Paki sand dunes, the meeting of the oceans, the huge surf and of course the lighthouse and a heap of tourists.  Dad and I chilled out for an hour taking in the view and achievement before we were picked up by my sister Tania and her boyfriend Hadlee.  Thanks for that guys and also for making us a well needed lunch. 

We decided it was too far to drive back to Auckland today so all camped at the DOC camp at Rarawa Beach again.  Hadlee and I went out fishing on the rocks and brought back some roack cod and kahawhai for dinner.

Rugged forestry roads

Dirt roads North cape

There was a bit of mud

North Cape at last







Happy New Years

The swim to finish off reaching the Cape.  There was zooplanton in the water which made the waves glow as they crashed on the beach...very cool

Day 26 (Dec 31) Rarawa Beach to Spirits Bay (via North Cape) 107.6km =2535km total

We knew today would be a rough day heading out to North Cape (the true northern point of New Zealand).

We woke up to another hot sunny day and had a morning swim in the surf.  There were schools of Kahawhai swimming across the waves before they broke which was pretty special.

A slight headwind slowed us down as we passed through Te Kao for an ice cream and Waitaki landing for some lunch. We then turned off onto the gravel roads which led us all the way out to North Cape.  Today was a tough day, as soon as we hit the gravel the roads were rough as guts with the some of the steepest climbs in the trip, our tyres keep slidding on the changing surfaces from rocks, to sand, to dirt.  We felt every kg of those panniers and extra food we needed as we were out in the middle of no where.   The sun was at its hottest and we were dripping constantly soaked in sweat but the fact that we were almost there kept the adrenalin pumping and the legs moving. Although dad had to walk up a couple of hills I was impressed with his endurance to keep going.

Finally made it to North Cape and the most northern point New Zealand at 7.06pm.  There was some thick mist coming in from sea but it felt great to be there standing up at an elevation of 200m looking out to sea.

We cycled as quick as we could to spirits bay (second most northern point of NZ) where we camped at the DOC campground fro New Years.  We had a beer but were so exhaused and fell asleep before the countdown

Because it would be dark soon we rode as quick as we could out of the forest

Coopers Beach

We had to stop for some pints at Nz's most northern pub

I have my first crash

We stopped for the night at Rarawa Beach, one of the nicest beaches in the country






Day 25 (Dec 30) Kaeo to Rarawa Beach 119.2km =2427total

We rode out to Mangonui this morning and had breakfast on the wharf and then headed along the coast past some really nice beaches.

We ended up taking a detour into Kaitaia as I was still having problems with my gears.  I had been fiddling around with them for hours and the man in the bike shop fixed them in two minutes and my bike was riding like a dream again, it felt so good.

I had my first crash today as I was cycling past a parked car in Houhora.  A guy opened his car door without looking which clipped my back pannier (cycling bag) and spun me around.  Before I knew it I was flat on my face on the pavement.  The guy was a dick and didnt even say sorry but I got him as I made a big dent in his door.  I was alright and got off with a few grazes bad luckily the camera still works.

After that we found the most northern pub in New Zealand and chilled out with dinner and a few pints.  We got talking with the locals who suggested we camp at Rarawa beach for the night 10km down the road.  The beach was awesome with pure white silica sand and some great surf.  We camped up along the northern end of the beach and had a fire.

Pumping surf at Elliots Bay

Ferry from Russell to Paihia





Camp for the night

Day 24 (Dec 29) Oakura to Kaeo 119.1km =2308total

After a great sleep we woke up to rain so we slept in a bit and started off quite late.  Colin had just finished cycling from Wellington to Auckland a week ago and was all keen to cycle with us to Russell but the showers this morning scared him off  : )

We got on the road and had consistent rain until about 4pm when it cleared up.  The terrain was extreme up and downs with some beautiful coast and pumping surf especially at Elliots Bay (I wish I had my kayak with me).  I started having a few problems with my gears so spent a lot of time fixing them in the rain.  From Russell we crossed to Paihia on the passenger ferry.

We arrived into Kaeo just in time to get a mint feed of spare ribs and salad (the reason I keep talking about food is that after cycling for several hours each day food tastes so great). There were some funny little Maori kids who kept asking us if we were cycling to the end of the world.  From Kaeo we decided to cycle on until it got dark to make tomorrow easier and ended up down this gravel road sleeping on a grass verge between some farmland 14km out of Kaeo.  It must be mating season for cows and bulls they were going hard all night.

Mint house with the best views in Oakura



Thanks Deborah and Colin for having us

Day 23 (Dec 28) Otaika to Oakura 61.6km =2189km total

We had an easy day today after a good 120km of cycling yesterday.  It was great heading inland to stay at Oakura with Colin and Deborah.  We were welcomed with a great lunch and some awesome views of the bay.  They have a wicked cliff spot overlooking the neighbouring bays with 125acres of land.

Dad and I went down to check out the beach and have a swim. Then Colin showed us around the their land. Its been great to just hang out and chill out all afternoon with great people.  Thanks guys for everything.  It has been great : )

This morning dad was riding ahead of me and a car passed us.  There was a dead rabbit just ahead of us on the road which exploded as the car ran over it splattering guts over the front of dads bike.  I was in tears with laughter.

Whitebait fritters at the Matakana markets

Our first taste of back country gravel roads

Andruys and Valerie join us for 1/2 the day.  We went for a refreshing swim at langs beach



Thanks for putting us up

Day 22 (Dec 27) Snells Beach to Otaikia 124km =2127km total

Another great day of scenic cycling and lots of sun.  After an awesome breakfast we hit the road and took the backroads out to Matakana.  We had some tasty whitebait fritters at the farm markets.

There were some narly hills and some parts of steep gravel road, so great to get off the beaten track.  Andriy and his dad meet us in Mangawhai and rode with us to Waipu.  We had a refreshing swim at Langs beach before stopping for the night 10km out of Whangarei in Otaitia. Dad is much fitter than I thought and has been doing really well with the cycling.

A local saw us setting up our tent and invited us up to his farm where we had a great sleep and watched a couple of movies.  Cheers for the hospitality mate.

Dad joins the trip in Auckland

Ferry from the city to DEvonport to avoid the harbour bridge

Chilling out on Orewa Beach

The new unopened motorway at Orewa





Thanks to Gavin and Joselyn for putting us up for the night and for feeding us

Day 21 (Dec 26th) Bucklands Beach(Auckland) to Snells Beach 99.7km =2003km total

About to hit the road again after a good couple of days rest after christmas. 

The sad news is that Andriy will end his riding here.  Due to time restaints and pressures leading up to going away to Perth he will not be continuing the journey to the Cape...............

Now, my father Max is joining me to ride the extra few days to the Cape.  The weather looks great and there is some awesome scenery so im very optomistic and getting excited about finishing the journey to the top of New Zealand

Great cycling today.  To avoid the motorways uot of Auckland we took some awesome roots through the suburbs, along the farm cove walkway, through Kohoe and along the waterfront, caught the ferry from the city across to Devonport, up the east coast road all the way out to Orewa.

We were reall lucky to take the new motorway that bypasses Waiwera not yet opened.  The security guard was really nice and let us through.  It was an amazing stretch of road. The sunny day and smooth road topped it off : )

We stayed with Dads friends Gavin anf Josolynn in Snells beach.  They cooked us up an awesome meal of fresh fish.  Thanks guys.

Good news it that we clocked 2000km today