South Bound Journey Completed

On Monday 16 December we shivered our way from Slope Point to Invercargill, arriving in Invers (local abbreviation) around 2pm. To get here from Kerikeri involved 3,659km of very hilly cycling. Added to our earlier ride around Tai Tokerau, we have now completed 4,358km of our planned 7,500km and climbed 43,970m. The Rear Admiral has felt every one of those metres and combined with our illness over the last week, she has indicated that she will most likely not be returning to Invercargill next month to resume our ride north. The decision is not final and we will update you in about a months time.

The bike received a much needed service yesterday with both chains and the chain cassette rings needing replacement, along with a second set of brake pads. We are also due for a service upon our return to Kerikeri tomorrow, haircuts, clothes refresh and for the R.A., toast and avocado rather than the goto breakfast of porridge.

We were fortunate to not have big rides for two days in the Catlins as the R.A. was struggling with way less that 100% health. I had mostly recovered and Bob had decided to quarantine himself from the sickly adults by staying in his sealed rain gear.

The GOTF frantically scanned Google maps for alternative accommodation to our planned camping at Curio Bay. With rain forecast overnight along with cold temperatures spending a cold wet night in a tent was the last thing we needed. Everything was either booked out or had a two night minimum but I eventually found a farmstay at Slope Point, 10km on from Curio Bay. Thank goodness as we were able to start that very cold last day dry and well rested.

There was one cafe on our route to Invers (when in Rome…) at a place called Fortrose. It was raining when we hit the village and we were cold. Well, we saved the worst for last. The staff were obviously there under sufference or were slaves. They were as miserable and welcoming as the weather. The food that i ordered was probably in the cabinet a year earlier and despite us being the only ones there, our order must have been shipped from afar. My flat white was very flat and tasted suspiciously like instant coffee. However, despite the frosty atmosphere the physical temperature was a bit warmer than outside and while we waited and waited for our food, the weather cleared. Every cloud… uh.

We had a pedal around Invercargill this morning, sorted out what goes into storage and what stays. Basically, all of the RAs gear needs to go back to Kerikeri on the assumption that she is not coming back. What happens if she doesn’t you ask? Well that is something we will ponder over our break but most likely the GOTF will transform into OIOB (Only idiot on bike). Bob does not consider himself to be an idiot and is very excited as he is expecting a promotion to Bear Admiral. He is coming home with us for Christmas as we didn’t have the heart to leave him with the mice in the storage facility.

We wish all of our readers a happy festive season and thank you for your support over the last two months. There are no doubt many more tales to be told in 2025. Our/my journey resumes on 20 January.

We have raised $4,881 over our first two stages and as we have got further from The Far North it has got a lot harder to interest people in a local charity. Thanks to all of you who have contributed, knowing that we are helping vulnerable kids has made a huge difference to our motivation, especially when the going has been tough.

The video below was filmed during our last day and includes Bob moonwalking.