11/5/08
Well, my first ever Blog. Just sitting here with nothing on the box so lets see how this goes......
Any semblance of order or sanity is probably just luck.
Who knows, three months from now I may be blogging from Canada enroute on the Great Divide Ride.
But things are already underway.
Have got the book & maps, including the Canadian section, my trusty Santa Cruz Superlite mountain bike, and also a BoB trailer lent to me by a mate John. JP did the ride a few years ago from which I guess this madness came to light. Probably wouldn't have heard about it otherwise so thanks JP, I think.
Although I've done a fair bit of mountain biking, prior to Easter 08 I've never cycle toured in any shape or form so this will definitely be stretching the envelope. So, as a 'starter for 10', a quick but scenic trip was had around the Wairarapa/Wainui/Eastboune coast to see how the trailer felt and to get my thinking started wrt gear etc.
The 'Big Coast' ride as its called.
Started from the folks place in Te Marua and off through Tunnel Gully, the Rimutaka Incline and down to the coast. Nice westerly tail wind a fine weather. The sharp wee hill away from lake Enoka and into a very strong wind was a bit of a surprise. Along the coast the wind was very strong, often blowing me off track along the Mukumuku flats. Set up camp in a stand of manuka bushes not much further on. Great spot but windy even in the Manuka. Didn't sleep overly well. A mates Whisperlite cooker did the business nicely (cheers Jason) for a freeze dried dinner (surprisingly OK, prob cos I was hungry), and also for porridge the next morning.
The next day the weather had changed to southerly as predicted which was just what I wanted and wasn't too strong either, perfect as it will push me home once around the 'corner'.
A few sandy bits that had me off the bike and pushing, but nothing too bad. BoB follows along quite easily and rough ground isn't a problem, good fun actually.
Then came a very rough section of wash-outs and stream gouging over very rocky ground. However the official gate for walkers at the trail end was a problem. An impressive gate system that is high, topped with barbed wire and designed so that only a single person at a time can squeeze through. Anyway, I was able to throw my wheels, frame, BoB etc over a thinly barbed section.
Onwards and up the Wainui coast road for a short section and then across a farmers bridge and onto the Pencarrow coast. Prob should have forded the river... The final off-road section to Eastbourne was a breeze, esp with a moderate southerly behind me :). Back on the road felt a bit odd after two days off-road. Will seem even worse on the GDMBR I think. An easy cruise home from there. Even Korokoro hill rd wasn't too bad.
Not sure how many km's but was 4.5 and 4hrs of riding, possibly about 80km. Not much really but a start. Need to get a computer, indeed its critical for navigation on the GDMBR. Would like to do the ride again as a one dayer without BoB as a training ride so will get a computer by then.
