New Zealand Sabbatical

The 185 mile ride from the base of Mt. Cook to the eastern coastal city of Omaru is the most celebrated of the 23 Great Rides of New Zealand. My best friend from medical school, Doug Reding, came for a visit and together we did this beautiful but challenging trek over 4 days. Heading to our take-off point of Twizel, we stopped for gas and found huge pine cones as the picture with Doug portrays. They are sold as a fundraiser by a local high school camp group. For $6 you can own one that is larger than a rugby ball.

The next 2 pictures show Mt. Cook visible at the start on a rare day of clear skies. Doug and I had this picture taken while we shuttled to the start. An initial 6 mile ride took us to a heliport as we needed to cross Lake Pukaki by copter to get to the meat of the first day’s ride. Just before starting we met a Swiss vet who was going to ride with her husband and 2 preteen sons on “muscular” mountain bikes as opposed to e-bikes and I have adopted her descriptor. My “muscular” bike handles are pointing at Mt. Cook in the second photo that follows.

The trail was predominantly crushed rock with asphalt (called tar seal here), gravel and large loose rock segments mixed in. Lots of climbing and fast descents with some narrow sections edged by a precipitous drop. We were challenged by brisk headwinds and pelting rain on day 2. My biggest injury was scraped knuckles when I hit the inside of a dark tunnel. I could not understand why my cell phone “torch” was being such little help-until I remembered to remove my sunglasses. At the end in Omaru we came across several models of the Bristish Penny-Farthlng bike you see me attempting to mount below. I learned the name comes from the penny coin wheel which is much larger than the farthing.

I have used “epic” to describe our journey as great, grand and awesome seem weak to describe our experience.