Vanderpants Oz Tour

So, going back to my last post……a while ago, after testing all my gear for 4 days there were a few things I still needed but other than the butterflies in my stomach of ‘shit what the hell have i got myself into’ we are pretty much set to go. A couple more visits to the bike shops and outdoor shops just for tidbits and we are set to go – this can happen along the way to the start of the race which is a fair drive. To recap, the next week will be picking up Karina (aka Gherns) – she does an amazing run – then off we go driving 1,500 km’s to the start of my race and doing some things along the way which i’ll elaborate on in a minute.

Recap of my race…….It’s called the Tour Aotearoa. Tour Aotearoa is arguably one of the world’s longest and greatest bicycle brevets – stretching 3,000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff (far north to far south) it follows a combination of cycle trails, tracks, paths and lanes connected by the most enjoyable country roads available. I have 30 days to ride this distance and rules are it has to be self supporting therefore I carry all the gear required to eat, sleep, spare parts and navigate etc. Between 9am one day and 9Am the next you have to rest for at least 6 hours. No support vehicles and there are 30 photo check-in points. That means minimum 100km’s per day (6-10 hours) approx depending on elevation and terrain. All starting at 7am tomorrow.

I also sorted my $7,000 phone bill out with Optus – thanks Optus for seeing the light and waiving this due to my 20 years of service 🙂 I also sorted all the logistical nightmares out by having places to store my gear whilst i’m racing and collecting it after. It all fell into place nicely (with a LOT of patience and mind bending) annnnnnd Airbnb refunded my two failed accommodations etc etc hahahaha. Gifted the bicycle rack to the Airbnb owner and I now only have what I require for my race, gear waiting for me back in Christchurch and now I just need to bloody ride this thing.

So before we headed off Gherns had to run an ultra marathon on the Old Ghost Road. I need to explain how awesome she is for a minute so bare with me……For those that don’t know what this is – It’s New Zealand’s longest single track for mountain bike and runners alike. It took 110,000 man hours and 6 million buckaroonies to make and most of it via vollies (I think it was 7 years). It’s for mountain biking or trekking (they call that tramping here) or running. Last year I rode this grade 4 track on a mountain bike and really appreciated all the hard work that went into this thing as whilst riding it, I read the book about the making of it. The great things about this run is the people that were involved in designing this track actually run the race and you really get a great family feel around the place and these guys are super organised. It was a privelege to even watch Karina start and finish this epic 85km run with over 2,500 meters elevation in 10 hours and 10 minutes.

Here’s some pics and vids to show you what it’s all about and to appreciate it from afar – it truly is an amazing experience and place – there’s something about it that i’ll never forget (and i’m sure Karina’s feet won’t either). It is definitely one of the best and most memorable times of my travelling experiences be it just being here to watch Gherns finish it or ride the whole thing myself.

One funny thing Phil the presenter talked about before the race is the WTLI index below. Cracked me up. WTLI – (Will To Live) and how between each check point it declines and then you get a spike just after resting and replenishing at an aid station, but it ultimately just slides further down each time – I am going to say that mentally this is so true hahaha there’s so many hurtlocker moments you need to go through I’m sure and I felt the same way about my race hahaha

Well done Gherns – all that training you do gives me motivation to do what i do as you don’t complain, you just get out there and bloody smash it with a smile on your face. proud of yah!!

OK, so after hanging around Wesport a few days we headed towards Cape Reinga…..Along the way we yoga’d, ate some yummy meals, celebrated my 41st birthday, went on some hikes, ran a park run, saw the Auckland Sky Tower, had LOTS fo great coffees, cinemas, drove and drove some more, took a ferry from Picton to Wellington, numerous Countdowns (Woolies for those’s playing at and Aussie home) for food every day hahah (ps did you know they call shopping trolley’s ‘Trundlers’ here?!)

hahaha. Also needed to visit a few more shops to finalise my finicky requirements for bicycle packing and NOW I AM READY….woohooooo Bring it on. PS – the Peninsular here is super dry and lots of water restrictions – it hasn’t rained here since November the airbnb host was telling me and I can say I am feeling the heat still from Oz and have found it challenging to always be hot and bothered. I thought in NZ I would be colder than I am but it’s been super humid and hot every day. I know in the South island it will cool down though and here’s hoping for rain for the people who need it.

So hopefully by the time I finish in NZ I would have driven over 2,000 km’s And cycled over 3,500 km’s on both islands – it will be safe to say that i’ve seen A LOT of this beautiful country

All of the above lead up to tomorrow – this is it….Starting from Cape Reinga which is said to be the most spiritual place in NZ. It is here that after death, all Māori spirits travel up the coast and over the wind-swept vista to the pohutukawa tree on the headland here where nothing but a lighthouse and that tree are present. It is very sacred for the Māori and this is a fitting place to start such an epic journey that encompasses the tip of the north all the way to the bottom of the south. I am super pumped and lucky to be able to see the beautiful landscapes that New Zealand has to offer and appreciate and experience everything about its history, people and sights and smells of according to some sources approximately 1,000 years of Maori history/settlement. Not that long ago when you think about it. Nonetheless – i’m looking forward to slowly soaking it all in and experiencing the mountain bike trails, beach rides, bicycle trails, rail trails and taking it all in whilst suffering hahahaha. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous as the climbing is twice what i’m used to and a couple hours more each day on top of that. Plus my knee is injured so lets hope that I can manage that along the way. I will give this my best crack though and these nerves are good. It’s called reaching for something big that scares you and embracing it…….. isn’t it?

Due to me trying to keep my weight right down im not taking my ipad and therefore will find it easier to post some piccies when I am on wifi for insta and then hopefully every few days to one week i’ll do a video blog on my website. That way i’ll keep everyone posted on the updates and my wherabouts.

Thank you or following me so far and I truly mean that peoples…..it is nice to know that you’re living this with me and I hope that the bicycle tourers are also getting something out of this as I wanted to give something back to the blogs that i sucked the life out of and never gave anything back. I read so much and never comment or post back so I hope that this can help someone else maybe.

Eggs…..oh how i can’t live life with out eggs, hot chips and coffee hahahahaha

Until my first VLOG have a great day peeps and stay amazing

Vanderpants OUT!!