Day 2 - the Importance of Tires

What a day... Woke up early, not realizing that I had a huge gash in my tire... must've happened enroute to the University of British Columbia. Anyway, thankfully UBC has a bike co-op, that sells tires and let's you use their tools etc...

Anyway, so instead of leaving early I left late and only made it as far as Mission, BC, not to Hope as was initially planned. The good news is I have two new tires and a new chain.

Rainy and grey day.... about 16 degrees.
Total of 61km travelled.

Day 1 - Victoria to Vancouver (via Nanaimo)

Greetings from Beautiful British Columbia!

Hopefully having a netbook on this trip will give me the opportunity to keep better connected and allow you (the readers) to share in my Cross Canada Cycling experience. So far things have been pretty amazing. Right from my arrival in Vancouver - where I took public transit (from the airport) to get to the University of British Columbia - not an easy feet when you are carrying a bicycle in a box and all of your gear... but I did make it to the campus for less than $10.00 Canadian. Had Mountain Equipment Co-ops help in assembling my bicycle (which was ready and built same day).

The first few days were all about exploring Vancouver, going out at night and mingling with the locals - and I did meet some interesting people... but I suppose that is what happens when you are on your YEAR OF PERPETUAL SUNSHINE. Which reminds me - I saw a church named Our Lady of Perpetual Help and chuckled to myself - perhaps I will have to try to snap a shot of that before I leave Vancity heading east.

Highlights thus far:

- putting my bike on the front of a bus so that I could make it to the ferry terminal - who knew that bikes weren't allowed on the road to Tsawwassen.

- seeing a deer on the front lawn on Vancouver Island just outside of Sidney

- eating a nanaimo bar in Nanaimo, BC - I know... easy to please

- ferry ride back to Horseshoe Bay, North Vancouver and meeting up with a cyclist who showed me an awesome way back to Stanley Park and downtown, via the Lions Gate Bridge. Meeting him helped my confidence as he cycled to Calgary on his fixed gear bicycle - twice with only a backpack, in his words - I look better prepared - and considering I managed to keep up with him and hold my own while cycling... more confidence was built.

- Word to the wise - don't forget your towel when you go to the shower - despite how tired you may be...

- biggest highlight - was leaving Victoria - not because it was awful... but because I went to "Mile 0" on the Trans-Canada. There is a statue there in remembrance of Terry Fox with beautiful quotes - "Somewhere the hurting must stop," "I believe in miracles, I have to." "Dreams are made possible if you try." Although I was alone at "Mile 0" I thought of so many people and the quotes and statue of Terry Fox made me quite emotional. Thoughts of my family and friends who I know are cheering me on from all over the world made me have a sense of excitement, yet calmness.... if that makes any sense. The with tears in my eyes I started my journey.

- Day 1 complete - 149.53km - Victoria to Vancouver (via Nanaimo and North Vancouver), sun/then overcast about 22 degrees at the warmest.

On Leaving Aotearoa...

Okay... so I've been a bit negligent about writing the blog over the past few weeks... but I suppose that is because I've started to reflect on my trip, the places I've cycled and the people I've met and the physical and emotional growth that I've experienced... all good of course.

The trip to Australia was very tropical and I did manage to work up a nice tan... hopefully I'll still have it by the time I come home to Canada. But the entire time that I was there I was longing to return to New Zealand. Yes... already I was in withdrawal - a bit of a concern for what will happen when I actually leave the country this coming Wednesday at 8pm. I suppose a part of me really does this little group of islands in the bottom of the Pacific. Maybe it's because it is so Canadian... but at the same time just different - who knows? I suppose I'll figure that out while I'm cycling across Canada starting in the month of June.

Just thought I'd mention yesterday I was at the Kauri Museum - very interesting looking at the history of the largest trees on the planet and also the pioneer history of NZ. I even was brave later in the afternoon and took a dip in the Pacific Ocean one last time - the water was a bit chilly, but let's be honest it isn't every day that I can say I was in the ocean for a swim.

Coming up this week...I plan on contacting many of the people that were apart of my trip and thank them for everything... whether it be the support they provided or the time we shared together, New Zealand will continue to be a place that I love to visit, but it is time to head home to the true north strong and free... summer is coming!

Good bye South Island...

Okay, so this posting is a bit late as I've been in Wellington for two days now...loving the sun and the warmth but not really enjoying the strong winds.

The crossing of the Cook Strait was in a word "different" than my previous crossings. I felt as though I didn't want to leave, perhaps it was the people that I've met in my travels and the friendships that have made the difference this time. The only thing keeping me going is the fact that the weather is getting nasty on the South Island and beautiful sunny days are disappearing into the Autumn.

Even on the Interislander I met some great kiwi's one older woman that was quite impressed with my extensive travel and love for this small country in the South Pacific...she even said that maybe I'll meet a nice kiwi girl and end up moving here (made me smile).

Also, I met the Engineer of the Interislander (named Vince) who decided to offer to tour me around the ship - so I got to see the engine room, the propulsion room and even the bridge - where I met the captain, I know that sounds weird for a 34 year old man but at the same time I enjoyed learning about the ship and seeing parts of it that not many travelers would get to see. I guess I'm a bit like Forrest Gump in the sense that I seize these opportunities when they present themselves and experience life as it happens to the fullest all around me.

Anyway, above I've included a pic of the Marlborough Sounds again...and the fabulous weather that I experienced. Off to Auckland bright and early tomorrow morning.

Friends... Mates.... all the same just different words

For the past few days I've been staying at a B&B in Christchurch with a great guy named Bruce Morrison, the place was recommended to me by Yvon. Bruce even took me on a tour of Littleton and Sumner (towns that are nearby and enroute to the Akaroa peninsula). Christchurch claims to be more English than England but I think that's just silliness. The weather has been improving ever so slightly since I arrived only two days of rainy sun and today was gorgeous.

So...what have I been up too you might ask... well yesterday a friend of mine named Scott flew in from Australia (Scott is a kiwi that I met in Takaka and then again went to the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival together). Scott has a batch (aka a cottage) just outside of Christchurch at a place called Selwyn Huts and he invited me to come over crash at his place.

The batch was quite reminiscent of cottages that I've visited in Ontario - even with that cottage smell - I think everyone knows what I'm talking about... Anyway, he had heaps of things to do today so I decided to help him out with doing some chores around the house, so I did some sanding of the window frames as well as did the cutting-in for painting of his living room. In return he provided me with a cosy place to stay (albeit a bit chilly), a roast dinner and good company (just like the Swiss Chalet commercial... I went for the company...or whatever the comment is).

Great day - heading to Blenheim tomorrow on the train!

LONG day....

After cycling about 160kms I finally made it to the Christchurch sign (as seen in the photo). My eyes were filled with tears of joy and happiness of my accomplishment... I was almost in the City. Throughout the day I had been thinking about eveyone that I've met on my journey around the country as well as those that have been supporting me and cheering me on from Canada (and around the world).

Earlier in the day I almost gave up...YES...after cycling about 140km I was in heaps of pain (legs were sore as) and I felt I couldn't go on...so I stopped and tried to hitchhike (yes a gutsy move with a bicycle). Funny no one stopped. Until a Ute slowed down that was packed and they informed me that Glentunnel was only 3km away... it was what I needed 'HOPE'.

Also at this point I remembered that I had brought Advil with me so I popped a tablet and cycled slowly to the town, where I had a much needed rest, a bacon and egg pie and a coffee. The spark was reignited and I was able to carry on.


I figure yesterday was my last official LONG day of cycling in New Zealand. Autumn has hit the South Island hard and cycling in the rain and dismal cloud for 6-8 hours a day is a bit grim...so I decided to book myself on the train to Picton area (Blenheim actually) so I might have to cycle to Picton (or catch a lift if I'm lucky) and then cross back to the North Island on April 13.

Thanks to everyone reading this - trust me when you cycle all day... you are all being thought of at least once or more.

Steep Streets of the World

Autumn is definitely here on the South Island, leaves are just beginning to change colours on the trees (not as colourful as Canada - sorry had to be said... but still beautiful). Over the past week I've seen on the news that trampers on the Milford Track have had to be helicoptered out as the weather has turned quite sour in that part of Fiordland... hence me changing my plans from doing the Kepler Track and instead heading directly to Dunedin. Let's just say that Dunedin hasn't been sunny either but a beautiful city nonetheless where I've met some wonderful kiwis.

I've been staying at a B&B in the North East Valley called the Glenroy Lodge. Ken and Ken are the hosts and very kind men... so kind in fact that they have invited me to stay one more night for free - and you know I like free things... so I will be leaving on Saturday morning heading north to Christchurch.

Also, I've tried climbing Baldwin Street a few times now... with some result - hence the picture attached.