Blue dot watchers - Tour Aotearoa

[Dave Barter]

Old chickenlegs is having a pretty good ride http://touraotearoa2016.maprogress.com/

[johnnystorm]

5am kick off for Andy and 600k or so in already!

[Chew]

There were 2 waves that set off.

Richie Cotter is heading up that second group and Kev C (Blackhound) is currently running mid pack

[Trail-rat]

the girls are smashing it .... no real surprise given their previous really !

neither just got their bike out the garage yesterday.

[Blackhound]

Started 2pm local time to hit low tide on 90 mile beach android I have pulled off the road at end of day 3 - or - 53 hours with 470 hard km in the bag. Bit worried I went to hard to get first two ferries hence early finish. Was walking when I saw motel sign. Hot and brutal. Quite a few from my group stopped back in Auckland about 25km ago. I do seem to be the slowest out here, just riding for longer. 2.30 and 1.30 finishes on first two days.

Rickie is flying. Two men without anything from me have been telling me how wonderful she is!

Did not see Andy but believe going well.

A few pics on my Instagram account at Blackhound59

[Dave Barter]

I heard form Andy last night "Had a hard couple of days bloody hot and bloody hilly!"

Ricky is a machine, I would not be surprised if she is not moving and NZ is heading north.

[Trail-rat]

rickies quick and tough but Anjas on home turf and tough as old boots as well . Could be a good battle for first woman and possibly first overall....

[Chicken Legs]

I have had a few problems with my tracker in that the subscription ran out !!
Just crossing from north to south island and more than half done.
The tracker is back working now.
This route is pretty special and quite tough, 155 miles and 9600ft of ascent yesterday.
The old chicken legs are just about holding in there
Andy
P.S. Kiwis are super competitive, not all bike packing is friendly !!

[Giacomo]

Just had an email update from Rickie.

She's currently waiting for a delayed ferry. Hope it doesn't hold her up too much!

Keep on keeping on!

[Blackhound]

Rolled into North Palmerston tonight at the 1, 320km point. Totally shattered as I averaged 12.6kph for about 130km of road and gravel. First 28km had >500m of climbing. Had a bad day but hope to make Wellington the day after tomorrow

[Bearbonesnorm]

Good work Kevin, keep it up

[Tom]

This would probably be really pleasant if everyone around me wasn't treating it like a race! Can't manage to chase down the guy on the graveyard shift though...at least I think that's what he's doing.

[SteveM]

a third wave rider just finished in nine days thirteen hours, I seem to recall saying something about racing Tom

[JohnClimber]

I'm liking the look of this ride, is it an annual one?
Are there any blogs anywhere from previous years?

[Chicken Legs]

All done, 12 days 23 hours and 35 minutes, really pleased with the time and I am now officially in recovery mode

[Blackhound]

John - this is allegedly a one off event but has been popular so mmaybe repeated.

Chicken legs - well done, hoping for about 10 days longer than that. Which do you think is tougher TA or TD? May just be my memory but finding this a lot harder.

On ferry to South Island 11 days and 3 hours after setting off.

[Chicken Legs]

Hi Kevin, keep plugging away, obviously the TA is shorter but it has its own special ingredients which make it tough and if longer it maybe harder but as you say the memories do fade over time !!
Keep pedalling,
Andy

[JohnClimber]

All done, 12 days 23 hours and 35 minutes, really pleased with the time and I am now officially in recovery mode

We'll done fella.
Please let me know where your write up will be

[Alpinum]

All done, 12 days 23 hours and 35 minutes, really pleased with the time and I am now officially in recovery mode

Congrats


Must have ridden through some stunning scenery.

[Chicken Legs]

Thanks Gian & John, yep rode through some fantastic countryside and we'll worth the long trip.
Not really sure of where I finished due to the wave system but around 25th which I am pleased with.
Once again my training on the terrain of mid Wales stood by me when things got tough
Andy

[johnnystorm]

Well done!

You did stop for a bit and take some pics I hope?!

[YetiTony]

Good job Andy!

[pistonbroke]

Looks like Blackhound has finished, appropriately on Paddys day.well done Kevin. (Hope I've not read the info wrong!)

[Blackhound]

Thanks Duncan. Finished on Paddy's day both here and up there - just. 23 days 23 hours and 42 minutes.

I lost a day arriving in Queenstown as I was soaked, poor weather looked set and no accommodation for 110km on other side. So I ate, laundered, and rested android got first boat next day. I felt good and considered riding through the night but it got really cold. Next morning was bitter and I could not do up my helmet which was perched on my head.
Warmed up in Winton and had 4 hours to 66km and just rode steady.

Tough riding out here but beautiful as well.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Well Done Kevin. Looking forward to pics an' stuff