2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[peterh_nz]

I haven't posted about my rides for some time, however, I've been continuing to explore the tracks, lanes and back roads in the countryside around the city of Christchurch (NZ). There seem to be endless permeatations and combinations.

One distraction has been the creation of videos promoting the dedicated cycle paths within the city. That's been an interesting project, and a lot of fun. The city can be proud of cycle path network and grateful to the visionary and determined city councilors and cycling advocacy individuals and groups (despite the vocal and irrational opposition).

The videos I've completed to date have been published by the Spokes Canterbury cycling advocacy group on their YouTube channel. For those interested in the types of paths and extent of cycle network, the videos may be viewed at:

Christchurch Cycleways 2025

Videos of the Christchurch cycleways

m.youtube.com

Merry Christmas to you all and may the new year be the best for cycle touring and exploring.

 

[Catalyzt]

First photo is looking northeast from behind the Hollywood sign, the second looking southhwest.

An unseasonably, unreasonably warm southern winter twilight when I realized I was further from home-- less than four miles, but I climbed over 1,000 feet-- than I'd been been since I got out of the hospital. I'd guessed I'd be down to under 25% at this point in the ride, (I hadn't bothered to recharge) and the return mostly downhill, but it has somehow gotten later and darker than I'd expected. Definitely time to turn around, probably just a quarter mile short of the sign.

Still, I was glad I'd strapped on my trusty R100, though I wished I'd thought through my low-light shooting technique a bit more-- just not a lot of detail, but this was well after sunset. I just haven't been out this late for quite a while! The park is really supposed to be closed when the sun goes down, and I'd feel guilty wasting the ranger's time if he or she had to shoo me out, but I had to stop for just a few quick shots.

This road-- up to the Hollywood sign-- is much worse than the last time I was up here, worse than Mt. Hollywood drive, which is kind of incredible, and the light was bad, even with a good headlight.

Definitely good that I left when I did-- I remembered the orthopedist telling me, "You can do whatever you want, just don't crash. Very high consequence." (Blood thinners, infarcts on my tibias.) Just super hard to read the surface in that light, didn't even want any close calls, and didn't have any.

Still, very glad I didn't leave any sooner. Wonderful to be well enough to get a bit further away from the little warren of hills right around my house.

 

[Chargeride]

Is that distant figure wearing a kilt? I blew up the picture as best I could.View attachment 203431

Ha, no kilts, you very rarely see them in England outside of Scottish weddings.

 

[Chargeride]

I haven't posted about my rides for some time, however, I've been continuing to explore the tracks, lanes and back roads in the countryside around the city of Christchurch (NZ). There seem to be endless permeatations and combinations.

One distraction has been the creation of videos promoting the dedicated cycle paths within the city. That's been an interesting project, and a lot of fun. The city can be proud of cycle path network and grateful to the visionary and determined city councilors and cycling advocacy individuals and groups (despite the vocal and irrational opposition).

The videos I've completed to date have been published by the Spokes Canterbury cycling advocacy group on their YouTube channel. For those interested in the types of paths and extent of cycle network, the videos may be viewed at:

Christchurch Cycleways 2025

Videos of the Christchurch cycleways

m.youtube.com

Merry Christmas to you all and may the new year be the best for cycle touring and exploring.

That music has relaxed me back into bed, lovely trails there.

 

[Chargeride]

What was Miss No Captions' name?

Cask ales, yum.

Round there?
Probably Cassandra

 

[stompandgo]

Probably?

Opportunity missed. I'm disappointed in you.

 

[Chargeride]

Yes I often go chatting up women a third of my age while spattered with mud and a runny nose.

 

[stompandgo]

She might have found it charming.

 

[Chazmo]

I rode around Heswall which is the leftovers of a Victorian riverside town, this all used to be white beaches, but nature has reclaimed it
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All the bridle and byways have become private roads in various states of repair, they are not maintained by the council to tarmac road standards
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Further up the coast towards Thurtaston the cliffs are eroding very quickly
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This one cottage right on the miles of beach
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Retired couple looking over the River Dee to Wales
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The bread was ludicrously thick at the cycling cafe.
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Im sure that speed sign is designed to attract attention ,quite a clever trick
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Beautiful churches and halls.
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I rode through the common, it does show the paths as public rights of way, but there was no one there anyway.
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A very challenging ride to the top over wet roots
View attachment 203421

Gorgeous 360 view with North Wales in the distance.
View attachment 203422

This strange outcrop in the centre is called Thors Stone, Thurstaston" comes from Old Norse/English for "Thorsteinn's farm/village, The area was part of a 10th/11th-century Norse settlement, with a Viking village (Straumby)
View attachment 203423

Moggy Minor behind a tiny Toyota Ago
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No caption
View attachment 203425

Thats quite old I suppose
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I know this pub, on sunny weekends it is completely rammed and chaotic and the trafficis gridlocked, people buy pints for car passengers, which is actually completely legal in the UK.
View attachment 203427

Some great, weird pix there, Charge. Love it!!!!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

spattered with mud and a runny nose.

Those women, not you, right?

 

[Chargeride]

I actually went past her later walking with an even better looking friend.