Love the tunnel bypass sign. Is it too spooky in there for some people?
Even better -- I'd get bragging rights of 600km/month, because I didn't start biking until March of this yearChris ...
My 6000 km goal falls midway between where you are now and 4000 miles. Maybe, reset for 6000 km. It'll still be a challenge but it's doable! And it comes with bragging rights of 500 km/month. When you've ticked that off, go for 4000 miles as planned! You might win twice.
... David
WOW top pic is a sweet reminder that it is only 7 months until summer in the northern hemisphereBanks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand ...
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Ebike heaven on earth is best by one big problem: getting your own ebike there (forget about it!). Fortunately NZ is the most adventure traveller-oriented country in the world; you'll have no problem if you do just a little web searching before heading across the Pacific.
The first photo was taken on an ebike-perfect gravel road high on the Banks Peninsula, a volcanic caldera just south of Christchurch (named by James Cook in honour of his brilliant young botanist Joseph Banks). Below us is Akaroa Harbour - essentially a volcanic 'lake' open to the Pacific - and the town of the same name which delights in presenting itself as a faux-French village. The food is good!
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The ride from Christchurch to Akaroa can be done in one or two days: the first part on the Christchurch-Little River Rail Trail (second photo - notice the sheep grid on the bridge!) and then up and over the extinct volcano - keeping away from the sealed 'highway' as much as possible.
In the second photo, the rail trail follows the old line straight across Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora (many NZ places have official dual English/Maori names) which is a lagoon separated from the Pacific by a sand barrier. If you look carefully, you might just make out a small group of black swans swimming in the middle-distance at the right edge of the photo.
... David
I wish we could rent Ebikes like that here but so far I have only seen cruiser rentals. What is the purpose of the curved parts on top of the rear racks?Forecast for heavy rain over the coming weekend so took time off from doing the ironing and cleaning to clock up a few kilometres on the eMTB - in fact 29km. Quite a bite in the air at 5°C (41°F) but clear riding.
The route took in a mixture of forestry tracks, open land and a river valley edging by a few towns on the way. The photograph overlooking the town of Weissach here in the SouthWest of Germany shows the Porsche Development Centre behind and up on the hill. In fact, although I live a few kilometres distant in the neighbouring town, when the wind is blowing in the right direction I can hear the cars that are currently being tested being put through their paces around the test track.
The railway line shown is part of the Strogäubahn, a private railway 22.2km in length and is more or less a commuter railway running several times a day. At certain times of the year the line is used by steam railway enthusiasts running tourists/visitors on the locomotive named "Feurigen Elias".
Passing by a neighbouring towns Railway Station it was nice to see that the authorities have now made eBikes available for rent on a pick up here, drop off there basis and that the network is rapidly increasing.
With the holiday season fast approaching at which time we often get blanketed in snow, it will soon be time to call the Park Tool bicycle stand into service and give the eMTB a good overall - new chain, new tyres and new brake pads plus a good general going over including clean. I've opted to fit the Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB which should be arriving in the post in the next hour or so.
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It's for placing a kids safety seat into too I guess, Steve.What is the purpose of the curved parts on top of the rear racks?
Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand ...
View attachment 27678
Ebike heaven on earth is best by one big problem: getting your own ebike there (forget about it!). Fortunately NZ is the most adventure traveller-oriented country in the world; you'll have no problem if you do just a little web searching before heading across the Pacific.
The first photo was taken on an ebike-perfect gravel road high on the Banks Peninsula, a volcanic caldera just south of Christchurch (named by James Cook in honour of his brilliant young botanist Joseph Banks). Below us is Akaroa Harbour - essentially a volcanic 'lake' open to the Pacific - and the town of the same name which delights in presenting itself as a faux-French village. The food is good!
View attachment 27680
The ride from Christchurch to Akaroa can be done in one or two days: the first part on the Christchurch-Little River Rail Trail (second photo - notice the sheep grid on the bridge!) and then up and over the extinct volcano - keeping away from the sealed 'highway' as much as possible.
In the second photo, the rail trail follows the old line straight across Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora (many NZ places have official dual English/Maori names) which is a lagoon separated from the Pacific by a sand barrier. If you look carefully, you might just make out a small group of black swans swimming in the middle-distance at the right edge of the photo.
... David
Little River: historic railway station, good cafe and exciting art gallery and craft store.Where did you recharge your bike?
Is that the Where the Little River Band got their name from?Little River: historic railway station, good cafe and exciting art gallery and craft store.
Steve ...Is that where the Little River Band got their name from?
WOW I always wanted one of those kraut cans , but are you seriously telling me you took it out on the open sea? Hats off to you my friend . I doubt I could find the courage to try that!Steve ...
Melbourne's Little River Band took its time in deciding what to call themselves. In a somewhat corny attempt to break into the US market the boys had named themselves after a decidedly big US river (the one with the tricky spelling).
One day early in 1975 whilst driving from Melbourne to Geelong (pronounced J'long) Glenn Shorrock, who had just recently joined Mississippi, spotted a sign to the hamlet of Little River and exclaimed "Reck'n wheeze call ourselves that, mate!". And so it was.
A few years later, Little River's tranquillity was shattered when the local roads were transformed into Highway 9 by Mel Gibson, Toecutter and the other low life in the dystopian nightmare of the original Mad Max movie.
Shortly before these events, our VW Kombi made the sea voyage from Melbourne docks (close to Victoria's Little River) to Lyttleton (Christchurch's harbour on the opposite side of the Banks Peninsula from NZ's Little River) - its second ocean voyage following earlier trans-Africa adventures. After completing my masters at U. Auckland in 1974, we returned to Melbourne and other studies and escapades. Jen and I have often wondered whether we should have stayed on... on the friendly island of the long white cloud. Life would have been different; and a lot cooler right now.
... David