So I am cycling again. It was a fairly uneventful and horrible street. A lot of traffic but at least most of the time I was on a dedicated cycle way. However you call this in english. That is why there are no pictures. And I really hate thinking about the first hill on my way back. There is an other route. I propably take that one. Maybe the 5 km more in length means 200m less in altitude.
View Cycle Tour New Zealand in a larger map
I am now at the entrance to the Abel Tasman National Park and I am staying three nights, before I go back to Nelson for the weekend. I will see what I may do tomorrow. It is either hiking or walking in the national park or if I am lucky I will do mountain bike tour.
Btw. No cellphone reception again. I can't believe that I have better connections in the Philippines than in New Zealand.
Dienstag, 9. März 2010
From Greymouth to Nelson via Pancake Rocks
Yesterday after being bored in Greymouth I got onto the bus to Nelson. Atomic Shuttle was so kind to make a half hour stop at the Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki. Really everybody said to me I need to see them. I don't think so. Yes they where interesting but I did not like the touristic setting around the rocks. At least I am happy that I did not ride my bicycle here on sunday. Thanks to Tanja and Max for putting some perspective into this venture.
The pictures:
Greymouth:
Punakaiki and some Panecakes:
Otherwise I am really happy not to ride the bicycle to Nelson. The traffic got worse and the bus drivers are all crazy.
The pictures:
Greymouth:
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| Von 20100308-GreymouthToPancakeRocks |
Punakaiki and some Panecakes:
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| Von 20100308-GreymouthToPancakeRocks |
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| Von 20100308-GreymouthToPancakeRocks |
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| Von 20100308-GreymouthToPancakeRocks |
Otherwise I am really happy not to ride the bicycle to Nelson. The traffic got worse and the bus drivers are all crazy.
Freitag, 5. März 2010
Cycle Tour Soundtrack
There are always those catchy songs and you can't get them out of your mind. The german term is Ohrwurm for it.
So I am not equipped with an mp3 player and while on the bike sometimes it happens that I just find one tune really fitting for the terrain and my mood. I won't spare you so here is my soundtrack so far.
Like all people who know me would have guessed I will start with
After the Bungy Jump in Queenstown another old song came to my mind. I believe I hummed it till Wanaka.
After Haast Pass I was truly flying through the landscape and I could not get this sense of wonder out of my mind.
In the Old Church they had a collection of LPs one song catched up at that moment with me.
On the road to Hokitika I remembered another one.
So far so good. I will see what the next songs will be. ;) Stay tuned.
So I am not equipped with an mp3 player and while on the bike sometimes it happens that I just find one tune really fitting for the terrain and my mood. I won't spare you so here is my soundtrack so far.
Like all people who know me would have guessed I will start with
Cake - I will surviveMostly from Christchurch to Geraldine this song did not get out my head. Some will say this song never gets out of my head. Maybe you are right. It some kind of anthem for me.
After the Bungy Jump in Queenstown another old song came to my mind. I believe I hummed it till Wanaka.
Pearl Jam - Alive
After Haast Pass I was truly flying through the landscape and I could not get this sense of wonder out of my mind.
Aerosmith - Amazing
In the Old Church they had a collection of LPs one song catched up at that moment with me.
U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name
On the road to Hokitika I remembered another one.
Queen - Bicycle Race
So far so good. I will see what the next songs will be. ;) Stay tuned.
Cycle Tour ( Day 10) Hokitika to Greymouth (37km)
Not really a long ride today. I was to early for everything. After having a really good nights sleep at Birdsong, I was really anticipating the ride today. After 10 minutes on the road I was bored out of my mind.
Cycle Tour New Zealand auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Up until Kumara Junction I was greeted with a really straight street. On the left hand the ocean and farms and on the right hand rainforrest. No variation and the street goes to the horizon and no simple curve to see. I really hate this.
So I was really happy when I had a small rise at Kumara Junction and after that the road got more interesting. Not as great anymore like up to Hokitika but at least I had variation on the sides.
I reached the YHA Greymouth at half past eleven and I need to decide if Greymouth is really nice enough to stay three nights. I am not sure yet. I believe I should be moving again after two nights. But maybe I need a rest.
No photos, because of the boring road. My bed is in an old chapel. After sleeping in an old church and an old chapel, I still won't feel like a believer again. Otherwise it is a nice touch. ;)
Cycle Tour New Zealand auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Up until Kumara Junction I was greeted with a really straight street. On the left hand the ocean and farms and on the right hand rainforrest. No variation and the street goes to the horizon and no simple curve to see. I really hate this.
So I was really happy when I had a small rise at Kumara Junction and after that the road got more interesting. Not as great anymore like up to Hokitika but at least I had variation on the sides.
I reached the YHA Greymouth at half past eleven and I need to decide if Greymouth is really nice enough to stay three nights. I am not sure yet. I believe I should be moving again after two nights. But maybe I need a rest.
No photos, because of the boring road. My bed is in an old chapel. After sleeping in an old church and an old chapel, I still won't feel like a believer again. Otherwise it is a nice touch. ;)
Donnerstag, 4. März 2010
Cycle Tour ( Day 9) The Old Church to Hokitika (47.5km)
Today I only moved to Hokitika. It was a short trip but I definitely wanted to have a look at the beach here. Nice waves but not really nice enough for bathing, the sun is shining.
Cycle Tour New Zealand auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Just a few pictures from the road today. I am feeling a bit tired. Tomorrow I will go to Greymouth where I will have at least 2 days of. Greymouth is the second big destination. I need to make a decision how I will move on. Either by bus or by bike.
Sunrise at the hostel:
Some nice trees:
Hokitika and me:
Cycle Tour New Zealand auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Just a few pictures from the road today. I am feeling a bit tired. Tomorrow I will go to Greymouth where I will have at least 2 days of. Greymouth is the second big destination. I need to make a decision how I will move on. Either by bus or by bike.
Sunrise at the hostel:
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| Von 20100304-OldChurchBackpackersToHokitika |
Some nice trees:
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| Von 20100304-OldChurchBackpackersToHokitika |
Hokitika and me:
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| Von 20100304-OldChurchBackpackersToHokitika |
Cycle Tour ( Day 8) Franz Josef Glacier to The Old Church Backpackers (90km)
Today I did not know if I would find a accommodation. So I tried for Hari Hari. But on the way there I met with Guido again, who stayed in a hotel on my way. He overtook me at Mt. Hercules and we rode a while together until he mentioned the old church. The best BBH Hostel in New Zealand. Should be in the middle of nowhere. So I was feeling fine and so I decided that should be my goal for this day.
We travelled most of the day the Scenic Poison Road. It is called that way because the stupid Kiwi Goverment will dump 90% of the production of 1080 all over a 115km area to kill possums, because they are a carrier of TB (whatever TB is). Meanwhile poisoning the whole food chain. So I will not buy anymore food of New Zealand coming may to september.
Cycle Tour New Zealand auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Here is a selection of my pictures of the day. The whole day can be found on picasa.
Early morning at my breakfast stop:
This is a sandfly:
The Old Church:
It is very nicely located at a river, but there is really nothing else.
We travelled most of the day the Scenic Poison Road. It is called that way because the stupid Kiwi Goverment will dump 90% of the production of 1080 all over a 115km area to kill possums, because they are a carrier of TB (whatever TB is). Meanwhile poisoning the whole food chain. So I will not buy anymore food of New Zealand coming may to september.
Cycle Tour New Zealand auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Here is a selection of my pictures of the day. The whole day can be found on picasa.
Early morning at my breakfast stop:
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| Von 20100303-FranzJosefToOldChurchBackpackers |
This is a sandfly:
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| Von 20100303-FranzJosefToOldChurchBackpackers |
The Old Church:
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| Von 20100303-FranzJosefToOldChurchBackpackers |
It is very nicely located at a river, but there is really nothing else.
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| Von 20100303-FranzJosefToOldChurchBackpackers |
Dienstag, 2. März 2010
Glacier Day
Yesterday afternoon it started raining. Dogs and Cats. It was really bad, so I went to the hotpools. It is quite nice, but I not as high quality as You would get in Germany. So after relaxing in hot water I went to bed.
Today I slept in and while I was planning my next trips, Guido the german cycler from yesterday showed up. And after changing my back tire, we went on to the Franz Josef Glacier for a nice walk. So I did like 10km on the bike today. But I don't count this one.
The first view of the glacier:
Rainforrest and waterfalls:
You can't go further without a guide and it is to expensive and to cold for me to be worthwhile:
The glacier mouth:
Some more pictures in my picasa album. I still am not really impressed with ice. I don't care about it. So why am I here? Could not be avoided. ;)
Tomorrow I am on the road again. With no definite destination. Worst Case will be like 120km. But I hope I will find something earlier. My hope is that I am now back in civilized regions with cell phone reception. So maybe there are more accommodations.
Today I slept in and while I was planning my next trips, Guido the german cycler from yesterday showed up. And after changing my back tire, we went on to the Franz Josef Glacier for a nice walk. So I did like 10km on the bike today. But I don't count this one.
The first view of the glacier:
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| Von 20100301-TheGlaciers |
Rainforrest and waterfalls:
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| Von 20100301-TheGlaciers |
You can't go further without a guide and it is to expensive and to cold for me to be worthwhile:
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| Von 20100301-TheGlaciers |
The glacier mouth:
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| Von 20100301-TheGlaciers |
Some more pictures in my picasa album. I still am not really impressed with ice. I don't care about it. So why am I here? Could not be avoided. ;)
Tomorrow I am on the road again. With no definite destination. Worst Case will be like 120km. But I hope I will find something earlier. My hope is that I am now back in civilized regions with cell phone reception. So maybe there are more accommodations.
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