Something over 3000km

I left not long ago from the Castle Hill area or so it seems. However, its been several weeks in reality. Since then I've made my way all the way to the South and back up to Dunedin. After I came roaring out of the mountains of Arthur's Pass I headed into the center of the South Island for the great lakes and Mt Cook. What I can tell you I remember most about the area is beautiful roads with miles of wild flowers on either side and the great peak of Mt Cook reflecting off the most vibrant turquoise lake water in the world, felt like I was in a Monet. The area was so powerful as well. Normally a bicycle is ridden perpendicular to the road surface; however, I seemed to have to ride it at 45 degrees because of the winds that screamed across the plains from the mountains.
Finally I made my way to Mt. Cook and found myself on a private ridge around the back side surrounded by four or five glaciers and listening to the mountain crumble as the glaciers gouged away.

Wanaka was next on the way where I stopped for some much needed R&R. I spent a few days walking around the lake and rock climbing before Queenstown and some more serious endeavors. At 134meters the Nevis Bungy is the highest in New Zealand. I'm not sure how I brought myself to so calmly jump off the edge, but that's were the calm ended and the thrilling screams started. Easily one of the most exciting moments of my life.







I set out to hike one of the most beautiful hikes in the world the next day. The Routeburn has grassy fields, tropical jungles that turn to alpine forests and then rocky peaks sprinkled with frigged emerald green lakes. Viewing at the top is unequaled because you can see everything, even the white crescent shapes of waves from the Tasman Sea miles away.











Milford is indescribable. Really one of those places that is so mysterious that you don't feel like you are awake. Kayaking is defiantly the best way to see and touch this place. The water falls are also quite refreshing if you can kayak up under them while they try to blow you away.

Stewart Island is a quiet muddy little island where you'd swear belongs in the Caribbean if it were a little warmer. Three days of hiking gave me my first cold of the trip. Doesn't sound so great but it was very nice.
Last Morning of riding, the Catlins.

Now I'm in Dunedin and planing to go the Northern Peninsula for some sun and warm water.

I'm Thankful for the friends and family I have and the love they give me.
Hasta
Kel

The South Island is sweet as

Hello all my friends and family! I've just arrived in the Canterbury Plains outside of Christchurch and It seems that I've just been having so much fun that I've neglected to write. So after my amazing Christmas in Blenheim I made my way out to Takaka for some climbing at Payne's Ford. On the way over the epic 15 Km Takaka hill I stopped in for the Cannon Downs New Years Festival for three days of music and fun. Takaka is a wonderful place to be in New Zealand and I somehow found myself staying for eleven or so days, not really sure how long it was. Later I made my way out to the west coast and some awesome coastline. Then Arthur's pass presented the hardest climb that I've encountered thus far. I labored for almost two hours to stand on the top of the pass triumphant! Castle hill was a nice place to play too..! Love you all
enjoy the photos.Top of the 15 Km hill. Ah that feels gooood!Just hanging out above Takaka Valley.River kayaking near Punakaiki on the west coast. I was the only one on the river that morning.

This is one of my greatest moments. I'm so happy to be on top of this pass that everyone said I was crazy to cycle up.This is the Magical Castle Hill as you can see.

End of the North Island

Its been awhile since I've posted last and I apologize for those who have been checking every day and continue to see me eating the same fruit over and over. I've added a few new things for you. So whats happened since the last post is that I went to the Waitomo caves and had a blast clawing through suffocating passages and abseiling down bone chilling waterfalls. I made my way to Taupo in a one day epic ride of 170 Km and found a town geared for the California tourist. There are lots of good places to eat and plenty of thrill opportunities. I made plans to do the Tongariro Crossing after a rain delay of a few days. After the crossing I ran into a fellow cyclist who was riding a mountain bike and convinced me to follow him down 50 Km of gravel road on my road bike along the Wanganui River. This actually turned out to be two days of the best riding so far. I think we only passed a dozen cars in two days on the road. Anyways after we got the the coast and turned for the push to Wellington the weather turned and we had a day and a half of rain and headwinds, the worst flat none scenic riding so far. I spent two days in Wellington and caught an impromptu show by Katy Tunstall. A fun city in the end. I caught the ferry to Picton and met up with the Waghorns in Grovetown for a wonderful Christmas of farm fresh foods and some great company. They were so good at making me feel at home.
Here I am a few hundred meters under the grownd in the Haggas Holes. The ropes an abseil rack are a little worn for my taste. Kiwi Iron Man in Taupo, very impressive!This is Mt. Dome in the Lord of the Rings. I'm a little worried about it exploding. You can see the fear in my face.The wind on the top of the pass was roaring. I was really staggering around like I was drunk up there.Literally 15 minutes later the skies cleared and I found myself next to the most colorful lake I've ever seen. Just an awesome moment.This is me on that gravel road along the Wanganui. And yes Ethan that is my trusty steed that you had asked about, a real rugged beauty.I look happy here because I just cranked up this hill from way down there on that river. It was steep!A nice Cook Straight crossing to Picton. My hair is a good indicator as to how the weather was. This was where I pitched my tent at the Waghorn's. It housed my gear more than me.

Whiatomo

The Whiatomo Caves were tons of fun. I biked there from Wharapapa South via back country roads. The ride was quiet and easy until I had to push the last 20 km to beat the sun. I made it and found myself in the caves the next day. Caving is fun stuff!













I also found these great little fruits that I don't remember the name of. Yummy and freee. They kinda taste like peach and mango in one.

Hills and Rock

I made my way to Wharapapa South for a few days of climbing. I was able to meet up with some climbers who were traveling as well. Alex and Bene from Germany and Marie, Tyrone, and little Rowan from Squamish were lots of fun to hang with on the rock. The rock was amazing looking and the quality was nice until the routes got hard and the rock got really sharp, ouch! This area is fantastic to play in. Even on the day it rained we set up my slackline to play on.

Bene working on a lead that I had trouble with because its hard to find the right holds. You can't see them!



Me on my first lead in months. A fun 19 rated climb. Such a good climbing day.

Just Made The CUT

Well after months of talking, dreaming, and anticipation I've gone and taken the leap over the Pacific puddle. I'm here in Auckland New Zealand with my likely over prepared bike which I will likely call home with a strange fondness. We set out over a day ago from Portland (My bike and I). My flight was met with some minor challenges; Almost didn't get my boarding pass from Pacific Air in LA because I didn't have onward passage, had to get a ticket from Qantas to Australia at a random date, my carry on was taken before my flight and it almost got left in Fiji (I was the last one on the plane), my camping gear had to be extradited from the packaging in order to sterilize it before I got into New Zealand, and the only smooth part was getting my Visa (less than a minute) by showing only my passport, onward passage BS!!
Got my Bike packed and was trucking to Auckland in a Roundabout sort of way because the most direct route was off limits to, bikes go figure. I ran into a fellow biker who took me all the way into Auckland in an intense racing mannor. He had a simple light sports car bike and I was following literally through traffic with an inch to spare on either side as I squirted between cars and busses riding my semi truck bike loaded to the teeth. I couldn't stop smiling to the entire ride!