Get ready, southland!

Wow, where to start. One week, a thousand memories. I made it to the south Island today, got 400km on my bike computer, met so many great people and am literally drowning in all stories that come along with this crazy adventure. Because that's what I hear everywhere I go: "you're crazy!"..
Let's start with the Tongariro crossing. This 20k hike takes you through a volcanic area and is very popular among tourists for a reason: it is simply breathtaking. By that I mean in all meanings: beautiful, steep, cold, beautiful and did I mention beautiful yet? Check out the photos for an impression.

The day after the Tongariro crossing I passed these impressive mountains again, but with dear Kees. We started rainy in Turanga and followed the hilly and windy Desert Road to Waiouru, motivated by lots of waving people from inside their warm and cozy campervan. I was welcomed very kindly by Rick and Reta, farmer and pharmacist and got to see and learn all about their big sheep and beef farm (6500 sheep and 600 beef! Wow!). Well rested and very well fed (thanks again!) I took off the next morning to Palmerston North. The longest ride so far, about 140kms with quite some hills. Road directions were clear: cycle by a gumboot, then an aeroplane but if you pass a big dog, you missed your turnoff. Vinegar Hill towards Stormy Point definitely did make my legs feel like vinegar but the warm and nice backpackers hostel in Palmy got my blown up legs back to normal after a night sleep.

The road towards the coast was boring with not much choice but to follow the state highway. My iPod is my best friend on roads like these. Cars may find it a little weird to see a bright coloured blondie sing, dance and cycle at the same time but I couldn't care less to be honest.
Camping out in Paraparaumu was scenic with such a great view on Kapiti Island! A morning run on the beach shook my legs back to reality for the last few kilometres to Wellington, which were hilly but the sun was out and so my guns too 💪. Lots of shoulder padding by roadracers along the way which gave me so much energy to keep that 5k/hr pace up towards the top, to downhill with 50, thanks to heavy loaded Kees.

Wellington welcomed me warm, where I got to spend two days with lovely Mandy. To rest, sleep long, watch rugby, eat burgers and ice cream were the things that did me so well after long cycling days. The botanical gardens and the Te Papa museum were included too ofcourse as well as a few drinks in Foxglove where All White supporters gathered after the game against Pedi (0-0). After all I took the ferry to Picton Monday afternoon and Kees and I are more then ready to cycle the next few hundreds of kilometres on the South Island together.

Overall I love the cycling even more as I expected, even though it is hard sometimes and my legs hurt (all my limbs really). But you get to smell, see, feel and experience really every meter you cover which is very special and back to the basics of what nature and life means to me. I am so grateful for this big adventure and all the people I get to share it with!

So long!