NZ has recently provided the most monumental changes to our journey.  Continued rendezvous with friends and family, back in the unique Kiwi bosom of an English speaking country, unexpected bouts of D&V and to top it all, a job offer! Which spells a pause in cycling and the start of another adventure.

Before we dive into our last post and look back over life on the road we wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who’ve shared this adventure with us.  From the snicker fuelled beginnings across Europe and Turkey, to the epic Himalayas and Brians carcinogenic stowaway to the final year through East Asia.  We have experienced more than we could of ever dreamed, witnessed sights that will keep our soul fuelled for a lifetime and made and lost some incredible friends.  And in no small part, to know and hear this has given others a story to follow, the odd post to read or even just some pretty pictures to look at, has meant a lot. We will miss this diary as much as anyone, so thank you for sharing it with us 🙂

Sharing stories and adventures on the road

Memories of Turkey with Love

Himalayas by bike!

Magic by the bucket full in NW India

South East asian hustle and bustle

A hot few months in SE Asia

New friends made and lost

New cultures discovered

The simple life will be missed

After two days sitting out hurricane winds and rain on the edge of Tongariro National park we began our peddle to the coast.  Sunshine and the inevitable rolling green hills soon met us on the route West.  In the middle of a vast ocean NZ’s winds chop and change from warm North Westerlies to cold South Easterlies, often in the drum of a heartbeat.  Coming off the hills for a night camping in Hastings the NW’ly was wet and gave a tough end to a 120km day.  And in perfect coincidence the next morning delivered a cycle stopping SE’ly. The 20km to Havelock North taking us three long slow hours.

New Zealands rolling hills

Havelock North is described as a ‘quaint village’ and in NZ terms it definitely has a small feel and charm.  In reality a village as we understand it from back home isn’t comparable to what you find here.  The architecture and infrastructure is new and most houses are detached on their own plots.  This physical layout though is weaved amongst the unique NZ energy and demeanour.  People have, and take time to stop and talk.  The further South or more isolated you get on these islands the more the kind Kiwi spirit shines through. With a population of 4 million and nearly 1.5 million of those in Auckland, conurbations become smaller as the community feel gets larger. Again the isolation undoubtedly plays a part of this in-it-together mentality.

Havelock North

The view East from Havelock

As the time came to leave Havelock North, I’d developed an odd feeling in my gut.  Not from anxiety in leaving the tranquil village charms but an ominous rumbling akin to the belly aches of India!!  After a day cycling and feeling worse I got foetal in the tent and was shaking like a s**ting dog.  The next morning brought on some colourful bowel movements and we caught the bus to a friends house in Palmerston North.  From bad to worse, the vomiting began.  Who’s heard of D&V in NZ? Only the very special customers need apply.

Our final night wild camping before the tummy bug took hold

Unfortunately this put an end to our cycling and with plans to meet my sister in Wellington the following week, we were on the bus for the next stint.  I’d also got some meetings planned with Ad and communications agencies so began stock piling and backing up on Imodium.

Both as a result of seeing the power advertising has in the developing world and my own interest, I spent the last 6 months tinkering away on a theory and presentation around Trust & Ethical based strategies for brands.   With Trump looming large and chatting with friends and Americans on the road, there is a responsibility from us all to not normalise such events. And try in our small ways to make the world a better and fairer place.  My career in advertising and marketing has been a colourful relationship over the years. Rather than put my head in the sand I thought I’d try to facilitate positive change in the industry.  So I pitched my idea and surprisingly got offered a position in Wellington.  Directing client teams and accounts will be my main role but the development and finalisation of a Trust approach is an expected deliverable too.

And what a place to call home for a while.  Wellington, a city of 200K souls, nestled in a natural bay on the southern tip of the North Island.  Surrounded by beautiful coastline and wild bush woven with mountain bike tracks and hiking trails, we’re excited for the next adventure to begin. Brian will have to endure an 8 month registration process to start practising physio so amidst volunteering at a local hospice he’ll be getting some recons done.  And our house will of course be your house. There’ll be a spare room and hot meals for anyone who wants to visit 🙂

Wellingon, a place to call home

A trip to the doctor and two sets of antibiotics later we were ready to catch the ferry to the South Island.  Nearly 3 weeks of sickness had taken it’s toll and with torrential rain returning our intended route over the rainbow valley to Hanmer springs was put on hold.  Our somewhere over the Rainbow will have to wait. From here we’re meeting my parents to stay with them in Timaru over Christmas.  Brians visa red-tape begins with hours and days of work ahead recounting and reflecting on the last 4 years of his physio practice!  So time staying still to get things sorted for the next phase of our journey is probably a blessing.

With Trump weighing heavy on our minds and the isolationism of Brexit still to unfold the one thing we’ll leave you with before we go, is the assurance that the world is mostly full of good people.  Cycling in the nooks and crannies it’s been smiles, warm welcomes and a desire to share stories that have met us.  Keeping our minds, hearts and souls open is more important now than ever.  We are one people and the most we have to learn is often through examining our own prejudice. Perhaps Mr Trump will stumble on a mirror in the years to come, here’s hoping.

Presidents aside we hope you all stay positive and keep spreading the love and understanding as thick as you can make it.  We wish you all a restful and wonderful Christmas and fabulous adventure packed 2017 to follow :):)

Thanks again for sharing the journey.

Over and out for now

Tommy and Brian

xxxx