Kiwi Road Trip

We made it to NZ! Only 7 short flights, one naked bus ride, and 60 miles into our biking tour, and we're feeling great! Currently we're in Westport at a hip little backpacker's hostel called Bazil's and have an internet connection.

 

 

 

 

Lessons learned so far:

1. Sandflies suck. They are like quiet, sneaky mosqitoes (just like black flies for you northern Mainers).
2. Never pack a bicycle helmet in checked luggage. Cassie's got crunched.
3. When crossing a road, look right, then left. Then stay on the left.
4. Pack less.
5. When someone says there are good pies down the road, they don't mean apple...they mean meat...and they are good!

The biking has been pretty easy so far. No major climbs. There's no shoulder to speak of, but drivers have been courteous and given us plenty of space. No flats so far. Bikes are working well. Everyone we've met has been really friendly and accomodating, even the bus drivers. One couple invited us into their camper for roadside coffee and cookies. They're from Christchurch and filled us in on the destruction there since the earthquake. Sounds pretty brutal.  

Tomorrow 62 miles to Greymouth...