15th January 2022 (misty and cool, then sunny and mild) 20km

As all great writers know, leave your audience with the ultimate cliffhanger.  Pete and I also know this so we purposely left our readers wondering for the past ten months, did we make it out of Waihola?

Unfortunately it wasn't much of a mystery as all of our readers live in our home town and first on the agenda on our arrival back in New Plymouth was numerous catch ups with our loved ones.  Then of course we had numerous trips to the beach to catch up on and before you know it, it's October!  So here it is at long last, the big finale to our South Island gravel riding bike tour.

A month on the road and today is our final ride. Short and sweet, to Dunedin Airport, 20kms away. We woke to a very misty morning. Low clouds over the surrounding hills and covering the lake. The temperature was a cool twelve degrees, but felt like eight.     

It was a leisurely start. We planned to be on the road by 9am, just enough time for a cuppa and some Weetbix before we started. All our gear had been sorted last night, so it was just a matter of loading it onto the bikes.        

Julia and I had ridden reconnaisance on our intended route yesterday, at least 5kms of it. It took us around the local wetlands and was a flat run all the way to the airport. It was also mostly free of traffic, being away from the main highway.       

ABOVE: We weren't the only ones desperate to escape Waihola.....others have been known to go to extreme measures!
          

After leaving the motel at 9am, we cruised along and arrived at the airport at 10am. The guy on the information desk went and got us three bike boxes, two of which were too small, but he kindly swapped them for two more of a suitable size. After a bit of pushing and squeezing, we placed the boxes on the scales. Julia was 22.9kg, Brody was 24.2kg and I was the fatty at 25.3kg. A very nice service attendant helped us with check-in and let us through. Upstairs, we sat and had something to eat and drink, whilst we waited for our flight.            

                      

Boarded at 3.10pm for an hour's flight to Christchurch. No bother on this one getting our bags on and after watching others boarding, they'd brought the kitchen sink.

 Flight was uneventful with sun and low cloud. The final ten minutes over the sea, looking up toward the alps, made me want to do it all again. I totally understand how bikepackers can keep going. Even on our three to four month tours, I wish we could keep going. 

Landing in Christchurch was a bit of a thud, but all under control. Into cafe for more food. Sitting in the same airport we'd flown into four weeks earlier was a bit surreal only now we were heading home with Brody, who, I hope has seen the joy that we find in cycle touring. Yes, some days are not perfect, but the freedom of being self sufficient we find a joy in itself.  We're so glad he managed to complete the two weeks, despite the knee which gave him grief every day except the first one. He may do more cycle touring throughout his life, and if he does, I hope he remembers the lesson we keep relearning......not too many miles in the first week!

Our flight to New Plymouth was beautiful. The scenery spectacular, especially over the Marlborough Sounds. By now the sun was starting to sink in the sky, but we were still able to get a shot of Mt Egmont (Taranaki) as we flew in.

Brody's girlfriend Sophie was there with his van to pick us up and give us a ride home. So......there we have it. A fantastic route mapped out by Julia, once again. Gravel riding took a little getting used to after the roads and trails of Europe, but get used to it we did, and had a wonderful tour. The best part was meeting new people along the way and of course catching up with Dot every five minutes. But as always for us, it's that sense of total freedom. Just us and our bikes, with minimal gear, surviving and thriving whilst enjoying our adventures.

We also love writing about all that happens,  but it's so much more rewarding when people are reading about our journey,  so thanks everyone for coming along for the ride.