Christchurch to Dunedin

It all starts with that first mile. Out of the Christchurch Airport on a busy Friday afternoon, after a sweet and teary family departure, a nervous Eric wobbles onto the road. No support van to carry my gear, I'm lugging panniers that feel like huge watermelons attached to my bike.

And it all starts with brazons, or lack thereof. Given I'm on a titanium bike, built for speed and not touring, those precious little nuts were not welded onto my frame. Thus, a seatpost rack. Thus, a weight limit of 25 lbs. And even that is far too much. So here in Dunedin I attack every scrap I'm carrying, and drop all that's not critical. Can I take all my multivitamins and niacin now and hope it releases into my system over the month? Do I need this much chain lube and shampoo? We're down to grams here. Do I need that other pair of shoes? No. That 4th pair of socks, the bike lock, the extra shirt? No, no, no. 2.34 kilos gone back to Christchurch to await my later arrival. That's 5.148 pounds of stuff I won't be hauling up the mountains starting tomorrow.

The conversation rolls around in my head about how many miles I need to put in daily to reach my mileage goal, how far on the map I need to cover to reach my desired stopping points. Yet when I opened the cycling guide, the author suggested 6 months as a good amount of time to explore this island. Tempting, but unrealistic at this point.

The cycling thus far has been a solid warm-up. An incredibly busy Hwy 1 between the 2 largest south island towns. Chip seal they use on their roads, which makes for tire noise that's deafening. So I wandered off as much as possible to find sealed parallel roads, with some success, and two notable failures. Today, a rest day, and my knees are very appreciative.

For Starters

It all starts with a woman, a magnificent woman who says yes. One wonderful enough to hold down the fort while I play for the month of February. A woman who supports me in having my dreams come true. For this dream is #1 on the list, that evolving list of 45 things I want to do before I die, begun on my 45th birthday.

Number 1 is a month spent cycling the South Island of New Zealand. 1900 km in 28 days ... in some of the world's most incredible scenery imaginable. And the list is in its infancy, being created and honed over this next year.

My intent here to inform and entertain, and I hope you're both.

And let me write a bit of a phenomenal man ... Ron. This man is pure hero. We spoke today for the first time, and I'm humbled and astounded. He's had a series of strokes that have rendered his right side a wasteland. Each step a marathon ... a stumbling wobbling gyrating impossible shift of weight and gravity that leaves a spectator breathless, awaiting the inevitable fall ... which never seems to come. Twice daily he teeters and shuffles along the sidewalk, going the 1 km to the store and back for his exercise. He said he does it to survive, to get his exercise. He also swims and bowls weekly, and will let you know that there are many worse off than he.

I'll carry him with me as I hit the hills, the winds, the sore butted hard times ... and I'll smile in awe.