Gone Walkabout
The time has come. We are now both off on holiday, just waiting until we need to head out to the airport to fly down under. We are rather well prepared this time around.
A few bits still need to be done in the flat, on the bicycles and the last bit of packing. A rant about how airlines don't tell you about excess luggage charges is brewing nicely. But that is something you'll have to wait for until we get back in two months and have endured over three days of flying.
Yes I know it is not very 10:10 of me of flying around the world, but hey we commute on our bicycles every day and are taking our cycles with us, so I know that our CO2 quota is ok.
Anywho we are flying out to Australia to visit some friends in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. We will go do some cycle touring there, where we will go is not sure yet. Between our friends we will drive for a few days and get to see the countryside and hopefully get to do a bit of cycling there.
The main cycling will happen in New Zealand where we will have a month on the south island. Route is still a open ended route, got some places we would like to see and a route idea. One of the friends we are staying and touring with has just been over there, so we will get some great pointers.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day, waiting for it all to start. It's been a long wait and it is hard to get our head around that it is only two days away.
In Australia we will have access to the internet more than in New Zealand, I will try to update the blog now and again and do a twit now and again just to let you know that we are alive. :)
Now the question is... have we packed what we need, how is the weather, have we forgotten something and where is my passport?!
**From Stephen Lord
Hi Henrik, this is wonderful. You know, I was about to write to you and ask who is this person sending me emails, then I saw a bigger photo and remembered you. What great news, you're taking the huge leap , good for you. I'll follow you (not in the Twitter sense, I don\t do all that) and put up with the ads and sponsorship, I know you have to do some of that stuff...
all the best,
Steve.
**From Coll
Hello you two!
We're now safely back in Sweden. We met on the road between Puerto Yungay and Villa O'Higgins.
I've been meaning to email you to say hello, ask how it's going and to ask you to add me to the mailing list. I have your business card at home, but that's no use as I am at work no and will forget later!
Take care and stay in touch, Col
ps, for interesting route choices/advice contact our friend Cass Gilbert (say you know us): cassgilbert@yahoo.co.uk or check his blog - whileoutriding.com
**From Marijus
Hi, Vicky and Henrik,
Really impressive biking site. I believe cycling idea is just the right thing to spread across the web. And the way you do it is just right.
As about me, I’m on bike for already fifteen years. Hobby, lifestyle – it can be called any kind of way.
However, I have a site which, I believe, could interest your visitors-bikers, too. If you like it, could you possibly add a link to it on your site?
I’d be really happy to put a link up in return.
Waiting for your response, Marijus
**From Hanne Green
Hey you two, in these weeks when the UK finally seem to be seeing 'the light' and discovering that cycling is good for body and soul, I just thought of my cycle passionate friend and fellow Dane Henrik. Love love love your website.(remember I was there in the very early days of woolly pigs) I have just subscribed to your newsletter. Be safe and enjoy your ride All the Best
**From Don
Henrik and Vicky,
I met you two back in May when we crossed paths at Farwest Hostel in Port Orford, Oregon (I was the lone traveler stupidly heading north up the coast on my Green LHT). Anyway, I have since moved to Osaka, Japan and seem to recall you saying that your next leg of adventure might bring you here, perhaps in November sometime. If so, I'd love to meet and offer you a futon and a warm shower. If not, that's okay too, just let me know.
Hope all is well and safe with you two these days!
Best,
Don
**From Colin
Hi guys. Excellent commentary and photographs. I will be doing the siete logos route in Argentina in 3 weeks, and I was hoping I could leverage your experience. I am a strong rider, but would I be crazy to do the Bariloche-Villa Traful leg in one day followed by The Villa Traful-San Martin leg the next?
Thanks for your insight.
Colin
**From woolly
Hi Colin, sorry for the delay, just got back from NZ.
I'm pretty sure that you can do this in two days if the weather is ok, no strong winds, and that you are used to do long days. We did it in four days, heavily loaded, though it is rather beautiful so I wouldn't "race" this bit, take your time and enjoy.
The only part that is rough, is Ruta 65 from the junction of Ruta 40, past Villa Traful along the lake to the junction of Ruta 234, at times the gravel was deep sand. Worst part of this was that the soft sand looked liked it was hard packed, which caused you to think that it would be easy cycling, only to find that your wheels sunk in by 20-30 cm and stopped you dead.
There is tarmac all the way from Bariloche to Ruta 65 and when we where there they were putting in more tarmac on Ruta 234.
Do enjoy the ~15km long downhill into San Martin, I hope the weather isn't as cold and wet as it was on our decent, frozen finger and toes, brrrr!
Ruta numbers are taken from Google map and memory.
**From Carlos
Hi Henry &;Vick.
I'm Carlos from Brazil.
I'm planning a cyclotrip to Denmark in jun/jul of this year. I'll get 30 days free to explore the country.
The initial researches brought me to this site.
So guys, I stopped by to thanks you for sharing informations.
Good Job and nice travel reports.
I'll keep reading the blog.
GoodWinds
Carlos