Dennis spoke to members about his cycle journey from Cape Reinga to Bluff. A journey he undertook in February 2024.

 

 

This was a three thousand kilometre journey from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south.  36 days in total cycling for 6-8 hours a day with 3 rest days scattered liberally along the way. The averge distance travelled was 90k per day.  The journey for offical purposes is documented by photos taken at notable stops along the way.

 

 

 

The route was definitely not a case of simply following State Highway 1.  It involved 90 mile beach 9 Great Rides of New Zealand and 12 Heartland routes. There were early starts book ended with coffee and at food stops pies!  The trip is not for the faint-hearted or badly organized as it appeared from Dennis's trip that organisation was an essential element of pulling off the trip.

 

At the end of the trip, Bluff, Dennis told us you have to buy the medal confirming your trip.  Denis's trip was not just a cycle trip. As well as the personal challenge it was also a fund raiser for Parkinsons disease.  Over the course of the trip Dennis raised over 27,000.00 for reasearch into the disease.

 

The story told by Dennis was fascinating. It showed us that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it.

 

 

 

Kalle has moved on to his next host family.  That doesnt mean he will disappear from view as your editor will be bringing him to events and our evening meeting.

 

 

 

 

There follows Kalle's update on his activities since he arrived. Also a shot of Kalle and Jack Lucas somewhere off the Hawkes Bay coast on Christmas day, then one of the effects of getting up to go fishing at 5am on Christmas day and then the last supper with the Lucas family at Ooh-Fa on Dominion Road.

 

Kalle has;

-made a lot of new friends at Mount Albert Grammar School,

-Attended the regionalisation conference

-Done the South Island Trip and will report on that at a forthcomming meeting, This included swimming with Dolphins in Kaikoura and the luge in Queenstown,

-Visited Mt Maunganui, Rangitoto and Waiheke

- He has been to Raibows end, Ice Skating spent time on the beach at Mission Bay

-He has been watching the Breakers

-And spent Christmas at Pourerere Beach in the Hawkes Bay.

Finally he has changed his host family.

 

Kalle at Christmas