Thursday 12 January 2017

No turning back now!

Plans for my big trip are certainly underway. I've bought my ticket to the USA, so no turning back now. In just over four months I will be on my way to Seattle, returning to New Zealand two and a half months later. Big thank you to Simoney at House of Travel...she got me a great price on my airfare AND sorted out Birdy's ticket too!!!

The other big news is I finally decided on the pannier bags I wanted and they were swiftly dispatched to me by Burkes Cycles. It would have been nice to spend more and get the best there is, but I am very happy with my choice of these Axiom panniers. My criteria was 100% waterproof and a bright colour for safety on the road. They came with a very detailed one paragraph instruction guide in four different languages, hence the look of confusion on my face.

Think I have got it sorted now!
Hmmm...be helpful if I could read this language.






















I'm sure they will hold more than what they look, hopefully a bit like Mary Poppins bottomless carpet bag!
So Birdy and I set off for a ride, with the panniers slightly loaded...I wasn't sure how I would go my first time riding with panniers. I did a good ride with some strenuous hill climbs, carrying an extra 6kg and the panniers didn't make any difference. Next ride I will load them up a lot heavier and see how I go. Birdy seems to love a bit of weight on her, she seems to be a lot more stable on the gravel roads.


In between the rainy and windy days we have been having here lately, there has been been some perfect cycling days. One of these days we went off for a picnic on the banks of the Clutha River at Beaumont. Mark can never resist riding down cliffs, over banks and through rivers!



I tell people when Mark and I bike together it's like the tortoise and the hare. He's the hare...all speedy but halfway up a hill he will be flat on his back exhausted. Meanwhile I just wave as I slowly ride by...I'm the tortoise with stamina and I think I will need a lot of that for my solo tour!



"If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, its lethal"
                                                                                            Paulo Coelho

2 comments:

  1. Fantastic lindy. Wish you and Birdie all the best.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bicycle trip is a awesome journey. It is really enjoyable and outstanding feelings. When you are go on a trip you need many useful things. Bicycle panniers is useful when caring your gears. Thanks for sharing this blog.

    ReplyDelete