I sometimes think we ought to hire ourselves out as rainmakers.  It seems wherever we cycle the wet weather follows.  Even in the Sahara, one of the driest places on the planet, we experienced a freak storm that left us with a soggy tent and water logged sleeping bags.  (We’d left the fly off, naturally.  It never rains in the desert.)
Now, New Zealand is not Mauritania.  I get that.  But honestly, I have to keep reminding myself that we’re mid-summer down under.
Some days I wonder if my parents back home in the midst of a Montana winter might be experiencing better weather.

Bicycle Touring New Zealand
Early morning biking around the Buller Gorge. Beautiful, but you can be sure RAIN is just moments away.

Not that I’m really complaining.  In six years of bicycle travel, we’ve surely been exposed to enough UV rays to put us over the cancer society recommended limit.  Cloud cover is good, after all, in a country smack dab under a humongous hole in the ozone layer.
Even if the Kiwis are slightly sun deprived, their hospitality gene hasn’t been stunted.  We’ve been able to wait out most extreme weather events in blissful indoor comfort.
As soon as the sun peeks out, we hit the road to explore some of the best scenery on the entire six years.  Yes, here on the south island, we’re spoiled by beauty.
Crystal clear lakes, native forest, tranquil bays…bike touring heaven in other words.  If you don’t mind a few killer hills mixed in to all the fun.

Just remember, these are the good times.  All those miserable rain-drenched moments go unrecorded.


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Wild, Wonderful and very, very WET!

2 thoughts on “Wild, Wonderful and very, very WET!

  • January 29, 2013 at 11:17 PM
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    Hi Amaya and Eric! Great pictures from New Zealand. I’m somewhere behind you on the way to the West Coast. I hope you have taken all the rain and left the sunshine for me 🙂 Happy cycling! Thomas

    Reply
  • February 4, 2013 at 4:36 AM
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    Hey Thomas,
    Hope you’re getting all the good weather your way! We’ve just gotten hit by another storm at the tail end of the Forgotten World Highway! Thank goodness for public libraries with free WiFi, the perfect way to pass a rainy day.

    Reply

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