Now I didn’t mention it yesterday, but I found a Fairy Circle. And today, the fairies gave me gale force tailwinds, and graced me with luxury (yet affordable) accommodation when I needed it.
There are Fairies
So there I was! Hurtling down the road between Hanmer Springs and Culverden. Juices flowing, wind streaming through my long flowing hair.
And then I saw it: a plaque!
As some of my readers might know, I’m quite partial to stopping and reading plaques and signs so throwing caution to the wind, I threw out the anchors and pulled over.
The Amuri Red Post was a marker put in to identify the location of a railway from one of the Canterbury stations to the West Coast. There’s some lovely history there – here’s a link to the high resolution photo so you can read it.
But there was also a fairy circle! The circle itself was larger then my phone could capture, but it was a complete circle.
Now, the name Hogan might give it away, but fairies are highly important in the culture of my people.
Finding a fairy circle blesses a person with good luck 😉
On to what happened today, and how this luck unfolded…
The Statistics
Today started off in Amberley at 6:30 this morning, at a chilly 9 degrees but quickly changed over the day. The spike in the red temperature line was from breakfest in Rangiora, where I met the lovely Peter, Sue and Rocky.
Back on my bike afterwards, the combination of extreme (some may say “warp”) speed dropped the temperature down I cycles to Kaiapoi, and then on into Christchurch City.
Chilling out in Rangiora
(one person knows who I mean 😉 )
Meet Peter, Sue and Rocky 🙂
I pulled up outside what seemed the only open cafe in town, and met these two lovely people. Peter and Sue were initially from Rotorua, but had moved down to be closer to their family.
Peter is an avid cyclist, having done both the Tour of Aotearoa, and the Kopiko Aotearoa rides.
This year, he started to do the Sounds to Sounds, but unfortunately had to pulled out because of knee damage. He plans to complete the remainder of the ride from Canterbury on in the summer.
Peter and I discussed different bike set ups and different camping kits. Unlike I, who is carrying a one-person tent, Peter travels with a hammock and a fly, and swears by it.
I had a lovely conversation with both. Rocky didn’t say much. But they were very interested in my adventures to date, and very kindly gave me thier details for if I’m back through Rangiora and need a place to stay.
Lovely people, and thier conversation was the highlight of my day 🙂
Chugging through into Christchurch
I lived in Christchurch for 13 years, between 1996 and 2009. But the city has changed so much since then for obvious reasons.
One of the new additions is, what I think is, a world class cycle way connecting Rangiora directly into the Chrischurch CBD. Talking to some locals, the new cycleway came with the new motorway connecting the regional residential areas to the inner city.
The cycleway made for a quick 17km transit, and was dotted with historic references of things of note along the journey.
Today, it was heavily populated with riders of all ages and genders. It was nice to see families leaving the car at home, and cycling together on a public holiday.
I got a little bit nostalgic cycling into the city as I passed the site of my and my ex-partner’s business. Its now a vacant lot.
And at the current vacant car park area, my friend Owen and I used to drink beer in the warmth of the Vic’n’Whale, as we watched it snow outside.
Fairy Magic: Strong tail winds
The clear morning sunny skies changed to a strong nor’easterly wind as I’d finished take the mandatory photo shot.
It was pure fairy magic which stuck a rocket behind me and threw me out into Prebbleton, Lincoln and Rolleston.
To give you a sense of its strength, I recorded it. This sound bit was taken outside Prebbleton, on the side of the road. And this was what was behind me.
Second Fairy Magic: Accommodation When I Needed it
The Tour guide book provides few accommodation options once outside the city.
Having zoomed through the city, I was eager to capitalise on the great tailwind I was having, and kicked off on the Rolleston – Rakaia Gorge leg.
The only problem was it was around 3:00pm by the time I started the leg, and accommodation options were very thin.
Added to my problems, this stupid archaic and outdated law got in the way of resupplying isotonic powder:
I’ve still got some isotonics but the accommodation was going to be a problem. I was determined to make the best of the winds, and kicked off anyway. There was no way I’d make Rakaia Gorge during daylight hours.
Faced with the same dilemma, Saint Victoria slept in a tent on the village reserve in a little place called Greendale.
It’s not strictly on the S-2-S path, but it’s right next to it, and taking the path is a health and safety issues, given the time of day.
As I was cycling past the Greendale Church, heading towards its reserve for a night in a tent, I spotted an AirBnB notice on an address.
Right… where… I … needed … it .. to be!
Meet the awesome Christine and this is her lovely accommodation at an affordable price 🙂
Fairies! 🙂
Pictures or it didn’t Happen
Viewer feedback
From anonymous:
Awesome work James. No note in your blogs about stealing placemats to make your ride easier! Only those in the know will know!
Facebook website
Whoever is spreading these vicious and nasty rumours will be sued!!
😘🤗 I love all you readers, and I hope you’re enjoying my adventure
Meanwhile, back in the land of reality, we have our own fairies eg Russell and his lawn mower.
🤣
See if you can get him to redo the roof while I’m away too 👍