Below are some photos that didn’t originally make it on to the Day 1 of Dublin sightseeing post (but were added later, so if you read the blog a few days later you will be seeing some photos twice) and some are photos that I wasn’t sure where to put for Day 2 of Dublin sightseeing.
Day 1 of Dublin Sightseeing:
Day 2 of Dublin Sightseeing:
Man playing the spoons
Today was all about being a tourist, and seeing as much of London as possible in one day. First stop breakfast. For the first time I have not been concerned that I would not be able to find decent tea, as this is after all London. Unbelievable, endless teabags of every flavor known, apart from English Breakfast!! Luckily there was a twining tea called Every Day tea.
The buffet seemed a bit weird, no cereal or toast (or toaster) even though there were pots of marmalade and honey on the tables. I just assumed we had arrived after the rush, and had a croissant instead.
Just before sunrise
After breakfast we got passes to the Original Tour Bus from the hotel, and headed to the stop to wait. Don’t ever get tickets for this bus – get tickets for the Big Bus, Golden Tours, or London Hop and Off – at least 3 each of these buses went past whilst we waited for the Original Bus to appear!
The bus was due at 10am, by 10:40 we were getting pretty frustrated, along with other people also waiting for this company, who like us were watching numerous other tour companies come and go in this time.
Finally the Original Bus arrived and off we went. We stayed on the bus for about and hour and half looking at the sights, and then we got off by Hyde Park and looked around the outside of Buckingham place and Westminster Abby.
Buckingham Palace
Westminster Big Ben
Westminster Abbey
Trafalgar Square
I got a photo of me in a red phone box with Big Ben in the distance, looked at the horses by 10 Downing Street, and at 10 Downing Street from the gate.
Horse Guards
We saw theaters (Phantom of the Opera has been running non stop for thirty years), and London Taxis and double decker buses, and hordes of tourists. There are a number of places I wanted to go to but ran out of tourist enthusiasm, as well as time – Platform 9 3/4, Harrods, to name but a couple).
Victoria Tower Gardens
We got on a cruise to go up the Thames back to Tower Bridge, and got off at the Globe Theatre stop, and looked at it from the outside. After looking around this is also on the list for the next trip.
Westminster. Parliament House under repair
River cruise back downstream
The London Eye
It was nearly 3pm and we had not had lunch so we went into a pub to try the pub pies. I had a Steak and Ale pie, which came with gravy, mushy peas and potato. The pie inside was nice, but the pastry was really tough. Shellbe said later this is usual for them, rather than it having been over cooked. Brett had a Beetroot and Camembert pie which was also pretty nice.
Then off to The Shard which has a viewing platform on the 68th floor, where you can get a pretty good view over London.
View over the River Thames and the Tower Bridge from The Shard.
Then back to the hotel to get changed before going out for dinner. We had dinner with Shellbe, Brett’s nephew Ben who lives in London, and Brett’s stepson (also called Brett) who was in London for work.
We all met at Canary wharf at an Italian restaurant called Amerigo Vespucci. I had risotto with truffle and salad, it was really nice. We went both ways on the metro, I am starting to get a bit more familiar with changing lines.
Last night in London
Editor’s note: The caption that came with this picture was “No miracles just don’t happen” . . .
As with all previous trips, there are a few photos that don’t quite make it onto the correct blog posts. Sometimes they come too late, sometimes the editor didn’t see them when loading the blog, sometimes they are labelled wrong.
Regardless of the reasons, here are a few photos that missed being loaded.
16th November – Welcome Bay to Rotorua:
Private spa attached to my unit
18th November – Rotorua to Taupo:
Riding from Rotorua to Taupo (Photo credit: Michele’s Facebook page)
Riding from Rotorua to Taupo (Photo credit: Michele’s Facebook page)
26th November – Martinborough to Wellington:
Everyone changed into their wet weather gear at the top of the Rimutaka Incline (Photo credit: Ray, a fellow rider from the trip)
Everyone changed into their wet weather gear at the top of the Rimutaka Incline
4th December – Greymouth to Hari Hari:
Beach at Greymouth
Greymouth to Hari Hari
Hari Hari claim to fame: first tran-tasman solo flight, the pilot Guy Menzies landed there upside down in a swamp
8th December – Haast to Lake Hawea:
View from The Neck over Lake Hawea
I don’t know when / where in NZ this one is from:
Brett and Kaye riding into lunch (Photo and caption credit: TDA Facebook page)
94km to ride – 1,244 to climb and 1,241 down
Last day’s climb!
It was a beautiful morning. There was no wind, the sun was shining and the lake looked stunning.
Early morning on Lake Hawea (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Before breakfast we all met down at the lake in our Trans Oceania riders shirts to have a group photo. Well all of us that is apart from Dan, who apparently never wears the ride shirt, not even for the five minute for a group photo . . . each to their own.
Group photo, before setting off for the final day of riding (Photo credit: TDA Facebook page)
The group photo with the banner
In the photo the front riders are holding the Trans Oceania Ride Banner – or so it seems! Actually this has been photoshopped in as the actual banner disappeared during the trip. The riders in the front row just had to have their hands out as if they were holding it.
There were a number of group photos, plus a photo of Tony the tallest rider (6 ft 4) with his bike and Lani (about 5ft) and her bike, as well as a photo where Tony had lifted Lani onto his bike and her feet couldn’t touch the peddles!
Anne has got her mountain bike with her and kindly offered to bring it to me and take my bike if my bike breaks down today. I felt much better reassured that one way or another I will be able to complete the ride as I set off.
The first few kilometres were rolling hills and then through Wanaka for a brief look at the town, then onto the Cardona pub for a coffee.
Cardrona Hotel
Coffee stop at Cardrona Hotel
Just before the pub is the Cardona Brewery, and along the fence are hundreds of bras. I found out after it’s for breast cancer awareness.
Passing the Cardrona Distillery and the bra fence.
Cardrona – or Bradrona? – Valley (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Cardrona Valley (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
After the coffee stop the climbing for the day began – the Cardona Crown Range needed to be climbed 😐. The first few kms were not too bad, a steady upwards gradient but the last kilometre to the top my legs went on strike and I was off walking (I found out later so did at least half of the riders).
Lunch was at the top but I wasn’t hungry, and did not think about making anything to eat later as I had forgotten dinner wasn’t till 8 pm.
At the top of the Crown Range, only 40km to the finish.
Michele at the Crown Range summit (Photo credit: Michele’s Facebook page)
Sue on the Crown Range Pass (Photo credit: Sue’s blog)
After lunch lots of downhill, firstly quite steep and then a big switch back. I have rim brakes so had to stop to let the rims cool half way down the hill.
Switchbacks to zoom down (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Crown Range pass (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Once down the bottom it was 5 km to Arrowtown where we stopped and had a drink with Sue at the Pub. With 20 km to go Tick Tock was still clicking and rattling along.
Drinks stop in Arrowtown
I rode with Sue from Arrowtown, Brett rode ahead so he could take a photo of Sue finishing the ride. We are not having a convoy or finish line photo due to the difference in riding abilities – a few riders would have to wait for at least 2 -3 hours and the slowest would feel the pressure all day. Sue has achieved EFI (every f*cking inch) on this ride. This is great achievement as there were some really long hot days in the Australian section of this ride, plus a few days of pouring rain and floods.
Into Queenstown, yay we are here! Just a few steepish streets and then we made it to the Earnslaw Lodge, the finish hotel. We needed to box the bike straight away as the owners won’t have them in the hotel unless they are boxed. Pretty reasonable really and saves doing it tomorrow.
Arriving at the hotel in Queenstown
Sue and Kaye celebrate! (Photo credit: Sue’s blog)
We have a room with a lovely view over the lake and a balcony. We had 3 hours to relax, get cleaned up and over the road by 7 to the Copthorne, where we have a video presentation of the ride at 7pm and then dinner at 8pm.
The total kilometres for the trip was 2,278km, and climbed 23,628m. There were no serious injuries. Sue got EFI the whole trip, and of the riders who joined in Auckland Kevin, Charles, Bill, Michele, Tony, Chris, Linda, Brett and I rode EFI.
The Earnslaw is not right by the town center and I did not think about going down to town to get any food so by now I was starting to get hungry. The presentation was good, then there were a few speeches, and Sue was presented with her EFI medallion, plus we had all got together and signed a book of NZ photos for Sue in recognition of her EFI.
We had another group photo, and Dan who never wears the ride shirt was wearing it at dinner, so he managed to stick out again for the opposite reason!
We went up to dinner, which was nice food – pumpkin soup and a roll, salmon and mashed potatoes, a piece of broccoli, plus a panna cotta dessert, but not in right the quantity for hungry riders! We convinced the staff to give us another roll each which helped.
After dinner a few of us went to the hotel bar for another drink. People are starting to leave from tomorrow so we may not see them again unless we met up on another ride.
Then it was across the road to bed, no riding tomorrow but we do have to change hotels.
Sunset over Earnslaw Lodge, from the arrival dinner.
Editor’s note: Here are a bunch of photos that have been received too late to go with their appropriate blog posts, are copied from other blogs/instagram, or are just kind of random and don’t fit anywhere else!
Views along the way to the Cerro De Siete Colores
Views along the way to the Cerro De Siete Colores
The mighty Andes
Dogs resting
A cat as big as our cat Freddy
Vinedos Rojas Tierra
Sights we’ve seen
Sights we’ve seen
Editor’s note: I think this is at the restaurant by the waterfalls
Not the most stabble of walkways! Waiting for the ferry at Hornopiren
Taking in the views
Photos from the Meteor camp to Uyuni
Salt flats with Tupuna in the background
Marina and Guillaume
Me on the gravel road
The gravel road
Meteor camp to conquenca
The Island Isla Incahuasai
Another view of the Island
Cacti on Island
Cacti on Island with salt flats (Salar de Uyuni) in the background
Here a few photos that have been received too late to go with their appropriate blog posts, are copied from other blogs/instagram, or are just kind of random and don’t fit anywhere else!
Remote adobe homes like this scatter the valleys after Puno (Photo credit: TDA Global Cycling Facebook page)
Kaye cycling up a hill (Photo credit: TDA Global Cycling Facebook page)
First glimpse of La Paz (Photo credit: TDA Global Racing Facebook page)
City Above La Paz (Photo credit: TDA Global Cycling Facebook page)
Into La Paz (Photo credit: TDA Global Cycling Facebook page)
Editor’s note: Here are some more photos of Puno, from Sue’s blog:
We take a 3 hours trip on Lake Titicaca (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
The reed island that we visited (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
More reed boats (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
We visit one of the homes on the island (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Even a football field on a floating island (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Lake Titicaca (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Puno (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
A local taxi in Puno (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
I slept in again, had breakfast and then went off to have a massage I had booked at 10am.
Along with general exhaustion I have
1. A really sore neck on the left hand side, I can’t even turn it
2. Altitude sickness, still really breathless and have coughing fits
3. Gastro related to the altitude medication, or the anti inflammatory medication for the neck
4. My bottom lip has big cracks in it even though I have been constantly covering it with lip sun block
5. A pressure area on my butt, thankfully the skin is not broken
6. Asthma, related I think to the altitude.
All in all the three rest days are badly needed. A number of the riders have organized tours to go to Machu Picchu but I decided not to. I was really conflicted as I am so close but in the end decided that I need to look after myself if I want to manage the whole of this ride. Sue went with a group of 7 of the riders, up on the early morning train, got to the main gates and was inside for ten minutes and collapsed. Sue was taken back to the hotel they had booked there and slept for 18 hours (which equates to a USD $750 sleep). Four of the other riders who went have also come back unwell, mostly with gastro related symptoms.
The massage (80 soles) was great, the masseuse really knew her stuff and spent ages on the left side of my neck and back. I had lots of knots. She would work on them for a few minutes and then do another area, but kept coming back. As I left I could already feel the difference.
Next off to get my hair cut and buy some sandals, mine have finally fallen apart. As I was walking up the street looking for sandals a pleasant seeming young man stopped me and asked me if I was from New Zealand. When I said yes he said “Wellington?” which I of course said yes. He then asked if I wanted anything for my hike, which is why most people come here. When I said no I am biking he changed to ‘did I need shoes, Lycra etc’. I assured him I had everything I needed. So then he asked me if I want some Charlie, blow or clean cut. I was a bit stunned and found myself shaking his hand saying ” I appreciate you asking but I am ok”. Weird, so I figure Charlie is heroine? Blow is cocaine? But ‘clean cut’? Crystal meth? Any ideas?
I managed to find some sandals finally in my size, a number of shops had sandals I like but not big enough to fit my feet. After this I had some lunch, bought some really warm multi colored socks, and went on the city bus tour. It was raining to start off with so I sat downstairs, but as soon as the rain stopped I moved upstairs, better for taking photos.
We went up quite a steep hill and I jokingly said to one of the other riders “I bet we come out this way”. No need they assured me, the main road leads straight out of Cusco.
View of Cusco from the top of hill
We stopped at a statue of Jesus that was donated to the people of Cusco by the Palestine government in recognition of the shelter given to the Jews in the second world war.
The Jesus statue
After this the tour went to an Alpaca clothing factory. I bought a dorky looking, but really warm hat. Hopefully the socks and the hat will make a difference at cold camps.
On top of tour bus in Cusco with my warm hat
We saw some Inca ruins that were a ceremonial centre and temple to the sun called Saqsaywaman. The rocks were fitted together, some weighing up to 130 tons. The Spaniards took a number of the rocks from here for buildings in the town.
Photo of Saqsaywaman in Cusco
Another view of Saqsaywaman
Sun temple in Cusco
On the tour I also learned that 70% of the adult population in Cusco work in the tourist industry, and the average monthly wage is $750 soles.
After the tour I saw two of my favorite riders Shirley and Dan from the USA sitting in a boutique beer bar so I joined them for a beer.
Brett, Shirley and Dan at a boutique beer bar in Cusco
I could not stay long as I was meeting Rebecca, a friend of Kelly’s, for dinner. Rebecca comments regularly on my blog, and has been travelling through Peru the same time as me, but only arriving in each place just after I left, so it was a good chance to catch up.
I met Rebecca in the lobby of my hotel and we headed off to a Peruvian restaurant “The Andean Grill” that was recommended when we went past on the tour. It was quite nice, I had fillet migon again, was nice had garlic in the sauce. Rebeca had lomas saltardo which is a Peruvian spiced stew. We traded stories about all the different places we had been. Rebecca has been on a number of Intrepid Tours all over the world. It was a good evening. Rebecca heads off next to walk the Inca trail.
Earlier when I had arrived at the hotel after the tour, I was greeted by the news that Eriberto, one of the full tour riders, was throwing in the towel and heading home the next day. “Too cold and too hard” was his reason. I was quite startled as he is one of the better riders and had given no prior indication that he was even thinking of doing this. However he is very cheerful about it and has booked his flights and will be home where he lives near Venice in less than two days, he tells us “drinking good coffee, red wine, enjoying fresh pasta and being warm”.
After dinner I went back to the hotel I tried skyping my son Dan, but the connection was really bad so I will try again tomorrow. Off to bed, last rest day tomorrow.
Water fountain in Cusco
Interesting mural in Cusco
Small boy who waved and called out whilst on tour bus in Cusco
Climbing 480 meters, down 555 meters.
Tonight we are staying at Hospedaje Puerto Escondido, it is a hostel as TDA could not find any other accommodation. We are of course all devastated by not having to set up our tents.
More good news, as we are the on the South side of Lima we don’t have to ride in a convoy out of the city.
We had breakfast at the hotel. Only problem is there are 10 floors but only one lift! The lift can fit 4 people and there are about 45 of us including staff. Nothing for it but to walk up. Well, if I had not already realized how fit I was getting I would now: 10 floors of stairs, no problem – I was barely even breathing harder than normal 🙂
We left the hotel in groups. Riding in Peru is difficult at the best of times, let alone in rush hour traffic. Thankfully we are riding away from Lima as the traffic is hideous! Riding in the group are two of the new riders, Tony and Michelle from Tasmania. They are doing the section from Lima to Cusco, then doing part of the Macha Picchu trail. They have a good sense of humour and I think we are going to get along well.
With today only being 58 kilometres and 480 meters of climbing, it feels like a rest day. Needless to say lunch will be where we are staying.
After we got off the Pan American highway it was a lot less stressful. Only one hill of any significance and that was less than 2 kilometres. We rolled into Pucusana at about 9:30am, way too early for lunch so we went for a look around the town.
Checking out the harbour (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
It is a really pretty little port town, small dinghies, fishing boats, and one fishing ship. On the water front are lots of hopeful pelicans and other sea birds (oyster catchers, herons, pacific gulls) plus dogs of every type and description and breed.
Harbour at Pucusana
Pelicans at the port in Pucusana
Pucusana Harbour (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Picturesque harbour in Pucusana (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Pucusana (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Pelican on a tin roof (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
A couple of cute dogs (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
We wandered around for a while, and then went back to the hostel to have lunch and get changed etc. It was still only 10:30 so not that hungry.
We were greeted by the news that one of the riders – Fred from USA – had fallen off his bike that morning. Fred had got his water bottle out to squirt a dog and hit a bump and lost his balance and hit his head, his helmet broke in 3 places and he hurt his arm. He was now off to the hospital having X-rays etc. Fingers crossed he is not too badly injured.
After a shower and catching up some of us headed back to down to the port and looked around some more. We stopped at a restaurant, had a cold beer and a fish sandwich. I was toying with the idea of going out on one of the boat trips around the harbour. It was $40 soles for 40 minutes. I get sea sickness, but I really wanted to see the sea lions. I decided to risk it.
I did feel a bit nauseous but it was worth it. I saw a really large colony of sea lions, then a rock with 3 young bulls, then another small colony. There were heaps of birds, a few sea lions in the water, and some huge brightly coloured crabs.
A boat load of other cyclists (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Seals on the rocks (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog) (Editors note: I am told these are in fact sea lions)
Seals on the rocks (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog) (Editors note: I am told these are in fact sea lions)
A king pelican, the biggest of them all (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Can you spot the island with the white house on it (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
At the entrance to the harbour was a house that looked like a boat, amazing location and for sale.
The “house boat”
I was feeling a bit green after the boat ride so went back to the hostel. There was a huge dog fight, but thankfully none of the dogs seemed to be hurt.
At the riders meeting the update on Fred was that sadly he has a chip out of his elbow and needs surgery, so he maybe out of the rest of the trip. It depends on his insurance company whether he has the surgery in Lima or back in the States. We are all a bit sad to see both Bob and Fred leaving us unexpectedly. Hopefully Fred may be able to join us towards the end of the trip, depending on how his recovery goes.
Dinner was spaghetti bolognese, pasta, and salad.
In the market (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Local scene (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Love this boat (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
View over the habour from the hill top (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
View from our hostel roof (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Kaye's Awesome Adventures 