First Days of the Journey
Kia ora koutou,
Four days into our journey and so much already. A farewell to Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean crash together like the All Blacks and Wallabies front rows. But the Cape, Te Rerenga Wairua, is not just the north point of the North Island, but a place of much significance to Māori. A place where the spirits, having travelled north along Te Oneroa ō Tohe, 90 Mile Beach, eventually leave Aotearoa for their journey across the Pacific to Hawaiki, the land where the original Māori migrated from. After posing for the TV camera, we were lucky to be given a karakia, a blessing, before we pedalled away. The journey began at last!
Soon after we found ourselves riding down the guts of a sandy creek that eventually spat us onto 90 Mile Beach, to turn left, to turn south and ride on the beach for 80+km with a tailwind (mostly) on firm sand (mostly). Mussels, picked off the rocky islet of Manganui Bluff, were devoured raw, a Snapper fish sandwich for brekkie at our first camp at the Bluff, Maori stories from the traditional owners of the beach. And who would have thought our snow shovels would be used on our first day, helping extricate a bogged vehicle!!
Bucketing rain brought flood and gale warnings, but somehow we seemed to avoid the worst of it on backroads and gravel, rainbows aplenty. The hills are hurting but in reality we're loving them as we settle in with our bikes and trailers. Past the vastness of Hokianga Harbour, up, up into the towering Kauri forest.
Our skis and ski boots attract plenty of comment, ‘You’re nuts’ being my favourite. Of course we are but isn’t nuts a good thing? But in a few days they should get their first use in the northern suburbs of Auckland, at Snowplanet, New Zealand’s only indoor ski area. Now whilst we’ve already ‘sold’ 9 from 25 ski fields as part of our fundraising, Snowplanet awaits an owner. Imagine – guaranteed snow all year, close to NZ’s largest city, no lifts on windhold. All this for a mere $500!
One of our partners, Ground Effect, asked Laurence and I a few personal questions just before we set off. ‘How you going to reconcile differences of opinion?’ and others such. You can check our answers in their blog here https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/blogs/news/alpine-odyssey-q-a
Onward!
Progress of Ski Fields Sold
How to track our journey on MAProgress
Thanks to MAProgress, you will be able to track our daily movements on as we make our way down the length of Aotearoa. You can see where we are here.
Your donation will help Save the Children build…
The Shipping Container Classroom Pilot Project will be made possible by your generous support of AUD $75,000 and developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). This partnership ensures the project aligns with national education goals and supports long-term resilience planning.
In a country like Vanuatu, one of the most cyclone-prone and disaster-affected nations in the world, his initiative addresses the urgent need for safe, adaptable learning space. The funding will support the design and conversion of 20ft and 40ft shipping containers into durable, climate-resilient classrooms. These spaces will be constructed using local materials and builders, helping to strengthen community skills for sustainability.
The project also includes essential classroom furnishings, transportation of the containers to selected sites, site preparation and installation of solar and battery, provided by Starlink.
Together with MoET, this pilot will serve as a scalable model for future classroom development across vulnerable communities, ensuring children have continued access to education even in times of disaster.
- James Knox
EQ Response and Recovery Manager at Save the Children
Partner Profile - Nemo Equipment
I’ve always said a good night’s sleep can make or break an expedition, especially one that runs the length of a country. So it’s a real pleasure to be travelling once again with NEMO Equipment by our side (or more accurately, under, over, and around us).
My relationship with NEMO goes back a few years now. I first came across their gear on a trip where “pack light, sleep right” wasn’t just a slogan but a survival strategy. Their tents, mats, bags and pillows (yes I'm going soft!) quickly became my go-tos on human-powered journeys, from snowy peaks to windswept coastlines.
For Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa, Laurence and I will be spending a lot of nights out under nylon and thanks to NEMO, we’ll be doing it in serious comfort. The tents are light enough to carry but sturdy enough to face whatever Aotearoa throws at us. Our sleeping bags, mats and those outrageously comfy pillows? Well, let’s just say there’ll be no excuses for grumpiness in the mornings, even before the first coffee.
We’re grateful for NEMO’s continued support and for the kit that helps us rest easy, even when the going gets tough. Explore their range at https://www.nemoequipment.com/
And as always, you can follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram and occasional newsletter updates like this one (and of course if you don’t want to receive these, just unsubscribe below)
Appreciate all the support.
Cheers
Huw & Laurence
