Alex Hallatt 4/16/21 Alex Hallatt 4/16/21

I Would Have LOVED to Get Postcards From Space When I Was a Kid

I listen to a couple of podcasts about independent publishing. One of them is the Self Publishing Show who recently interviewed Miles Hudson about his writing project, Postcards From Space. The idea is that actual photos from space (copyright free images from NASA and the European Space Agency) are sent out weekly from a fictional kid and their dog as they travel through space.

Junior astronaut Tanno, and their spacedog, Iguda

As a child I would have loved this. I adored reading about space and I was so excited when I received any kind of post. So I subscribed my niece and nephew to it and this is what my nephew thought:

He lives in London and it has been tough going through a year of on and off lockdown because of Covid. They are coming out of it now, but Postcards From Space are something fun to read whilst they are waiting to be able to go on their own trips.

Living in New Zealand: Alps2Ocean on an Ordinary Bike: Day 7: Duntroon to Oamaru

It was another overcast day but with clear views over the hills.

Most of the day’s trail goes through farmland and is dominated by introduced species like these beautiful birches.

You can see how Elephant rocks got their name.

It is worth taking the time to walk among the rocks. They reminded me of the standing stones in Avebury, England.

Water and wind has carved patterns in the limestone.

Echo corner. I stopped and tried it out. It works.

Dairy country. Too many nutrients in the water cause algal blooms which can be toxic so rivers aren’t swimmable.

The dairy and irrigation industries sponsor these signs that are laughable when you look at the state of the waterways you are riding near.

A climb up a gravel road rewards you with the first view of the ocean.

Heavy rains earlier in the year had washed out some of the track.

I ended the trip by throwing in the stone I’d brought from Tekapo into Friendly Bay and following it in.

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Started at 8:40 am and arrived at 2:30, with about 4 hrs in saddle. One of the more demanding days of the trail, but rewarding (though the only swimmable part is at the end).

Sue came down to meet me and we headed to a local bar with our partners.

Our arrival in Oamaru coincided with their Jazz and Blues Festival. We enjoyed listening (and dancing!) to these guys before we headed back to the backpackers (The band was Oscar LaDell and Hoot)

After a night at the backpackers ($100 for a double room), I went for a wild swim at Bushy Bay, watched only by a couple of seals on the beach.

Then it was off to the Oamaru farmers market (on a Sunday) to stock up before heading back.

We packed up Gertie for the trip home (I’m glad she survived as well as my bike. You can see what Duncan’s parallel fishing trip was like at his blog here: https://localfoodhound.wordpress.com/2021/03/28/mackenzie-country-adventure/).

Alex Hallatt 4/12/21 Alex Hallatt 4/12/21

Living in New Zealand: Alps2Ocean on an Ordinary Bike: Day 6: Kurow to Duntroon

Had a coffee and a cheese scone at Wild Sage Cafe which didn’t open until 10am. It was a good day to start late, as it was a cold overcast damp morning. Then it was a nice easy track along the Waitaki River and through the vineyard.

It was interesting crossing wide dried riverbeds that must be a sight to see in flood like in January. I wonder if they would be dry in autumn if there wasn’t so much water extracted for irrigation.

There were a couple of crossings of dry river beds.

This area of the trail is dominated by limestone escarpments, some of which are decorated with Maori drawings. The rock art site at Takiroa is a good spot for lunch, away from the road and the smell of cow shit and silage.

Heavily irrigated dairy farming is also more evident and the limestone and gravels drain into aquifers and rivers.

At least the local iwi are now working with farmers to riparian plant and improve the water. You can see results with more bird life on the last section. Though most of the banks of the river are still choked with willow.

Good to see planting of natives on the left to prevent run off from the pasture on the right

Duntroon wetland is a definite highlight just before the end of the day’s pedalling. Amazing to see it thriving though surrounded by intensive dairying.

Duntroon has a campground with good facilities for only $20 for a tent.
And it’s a short walk to the pub.

Left at 11 am. Arrived at 3 o’clock. Two and a half hours in the saddle.

Alex Hallatt 4/9/21 Alex Hallatt 4/9/21

Living in New Zealand: Alps2Ocean on an Ordinary Bike: Day 5: Otematata to Kurow

When you google what to do in Otematata, you find everything to do with the lake and nothing to do with the town because there is nothing in the town. There’s a small everything store and beside it a place to get tiptop ice cream (unfortunately not even New Zealand owned any more). There is a golf course and playing fields and a pub, but all the activity centres around the lake below the dam. The lake is wonderful, but if I’d known I think I would’ve avoided the 12 km diversion and carried on to Kurow. As it was, I had to cycle the 6km back up to the top of the dam. At least the last 15 minutes of climbing warmed me up. It was the first time I had worn my sealskin gloves and down gilet to start the morning.

Now the landscape becomes even more about introduced species of flora and fauna. I saw a ferret run in front of me and a dead wallaby by the side of the road. I stopped for tea by the lakeside, which was choked with willows.

I took more time again to take breaks and enjoy my surroundings on the trail rather than rocking up early to the campsite. A 15 minute walk up Deep Stream track takes you to a picnic bench. It was a perfect spot for a skinny-dip and I swam from one side to the other bank and back. It is deep. Once again I was trying to not think about the eels that were probably under me. But I saw nothing but fantails above me and a cormorant that left the rock I swam to.

I stopped for lunch in the ruined village of Wharekuri. The lady in the Kurow Museum said that the village had been abandoned after fire. It was a sad place to be but that was because there was so many broken beer bottles there.

Kurow’s campground is very cute and ideal for kids. I would’ve loved it as a nine-year-old playing in the safe river and amongst the trees. It was only $65 for a cabin.

We had a basic, but good pub meal and paid a bargain $9.50 for a pint and a half of Speights.