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The Rainbow Ride
  • Richard radeltraus
  • WorldWildWebb
  • Richard radeltraus
  • WorldWildWebb

The Rainbow Ride

Keirra from Vancouver (26)
Richard from Jena (25) Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 18, 2023
    The Rainbow Ride

    Start from Richmond

    March 18, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    we finalize the final preparations and meet at the local supermarket. in glorious sunshine we decide to buy a melon. this is our first day together on the bike. so exciting!

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Find our Rhythm

    March 20, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After one day we found our rhythm pretty quickly. That means deciding when to get up, leave, leave the campsite, take breaks and how fast you basically drive.

    We wake up together at the lake Rotoiti

  • The Rainbow Ride

    The beginning of our dream

    March 23, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    over the mountains to the east. that sounds simple. but the street we named our blog after is much more than a street. through small rivers over stony ground we arrive in the perfect stillness. no traffic. no people just the mountains, the water, the animals and us.

    Keirra and I become close and get to know each other naturally. at a small house we pay a toll of $5. we are warned of the weather and recommended a cabin. two nights we sleep in a small hut. then it goes to another hut. Passing snow-covered mountains and great places to take a break, we arrive in Hamner Springs.

    four unforgettable days are over. actually we wanted to say goodbye again after the trip. now we got to know each other differently, without showering, without internet, in a very small space, in sunshine and in storms. we decide to go to Christchurch together.    Read more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Back on the Road!

    September 19, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Richard and I had a final breakfast with our Dunedin friends (Aka family) before hopping back on the bikes. We’re continuing down South after spending the last 4.5 months working over the winter. It was a perfectly sunny day with next-to-no wind—spring is definitely in the air!

    Aside from a flat 10km from our destination (Keirra’s first flat of her entire NZ journey!), the day was cruisy. We’re both feeling energized and full of love/hope for the adventures to come. Tonight we sleep in Taieri Mouth with the sound of the ocean beside us 🌊    Read more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Sunny hilly ride with a lot of rabbits

    September 20, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    After a good first day, we started comparatively early. At around 9:45 a.m. we were on the first climb. this should still have a few meters of elevation left in it. After an hour of struggling slowly and laboriously on the climb, we made it. Sweaty, we arrived at the lake and cooked a café. From here we went along a cycle path along railway tracks. among these were hundreds of rabbit huts. the little animals were constantly hopping around us or across the path. In the end we decided to go back to the campsite. warm shower, kitchen and good grass pitch for $15. Ralf (campsite operator) from Augsburg also comes from Germany:DRead more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Rainy day …alles nass

    September 21, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    We started in the rain and cycled the whole day in refreshing water. but before we started we met for the first time in our life someone with a parol anklet on. His name was Tony and he was really nice, staying at the same campsite as us and offered to get us some food from the store!

    Our ride took us along the Mata-au river from Kaitangata to Kākā Point. We are happy to be back at the moana. As sopping wet and cold as we were, we decided to get a hut for the night. Best decision!

    Oh and we can’t forget the sweet furry friend we made at our campsite. Top notch cuddles.    Read more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Views on views

    September 22, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    55km boogie down the coast to Purakaunui Bay. Started off with a slight sleep in. We’d tossed around the idea of cycling out to Roaring Bay before dawn to see the Yellow-Eyed Penguins but alas the rain hitting the roof of our sweet cabin encouraged us to stay warm and cozy. Instead we enjoyed some final cat cuddles before making the 18km in-and-out route to Nugget Bay. Beautiful coastline with stretching sand beaches on one side and farms that petered out to wild bush on the other.

    We journeyed down into Roaring Bay to see if we could find any straggler penguins but found only a stunning horseshoe bay with waves crashing in their namesake. A final climb to Nugget Point was made easier by the encouraging honks of a group of South Americans passing in a Swift. Our walk to the lighthouse was scenic, remarkable rock formations, calling seagulls, and keens of baby fur seals in their nurseries below. I especially enjoyed the stone circle jutting out in the sea.

    Treated ourself to chips and a coffee at the quaint Point Bar and Cafe before hopping over the hill to Owaka. Lambing season is in full swing, lots of babies to ogle over and, sadly, a few mummas and their little ones who didn’t survive the journey. Our ride into the bay took us 8km along a gravel road with lots of kereru and Tūī to light the way. Tonight we sleep to the sound of the waves with (hopefully) no more rain.    Read more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Papatowai

    September 23, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Richard’s birthday 🎉

    We woke up to a misty bay and enjoyed the gravel road out. We visited the Purakaunui Waterfall which was especially thunderous from the recent rains. Also chatted with some other travellers who filled us in about the nearby flooding. We are travelling toward the affected areas and will see how the whenua (land) and communities are doing.

    We arrived to Papatowai DOC campsite in the rain that hadn’t let up. Aside from going on a goose chase for a groceries stock up (hint: everything was closed), we spent the late afternoon having a well deserved tent rest. The area is full of bird calls with an incredible gnarled tree coastline nearby.    Read more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Roads Flooded

    September 25, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Left the beautiful curio bay and made our way towards invercargill. At this point we were pretty low on food (aside from dry meals which we’re getting pretty boring at this point). We made it to a small cafe at Fortrose where we ordered some blessed fries (potatoes are always a good go-to for the vegans). Sadly, the cafe was only staffed by 1 person who was caught in a lunchtime rush. Needless to say we had a loooong break. Richard recognized the logo from his soccer club in Jena and ended up having a good chat with some folks from his hometown.

    Back on the road mid afternoon but after a couple km we came to a “road closed” sign. Our route had been flooded by the torrential rains of the previous days. We put our thumbs up and quickly caught a ride from some locals with a trailer.

    Well restocked with food and beer, we made our way to Beach Road Holiday Park for two nights.    Read more

  • The Rainbow Ride

    Grimy Gravel

    September 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    After a well deserved “day off” (which of course included restock and 20km of riding), we started the journey up the West Coast.

    We packed our bikes to the brim with snacks and fresh food after learning our lesson in the Catlins. We were slightly cursing our heavy loads when the back road we’d taken to avoid the hwy turned into thick, loose gravel. The road was especially rugged after the recent floods. We passed countless farms boasting new lakes and a heavily engorged river. Our patience and endurance were really tested today as we slipped, skidded, and fell all over the road.

    We treated ourselves to a road side picnic before conquering the last 25km of busy hwy riding. Now we’re playing table tennis and about to tuck into a delicious dinner of gnocchi. Yum!    Read more

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