Ahhh, not as bad as expected

Quarry ahead
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Why do I always forget that riding to work is actually really good fun? I lie in bed in the morning convincing myself that it will be unpleasant, that driving will be easier, that I'm too busy, too tired, too lazy... IT's daft. The ride in is far and away the best part of my day..

Full moon

Moon
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Ah dear. Lots of work and not enough time to play. I seem to spend more time sat inside looking out than I'd like these days. Still, another six months and things should take a turn for the better. If they don't, it will be time to shake things up a bit.

Back in the USSR..

Clown bike!
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well, back in Wales at least. Back to work, back to the rubbish weather, but also back to the WNR. Last week was a bit eventful with crashes, and chav fights...but this week was more sedate, with snow, and unicyles..

Back in black

After weeks of touring on skinny 1.5 inch tyres, it's nice to see the bikes shod with some decent chunky rubber again. We've been winding down for the flight home with some mountain biking in the Port Hills and a few days in Hanmer Springs. The riding is all pretty good, but not quite as good as Wales.. Amy had a bit of a tumble today too, so it's probably lucky that we fly back to the uk tomorrow. I have to admit though that we'll both be sad to leave NZ.

Hangdog days

Finished messing around in the Abel Tasman park, and nipped down to golden bay to grab a few climbs at Paynes Ford. Luckily for us the gravity meter at the Hangdog campsite showed favorable climbing conditions! We bagged a couple of nice lines on Little Lost Wall using borrowed kit, and then retired to an awesome swimming hole for a swim in the sun. We'll definitely be back.

A successful voyage

Well we had an ace week messing about in boats, and walking up the coast. Great scenery, good weather and lots of wildlife. Dropped the kayaks off a few days ago and now hoping to bag a day's climbing tomorrow.

Abel Tasman

Ah, this is the life. Sea kayaking in the sun on Abel Tasman. Weather is ace, the beers are cold and the scenery is stunning! We have 3 days paddling ahead, and then a two day hike to get out. Then back to Christchurch for some mountain biking. Happy days.

Te Anau

Well we had a good couple of days cross country. We got a lift across Lake Wakatipu on a steam ship and then pedaled across empty backcountry and sheepstation land for two days to reach Te Anau. After serious thought, we then elected to get a bus rather than cycle down to Milford Sound and go for a day cruise. The road to Milford is the most dangerous in NZ, so i think we made the right call. Milford itself was stunning, not only the scenery, but also a huge pod of dusky dolphins and then a pair of Hectors dolphins playing around chasing the boat.

Happy Christmas

Had a nice ride today, the promised bad weather turned out not too bad, and even the climb over the Crown Range was bearable. We had a beer and a nice christmas lunch on top of the pass, but are now stuck trying to find somewhere to eat on christmas day and all the half decent restaurants have been booked up for weeks!

Paragliding in Wanaka

IMG_8070
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

The weather has finally perked up and we've been enjoying a few rest days in Wanaka. It's a nice chilled out town with nice beer and fantastic views.. We succumbed a bit to the tourist thing and went paragliding this morning, but it was well worth shelling out a few quid for. It' a great way to see the mountains, and very relaxing.. Tomorrow we have to ride over the Crown Range though, so Christmas lunch will be a sandwich on the top somewhere..

Wanaka

Well we finally got some sun. After a few more horrid wet days on the west coast, we climbed over the Haast pass and after a fairly epic day, we now have a few days rest in Wanaka before heading over the crown range to Queenstown.

They don't call it a rainforest for nothing..

Hanging out by the Franz Josef glacier today, and it is rather wet.. In fact it hasn't stopped raining for days! Oh well, pedaling off south now, into wet more rain.. Just like being at home.

A windy day

Just arrived in Hokatika after several hours of purgatory into a horrible headwind. Hope the weather helps us out a bit more tomorrow. The run down the Otira gorge was awesome though, even in the rain.

On the road

Pathway
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

So, no new pics to post at the moment, but that's because I don't have access to any RAW conversion software while cycle touring. We are currently in Arthur's Pass, South Island of NZ. Tomorrow we ride down towards the west coast, and then south towards Queenstown and Milford Sound.

The weather has been rubbish so far, but the scenery is fantastic. Huge glacial valleys with trestle bridges spanning massive rivers.. Very Montana-esque, with a hint of Scotland about it.

The cycling is going fine so far, though we've only really put in one proper day. I had to buy a new wheel in Christchurch (when we unpacked the bikes on arrival in NZ I found my rear wheel bearings had seized completely...serves me right for washing my bike before flying..).

We managed to pare the kit right down this time so we both have quite managable loads. I think we're going to try to put in a few epic days in order to get an extra day off... Watch this space to see if we make it..

Iron Horse team photoshoot

Montage
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Had a good photoshoot with the guys on Saturday in Leigh Woods, Bristol. The weather was freezing and foggy, with a nasty washed out sky and gloomy woods. We got some good shots though, and the guys were great, hitting the same corners again and again... mind you, I think they were just glad to keep warm..

Life keeps on rolling…

Wheel
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Been very busy recently. Planning for New Zealand, fixing burglar alarms (and trying to exterminate mice) as well as more than a little work.. Which all means I haven’t had much time to take photos for fun. Things are coming together though, the new site looks good and I’ve got a few projects lined up. All I need now is the time to fill out my portfolio with some really killer images.

Extreme Endurance Cyclists

_DSC4161Web.jpg
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Took a few photos for Dave and Josh of the Iron Horse/Extreme Endurance team on Sunday. The weather was horrible, but the guys were very good sports and I managed to get a few decent frames..
You can read more about the team on Dave's Blog.

Another hotel room

Another day, another hotel room. Only this one is not quite up there with Rome or Paris... Welcome to the Tottenham Court road..

Black mountains

Did the black mountains killer loop for the first time on saturday, what a cracking day out. It almost made up for our joke of a summer.

Where now?

Ok, so it's a bit melodramatic, but i have been thinking more than ever recently about my direction in life. Time to make some decisions is near. This post though, is mostly to try blogging from my new phone ;)