Day 21 Christchurch City Ride 25 km 34 m



 Our final day riding began with breakfast at home followed by coffee/tea stop at Cafe 186 just around the corner.

John and myself struck up conversation with the other Chris who just happened to be calling in for a coffee as well, After that Chris went in to order and pay for his coffee I said to Peter and Stephen "did you know who we were just talking to"?

"Who?, that businessman in the suit without the tie"?  they said.

"Yes, I said that bloke"

"Who is he"? they said.

"The Prime Minister" I said!

Pretty unreal really - and to think the only Aussie politician I got to see on my ride from Sydney to Melbourne in 2022 was an opposition backbencher at a bike shop! And that ride inclulded a visit to Canberra and the Australian Parliament House.

Of course, we had to interrupt the PM's day and have a chat about our ride and also he and Ian knew each other from their days ay Air NZ - he was very happy to join us for a quick pic too.

Our Aussie friends'' just couldn't believe what had happened. 

After that it was time for Ian and John to hit the road for their return trip to Dunedin and for me to take the boys into the city on a bike shop and city tour. We had lunch on the verandah of Riccarton House before riding home for an afternoon of cleaning and packing their bikes for the return across the Tasman.

Again, we've had another wonderful almost four weeks of fun riding through our magnificent country and seeing it at its best - we had our raincoats on for a very limited time and they never really got wet. Sunburn and heat early on and the odd sandfly bite once we were on the West Coast became a minor irritation some and a major for others (new fresh international blood I put it down to). 

I haven't added up the numbers yet however I'm picking I rode around 1,500 km's and climbed around 14,000 metres and I know I am 2 kg lighter than when I started.

A big vote of appreciation to Peter and Stephen my two Aussie riding buddies - both great guys to have ridden through the North and South Islands' with and to John for joining us on the South Island stretch of the ride and we have been so fortunate that Ian happily puts his hand up to come along and join in our after ride fun and also to be a wonderful driver of the "fully supported" South Island section. John's almost new car kind of is quickly losing that look when it gets taken some of the places we ride I'm afraid!

Thanks Guys - I look forward to more adventures together before too long.

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