Cycling NZ26 - Day 8 - Shout at the Devil

Decisions. Our lives are full of them. None of us have crystal balls though…

I had to make a decision on that day - Friday the 13th February 2026. 


The weather did not look good. Should I stay camped in Mozzie hell and wait to see if the weather would improve. Or miss out on a core section of the reason why I came to New Zealand until another day?  Decisions Decisions. 


As I have said wrong decisions in my life have led to many a regret.  But my instinct was, as normal,  to play it safe and take the road detour to my next destination. But as you say Wayne, life is not about getting to the destination. It is the journey that matters. Isn’t it?


I’m on my way away from the camp site and I see a load if people mounting ebikes in the Timber Trail car park. I stop. Turn around and ride back to the organiser. A Maori gent and I simply ask:


Tell me, would I be able to ride the trail today?  How does it compare to yesterday’s section?   


The man eyes me up and down and says yea man. This is easier than the other section. My dad has done on in a bike like yours so yeh mit yer good 🙏😊


Another fork in my life appears. The forecast was for intermittent thundery rain - improving later. Wayne, lets have no regrets this time. Yes I’m gonna do it after all. 


This video summarises the ride. Please excuse the poor exposure and the swearing. 



It was probably the worst day anyone could have picked to be on the trail. My aim was to complete it in its entirety. 3500ft and 49 miles is quite doable for an old boy like me. 


How wrong could I be. How poor at assessing the risk. How goddam stupid am I. A planned ride of 49 miles was cut short at the half way point. Including stops and - fecking idiot me - who set off the wrong way back down the path before after some 30 minutes thinking I’ve seen this shit before. At which point I let out such a blood curdling scream!   No one was there to hear me except for the rain Gods who thundered back!  I had a bunch of old ground to go over again. 


The fact is these paths are made of rock and stone and sand and when wet resemble wet concrete. It abso-bloody-lutely sucks the energy out of your body. 


I arrived some 8 hours later at the Timber Trail Lodge after 25 gruelling miles.  If they had a room spare I’m having it. Its a 1.5 hour drive from the nearest town. Total isolated bliss in the mountains. I was soaked to the core. Totally out of energy. I could not go on and camping again at camp epic was so far down my wish list I couldn’t even reach it.  I don’t care how much it will cost. If they have a room I’m staying. 2 nights if I can. And so I have. 😊


Today I’m sat in its capacious lounge. Being fed huge meals as it of course is full board. 


Last night I was the talk of the town. You did what? In that weather?  On that bike?  With all that luggage?  How old are you?  Gosh!  Look everybody at the stupid English. Were you born an idiot?  Yes I was. 


I will say but I did not photo nor video one bit cos I was that desperate to get to the end - where a huge side of the cliffside had slipped away in one section of the trail right to the edge of the path for 25 meters or so. And it was a bloody long long long way down.  Scary. 


However I’m all safe and warm and well fed and have the chance to dry out the camping stuff in the drying room here. 


What I have always failed to see is that regrets can occur on either side of the coin when flipped. I would have hugely regretted missing this section of my journey should I have taken the detour. But likewise one can regret doing the wrong thing. Rather than regret doing nothing. 


This came out in a conversation last night with Veronica, a New Zealand English teacher (yep the need all the help they can get in this country mit) and Aran, I think a Slovakian builder of beautiful things who said it is better to do something and perhaps have regrets than not. Yes. He is right of course. 


Today I hear a young couple completed the climb to here in the dry on their tour bikes in 5 hours. The locals on the tricked out full sussy lightweight e-bikes did the same in 3. My journey time was 8 hours but at least 1 hour for water and food stops and 1 hour added on for going the wrong way. I might have done it in 6 in all that mess of a day. Well done old man. 


Yes it was my Friday the 13th. Would I do it ever again?  Abso-bloody-lutely NO. 


Will I ever take advice from a Maori again. Feck me!  NO!


But do I have any regrets?  NO! 😊🙏


Ciao for now

Comments

  1. London Alan14 February 2026 at 10:59

    I watched a video yesterday of five lads on their suspension MTB's doing the whole 51miles in 5hrs of riding. Stopping off at the lodge for lunch. They had no luggage (!) and it was dry though it was muddy from rain the previous day. 35 bridges to cross (I would have to crawl over most given the ones I saw and the one you went over!). They said it was a Grade 3 ride in places, these being on the section before the lodge. So no wonder you felt as you did. Well done on making it to the lodge. The next part of the trail looks much more reasonable. Great stuff Wayne.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jacques Immelman15 February 2026 at 09:45

    Wayne,
    From the comfort of my couch, I enjoyed peeking into your Nz journey. Baring your soul takes more courage than most can fanthom.
    We enjoyed meeting the adventurous, mild-mannered, mid-aged (not old) bloke with the twinkle in the eye.
    You are truly an inspiration.
    Never stop writing and sharing. It is really that good!
    Enjoy discovering the land, the people, and, most of all, yourself. And of course the pies, always the PIES.
    Looking forward to your next blog.
    Stay strong adventurer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Still me15 February 2026 at 10:16

      PS. The first rule of bike riding is always to look forward.

      Not all those who wander are lost 🤔

      Delete
  3. Anonymous16 February 2026 at 10:32

    IDIOT !!!!!! why o why....... Well if nothing else you have brought a really big smile to my face as the weather is even worse than over here..... Keep going mate and I'll buy you dinner next time we are out. What a man !! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1 June 2026 at 17:59

      I would really like to know who made this comment as I really would like a dinner!!

      Delete

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