The adventure, the challenge, the dream

The adventure, the challenge, the dream.

This is the start of a series as I give you an introduction to the journey of a new door opening.

I have been asked: "What is it with the adventures, the challenges and the dreams!?"

"Don’t you have enough going on in your life with the journey since you were struck down with Meningitis leaving you with challenging disabilities?" has been said.

Sure there was a stage in my journey where it was so challenging even to get out of bed and to struggle my way through another day. I discovered a word called HOPE and I started to believe in that word but as time went on I discovered that one must act as well as believe. My hope at one stage was anchored in the life here after and my hope for here and now was merely a case of living out an existence.

I would allow myself to dream through the challenging phases of my journey as I used it as a mechanism to escape reality but  to dream and act upon the dream requires a complete change of perspective.

I was created for a reason, mankind was the pinnacle of creation by the Master Creator and placed in His garden planet earth. What was mankind created for, to glorify the Master Creator and to enjoy Him forever.

My choosing to merely live out an existence in spite of the challenging journey that I am on is not the reason I was created, how does one glorify the Master when life has left them with nothing but a pile of ashes, to make the choice to give thanks at in spite of everything and while sitting in a pile of ashes to know that the Master Creator is in control and He promises a brighter tomorrow and a life full of abundance.

My problem was, I kept looking back at the pile of ashes as one door of happiness had  closed and my hope for the future was anchored in the life to come but there was another door open titled 'hope' where new adventures were, new challenges and dreams to be awakened but I had to make a choice, act on the open door, get up from my pile of ashes, refuse to linger there any longer and turn and step into the brighter tomorrow

For me to share about the adventures, the challenges, the dreams and what’s it all about, I have to start at the beginning and I will take you on a journey as I progress this series as it has taken some time for this lad to step into his brighter tomorrow and I still have phases where I struggle and I feel alone, weak and vulnerable but I am learning more and more to make the choice to know and trust the Master Creator is in control.

Kind regards,

Phil Thorn

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

A moment to savour the long winding road down memory lane.

A moment to savour the long winding road down memory lane.

It’s a strange thing to finish and be successful at completing such an epic challenge as a team but the essence of crossing that finish line is captivated by the eye and ear. I knew what we had achieved together as it required months of training, dieting and preparing mentally then the reality when the rubber hit the road. I had prepared myself in the event I might be pulled off the bike at some point as to how I would address that in my words at the finish line plus if we were successful in achieving the full distance.

When it came time for speaking, following speeches of congratulations from Karen Wilton CEO of Laura Fergusson Wellington and  Nicky Wagnor Minister for disability Prickly Behind's turn came.

So many emotions, I wanted to capture the moment on another level hearing the cheering and seeing the expressions as  words started tumbling out as I expressed my gratitude to all present for the outstanding occasion and especially to the team who both acted and dreamed, planned and believed to achieve this challenge. 

Climbing Porter's Pass was a real highlight with the team working in a relay lining up at the door of the bus eagerly waiting for their turn to run up and give Prickly behind a little more grunt knocking their chins on Prickly helmet as the road was so steep in sections and Prickly determining if I just keep turning that crank I hope I can inspire the team to not give up was an imagery I relayed to those at the finish line, that never give up spirit got us all to the top.

Cameras were a clicking from every angle capturing the moment as supporters moved closer to share a moment with Prickly members of the Blind Foundation plus Deaf Blind Association were present with some having seen Prickly in the early stages of his journey to where he sat today, now Prickly behind. A very apt name as so so many have lead the way helping to see Prickly navigate his way safely over some extremely challenging mountains and the Master Himself opened the eyes of Prickly understanding that with Him in control there are no barriers, no limits but only possibilities when faith is activated.

There were some special moments catching up with folks at New Brighten as I sat on the tandem, a message came that Molly the coach was around half an hour away the  cool sea breeze started to disperse the supporters, a coffee cart right now wouldn’t go amiss.

A little while later the tandem was maneuvered close to the door of the coach and Prickly Behind with the support of the team pulled himself up and then took each step with a team member lifting each leg to climb the three steps to his seat behind the driver’s seat. A tired team opted for good old Southern fish and chips all round as we settled into our accommodation. Introductions were made to our relief bus driver for the return trip the following day, Dave from Picton.

After a slightly later rise, and a very comfy bed for Prickly I must add, another hearty breakfast and it was hit the road time for what would be a long windy journey down memory lane. We would leave Christchurch heading through North Canterbury, then turning inland just north of Culverdan to head over the Lewis Pass passing Hamner Springs where the Molesworth adventure had ended in 2015. A stop at Springs junction for lunch in the sun with Dave our new bus driver telling story after story of the various surrounding countryside and small town we passed through. 

One story caught my interest about a town in North Canterbury called Pegassus. I knew this small town from a trip in the early 90.s when a tow truck recovered my ute from the inland road South of Kaikoura and the tow truck was based in Pegassus.

A man with a dream and a significant amount of money set up a model of what he has dreamed of turning this small country town into in the early 2000’s using an old disused building in Christchurch and employing around 700 Chinese at a cost of $7 Million to create a full sized model that folks could walk through and explore every nock and cranny. Some believed in him and his dream, his dream cost him all he had and a significant amount more. The dream never evolved in quite the way he had dreamed it and sadly he hit the wall financially before his dream of turning Pegassus into the ultimate small town boasting a population of 7,000. His health declined after his financial ruin and he passed away in his late 50's. The Todd Empire have taken over the project and the town continues to grow, but at a low pace, as good things do take time.

The highway North from Christchurch through to  Picton  is a busy one these days with the highway through Kaikoura  closed,. On the inland route through the Lewis Pass earth works are taking place at many points to widen and eliminate dangerous black spots and the need to upgrade a number of single lane bridges with such a heavy volume of traffic now using this highway and the highway through Kaikoura closed till at least Christmas. 

It was at one of these points I raised my hand to wipe the window as there was some condensation with no air conditioning, the team spotted me and laughed at Prickly clearing a spot on the window for a better view, well  the view was pretty amazing with my eyes wide shut.

After lunch team members took the opportunity to pop up and sit with Prickly to chat over their experiences of the challenge. I asked each of them what was the highlight for them. It was great to learn that for a good few of them they had never seen the parts of New Zealand we had traveled and ridden through. Not only were great memories of our  magnificent South Island fresh in their memory but the team spirit that had grown through the challenge and  we felt like a family it was said.

Kind regards,

Phil Thorn

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

The ride across the plains, a flattie moment but a sweet sweet finish.

The ride across the plains, a flattie moment but a sweet sweet finish.

The final morning of the riding part of the challenge was a beauty in Springfield, a crisp Canterbury morning with the sun sending its warming rays through breaks  in the buildings.

It was a slower  start this day having put the challenging sections of the ride behind us and the YHA wasn’t in a hurry to awaken either it seemed Patience was needed as a key was hurried along to get eh campers kitchen filled with the aroma of a southern fry up.

Today would be a more healthy option for Prickly Behind, Rice Bubbles, fruit and yogurt followed by crumpets with Marmalade jam and a good cup of tea. With the YHA at Springfield having a Japanese theme through its camper kitchen and dining room, the team were  startled when one of the book shelves containing many books especially with a Japanese  flavour suddenly moved away from the wall on one end revealing a doorway and out pops an assistant manager.

We were joined this morning being Saturday 6^th May by Robert who was the manager at Laura Fergusson in Christchurch, he would be our guide for the final section of the ride from Springfield to New Brighton Christchurch. From here Robert told us, it’s straight and flat across the Canterbury plains, that sounded good but with tired bodies after two day climbing over the Alp’s it still sounded like a cranker of a day’s work.

I was in approval of being transferred from my chair to the rear seat of the recumbent with the bike waiting in a patch of warmth from on high after navigating out way across a gravelly driveway still crisp with morning breeze in the shade.

As I prepared to set off as much as the arms felt the downward pull of gravity heavy from tired and tight muscles, I determined within myself that I would get that crank wound up for all it was worth, we had to be at New Brighton by four o’clock but the plan was to have a leisurely lunch stop if the going was good and allowance had been made for up to an hour should the final leg not go so well. I was determined to have as strong a finish as possible no matter what the body was feeling, if we can get the speed up early and to a manageable gear on the rear I could maintain it I felt till the finish line.

It wasn’t too long after saddling up, we were off, more cold patches and then out of Springfield to the open dairy farm plains, it took a few minutes for muscles to settle into a good rhythm while endeavouring to set an early pace. It was nice to have only a thermal and riding top on, long sleeves rolled up like action man but in my mind’s eye wishing I was Peter Pan. 

Those dairy farm odours were very invigorating as I thought of the early awakening for one on a farm compared to Prickly Behinds start for the day but then night can roll into day and day into night for one with blind sight.

We set an early pace, I was pleased as the pace saw me using the higher gears in the upper range with the recumbent bouncing along. My thoughts turned briefly to a new recumbent with a suspension as Prickly Behind is hardly young in age and this finer points are important as year rolls into year.

It was then my thoughts were jerked back to reality as the bike swerved to the left and then back to the right before straighten up, straight roads I said to myself, must be a curve to keep drivers alert as the pace increased again It wasn’t far from here the first pilot change for the day took place while several southern baked  cookies were shoved in my hand and off we went again. This time with one called Hayley as my pilot. She commented later that I was a human machine but there’s nothing bicentennial of a man about me just lots of deep down determination to never give up.

Several times along those straights we hit 65 kilometres per hour I learned later but I felt we were still not going fast enough, speed can be deceptive in the rear seat with blind sight.

Not long after a good burst with Hayley as pilot, we stopped briefly to greet Trevor from Laura Fergusson in Christchurch as a backup for Robert in case he lost his way and then a surprise, Karen from Laura Fergusson taps on my shoulder and alongside me is my Dad. That was a moment to treasure for the memory chest.

A little further along and a spot in the sun for a well-deserved lunch break and to learn we only had thirty kilometres to go, man we had made great progress, must have been the invigorating odours in the air.

A fine fair was had for lunch that day, filled wraps with more homemade baking and cups of tea, the sun was so warming there was concern for Prickly Behinds receding hair line with helmet off lest it end up with an ouch spot and a peeling to follow.

After fueling up, it was time to hit the road Jack and don’t you go back no more no more. Well we hit the road Jack, stricken another patch of roadworks about 10 kilometres down the road, the newly designed recumbent with suspension entered the mind again as we bounced our way through and then onto flat stuff again but the song did not come true about going back no more no more. My pilot being my brother Clem at this pint received the message via walkie talkie, that a gremlin had struck Molly our coach.

We have to go back the message came through on my hand, go back, oh no oh no. What would come of this, we were on time with 10 kilometres to cover till the finish line but through a busy Christchurch on a Saturday afternoon with an hour till four o’clock.

Back we went after some careful manoeuvring to a spot about half a kilometre back along the straight to learn that Molly the coach had had a sudden  leak and a flattie moment. The reality of the situation was added to as Molly had a spare tyre but it was a trailer tyre and not for the coach

Frantic calls were made to get Karen back from the finish line where she was setting up the finish line tape to ferry those on the coach to the finish line. All support riders with bikes were now riding with Prickly Behind as we set off again leaving the coach and driver to an element of uncertainty trying to get a fleet service out to repair the flattie.

We were a rocking and a rolling as we stopped and started our way across the city and it wasn’t to the local classic hits radio station. A city struck by earthquakes has left the roads feeling like a roller coaster on a recumbent, then the familiar smell of city life as we past a KFC and a punnet of chicken flavoured chips would have hit the spot but the mission was almost complete, would we make it on time with an unexpected flattie moment!

We came to a stop not far down the road as I said to myself, where has that lovely warmth gone too. Stopping and starting across town, the body wasn’t as warm burning less energy and then the message came, We are about 2 kilometres from the finish line. Oh my goodness I said, we have almost made it and with about ten minutes to go before the clock struck four o’clock. Lots of positive thoughts from here on and we will make it safely, sure, sure , sure, just give it one more blast, I had a plan for a sign to raise my arms in a successful accomplishment right on hitting the line but my senses and body were a little tired and behind the eight ball and the arms were raised as the tape hit my chest and the Tinnitus sounded like cheering of well-wishers and supporters at the New Brighton finish line.

It was a moment to cherish for a long long time, we has accomplished a challenging ride of just over 250 kilometres from coast to coast crossing two alpine passes, one being the third highest pass in New Zealand and we had done it as a team. The warm glow of satisfaction filled the heart and the dial said it all. Team members were thrilled as hand shales tool place, hugs and pats on the back, time to pop a champagne bottle thrust in my hand and then to be congratulated by the Minister for disability, Nicky Wagnor, followed by speeches.

I will cover more of the finish line in my next post plus the final day returning home again after such an epic adventure.

If your enjoying reading this, please leave a small comment as it is a great encouragement and please share my Blog Spot with others.

Apologies for those who have had issues getting from my Facebook to my Blog Spot by clicking on the link I provide. I am endeavouring to post snippets on Facebook and the main post on my Blog Spot as I believe my Blog Spot is the best medium for posting lengthy posts and not Facebook but this is a new challenge for me as I am doing this on my own preparing and posting so I have made several errors at times, thanks for being understanding and patient with me. Please stay connected as I will be writing regularly to my Blog Spot even after completing the challenge series.

Kind regards,

Phil Thorn

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

A chilly awakening followed by an over the top delight.

A chilly awakening followed by an over the top delight.

It was Friday morning the 5^th of May. I awoke early after a pleasant night’s sleep with the wood fire keeping the unit I shared with my brother cosy warm.

We had staying the night in Arthur’s Pass village and on exiting my unit after a great cooked Southern breakie I would receive a chilly awakening. Oh yes oh yes, we were in the chiller room of the South Island up amongst the Alp’s Keep moving to keep yourself warm my mind was saying while stuck in w wheelchair with blind sight. A recipe for disaster I must say and to add to that our motel was up a rise on School Road Who knows why it was called school road as there is no school there, maybe a dream that never transpired.

Anyone would think I was planning on a day at a ski field the way I was dressed, poor interpreters signing through padded snow gloves, harden up you might say.

Well I had to very soon donning my riding gloves, scarf around my neck, couple of stones for eyes and a carrot for the nose, the snowman was about to be set on the loose

Molly the coach was warmed up, I  detected the diesel fumes in the pristine Alpine air, support riders were ready and Mary Fisher and her dad were buzzing about another days ride through the Alp’s accompanying Prickly behind the whole way on their tandem.

The exhilaration of riding at altitude on a chilly morning, the speed of the bike intensifying  the chill factor even more, the fingers, where were they, still attached but numb with the cold. There was only four layers on the upper body with three on the legs and still the chill could be felt.

It was a beautiful day they told me, who’s leg are you pulling I muttered but quietly prayed it would be.  That  warmth I felt on my left  cheek as we hit a downhill section, then it was gone. Must have been my imagination as the chill kept me pumping that crank for all it was worth to get the blood a pumping. The warmth was on my cheek again and then gone as quickly as it came.

It was time to stop as the stop go man had his sign out I learnt later, major road work were taking place I took the opportunity to lose the scarf and commented on the beautiful day to my pilot Jon, the sun had greeted us but   we would ride in and out of patches of sun under the shade of the towering mountains as we rode through Temple basin.

A short time later we were on the move again  with the feel of gravel under the tyres but not for long, we came to a sudden stop. What  was up! I learnt later that the road worker with the stop go sign had screamed out, “Stop stop” my pilot thinking he was speaking to us, as did the coach driver of Molly following behind us and concerned support riders wondering what was up.

When the stop go sign had spun around to go for traffic on our end of the road works and we had started to cycle our way through the road works, a car about twelve back in the line of cars waiting for the sign to turn to go in our direction decided it would be a great opportunity to do a takeover manoeuvre with the intention of passing as many cars as possible, he was flying towards a road worker holding a stop go sign and road works behind  him. The driver was stopped in time, sadly a foreigner and the road worker commented to our coach driver he had almost been taken out in a similar incident the previous day. It is important you know to be a great rush to get from point a to b while  driving through the Southern Alp’s and all its magnificent beauty.

Onwards we rode with plenty of downhill sections as I said to myself, the lower we descend the higher we have to climb near days end and then another uphill section came along. Somewhere along this section of highway I lost an important part of my riding kit, the end of my drinking tube which I squeezred   with my kips to suck from the camelback. No point in wasting time to try and find it, a needle in a haystack kind of venture.

A reserve by lake Pearson was our lunch spot, I know this area and had a good memory within my mind’s eye as we parked up in the sun, the sun was warm but the chiller door was wide open. White stuff iced the towering mountains on either side as the picnic tables were dressed with red and white table clothes and a fine fair of Southern hospitality was served up Gilled door wedge rolls were served with homemade baking to accompany them and a cup of tea or two to wet the whistle.

The reflections on the lake were something to behold I was told that day, God’s own is what we call this land.

We had made good progress in the morning session of the ride achieving  just over 50 kilometres, nigh on halfway but the challenge lay ahead I did to myself. How  Far to Porter’s pass, around 14 kilometres came the message signed back to me. Oh man, I had survived the first day on the West Coast through all the icy rain and being soaked through without being pulled off the bike. Now we had a beautiful day, spirits were in good shape, energy was sitting at a good level but I knew it would take all I had and more to summit that pass. I determined, if I just keep that crank a turning even in the lowest gear that I had, maybe I could inspire the team not to give up and pull me off but to give it our best shot.

I tried to calculate the distance  in my head knocking off each kilometre as we set off from lake Pearson reserve, I thought we were close then another downhill section, we must be there now and another short downhill, then I said to myself we must be on the long drag now that leads to the pass, we had been on this uphill section for some time now. It was time for a quick stop, pilot change time and time for Prickly behind to strip the riding jacket , oh yes the big one was here. Would the tandem make it, I dug deep to find the good stuff the good stuff called potential and my team inspired me to do that, as I cranked up that steep steep drag that never seemed to end, the team were lining up eagerly at the door of the bus for their turn to run up and give the back rest of my seat a good bit of grunt as Prickly behind quickly navigated his gears to adjust to the sudden increase in speed, it became a skill I had to master quickly to maximise every effort being put in and to show I was giving it my best shot hoping to inspire them onwards and upwards. It was so steep in sections that team members would knock their chins on my helmet and I learnt later that Mary and her dad had walked several sections. On and on it went, climbing climbing, the warmth on my cheeks was dropping lower and lower, it must be close on five o’clock I said to myself, can we make it, the roof was dripping and not from the heavens above, the tube was being sucked on to keep the energy levels as high as possible, there were mutters of thanks from Prickly behind for each extra bit of grunt applied from team members as he daren’t let go of the tube held between his teeth.

Then all of a sudden, I felt slaps on my back and I said to myself, oh man I’m being pulled off the bike, we didn’t make it I gave it my best, the team gave it their best, that is going to be a tough ride down the other side after reaching the top in the coach having not achieved it.

The message came to me, we are at the top, you’re kidding me I said as a huge smile hit the dial and oh what satisfaction that was, the weak had been outstanding. I would have never made it without them and I am not planning on attempting it in the near future on my own as amazing as GP systems are these days.

There’s a very cool photo of us at the top of Porters Pass with Molly the coach in the background, the pass is 939 metres high. Well you done ride all the way to the top to not go down the other side, so it was time to done the riding jacket as hot as I was at that point and man oh man I sure needed it on the way down. With the sun sinking behind the horizon for another days end it was chilly with an exclamation mark times ten and the downhill went on and on so much so at one point Prickly behind got confused thinking we  were still on a downhill and we had hit the flat. My spirits were soaring as much as my body was tired and sore, we kept going and I knew darkness must have overtaken us which it had but we were right on the outskirts of Springfield and we rode right through the small town to our accommodation at the YHA hostel. We had achieved the goal of cycling the 83 kilometres from Arthur’s pass to Springfield over Porter’s pass. Porter’s pass is New Zealand’s third highest pass after Milford and Lindis.

We had done it as a team, why Together Everyone Achieves More. Thank you Prickly adventurers for inspiring and believing in me.

Kind regards,

Phil Thorn

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

Check out the village at the top of the Alp’s, the viaduct and rail tunnel.

Check out the village at the top of the Alp’s, the viaduct and rail tunnel.

For those who have not had the opportunity to visit Arthur’s Pass village, I have copied and pasted in an article below worth checking out and it includes some links to great your adventurous juices running. Following the article I have written some details re the Otira viaduct and the tail tunnel both of which are amazing engineering and construction accomplishments, the rail tunnel in the early nineteen hundreds and the viaduct at the end of the nineteen hundreds.

If you’re traveling from Canterbury to the West Coast, this is the road to take. It is a piece of extreme engineering involving viaducts, bridges, rock shelters and waterfalls redirected into chutes.

Arthur’s Pass National Park itself is a landscape of two halves. On the eastern side you'll see wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swathes of beech forest. Descend the western side and you venture through dense rainforest alongside and over deeply gorged rivers. Take in the scenic views on the renowned Tranz Alpine rail service.

If you're feeling adventurous, go hiking or mountaineering. You'll probably spot New Zealand’s inquisitive and comical alpine parrot, the kea, along the way. And during winter you can join the lucky skiers and snowboarders enjoying spectacular runs in the Temple Basin Ski Area.

Arthur’s Pass village is one of the highest settlements in the country. Here you can gaze into the historic Otira rail tunnel – an epic engineering feat through 8.5 kilometres of rock. If you need to stretch your legs, walk the one hour return journey to the Devil's Punchbowl Falls. And if you feel like staying a while, the village has a choice of accommodation, cafés and shops.

The Otira rail tunnel.

Work on the tunnel which runs from Otira to Arthur’s Pass village a distance of just over 8.5 kilometres commenced in 1907. Drilling and blasting through the solid rock under the Southern Alp’s was the method used to create the tunnel. The tunnel climbs to a height of 250 metres above Otira, so a number of options were investigated such as a cable car, using the fell system or the rack and rail system before the tunnel was decided on to be constructed at a 1 to 33 metre gradient.

The tunnel was finally completed in 1918 but not before the original company commissioned to build the tunnel faced financial ruin as the cost of the tunnel was over twice the tender. The government at the time was unsuccessful in tendering the project out again and the public works took over completing the tunnel.

At one point during construction world war one had broken out and there were calls for construction to be halted but the government said no as there were concerns that the German navy would blockade the West Coast ports for shipment of coal and the tunnel would allow coal to be transported to the West Coast.

The tunnel required another 3 years after completion to have a concrete lining installed and it was opened for use in 1921.

A small coal powered station was built at Otira in the early days as the tunnel was electrified to aid the locomotives in getting up the steep gradient

The cost of putting the tunnel through was twice the tender being !.2 million in today’s currency due to the slow progress through solid rock.

You can now travel the railway line and through the tunnel on the Tranz Alpine, these days once the train enters the tunnel a door closes behind the train and a huge extractor fan kicks into gear to extract the fumes. The build-up of both Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide were always a real hazard in the tunnel in earlier years due to its length. At the time of its completion it was the seventh longest tunnel in the world and the longest in the British Empire.

The Otira viaduct.

Work commenced on the viaduct in 1997.

The road prior to the viaduct and bridge plus rock shelters between Otira and Arthur’s Pass village was a very dangerous piece of road requiring continual maintenance as it zig zagged up the steep rock face, rock falls were a continual hazard and flooding. The area is part of the Southern Alps fault line so seismic movements were a common occurrence.

The viaduct is a huge structure taking almost three years to complete at a cost of $25 million which include a separate 30 metre bridge, rock cages and shelter, redirecting waterfalls into specially formed shuts and trying to keep the area from as much environment damage as possible being part of Arthur’s Pass National Park.

The viaduct is 440 metres in length

If your enjoying reading this series, please leave a small comment as I cannot see at present how many are clicking the like button. Thanks to those who have left a comment.

My next Blog will take you from Arthur’s Pass village to Springfield across Porters Pass at a height of 939 metres.

Kind regards,
Phil.



Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect
Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge
Check out my Story : www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes
"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"
"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

The day the rubber hit the road

The day the rubber hit the road.

A chilly West Coast morning greeted the Prickly adventurers on Thursday the 4^th May 2017.

With the smell of coal fires in the air memories came flooding back of Greymouth and adventures past on the West Coast before my illness. A place to be explored, stunning landscape with a special breed of Kiwi’s who call it home.

A great Southern breakfast supplied by Molesworth Tours had been cooked by our team members who joined us from Nelson and a fine feast it was for the first day of the cycling challenge. I overloaded not wanting to offend the kind giver of my breakie and too darn good to say That’s enough!

It was find the wet weather over trousers time as drizzle descended, riding jacket on and high viz jacket not to mention the thermal layers beneath and alpine socks to keep the toes and feet as warm as possible.

It was at this point I was introduced to one of Greymouth Star reporters, Paul who had come to capture the moment for those who call the West Coast home.

I was informed at this point, we would be riding the West Coast wilderness trail accompanied by Tim’s aunty Julie who lives in Greymouth. The trail extends from just south of Greymouth right down to Ross south of Hokitika, it is a gravel trail following old tramway lines, early gold digger tracks and even paths that early Maori took for sourcing Pounamu, Greenstone. We had planned on taking the route from Greymouth via lake Brunner but the tour company had planned the wilderness trail  in their safety plan starting with the wilderness trail of 10 kilometres which would bring the team out just north of Kumara junction. The reason being there were extensive roadworks taking place just south of Greymouth and this would avoid them for the cyclist not for the coach.

The recumbent managed to sneak it’s way past the pillars at the entrance and exiting of the trail with some good navigation needed, the bush was brought alive to Prickly behind even more with drizzle descending and the gravel pathway a good wake up call for Prickly behind behind.

The teams contingency plans hadn’t included a bush trail so it was a case of fingers crossed we get to the other end without break down. The Master  blessed us that morning and we exited the wilderness trail after several moments of uncertainty for Prickly behind and onwards we rode to Kumara junction.

Kumara is pronounced Koomara with the emphasis on the mara so eye brows aren’t raised by West Coasters.

It was morning tea time as we had re-joined  the coach on the main inland highway, state highway 76. The drizzle had eased, the homemade baking was hitting the spot and the cup of tea was just what the doctor ordered. Little did I know this would be the best break of the day, that extra breakie would serve me well and the cups of tea at this point would fuel me for a ride of around 76 kilometres climbing from the coast road to a height of around 700 metres at Otira. The morning has been so cold I had my ski gloves on to save the fingers from freezing . Only trouble was, with the thicker padded gloves on I was struggling to switch between the high and low range of gears plus changing gears was a lot slower and it was impacting on my performance. So off they had to come and on with the fingerless riding gloves in spite of the cold.

I knew from here on in it was all climb, climb, climb. I had prepared myself for this well in advance, at least the drizzle had eased, it was time to make it count. What lay ahead I knew not and I determined if I keep that crank a turning there’s little chance I will be pulled off the bike unless the weather is to severe or the cold starts to bite me to hard.

It was time to head inland,, my drinking tube was in place feeding Gatorade from my camelback, there was a cool breeze, pats on the back and signs on the foot told me we’re off  Prickly behind.

My performance improved dramatically with the change of gloves switching gears with ease and navigating the high and low range button with more  accuracy. The rises kept coming and the flat sections and slight downhill sections grew less and less. I worked my gears to get the maximum speed that I could sustain for a long period of time, this was not a race but an endurance ride. Push too hard now and blow all your energy to soon. With good training the upper body has incredible power with the hand crank set at the right height and distance from the body which is vital for long endurance rides as I learned in training preparing for the Taupo challenge with the crank not quite set right after 6 to 7 hours of working that crank, I was experiencing pain right on the tips of my Elbows and it was difficult to continue riding.

Around an hour and a half after the stop at Kumara junction, the drizzle started again and the wind had risen slightly as well, the drizzle turned to rain and a quick stop was needed to remove my Cochlea, my hearing implant. I would ride the rest of the day in complete silence only accompanied by a degree of Tinnitus. The rain was icy cold, at this point I did not have my riding jackets head part on under my riding helmet. The icy rain drops were running through the open slots on my helmet and chilling my head, my cauldron was nice and warm at this point with a layer of Merino around my tummy, I could smell livestock grazing on West Coast farms and I said a quiet thank you that I wasn’t born a Merino.

I let the mind drift to what I remember of the landscape we were riding through while keeping the crank a turning to keep my mind from the elements and now realising my riding jacket wasn’t holding out the rain or was it a case of being damp from sweating. The later was the case, thankfully the thermal kept me warm in spite of the dampness.

At a stop to change pilots which become a routine change over around every 10 or so kilometres to keep fresh legs on the front of the recumbent as a different range of muscles is used when riding a sit down bike, I took the opportunity to pull my head cover of my riding jacket over my head and donned my helmet again. Wet clod head now covered and helmet back in place is not a welcoming feeling but I knew I was losing to much heat pit pf ,u head and the mind games were starting up.

You’re getting cold Prickly behind, there’s a good chance you’ll be pulled off the bike, the focus left the stunning landscape I had been reflecting on and now I noticed the cold creeping up my arms. This is not good, the icy rain still coming down, I pulled the visor of my jackets hood down over my face as I wanted to check the level of warmth from my breath on my face and I hoped the warm breath would warm my head a bit as well. My breath had good warmth and the warmth from my breath did warm my head and the mental challenge of the cold eased for a while. Vehicles whizzing by in the other direction and those passing us sent showers of icy water across the face, I learned later that a kind West Coast firewood truck driver stopped his truck and ran across to Hayley a support rider handing her a twenty dollar note saying shout yourselves some beers.

I knew it was late in the afternoon, the rain had stopped, there was a crisp chill in the air, we were climbing the Southern Alp’s, I longed for a cup of team a filled roll was thrust into my hand, there is no time to stop as we are now racing with darkness approaching, eat and ride. I cried out, how long before we stop for the day but my words were carried away by the wind. How many kilometres had we done, I thought from my calculations around 50, oh man we are a long way short I said to myself, disappointment start to play in my head and the cold  started to creep back up my arms again, this time I could feel the cold even in my shoulders and I said if that cold gets to my chest I will have to make the decision myself to get off as I will be placing the team at risk. I asked the Master to please allow warmth to flow into my arms and shoulders as I dug a little deeper and turned that crank hoping to create more warmth. The combination of the cold and the disappointment of not achieving the intended goal for the day started to play havoc with my head. I was somewhere in the middle of nowhere on the inland route through the Southern Alp’s on the West Coast knowing darkness was approaching but no gauge on when, no idea of what we had achieved to that point and wondering how far short we would be of our goal. All I could think of at that point was, later tonight I will be looking back and wondering if only I could have dug a little deeper we might have made it and I could sense the disappointment but know I must keep positive for the sake of the team.

I could feel it, there was warmth starting to flow or was I imagining it, the cauldron was warm that was a big plus then the bike came to a halt, I prepared myself as I expected this to be the end of riding for the day and I knew the emotions might get the better of me.

 I could smell the small railway settlement with coal fires warming the 20 or so houses that makes up the small West Coast town plus a pub.

It was just after six o’clock, darkness had fallen, I was asked if I was happy to end the ride for the day to which I said yes,.  I boarded the coach with the team helping me to bum jump my way up the steps and into my seat, a quick change of my upper body clothing was a must while the team loaded the bike trailer. Mary Fisher had Googled the distance we had cycled since leaving Greymouth around nine o’clock that morning, we had achieved 88 kilometres climbing to a height of over 700 metres.

From Otira there was a distance of around 8 kilometres   climbing 250 metres over that distance up the Otira gorge and over the viaduct where one of the team spotted a wobbly Kea crossing the road on his way home from the pub and onwards we went to the summit and down into Arthurs Pass village.

There was no time for showers as a restaurant was awaiting our arrival. The Wobbly Kea welcomed us in with a warming embrace from the open fire and the taste buds were set alive with the aroma of  a chef in their element at work in the kitchen.

Man that chefs choice of the day sure hit the spot for me as I pondered a day of huge challenge, a day of mixed emotions and an achievement the team sure could be proud of. The decision to not ride the Otira gorge and viaduct was the right one to be made, way too dangerous after dark and even trying to ride during the day would place the team at risk rue to the extremely steep gradient. Take a look at footage on You Tube of people walking it and you will agree.

My next post will have some details around the rail tunnel from Otira to Arthur’s Pass and the viaduct, amazing engineering and construction accomplishments.

Kind regards,

Phil.

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

The Papal act that left a shiner

The Papal act that left a shiner.

The day had arrived after a dream was awakened and a team came together with ten months of planning.

The team comprising of the Rio Paralympics’ Paralympian gold medal winner Mary Fisher and her father Mike, my brother Clem, good  friend Jon, jo and Andrea good friends plus Hayley and Robin from Laura Fergusson staff and Tim a client. Another two would join the team at St Arnaud’s, good friends Al and Denise from Nelson. Not forgetting Prickly behind, the writer being Phil.

It was Wednesday 3 May 2017, the team boarded the Interisland ferry for the cruise to Picton and thanks to the Interislander the team had complimentary tickets.

The team were off on another Prickly adventure, Prickly being a play on my surname Thorn.

What was this adventure all about, for the one called Prickly behind to hand crank a purpose built tandem low rider recumbent in the rear seat with team members taking turns to pilot him while Mary Fisher and her father Mike would ride a conventional tandem and support riders the 250 kilometre plus coast to coast challenge from Greymouth on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand across the Southern Alp’s via Arthur’s Pass to New Brighton in Christchurch. The ride would celebrate the founding of Laura Fergusson in New Zealand fifty years ago and to raise funds for the charity.

Prickly behind has been a client of Laura Fergusson for close on eight years after being struck with Meningitis in September 2008 which left him in a coma for three weeks and when  he finally exited the coma discovered to his horror he had been left deaf and blind plus partially paralysed from the waist down. Laura Fergusson has a number of communities throughout New Zealand where differently abled folks are supported to live as independently as is possible.

The day of the ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton across the Cook Strati turned out to be a good sailing day in spite of forecasts suggesting otherwise earlier that week. The ferry struck technical problems part way along Queen Charlotte Sound and all passengers were issued with paddles. The technical trouble mean a later arrival by half an hour as the cruising speed had reduced by at least half it’s normal cruising speed.

The team opted to have lunch on board rather than a burger and fries stop in Blenheim, our tour coach being Molesworth Tours had been notified of the late arrival and as we descended the decks in the lift to the vehicle deck to prepare to disembark, it would seem the livestock on the stock trucks were getting impatient as well as there was a rich aroma in the air.

Geoff our driver for the five day challenge was in the terminal to greet us and we started to make our way out of the terminal to board the sixteen seater coach and bike trailer when I was overcome with excitement to be back on South Island soil again.

Normally a Papal act of kneeling to kiss the ground is done rather graciously, however in my case a sudden lurch forward say the ground come up to greet me at a fast rate of knots and it wasn’t a case of the lips being pressed against the pavement but the left side of my forehead and eye brow taking the full impact as this had happened so unexpectedly I had no time to prepare my arms and legs for a gracious kneel, more like a Papal collapse and stars were a shining in my mind’s eye. 

Oh dear, to add to the whole dramatic arrival, my support executive behind me navigating my Papal mobile had a similar encounter with the South Island pavement landing on her butt. A little gremlin had attached itself it seems from the vehicle deck of the ferry and I am not referring to items from the stock truck but rather an item called grease that had attached itself to the small front wheel of my Papal mobile.

Was this to be the end of the challenge before it had even begun? It was certainly an ouch moment with half a dozen exclamation marks following the ouch and even a few descriptive words were uttered. Mustering all the strength I had endeavouring to be gracious while team members were applying ice packs and checking  I wasn’t injuries to badly and straightening out my Papal attire, I pulled myself back into my Papal mobile to gain some composer. IF we were on set, I could have requested a cut and a rerun of that act and got it perfect the second time. But this wasn’t a stunt, this was an ouch reality moment as the team steered me to the doorway of the coach and assisted me to step up and into the coach. The shiner resulting from the Papal act would reveal itself over coming days.

To St Arnaud we were bound near Nelson lakes national park to pick up two more team members, Al and Denise from Nelson, then onwards we went through the now busy Buller gorge as this route is now the main highway South with the earthquake of November 2016 having closed the highway through Kaikoura.

Greymoth our destination for the first night of the challenge staying at Kiwi motels and holiday park where Mary Fisher joined the team having flown in earlier to Hokitika and we were meet by Tim’s uncle and aunt Gary and Julie who kindly got dinner warmed up. Molesworth Tours providing dinner on the first night and good Southern tucker it was too, meat loaf, veggies and mashed potato then a brownie with custard to follow.

As we chatted over plans for the start of the cycle challenge the following morning, with a chill in the air and the smell of coal fires coming in on the breezes, I said to myself, it’s all about to happen, have you toned the body enough, this will be as much a mental challenge as a physical one, will the elements be kind to us and the big one for me, will there be the need at some point for the team to make a decision to pull me off the tandem due to exhaustion or risking my health due to severe weather.

I pulled the covers up as I settled in for the night wondering what the morrow would bring, it would be the most challenging day of the coast to coast, one that will linger for a long time, it would require all that I had and at times to dig deeper.

My next post will take you on the journey from Greymouth through an unexpected wilderness trail to Otira and up to Arthur’s Pass village across one of New Zealand’s  most amazing engineering and construction accomplishments, the Otira viaduct.

Kind regards,

Phil.

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"

The Diary Entry of a Prickly Adventurer: From Coast to Coast

The diary entry of a Prickly adventurer from coast to coast.

To all who have supported the Prickly adventure team, thank you for your words of encouragement and congratulation on completion of the coast to coast challenge.

Over the next few weeks I will be diary-ing each day of the adventure and posting them on my Blog Spot with snippets on my Facebook page with the link to my Blog Spot.

There’s so much to share from a Prickly behind perspective and there will be a diary of photos taken with well over 3500 photos capturing each segment of the challenge to be posted in the coming weeks.

The Southern chiller door was open to greet the team. The majestic landscape energised and inspired the soul, the air hung at times with the West Coasts coal fires,  the icy cold rain added to a section of the challenge,  beautiful mornings greeted the team high in the Alps but the greeting came with a sub-zero temperature. 

The ride from Greymouth to  New Brighton in Christchurch saw the team ride through a West Coast bush trail of 10 km, cross spectacular ravines of some 300 m drop to a massive West Coast river, through high country sheep stations, past small railway settlements, a section of the Otira gorge and viaduct too dangerous and steep to ride and a high Alpine village where a chef can prepare a curry to die for. 

Following a mountain pass with towering peaks on either side capped with fresh icing where the crisp air takes your breath away in the shade, across another pass where the team worked in relay waiting eagerly for their turn to add extra power to the cranking going on with a push on Prickly behinds back, the downhill following the summit made Summit Road look pale in comparison which is where the team had some training rides not far from the community where Prickly behind calls home. The East Coast dairy farms, a flat final days ride a welcome relief for tired arms and legs, a gremlin that left Molly with a flattie only 10 km from the finish line, the bumpy streets of a rock and roll city to a reception of handshakes and pats on the back and a champagne bottle to be popped.

I’ll share how Prickly behind had to dig deep to find the good stuff, the good stuff called potential and how that inspired the team to achieve the goal of riding the 250 plus km from coast to coast across  a Southern Alp’s pass at an elevation of 940 m, it took all the grit the team could muster and the outstanding support of Molesworth Tours.

Each team member had a special part to play and through it all great friendships were forged with the team feeling like a family on the return trip to catch the Interislander ferry.

I, Prickly behind, was very privileged to be supported by such an outstanding team and I want to honour each of them in my diary entries, so I hope you will join me as I travel down memory lane.

Kind regards,

Phil.

Please take a look at my givealittle page and please help me on my quest for essential braille communication technology: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4phil2connect

Also check out the ‘Ultimate Challenge’ which is in  May 2017, we need your help to make it happen!! http://www.thekingsarms.co.nz/an-ultimate-challenge

Check out my Story :  www.thekingsarms.co.nz/rising-from-the-ashes

"To achieve great things, you not only need to act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe"  

"One should never creep, when one is compelled to soar"