Preparation
New-Zealand
 Chrischurch-Queenstown : January 17 to February 08, 2006
 Queenstown-Castel Hill : February 09 to February 20, 2006
 Castel Hill-Motueka : February 23 to March 7, 2006
 Motueka-Nelson : March 08 to March 28, 2006
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Preparation

We are now at less one week of our long journey, far from all comfort that offers us our daily. The shower will be replaced by the water of the lakes and rivers, our house will be reduced to a simple tent for two people. The car will be replaced by a marvelous bicycle that will be frightfully heavy. We have difficulty considering the load again that we will have to drag. However, we are very motivated to succeed and we need your small words of encouragements to arrive there. The bicycle is a means of transportation ideal for this type of journey since it allows us to be constantly in contact with the outside and we are always subject to make new meetings. We will also have the opportunity to push and to know our personal limits to the physical and psychological plans. I hope to come out again indeed really stronger of this journey and to have learned on myself and on the other. The best advice that I can tell you: Follow your dreams and let no one discourage yourself. In the beginning, when this idea germinated in my head, it would have been easy to let discourage me by all these people who didn't believe in this project. Now, that we are about to leave, everybody encourages us to leave and that told to regret to never got the courage of leaving for a great journey. We are young and we have life in front of us. I always suggest to people to follow there dream, they will succeed in reaching there intended.

On this day, we nearly finished all the preparations. I can now tell you, that a journey is nearly more expensive of preparations, that the journey in itself. It is awful!!! Money comes to stroke out of 500 $. I think that I am in a hurry to leave now and stop paying for all those last minute stuff. In the outdoor gear, there are always some things to buy. Finally, it is a journey of no consummation, but we always end up wanting such or such things cause the offer better qualities. It is an advantage to get materiel that they are resistant and light, but we must be able to put our personal limits. Finally, we are now ready. We have everything that we need. For my part, I am Miss Organization. According to, Benoît I am maybe a little too farsighted or irritating concerning the preparation of the journey. My luggage is already ready. I had pact my suitcases already two times, and this one month in advance. No detail is put to the light. This week, we have finished the last small thing. We paid for the insurances (400 $), the medicines (160 $) and we bought the rest of the material that we need (160 $). Thank you very to Martin, who knew how to put back in condition my bicycle. He was gnawed by the calcium. I should have changed my pedals and my clips. The calcium had made everything stock together. Finally, we leaving in 8 days and we are very excited. We will make a last goodbye evening at the Petit Chicago on the January 12 for all those that wish to come to tell us a small hello and to give us a small word of encouragement. We which to see everybody before our big departure.

New-Zealand

Chrischurch-Queenstown : January 17 to February 08, 2006

We are presently in Queenstown. This city looks a little bit like Tremblant / Whestler. We left this morning Invercargill, the southern city of New Zealand. It was very cold there and the temperature was not good. We now browsed more than 1 110 km without too many difficulties. We advise you to cycle in this country you will always find someone to cycle with. It is a bicycle paradise. Besides, the temperature is ideal because it is not humid and air is cool. Several good books are present on the market: cycling in New Zealand (Lonely Planet) or Pedaller paradise makes by local bikers. The two books are complementary and offer a good range of course for all levels. We left the region of Canterburry (flat) and we are in the region of the Otago (small hills). Yesterday, we slept in an "inside" camping. Finally, you sleep in your tent inside a former stable for 8 $. It is very convenient when it’s wets outside. The crossing in the mountains (Pukaki lake and Tekapo lake) was very good and specially beautiful. We spent a magnificent night there we pinch the tent very close of crystalline water. It is necessary to look at the photos to consist of this small paradise. On this day, all goes very well in the journey and we have the impression indeed to live an extraordinary experience. We don't see the country through windows, but we live there in depth through people and the different perfumes!!!!! The cyclo it is magnificent. I would not be able to travel otherwise. We spent several days to Dunedin. A family welcomed us and they offered us a bed and a lunch. We went to make the climbing also to long Beach. Thereafter, we went in the Catlin (protected reserves). We visited Cathedral Cave, Petrified Forest (forests ravaged and conserve by volcano) and we saw there the blue penguins and one sea lion. These guys try to attack us because we were to close of him, only 10 meters. We should do respect a distance of 20 meters minimum. I also swim close of a family of hectors dolphins in Porpoise Bay. They were at less 10 meters of me. I was so excited than I didn't even feel the cold water!!!!

Queenstown-Castel Hill : February 09 to February 22, 2006

The last week was really full. We realize that we are in very good physical shape. We roll long distances in mountainous lands. We spent 3 climbing days at Wanaka. We left the city and we went to get settled really close to the cliff who was close to the mount Aspiring National Park. Ben brought his climbing gear on his bicycle. It is very heavy. Thereafter, we made around 300 km of bicycle in three days through the mountains. We could'nt stop since arrived in the West coast cause it was invaded by the sand fly. We had to eat in the tent if we don't want to be bit by the mossies. We also climbed our highest ascension by bicycle, 1 100 m of altitude. The Crown Range is the most elevated passage of New Zealand. It was very exhausting physicly and mentaly. On the other hand, to get to Wanaka, we made a beautiful 40 km downhill. We going presently to Frank Joseph glacier and we comming back from a 2 days trek (the Copland trail). We slept there in a pretty rustic hut at the foot of the glacier and we could bathe in the hot spring whit a good local beer. It's value a 5 stars hotel. Finally, in 5 days, we did 300 km of bicycle and 35 km of walk. Therefore, today it's the rest days for the muscles. For the adepts of climbings, we head toward Castle Hill. It's a spotlight of boldering (climbing) recognized universally. It's a little as Hampi in India, but through the mountains in the Arthur Pass national park. They film some part of Lord of the ring in these zone.

Castel Hill-Motueka : February 23 to March 07, 2006

Back in Motueka, we came back from a superb vacancy of 4 days in Takaka of climbing. We appreciated to be able to let our luggage to the camping. We also found a other way, we let these at the gas station or in the center of conservation of fauna and this for free. On the way to Takaka, we have to climb an huge hill long of 15 km. The climbing in Takaka (Payneford) was a good experience. You find all level of routes and they are all near one to each other. The rock is very special, it count a lot of big feathurings. At the end of the day, you can always go to bathe you in the natural swimming pools of the the river. In the evening, everybody assemble to the camping (hangdog) and drink beer around fire. It is very bohemiam. The climbing in Castle Hill was very hard. This place is a great boldering spot. The rock is slippery and there are not enough holds for the fingers and the feet. Now, we are very happy to have left the West coast. There are more things to make in the north of the south island. All along the coast, it is only the same landscape for more of 600 km whit a million of mossies. In 9 days of bicycle, we bike Wanaka to Motueka, it's a distance more than 1100 km. We roll a average of 90 km per day and we have done more than 2 300km. We are going to change the tires of the bicycles soon. We always do free camping. It is necessary to only be ingenious. To wash ourself, we use the water of the rivers and the public toilets. We get used quickly to the cold water. Today, I constructed a small poster of cardboard that I place behind my bicycle: world tour, any donation is welcome:) A lady stopped and gave us 5 dollars. One becomes quickly hustler. Now, we heading toward Picton to take the ferry for the north island. We should visit the whole coast on the north island until we get to Auckland. We take the plane there April 14 for Australia. It is sad how quikly the time pass.

Motueka-Nelson : March 08 to March 28, 2006

In Nelson, we have been recive by Andrew and Helen. They made us feel as members of the family, we stay with them for 3 days. We had the keys of the house, ate with them, walked the dog... It was the first time that we remained at people in the journey. We have also been invited to a meeting of French-speaking. It was extremely hard to leave them. Thereafter, we took the ferry for Wellington. The cities don't offer us a lot of possibilities insted of the relatif expense. On the other hand, we visited the museum of Te Papa. We could learn a bit more about the culture of the Maoris and the country. In this city, we have been welcomed by a couple members of S.E.R.V.A.S. organisation. They had just come back of one journey of cyclo in Cambodia and to Vietnam. In the evening, they recive us like a kings whit a wendefull diner and a good wine. The following day, they let us the house and in the evening, they left for a spectacle. Therefore, we benefitted from this to cook a good Asian diner. It is always easier in a kitchen that on a burner of camping. Back on the road, a man invited us to put the bicycles in his tourist bus (in secret) to avoid us a long passage in bad condition. Before arriving to Napier, we has also been welcomed by farmer's couple. The lady felt a little maternal with us and she cooked us a big steak and she filled us whit some sweet for the road. Thereafter, we went to see a horse-jumping show in Hasting and we been impressed by the crosscountry competition. People browse very long passages and that, very quickly. Returned in Napier, we asked again for the hospitality. Result, the following day we fished in sea some shark, barracuda, mackerau and kawhal. Come in the evening, we tasted these good fish then and we had even right at a good snug bed. The road of Napier to Taupo was very difficult, 120 km in two days with 60 km of climb. On the other hand, after the first evening, a boy brought us to our tent a good hot meal!!!! Thank you!!!! Ha yes I forgot!! You recmember the announcement that we put behind my bicycle. On this day, we made around 40 dollars and some meal. Finally, we arrived to Taupo, and again a another S.E.R.V.A.S. couple recive us. We have been sheltered in a B B. and the lady prepare all our meals. On the other hand, we cooked them a Chinese paties to thanks them. Before leaving Taupo, we went to climb the Tongariro volcano. The temperature was very bad, but we were been very impressed by the walk on a volcano. Now since 1 week, it's wets and it's smell very bad eggs. From Taupo to Rotorua, there are a lot of thermal activities and there are smoke leaving from the ground almost everywhere. It is real impressive for people who were never in contact with active volcanic regions.