Totally with you on the speed aspect of bike touring. We've found that we're kind of addicted to the slower pace and how easy it is to just stop and gape at the scenery or take a picture. For some reason it's so much more difficult to stop when you're in a car! Doesn't make any sense, but there it is...

The bike reflection is a nice addition!

Yep, what Carolyn said!

Yes, singletrack generally just means a narrow band of trail that can vary dramatically in difficulty.

Thanks Carolyn for the kind comment. The OGR certainly wasn’t easy but it was worth it and then getting dumped onto the west coast was brilliant!

Can't tell you how impressed I am with you!! I was worried when you wrote you were going to attempt the OGR. I had recently watched a number of YouTube video's of it and decided it was way beyond my comfort level, stunning as it looked. But you did the whole thing with fully loaded panniers, even if you did walk for some of it. Amazing!
It's wonderful you are enjoying and making the absolute most of all the cycling available in this country with some of it not for the faint hearted. Even the roads can be scary with, as you've noted, the speed limit and no shoulders.
It's been great following you and looking forward to the rest of it. Hope it continues to go well. The South Island is beautiful so you've still got plenty of treats ahead of you.

I'm less terrified now. I think of "singletrack" as being like the trails here on Vancouver's North Shore and I don't ride there!

So much better than the stupid things BC Ferries provides--which I refuse to use.

A shot of the surrounding environment is good info. too... Besides, sometimes the best photos are "accidental" results. Serendipitous maybe.

Noted, I’ll try a little closer. With that shot the plant in the environment with the background looked great.

Fabulous pix of a great adventure, Andrew. You're certainly making the most of your time in Aotearoa!

Changing plans...
That's why they are called plans, not requirements.

I remember running a 15 mile race back in the late 1970s and seeing a big not likely to overcome gap between me and the lead pack, and nobody behind, I started looking around and saw a coin and a die and a screwdriver, all of which I broke pace and picked up. Probably have that screwdriver! Which spilled over to my bike commuting where I picked up about a quart of "roadkill" coins and bungee cords and sockets and on and on. I planned on getting from A to B fast as I could, but modified my plans. Makes life more interesting!

The Paparoa track becomes a very rocky, old track down into Blackball. I watched a ride video yesterday and was struck by how rocky the track across the top had become since a rode it some time ago. I agree with your train option. You will enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your seat. Your detour definitely was not wasted. You've seen OGR and how different the West Coast is.

Thanks! A little closer to catch details and maybe something like a coin, finger, whatever to give an idea of size helps with IDs, especially when just going by searching photos.

That sounds about right. I started as a brewmaster and ended up with my last job overseeing a mattress plant. There are no straight lines for a career.

I love plants and my kids tease me sometimes when we hike in the alpine because I can’t get enough of the varied plants.

At any rate I appreciate that you read and enjoy the photos. I try and find some more fun stuff.