Matt had wanted to ride from the town of Eastbourne on the far side of Wellington Harbor to a lighthouse on southern coast called Pencarrow Head or the Māori name Te Raeakiaki, which means “the headland where the sea pounds.” And boy, does the sea pound there. And the wind blows. Hard.
On the way out along a gravel road, the wind was at our back and we flew along. Going back to Eastbourne was like trying to bike with a fully deployed parachute hanging off my back. It was a slog. I was on a flat feeling like I was climbing a mountain. Matt has an electric bike and he can just pedal along. Why don’t I get an electric bike? They are very popular here, but I feel the need to bull through when it is tough going. I feel like I accomplished something—mostly that my thighs are going to never forgive me.
But it was a beautiful ride with a delightful view and even some wild goats.
A Yank Among the Kiwis 