Kahurangi 500 - Shit the bed, I did a ride!
Unnecessary Preamble As is standard in a New Year, I was feeling reflective and wondering what I might do to improve my life in 2026. After four pretty torrid years, where we've spent about a quarter of that time in hospital, I was very much in need of a clear and obvious reason to get back into cycling. Cue endless youtube videos, and the rash decision to book flights to/from Nelson to coincide with the opening of the Heaphy Track, at the start of May. I was crossing everything I could cross in the hope the weather would hold for me, and I'd booked accommodation in Murchison and Karamea. I'd decided to tackle the Kahurangi 500 route, in what I'd suggest is the best direction (Clockwise). Watching youtube videos of extremely fit and capable people riding this loop make it seem relatively trivial, and with the hype train in top gear, I was locked and loaded. I did a bit of chicanery with the route, necessitated partly by my Nelson origin and destination, and partly out ...