[pinholecam] From Alps to Ocean - A bicycle/photo log



20180411-IMGP4688-1
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1+FA31ltd


Probably the most memorable section of the ride.
An ascent of 900m up by bike up to the snow line of the Ruataniwha Conservation Park.
Well if it was Autumn as planned, then there would be no snow line, but since it snowed, there was and that needed quite a bit of care and handling.
Think of cycling on beach sand and you will get an idea of how it is.

The view (this is from midway) is really grand.
 

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Pelennor Fields
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1+FA31ltd


Mackenzie Country, is where Peter Jackson filmed the epic battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Actual location is on private land around the town of Twizel which I stayed 2 nights before, but I certainly got a feeling of it when I entered this plains in the same region cycling down from the hills.
Just the wide plains and sky.
 

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Some ride photos of the ascent up the Ruataniwha Conservation Park

I had thought maybe I would not share ride photos here (since its mainly "photo forum"), but I guess the journey is a large part of the experience as well.
 

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20180412-IMGP4777
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1+FA31ltd ; Lake Benmore


Passed the scenic are of Lake Benmore.
Along the way, I spied so many spots that would be great for photos that one can stay in this location for a few days.
 

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20180411-IMGP4712-1
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1+FA31ltd

If the way up the hills is considered hard, the way down actually isn't all plain sailing as well.
Rolling down on a dirt/shingle trail does need a high level of care and alertness.
A pool of loose shingle, pothole or large rock on a fast rolling descent can mean flying off the bike.
So when I reached the flat plains that greeted me after the decent, I felt an extra calm and awe of the big space around me.
 


The trails leads very far
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1+FA77ltd


The back roads of the Mackenzie region, thru stretches of trails behind farmland and just mountains, tails and sky.
 

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Rolling hills
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1+FA77ltd

Its also interesting in that the short telephoto becomes very regularly used when the area is vast.
The UWA (14mm in my case) was the least used and the 31mm and 77mm the most often.
 

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Cabin in the Cosmos
by jenkwang, on Flickr
Pentax K1 +Samyang 14/2.8 (Astrotracer ON)

It was a long ride with quite a few long climbs and I was starting to have doubts about my booking for the night.
The accommodation was a distance away from the main town road (a one street town) and the additional climbing I had to do made me think if I made the right choice as the day was coming to an end.

However, when I arrived and saw the cabin, I was immediately energized.
A nice old school bus converted to a cabin with its own wood fireplace, cozy bed and kitchen.

Not to mention the photographic potential when the clouds blew off and the stars were revealed...
 

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20180413-IMGP4965-1
by jenkwang, on Flickr
K1+FA77ltd


Quite the ride thru the line of trees in this shot as it channeled the winds against the direction of travel.
This was followed up by the climb up to this particular vantage point.
 

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