The first week of the new year was spent in and around Mum and Dad’s place in Waikouaiti. It was nice to sit still for a week (Adele had gone back to work) and spend time hanging out at home, sorting through various family things, doing odd jobs and going on little day trips. It was not at all summery, however, with a whole lot of wind, rain and cold keeping us mostly to inside activities.
Quiet New Year’s was in Dunedin with Adele and some of her friends – we spent New Year’s Day at the “beach” which was very relaxing and not at all hypothermic in shorts and a T-shirt.
South Dunedin a couple of days later was even less inviting – but Dad, Mum & I had a nice lunch – inside.
Wet weather is good for museum visiting – this time the Otago Settlers Museum, which is worth the visit and has this impressive art deco entrance way to the old bus station.
We went home via Port Chalmers to check out the largest cruise ship to visit NZ – I can confirm it was in fact, large.
Things started to clear a little.
To try and find some slightly summery weather, I made an overnight break for Central Otago for a spot of mountain-biking with James, Dan & Jacqui.
On the way I stopped to visit friends on their lifestyle block at Goodwood. It was unbelievably windy and cold up there.
I looked out across some of the many hills I was rather missing not to be riding around and between.
The drive over the Pigroot was lovely – until I discovered fresh snow around Naseby. Snow, in the first week of January!
Back in East Otago, we took a family outing for lunch and a walk. Here looking over Karitane to Waikouaiti Beach – it was nice not to bike up that rather steep hill from Karitane.
Behind Waitati, the view is down to Blueskin Bay.
The clouds at Carey’s Bay could most charitably be labelled atmospheric – but only when they weren’t dumping rain.
We had a wonderful family lunch at the historic Carey’s Bay Hotel.
Driving towards the mouth of Otago Harbour, it was my first visit to the sleepy seaside settlement of Aramoana. Infamous for the 1990 massacre, it would form one of my earliest memories/impressions of big NZ national news. We went for a nice walk on the beach and promptly got caught in a downpour. Funny times (the latter, not the former).
It was a lovely lazy week at home with plenty of chat, reminiscing and thoughts of the future.
But gosh I was glad to be back in Hawke’s Bay, where it had really dried out and was actual, proper summer!
Apparently Ranfurly is an art deco town. I found this building to support that claim.
And perhaps this building. Not overly impressed, I may be a little spoilt by living in Napier.
We parked at this little bridge, it was a pleasant day – but not so warm I need take more than a bottle of water.
But my, it looked rocky and completely different to most of the riding I’ve done in NZ.
Still some fresh snow around.
Those rocks up there are where the first downhill section started.
We climbed again from the road, more steeply this time.
There are two riders in there somewhere.
The Naseby Royal for dinner? Why not – it was sure to be better than the previous night. We all ordered lamb shanks, they were excellent – when they arrived over an hour later. Strangely busy day in normally sleepy Naseby it would seem.
Driving north up the highway on Christmas Eve.
Dad testing the heat from the brazier – a fine way to be able to tolerate cool Oamaru evenings outside.
Christmas brunch.
Don’t mind if I do.
Suddenly, Don invited me out on a Christmas Day MTB ride. Wow! This is fantastic. We went up to the reservoir, where there is a great little loop.
We made sure to be back for Christmas dinner…
and dessert – which may have been just as large as the main course.
After all that, there was a couple of spare hours for a big walk around South Hill and down to the harbour. It had clouded over, but my past complaining of poor Oamaru Christmas weather was non-existent as there was too much else going on – and I’d been mountain-biking!
There’s a cool playground down at the harbour – this slide is extremely steep, I managed to hold on to my dinner.
And the swings are bike-themed!
We stopped at the quaint Dansey’s Pass pub for a pint in the sun before carrying on.
Arriving at the section, there was much delight as Don had surreptitiously had the long driveway gravelled – it was far smoother. 
Work has begun on James & Adele’s own mountain-bike track on their eight hectares. James showed it to me; while only in the first stage, it’s a great ride with some cool features.
I look forward to seeing how it develops and hopefully helping a bit too.
Picnic lunch was devoured before we headed up to the swimming dam. 
The lupins were out in force – after finishing the MTBing, I took Dad on a leisurely ride alongside the water race and came across this patch.
After a fantastic day hanging out in Naseby, we headed back over the pass.
Where we promptly sat around the brazier again, eating and drinking with family and friends.
The year started off with a couple of overnight bikepacking trips as some form of light training. This one riding the gravel road from Wairoa past 
I also persuaded Steve to join me on a great local ride to 
The 
Much to my surprise, my favourite day was through 
Another highlight was staying overnight in the remote old gold mining area of 
The 
After freezing riding up the 
My winter break was a week down in Central Otago for 
Perhaps 
We stayed at Arapiles, where Adele joined me for the renowned rock-climbing (it was quite a family & friends month). I almost popped my other shoulder and swore off rock-climbing forever. I didn’t sleep much camping in the west-Victorian weather, but it was a great trip.
I did, of course, take a bike and managed a