Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (Banff to Sparwood)

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a 4,500 km off road cycling trail from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells on the US/Mexican border. This is definitely the toughest challenge for us yet!
More information is available on: https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/

The Bass Pro outdoor supply shop in Calgary is an impressive museum of stuffed animals and mountain scenery.

The ride starts in the parking lot of the Fairmont Springs Hotel, built in 1888.

The adventure begins!

Garth is joining us for the first 10 days on his Brompton.

The bear spray is ready and within easy reach on my handle bar.

First night camping on Spray Lakes West. What a gorgeous spot!

Riding around Spray Lakes on single track - heaps of fun and not too challenging yet. 

Elk Pass. Our first crossing of the divide.

Camping at Blue Lake - very nice swim too at approx. 16 degrees.

Storing the food over night to keep it away from the bears.

Riding back into civilsation after three days in the wilderness. Coal mining and..

 ...forestry.

Leaving Elkford up another hill. Garth took the highway to Sparwood, which is easier than rocky mountain bike trails on the Brompton.

Local wildlife in the middle of town. No gardening required.

Our first real challenge. The track was completely washed away and we had to haul our gear up an elk track. 

Sparwood is another mining town with a hotel, a pub and a giant truck. Our first prime rib of the trip, a cold beer and a shower!

New Zealand North Island

Hauraki Rail Trail

Cathedral Cove

Hot Springs in Whitianga

Hobbiton in Matamata

Rotorua - Start of Te Ara Ahi (Thermal Trail)

The boiling river in Waikite Valley

Champagne Pool at Waiotapu

 

Waikato River Trail

Taupo - Great Lake Trail

Timber Trail (Pureora to Ongarue)

Napier and Hawke's Bay Trails

Rimutaka Rail Trail

Wet night at Lake Wairarapa ....

 ... and very windy the next day!

Mountains to Sea Trail, starting in Ohakune at the foot of Mt Ruapehu

Farm stay at Ruatiti

The bridges are too narrow for our bikes!

The bridge to nowhere. Settlers moved here on the promise of a road, which was never built, but at least the bridge is there!

The trail is a dead-end, so we organised a taxi.

Tongariro National Park

One night in luxury at the end of the trip!