CYCLING THROUGH NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21315, 7 November 1934, Page 9

CYCLING THROUGH NEW ZEALAND

—♦— i MRS O'SI'LI.IYAN TN CHRISTCHURCII j A visitor to Christchurch at present | is Mrs Kitty O'Sullivan, the "Modern i Grandmother," who has reached this j stage of her bicycle journey from j Spirits Bay, at the north of the North Island, to Blufi. Some 18 months ago Mrs O'Sullivan made the same trip on foot, the purpose of both exploits being the same, to prove that age is not a bar to physical fitness. She is 53A years of age. Mrs O'Sullivan left Spirits Bay on October 1, and her riding time so far is six and a half days or 156 hours. Heavy packs and a heavy machine, adverse winds, loose metal on the roads, and mountainous country have made the task a formidable one. Some good times were put up for various portions of the trip: Auckland to Hamilton was covered in nine hours-.

Palmerston North to Wellington in the same time. Mrs O'Sullivan carries a diary in which officials note the iime of arrival and of departure. The complete journey has been divided into "hops," each of which is completed by riding for eight or nine hours on consecutive days and a rest of a few days taken. The next "hoD." to be commenced on Monday, will be from Christchurch to Dunedin. The difficult nature of the country has involved a considerable amount of walking. Mrs O'Sullivan referred to the northern portion of the North Island, and the stretches from Te Kuiti to Awakino and from Blenheim to Waipara, as being the worst part of the journey. Mrs O'Sullivan will attempt io ride from Christchurch to Timaru in one day It is one of her ambitions to make an attempt on the to Melbourne record. "I have established many women's records," said Mrs O'Sullivan, "and I imagine I am establishing another one in thus giving my correct age for publication.