LONG BICYCLE TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 8

LONG BICYCLE TOUR.

NORTH CAPE TO BLUFF.

AUCKLANDER'S UNDERTAKING.

The unassuming "push" bicyole, although now little used in New Zealand for touring purposes, is not qnite a thing of the past, bo far as traversing long distances ds concerned. This is shown by the fact that an Aucklander oh Saturday completed his second bicycle tour from Auckland to the end of the South Island and back, and that he is now pushing northward with the North Cape as hie objective. . Mr. C. Barwell, of Panraure, who is looking forward to enjoying ill© disUnction Oi having pedalled from the North Cape to the Bluff, set out on his tour from Auckland early in January, and after spending a few days at Hamilton left there, southward bound, on January 9, carrying • with him on his three-speed bicycle his camping and cooking gear, weighing in all between 501b. and 601b. He travelled to Wellington by way of Awakiho and Taranaki. After the rough roads of the Kine Country the smooth surface of the weli-paved Taranaki roads came as r. welcome change. Mr. Barwell reached Wellington on January 14, and two days later crossed to Picton, thence going by my of Kaikoura to Christchurch. From Chnstchurch he went, via Mount Ok and Central Otago, to Invercargill and Bluff, arriving at the latter place on 'January 30. On the return journey through the North Island the Napier and Atiamuri route was followed. Mr. Barwell, who reached Auckland on Saturday mornir,?, slept under his own tent during the trip. The distance ridden was 2340 miles and only two punctures were experiencedbut the tyres were renewed after about 1400 miles had beeii ridden. >Mr. Barwell left on Saturday afternoon for Parengarenga, near the .North Cape. The rider is carrying a message from the Mayor oi Campbelltown, at Blutl, to the chie:i executive officer at Parengarenga. Mr.. Barwell, some years ago, whilo on a visit to England, made the return journey from Land s End to John o' Groats on the machine that he is now using. Seven years aRO he rode from Auckland to Invercargill and back, and last year he took a "spin to Cape Maria van Diemen. The same machine was used on all these occasions.