Our speaker on 2 May was club member Gerald Patterson. Gerald is keen on outdoor activities that mainly involve cycling and tramping. His list of achievements over the past ten years include:
CYCLING - Alaska – 1,200 km,  Otago Rail Trail, Alps to Ocean, Canterbury Backcountry, West Coast Wilderness Trail, Around the Mountains,  Nelson Wine Trail,  Catlins – Invercargill to Balclutha,  Lake Dunstan Trail, Around Taupo, Grape Ride,  Motutapu Mountainbike (Wanaka), Ride of the LegendsRide of the Legends - Ian Kirkpatrick, Albert Anderson, Ian Jones, Andy Earl, Buck Shelford, Bernie McCahill, Frank Bunce, Dean Kenny, Peter Winterbottom, Shane Byrne, Roger Utley, Roger Arneill,  Pedal for Prostate – Hampton Downs – annual fundraiser.
HIKING -  Queen Charlotte Track, Routeburn Track, Tora Walk, Tongariro Crossing, Stewart Island, Inca Trail. 
                                               
Gerald spoke and shared photos of some of these. The Ride of the Legends was a charity ride from Wellington to Auckland in 2017 to coincide with the Lions rugby tour. The group included several ex-All Blacks and Lions players named above. The ride raised over $160,000.00 for Conductive Education. Of that total, approximately $20,000.00 was raised by Gerald and two other riders from Howick.
 
A 1,200 kilometre ride through Alaska was another venture, this time totally for ‘pleasure’. That ride showed the vastness of the Northern most state of USA. It was well organised and catered; the latter being very important with the distances covered.
The Inca trail beckoned as a family activity. Quite gruelling in parts but a great sense of achievement when Machu Pichu appeared after walking through the sun gate on the fourth morning. The trail consisted of well laid stone and rock paths and steps climbing to 4,200 metres. Altitude was the real challenge.
Following this trek, Gerald & Tricia travelled further in Peru & Bolivia. Just out of La Paz is the ‘Death Road’. A ride down this was booked and Gerald told Tricia 48 hours in advance. While Tricia went shopping in La Paz, Gerald was riding from 4,500 metres to 1,200 metres in the space of 40 kilometres on a narrow gravel road with 1,500 metre cliffs on one side. Fun for some!!
 
Whilst there are many activities listed, there will be plenty to add to those over the next few years. Not quite on an E-bike yet but that may even prolong the ability to undertake challenges.