Humble Beginnings - Johanna Brebner
Johanna Brebner is on an adventure of a lifetime, taking on the length of Aotearoa New Zealand by bike - surfboard in tow - experiencing a full range of emotions, as she establishes a deeper connection with the land she calls home. This is the first Journal where we’ll share Johanna’s stories from the road as she pushes through the elements in pursuit of something bigger than just the ride.
They say it's not a true adventure until something goes wrong... And, it's safe to say, in the first week on the road, almost everything that could, went totally sideways. In true form, life on the road presented a charcuterie board of unexpected complications. Leaving us constantly adapting, rerouting and rethinking our entire existence as we fumbled like true amateurs, slowly, along the coast. Throw this in the mix of being in the middle of nowhere with barely a whisper of reception, lost phones, smashed phones, camera gear that decided to retire early, a troublesome bike trailer that had a personal vendetta against me, and it really did make for a comical beginning to the adventure. Though it would’ve been far more comfortable to be grazing blissfully on fine cheeses, olives and grapes, this delicious mix of mishaps came with its own valuable lessons and ironed out the wrinkles for the journey ahead. It also made me come to the realisation that this is going to take a lot longer than I thought.
But really, what was I expecting? The last time I was on a bike consistently, I was seven, cycling safely along the sidewalk, on my way to primary school - blissfully unaware that in 23 years' time this moment would come back to nibble my ankles. So, no surprises that my approach to this cycling/surfing dance has left me in a few pickles on the dawn of the adventure. The inevitable adjustment period to life on the road, and life on a bike.
The plan is to ride across New Zealand, surfboard and pannier bags in tow. Heading South to North to avoid the approaching cooler weather of Autumn in the lower regions. Starting in Motupōhue, the southernmost town on the mainland, the plan is to finish at Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua sometime in the next month or so. The route is a lightly penciled haze of mystery, completely swell dependent, and I really couldn't tell you where I'll be in two days' time. Its day 10 and I'm already 250km off course.
Finding waves on a bike? It’s a whole different game. You’re juggling two different worlds – checking weather and wind for both biking and surfing, and hoping they line up seamlessly. Getting them to sync can sometimes be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. A one hour drive up the coast to get to waves often equates to a full day of biking, especially in the South Island hills, where speed is often an afterthought. Understanding the weather patterns is key. It’s a constant dance with nature, always adapting, and I wouldn't change a thing.
Life on the bike so far has been nothing short of magic. Moving at a slower pace while being completely exposed to the elements, means the senses come alive with every scent, temperature shift, wind change, and light show from mother nature. You start noticing the little things, the sound of the wind in the trees, the people. The locals. Those weird, beautiful conversations you can only have when you’re not rushing by in a vehicle. It seems that the slower pace of life on the bike, is now settling into other aspects of my daily routine and I am drawn to that which allows me the time and space to move at an undemanding speed. Just yesterday, I was offered a ride into town from where I was camping, but opted to walk the nine kilometers instead so I could soak up the mountain ranges, and those little moments that can fly by unnoticed when travelling past at speed.
As I write this, I am sitting in the mountains of Queenstown, far from any surf. The task ahead is to track down another trailer here, after the mishaps of the first week, so I can get back on the road safely. There’s a solid swell forecasted next week along the east coast, and we’re looking forward to finding rhythm again, on the roads and in the ocean. Dare I tempt fate?.. fingers and toes crossed that all goes to plan for some rich days of surfing ahead.