“It’s a kind of ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’ moment,” she says.
“I’m doing it because I can.”
Leisa won’t be alone. She’s making the trip on tracks that are part of Nga Haerenga (the New Zealand cycle trail) with her best friend – a part Border Collie/Bernese Mountain dog named Indy, who was also once described by a friendly stranger they met, as part bear/part giraffe. Indy has his own specially designed trailer made from aluminium, which is attached to Leisa’s bike and in which he can rest whenever he chooses.
“I will be travelling an average of nine to 20 km an hour – depending on how many hills there are on the route – aiming for a total distance each day of between 30 – 50 kilometres,” says Leisa.
“When the tracks are technically too difficult for Indy’s trailer, too remote or we are in National Parks where dogs aren’t allowed, I will be riding self-supported so other adventure riders will hopefully join me. My plan is to utilise a support vehicle to take Indy and his trailer for these sections.”
Leisa started her at Cape Reinga trip in early-October and expects to arrive in Bluff about four months later. She has divided her route up into 13 different zones and is using the trip as an opportunity to fundraise for a charity in each section that is close to her heart. Leisa hopes that along the way she’ll be joined on the trails by cyclists of all ages.
“We are so lucky to live in an amazing country and I want to see all of it. I also want to share the sights and sounds of it with as many people as I can.”
If you would like to contribute to Leisa’s fundraising efforts, please visit her GiveaLittle page or follow the journey on Facebook.
Or follow on a website with a live tracker showing her progress – www.leisa.kiwi