The road between Roxburgh and Alexandra is ‘‘quite hilly'', Lisa and Verne Pavreal discovered yesterday.
They know every kilometre of it after travelling by pedal power in their new four-seater dual tandem recumbent cycle.
The Hamilton couple collected their new mode of transport in Invercargill last week, from the man who made the cycle, Bill Blakie.
They are now "on the long way home'', mostly travelling along side roads, avoiding main highways where possible.
Mr Pavreal is blind.
The couple are hoping to meet other blind and partially sighted people along the way, and are offering rides.
They have two electric motors on the cycle to help on the hills, but there was some debate over whether a handbrake might have been left on yesterday - "it was still hard work getting up those hills,'' Mrs Pavreal said.
They are used to riding more conventional tandems but on this cycle Mr Pavreal gets to sit beside his wife.
"It's great to feel the breeze on your face and it's a lot more sociable travelling this way,'' he said.
They plan to cover about 60km a day, travelling at a top speed of 24kmh.
The Pavreals spend their holidays every year cycling around the country.
