Greetings from Naples, Italy! My partner and I have just flown here from Oslo in Norway – literally from northern Europe to the south now. Here in Europe, we are approaching the summer solstice, so the days are certainly getting longer. Oslo is nearly at latitude 60 degrees north (i.e. the equivalent south of halfway between NZ and Antarctica), which means that sunset is just after 10.30pm and sunrise is just before 4am…
In New Zealand, next Sunday (June 21st) will be the opposite – the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year. And with that also comes… the annual Spokes Winter Solstice Ride!
First started way back in 2012, 2026 marks the 15th year of this auspicious (and fun!) activity. Hopefully most of you know the drill by now: get some gear to bling up your bikes as bright, colourful, and as loud as you can, then come along to the entrance to North Hagley Park from 5pm next Sunday. Bring your family, your kids, your pets, whoever else and be ready to start riding from 5.30pm on a cruisy route around the park’s pathways.
Sadly I will still be on the opposite side of the world next weekend (which also means that someone else will probably have to tally up the numbers at the event…), but I look forward to seeing some of the photos afterwards!
Will you make it to next weekend’s Winter Solstice Ride?