Finding, Not Searching

Feb 7, 2013
North of Wellington somewhere just past Otaki



"I'm finding now, not searching" said Margaret from Holland, a young woman on a bike by the side of the road who offered me a place to stay the night too early in the afternoon. She's 30 and been traveling for about 3 years. Makes friends, gets house-sitting gigs, works in hostels or on organic farms.

I find myself still constrained by narrow, limited thinking. I applied for a visa extension and paid $150, she flew to someplace near Fiji and then came back...voila, new 3 month visa. Boy, have I still got lots to learn about living on the road:)

She gave me directions to the library where, no sooner had I hopped off Blaze, I met Tom from Wyoming. He and his girlfriend, Sheila are on their FIRST bike tour! Do they do a 2 week tour of somewhere in the US? No! They fly to NZ and do a 3 month tour!! Kudos to you guys for jumping right in there. And you're doing a great job of figuring it all out...including free camping. Shiela is amazing at info gathering...she had lots of info for me:). See, that's how I figure things out. See what comes my way. And the Universe brought them. Thank you for a touch of home and that great Wyoming accent, Tom. Hope our paths cross again.

Last night I camped at one of the many picnic places by the side of the road. This one didn't have the usual blue sign of a tree and a picnic table but it was perfect for the night. One change from the South Island is traffic. It used to stop at dark and start again in the am. Not here! All night. Exhausting. Guess I'll need to pull further off. But a local said she heard it up at her house on the hill. Oh well. Not many road options on an island. They're all going the same way I am. Side roads just lead to the coast and end.

The dew is really heavy and the nights are quite chilly even with warm days. My 50* bag is barely warm enough in early Feb (think Aug)...so how's it gonna be in Apr and May (think Oct and Nov)? Think I may need to borrow a warmer one...hint, hint to any Kiwis reading my journal. Finding, not searching.

Guess I have most of the water off the tent and can pack it to go. 9 am is the start time most mornings. No hurry. I'm retired!!!

This is all $36 buys!



Postal carriers use bikes here!!



On the road!!! Literally:)))


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