Home Sweet Home

June 30, 2013
Fairport NY USA
Yup I'm home! Been here about 2.5 weeks. Ready to leave. Not happy to be here. Too lonely. Too disconnected. Too isolated. Like a hermit. I can have whole days I talk to no one. Don't know how to reconnect here.
But first I have to share the voyage home. 30 hours of travel over 2 nights. A few hiccups with Blaze. Patience and persistence got us through. In LA I had to move her from terminal 1 to terminal 7! Her tires were inflated so I couldn't just hop on and ride her. Besides I had my carry on luggage too. Maybe the shuttle? Yes! Even though she blocked the whole back door and isle. Thank you. Landed in the morning and managed to stay up all day, even going to an Adirondack Mountain Club monthly meeting that night. And then slept 16 hours to catch up.
One of the challenges since being home is staying to the right side of the road:). In the car or on the bike. Several times I've pulled out into the wrong lane. Oops! Especially on my bike. Takes time to readjust!

Family reunion has come and gone. Was fabulous! 27 of us got together at an Adirondack Camp near Rochester. Plenty of bedrooms, dining areas, and living rooms to accommodate us all easily. Grocery shopping took 3 of us nearly 5 hours but having the menu and shopping lists done for us (thanks, Erin!) was both a treat and a challenge. The challenge being trying to decide volumes and substitutes if needed. But we did it! Thanks Barb, my sister, and Dana, my daughter, for persevering with me especially in Wegmans:/!!!
One of the highlights of the weekend was shooting clay pigeons over one of the ponds. Dana was the only girl game enough to give it a try and she nailed one after a few stray attempts! After watching a while, and never wanting to miss an opportunity to try something new, I joined in. Rifles are heavy...and noisy. When that thing went off my ears were ringing. But I did manage to control my aim and hit one of those flying saucers! Fun!!



(Pull that tummy in!)

Hugs,

Bag Lady

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Heading Home Soon

June 4 - 9th, 2013
Auckland, NZ

Yup, back in Auckland. But not before bussing to Wellington and enjoying a last few days with Moa and Pru, getting my gear left there, Skyping with Kiwi and Alison (because they're in Spain for the year...remember the going away party the end of Jan?), and unveiling Bella the Bag Lady, the doll dear Ann from Nuhaka made for me. I really choked up unwrapping her...she's a treasure and the best souvenir of NZ. What a gift!!

Today I flew back to Auckland, said goodbye to Bruce after he gave me a tour of the west coast here, and settled back in with Cory and John, the folks I stayed with her a month ago going north. They've offered to help me get to the airport in a couple of days. Until then I'll do some shopping and packing. Got more to take home than I started with. Hope it's not over weight. Have thought of leaving side bags right on the bike and seeing if it goes that way. Would be easier:). Think I'll try it.



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Last Days

June 10, 2013
Auckland, NZ

Meet Bella, the Bag Lady, made for me with love by an elderly woman I met months ago in the east coast. Thank you, Ann Hill of Nuhaka!!! I treasure her deeply! And purple is my color!

Bella, the Bag Lady...a gift from a Kiwi woman

Notice the backpack and umbrella!




I think we look like twins!!!


I know my blogs have been a bit scattered: in thoughts and in posting. Guess that represents the author. I'm feeling a bit scattered. Zipping around by bus. Saying many goodbyes. Packing. Souvenir shopping. Not the tranquil life if peddling. And all signs of a change that's coming that I'm not eager about. I love that the family reunion is in a week...don't get me wrong! But after. What then? Don't think about it, you say? Everyone is asking me, what next? Once you start doing these extended trips, I guess it's expected that they continue. Or something's planned next. But not for me. I have to wait to be directed. The Universe lets me know What Next. And she hasn't told me yet:/. But when the time's right, I'll know.

Right now, I want so badly to pack up Blaze and pedal on. I'm not done. Haven't had enough. Tired of some things, but this week off the bike had scratched that for me...so I'm ready to roll again.

Options:
- cycle around Australia. 1 year roughly
- cycle around the US perimeter coming back through Canada. 1 year
- get a camper trailer and explore the US staying longer in different spots, looking for the place that calls me. The drawback is I'm not living on my bike. Plus is a could settle down...sorta.

All this leaves the question if what to do with the house: sell or rent. Sell is what I think is right. Cut the umbilical cord and get set free!-

June 11th



Sunrise my last morning in New Zealand. Think I'll go for a bike ride:)))

BagLady


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Bussing It!

June 3, 2013
Napier, NZ

I'm doing a bus road trip back to Wellington. First stop was Rotorua, town of the thermals. I'm using one bike Lanier as luggage, not easy to tote around. Got into town Sat about 4 pm and the hostel I had selected on line was booked up. Really? Lately I've been the only one at the hostels. Oh, this is a 3 day weekend. Queen's Birthday Monday.

They nicely found me another place to stay and saved me lugging my pannier in my arms (no handle) around twin. 4 bed dorm. Yun, Noh, and Ester are my roommates. I'm the minority we joke! Honorary Asian. I accept:). Yun and I met first and joined up to walk the town, get some dinner and later do the hostel hot tub. Then we all agreed to do a Maori dinner and concert together the next night. Fun to have playmates!






Then yesterday I was back on the bus to Napier. Boat Boy, Bruce, has bought a new boat and its here. It's a catamaran. Huge thing. His new tour business. Got a bit of work to get it shipshape, but he says he can do it.





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