OMG!

Jan 27th

Sometimes I just have to be thankful I'm still alive. Today's one of those days.

A guy pulled out to pass within 50 meters of me ... literally pulled out at me...right in my face...OMG!
Nearly took me out!! It's the first time a driver has made me scream, panic, and steer to the left as sharp as I could to avoid becoming a hood ornament. That big a hurry, huh??? Thank you, guardian angel...job well done:)

I was also glad to be alive today because it was another gorgeous day.



What can I say? I grin from ear to ear every day. My cheeks are hurting. Even that crazy driver can't take the smile off my face. Everything and everyone are all so beautiful here. Paradise!




Beach Bum BagLady

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Blaze's Attempted Runaway!

Jan 26th
Road north to Picton.

Three exciting, momentous things today: headwinds, hanging with some "characters" at their caravans on the coast, and Blaze's attempted runaway:)

Lets talk about winds so strong I'm pedaling downhill. All day. So strong I couldn't hear my iPod. Unrelenting. Couldn't find shelter from them. Beautiful day. Sunny. Up the coast. Azure blue waters with white waves crashing. And WIND!!! Think I only made 20 miles going from 9:30 this morning until 5:30 tonight.

Cycling along the east coast, battling the winds, I see a couple of caravans parked in a V with 4 people sitting in chairs just hanging out. One guy waves and then welcomes me over. Never one to miss an opportunity to chat (who me?) and to take a break from the winds, I go over. Using Blaze as my chair I join these two couples and answer all their questions. After telling them my age, upon request, they marvel at my bravery and strength. I wish I'd written down right away the description they had because for the life of me I can't remember the words. It was priceless. Then the same guy who said those pricelss but forgotten words, invited me to rub thumbs, a Maori custom he says. Maybe now I'm engaged! Who knows!! What a treat it was to connect with these folks and pass a bit of afternoon with them. I was even offered paui (I think that's how it's spelled) a type of albatross but I told them I wouldn't know how to cook it :). Hope I see them pass me on their way home tomorrow. That's what this travel is all about for me!!!



Ok now Blaze's excitement. I stopped and got off to take a picture.


Swan made from old tire.

And I turned around and ....

no bike. Really does things to your head. I'm sure I just got off it but she's nowhere to be seen. And then I see a truck pulling up and just past it, this!



Blaze! What are you doing way back down the road? and on your side? and why are the panniers off? Are you ok?

The young guys in the truck so the last part where she flipped in the ditch. They offered to help but I figured she was all right. I was wrong.

Got her upright and in the road, but the derailleur wouldn't shift. It looked bent but I didn't know what to do to it. A local farmer stopped and said he wasn't much help because he didn't know bikes, but he did offer a cottage nearby if I didn't get a lift by nighttime. He also said it might be better to put her on her side so she looked broken and it wasn't that I was tired of biking into the winds. Damsel in distress. While on her side I tinkered. Then tried shifting again and it worked! I fixed it! We're back on the road!

Windswept BagLady


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Devastated Christchurch

Jan 25th

This is one of those nights when I wrote a lot of stuff and somehow lost it and just don't want to write it all again. The day was significant and I don't want to not do it justice.

First thing was getting Blaze on the bus. First words from driver who makes decision was "Not going to fit." But I waited and it did. Learning patience...finally.

Next was a 2 hour layover in Christchurch. I texted the Smiths, the family I met at campground in Wanaka and told them I wouldn't be able to stay over but I had this layover.


Dad and 5 kids showed up at bus stop to pick me up and give me a whirlwind tour of the earthquake damage to and resurrection of Christchurch, one of the oldest cities in NZ.

These pictures are in a city's downtown district!





Shipping containers being used to keep a damaged building from falling into the street.

The 2nd quake did more damage and several hundred people died in that one. As a memorial, across from the building where most were killed is a collection of white chairs, one for each person that died. Each one significant of that person: wheelchair, tiny chair for infant, rockers etc. all painted white.



But also amazing is the creativity being used to put up business stalls and carry on. Shipping containers make banks and shops at Box Mall.









And there's plans to build a cardboard church to use until the permanent one can be built.



So sad and yet, so hopeful and innovative. Kiwi resiliency.

BagLady

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Omarau and the Penguins

Jan 24th
East coast heading north.

Nothing happened. He was just enamoured by my beauty:). It was a quiet night.


Moeraki Boulders.
Look at these round rocks on the beach.



But even more amazing was this Maori sand drawing on the beach that I could see no footprints or machine tracks leading up to it. How was it done us a great mystery!



Omarau is the land of penguins. Yup, penguins! Little blue penguins. And Yellow Eyed Penguins (very rare). The hostel owner took all the newcomers around to show us where to go to see the penguins...and not to pay a tour co for something that's free. Tension in the community over these penguins and those that want to make $$$ off of them.

The Yellow Eyed Penguin is normal size and comes up onto a particular beach about 2 hours before sundown to feed its young in nest in the bushes. There's a viewing area about 1/2 mile outside of town and with our patience and a local farmer's help, we got to see several up pretty close and more way down on the beach.

The Little Blue Penguins are actually inhabitants of the town, many of them living in holes in the old stone buildings. We were told they'd be all over the streets but when we went down into town around 10:30 pm, I could only find a couple. These guys were about 1/2 the size of a normal penguin. So cute as the waddled up the street. Since it was dark, I have no pics.

BagLady