WOW...Women on Wheels

August 2, 2013
Fairport, NY
Yesterday I was honored to be added to the Wall. The Women on Wheels Wall
What a privilege to be included among so many amazing women doing amazing cycling!! Reading all these blogs should keep you busy while I'm off the road.
Right now I'm icing a tender foot. Might have a stress fracture on my right 5th metatarsal. I'm hoping it isn't and I can head to the hills next week for a 100 mike backpack through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. R.E.S.T. is my medical approach. Doesn't look like a doctor would add anything at this point. When going to the doctor's, my greatest fear is to be told to go home and rest...now pay me $200 for that advice. Since its the most common advice, I just do that first and keep my $200. My body knows how to heal itself if I just cooperate. Besides, no big event happened that could have caused this problem. I just woke up with foot pain one morning. Walking a lot that day made it worse. So no walking...or as little as possible:)

Foot miraculously better today:). More ice. More rest. And she should be good to go. Have no clue now what's going on in there. Got my fingers crossed she doesn't pull that stunt up in the mountains. EZ will have to carry me out!!

Step lightly,

BagLady

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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Island Life

May 28 - 30, 2013
Waiheke Island

Arriving onto the island on a rainy day, I was delighted to find smiling Doug and his one room bach...a warm, dry place to crash never looked so good. I was able to change out of my pj's on the ferry so I felt a bit more together. I realized that when traveling in a fragile way (like hiking and biking are) and when your gear is in shambles, it's a bit unsettling. I have to remember TRUST. It will all be okay. My biggest fear is to be on the side of the road, no place to camp and everything's all wet. That's a nightmare! But everything works out. And today was an example. Take a deep breath and just GO WITH THE FLOW.

So I took over Doug's place hanging a bear line and getting my stuff set out to dry. The day was miserable outside: rain and wind and then hail! Doug was out for the afternoon so I chilled and dried everything with a space heater. My ability to live rustic pays off here. Outdoor shower. Toilets in park next door. Cooking on camp stove. No heat source except a space heater. Pretty basic. One one block from the beach!

Yesterday I took off for a tiki tour of the island. Quite hilly! Always concerned about getting too far away and the sun setting before I get home, so I stayed on the western half. Lovely bays with old boats moored. And more beautiful beaches. I just wanted to sit and read and write for awhile.




And Blaze enjoyed the view too:




Back at the bach, Doug cooked up a delicious dinner of mince, pumpkin, kumura, broccoli, tomatoes, celery, onion, and seasoning. Yum!


And today I've had the place to myself. Busy trying to figure out the next couple of days.

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All Soggy

May 27 - 28, 2013
Gulf Harbor to Auckland NZ


Heather was a treat to meet. This woman drives and repairs a 1947 truck camper! There was actually a little community living in the ferry parking lot: Brian in a proper campervan, Lilly in her car, and Heather. There's a publication when you join the Campervan Association that tells you about all the free camping spots, as well as other info. Good to know!

Just took this pic of the sunrise as I ferry into Auckland.




Just spent a challenging night camped by the ferry with heavy rain and gale force winds. Packing in the dark this morning with everything all wet was not fun. The bottom of the tent was puddles. I'm sitting here I'm my tattered marino long johns and shorts over them to cover the hole in the butt. Everything is just jammed into the panniers chaotically! I feel out of control and its not a good feeling. Couldn't find things this morning when packing, but I scoured the spot before I left so they've got to be in there somewhere. Landing in a major city in shambles doesn't feel right. Hope I can find a bathroom, find some dry clothes and get dressed.

The day has just begun:)

Oh, should explain. I cycled down to the ferry yesterday only to find it only runs in the morning Mon & Tues. (it was Mon). That's when I met Heather...taking a picture of her camper. What a sweetheart she was! Even came over this morning with hot tea for me while I packed up:).



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Last 15 kms

May 27th
Orewa Beach, NZ

Down to my last 15 kms. There'll be some local biking, around Waiheke Island and Auckland, but the tour itself will be over:(. I'm not ready for that. My legs and heart and lungs will go through withdrawal. I love pedaling all day not knowing what's around the next bend in the road nor where I'll sleep that night. Why is that? Haven't a clue.

Lots of coastal hills yesterday. But we managed:). Slowly...lots of granny stops... Up we go.

I've tried to calculate how far I've gone in NZ. My computer jumped ship at Cape Reinga. Is that a deep message? It had about 2000 miles on it. That's about 3500 kms. Add another 1000 kms I'd say because it started counting in Wanaka, South Island when a new battery was put in at a bike shop and the tweet didn't check the mileage count before I pulled the old one. So for giggles and grins, lets say 4500 kms in NZ. That's 2700 miles in 5 months. Love it! Then there's the SE Asia part and I'd have to check Sylvia's journal for that piece.

Got to to marina for the Gulf Harbor into Auckland Center and found out I should have checked a ferry schedule...or better remembered the one I did check: no ferry Monday afternoons! Oops. Have to camp out here and take the 7 am ferry.

Interesting community


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Do Nothing Day

May 24th and 25th
Warkworth NZ

Yesterday was the perfect day in a beautiful spot to do absolutely NOTHING! I camped at Goat Island Campground, up the steepest hill I've done in NZ: gravel and pine straw...ouch! But the place and the view and the price were worth it. "Technically we're closed but since you came up that hill how about $10?" (Usually $20.). There was an outdoor club from one of the local high schools there and the first thing the teacher I met told me was "Lock your bike." No, I haven't in 6 months and I'm not starting now. Besides I don't have a lock with me...it's in Wellington because I never use it. The kids were fine...just having a good time. I put up a bit away from them and Blaze was untouched.

(It's raining while I write this in the dark of the tent. Should I be concerned that several larges drops have landed on my hand? This tent seems impossible to seal!)

So the view:





And down by the shoreline:



And the cute caravans painted up and set up with beds like little cabins (something done a lot here):







And sunrise this morning. When you go to sleep at 8, it's easy to catch it:)



Tonight I'm having strong flashbacks again to my trip last summer through Europe. Raining and I'm camped in a town park tucked out of the way. Like many a night then:)

I like moving as slowly as I've been. I think I did 20 kms today. Not really sure. Hung out at a little market chatting as usual.

Did have a close call with an oncoming car that was passing. No shoulder so I'm in my 1/3 of the road. There's not room for 3 abreast but he seems to think there is. I took to the ditch. Really? Do you have to scare me like that? Brought me to tears. I've heard daily about the bad NZ drivers and after 6 months I'm just beginning to believe them:/. Tailgating (which doesn't really affect me, but could) is probably the worst thing they do. They're usually lucky if the have one car length between cars at 60 mph. Even behind a logging truck. If he hits his breaks, they'll be toothpicks! Enough thinking about that.

I have 40 kms to the ferry to Auckland and technically the trip is done:( But I'm thinking of going with Blaze over to Waiheke Island for a few days. I hear its nice and I have the time. I hope the weather cooperates a bit. Yesterday was gorgeous, but today was very grey with the rain luckily holding off until tonight. I always appreciate that. Temps are high 50's to low 60's days and low 50's nights. So far, so good with my sleeping bag.

Back to my book,

B@gL@dy

P.S. Goat Island name was given to a lot of islands that only goats could live on because they have no fresh water source. Supposedly in days of yore goats were let loose on these islands so anyone shipwrecked would have food. This particular Goat Island never had goats on it. So there ya go!


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John's Bach and the View

May 21 and 22, 2013
Leigh, NZ

Hmmm? Let me think. The days are running together. I forget where I camped. Been doing this too long, I guess:).

And I posted several posts today and I never checked to see that they were finished. Too bad. You get what you get. My head just seems to be spinning. And it's tired of writing...tapping out the tales of my life on this tiny keyboard with my thumbs. Tired, do you hear:))!!!!

I met the sweetest guy, Lex, by the side of the road out walking "his" dog. He's just taken a new job working for his aunt's lodge in Waipu Cove. The dog is hers. The dog's in trouble. If he gets out two more times, the Dept of Conservation (DoC) will put the dog down. Lex is trying to bond with him. When I come back, he'll put me up at the lodge for free just to hear my stories.



While sitting by the side of the road talking about the law if attraction and how I want go meet a lover who'll bike the world with me (I think I do)...up the hill walks this guy, John. He'd passed us and parked at the bottom of the hill waiting to talk
with me when I came down. I didn't come, so he walked up. A couple of years ago he'd cycled the circumference of Australia with a buddy. His parents had some property near here even though he and they lived in Australia. When Lex asked where and John explained, Lex said the view from there would be amazing!

I agreed to meet him at the bottom. Lex laughed after John left...law of attraction! He might invite you home:). We joked about it. Aw...he's probably married...they all are. He was cute, though!



It was a long hill he'd climbed. Impressive! The beach at the bottom, Lang's beach was breathtaking and I didn't get one photo. (Been quite lax these days getting pictures. )

So John and I chatted and he did invite me back to his bach. So glad I went! The view was to die for!






While he took care of some business, he suggested I hike over to


to see



The hike itself was quite strenuous



But I found out I'm fitter than I thought I was! Pitter pattered right up those hills:)

In the morning John was the proud hunter with his possum catch



The driveway up to that phenomenal view was long and steep...and of course, gravel. Blaze got another lift:)




BagLady


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