May 7,2013
Rawara Beach DoC Campsite, NZ
A beautiful sunny day. After the storms of yesterday, it feels amazing. Still glad I saw Cape Reinga at the peak of its passion. The energy if it, the amazing-ness of it, and the fact that not one photo captures that makes me hold it near and dear.
Somewhere yesterday in the multiple times Blaze was hoisted on and off Nick's truck, I lost my temperamental bike computer. Oh well. Gonna be a lot of guessing this next month as to distances gone and distances to go. I've cycled about 3000 miles in NZ. The computer was good at keeping track (when it wasn't sitting at 0). Guess we'll both be ready for a rest when we get home. But before then, I've got another month here:)))). And lots of slow days to pedal and beaches to sit on...between raindrops.
But no rain this afternoon. Blue skies! Not a cloud! And I'm at an isolated campground on a stream with a quick walk to the beach. Alone. So why am I spending it chatting with you folks?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Te Rerenga Wairua...oh my! Oh my!
May 6, 2013
Te Rerenga Wairua, NZ
Three months to the day after leaving Wellington, I cycled up the hill to Cape Renga. The Maori name is Te Rerenga Wairua. And what a memorable, incredibly incredible, crazy, blustery day it was!!!
I met Nick, the Dept of Conservation Ranger, first thing this morning...and our paths crossed all day long. I hate to think where I'd be sleeping tonight if he hadn't saved my ass. How about the toilets at the lighthouse in all probability.
After he stopped and told me I was not allowed to camp where I spent the night, but no worries, he pulled up next to me while I was reading the info boards about the reserve up here on the tip. That was about 5 kms in of the 21 I needed to cycle to the lighthouse at the very top of the North Island. My plan was to cycle up there and stay the night legally camped at a DoC campsight on the beach. Many people have mentioned how beautiful it is. Where Nick pulled up was the car park for some large sand dunes. How's the road down to the dunes? I ask. Any steep gravel hills? Yup. Wanta a lift? I'm going down there now. Sweet as!
Quite spectacular...yes!
Then, after eating my breakfast in the DoC maintenance barn because it was windy and rainy outside, I pedaled on. Nick offered to drive me out but stopped himself saying "you probably want to bike it, huh?" Yes I do!
Thank goodness he didn't tell me about the hills, so I could be surprised. There were a lot of them. And they were fairly steep. Every time I saw the next one from the top of the one I just climbed, I laughed. Of course! But the weather was my biggest challenge. The wind gusts were so strong I had to just sit still and hold the brakes with both hands not to he blown away. At one point, they were so strong tge blew me 100 meters backwards up the hill when I let off the brakes. Most of the time I was able to use my umbrella shelter trick. Until the last hill. Then it was blowing too hard to hold up the umbrella so I just pedaled and hot soaked. Luckily I had just talked with Nick, and since the campsite was down too steep a gravel road and the weather was blustery I accepted his offer of a lift somewhere south. But first, the lighthouse.
When I finally got up to the car park I was soaked to the bone. It was gusting (over 100 mph, I heard in the news...weather so bad they closed the Auckland airport) and raining sideways. Needless to say, barely a view. The water was so choppy...woo, what a storm! When Nick arrived, he gave me a lift down to the lighthouse and the point which is a bit of a walk.
This point is very sacred in Maori culture. They believe the spirits of the recently deceased travel up the island and leave off the point to their permanent home. You can also throw off any unwanted "stuff" while you're there. Nick and I did a little ceremony. The wind was whipping! The waves were crashing! It was an amazing moment!!! So dramatic! So moving!
And tonight I'm back at the campground across from which I stayed last night. I'm the only one here. Not even the owners are here. But I got a shower and a place to get inside if I want. But of course, I'm in my tent.
The day was so unexpected yet just perfect! I'll have to come back here when the weather's better so I can do some of the walks along the coast. But for now just having biked here under my own power over hill after hill and through major winds and rain feels like quite an accomplishment. I'll sleep well.
Now I turn south and check out the east coast, the Bay of Plenty, and the other treasures of the Northland on my way back to Auckland.
Thank you New Zealand for showing me another side of your amazing land.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Te Rerenga Wairua, NZ
Three months to the day after leaving Wellington, I cycled up the hill to Cape Renga. The Maori name is Te Rerenga Wairua. And what a memorable, incredibly incredible, crazy, blustery day it was!!!
I met Nick, the Dept of Conservation Ranger, first thing this morning...and our paths crossed all day long. I hate to think where I'd be sleeping tonight if he hadn't saved my ass. How about the toilets at the lighthouse in all probability.
After he stopped and told me I was not allowed to camp where I spent the night, but no worries, he pulled up next to me while I was reading the info boards about the reserve up here on the tip. That was about 5 kms in of the 21 I needed to cycle to the lighthouse at the very top of the North Island. My plan was to cycle up there and stay the night legally camped at a DoC campsight on the beach. Many people have mentioned how beautiful it is. Where Nick pulled up was the car park for some large sand dunes. How's the road down to the dunes? I ask. Any steep gravel hills? Yup. Wanta a lift? I'm going down there now. Sweet as!
Quite spectacular...yes!
Then, after eating my breakfast in the DoC maintenance barn because it was windy and rainy outside, I pedaled on. Nick offered to drive me out but stopped himself saying "you probably want to bike it, huh?" Yes I do!
Thank goodness he didn't tell me about the hills, so I could be surprised. There were a lot of them. And they were fairly steep. Every time I saw the next one from the top of the one I just climbed, I laughed. Of course! But the weather was my biggest challenge. The wind gusts were so strong I had to just sit still and hold the brakes with both hands not to he blown away. At one point, they were so strong tge blew me 100 meters backwards up the hill when I let off the brakes. Most of the time I was able to use my umbrella shelter trick. Until the last hill. Then it was blowing too hard to hold up the umbrella so I just pedaled and hot soaked. Luckily I had just talked with Nick, and since the campsite was down too steep a gravel road and the weather was blustery I accepted his offer of a lift somewhere south. But first, the lighthouse.
When I finally got up to the car park I was soaked to the bone. It was gusting (over 100 mph, I heard in the news...weather so bad they closed the Auckland airport) and raining sideways. Needless to say, barely a view. The water was so choppy...woo, what a storm! When Nick arrived, he gave me a lift down to the lighthouse and the point which is a bit of a walk.
This point is very sacred in Maori culture. They believe the spirits of the recently deceased travel up the island and leave off the point to their permanent home. You can also throw off any unwanted "stuff" while you're there. Nick and I did a little ceremony. The wind was whipping! The waves were crashing! It was an amazing moment!!! So dramatic! So moving!
And tonight I'm back at the campground across from which I stayed last night. I'm the only one here. Not even the owners are here. But I got a shower and a place to get inside if I want. But of course, I'm in my tent.
The day was so unexpected yet just perfect! I'll have to come back here when the weather's better so I can do some of the walks along the coast. But for now just having biked here under my own power over hill after hill and through major winds and rain feels like quite an accomplishment. I'll sleep well.
Now I turn south and check out the east coast, the Bay of Plenty, and the other treasures of the Northland on my way back to Auckland.
Thank you New Zealand for showing me another side of your amazing land.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Weather!
May 5, 2013
20 kms south of Cape Reinga (the northern most point of NZ)
The word for the day is weather. Actually that's the topic for yesterday and today. We've all heard the saying "if you don't like the weather, wait a minute...it'll change". Today that was literal! It would be dry, sunny, breezy then...wham! Major gusts of wind and hail-like rain would be pelting me painfully. I learned at the first sign of a sprinkle to get the umbrella opened. When the winds picked up and the skies opened, it was my only shelter. I'd stop pedaling, face the umbrella into the wind, pull up my legs and actually tuck behind it sheltering myself and wait until it passed.
It was always less than 5 minutes. The North Face HyVent raincoat I bought in Ireland last summer has saved me again. It's the best! True rain protection with breathability. Love it! The umbrella protects my face and legs while the raincoat protects my head and back.
So for the 30+ miles I biked today over rolling hills, I had sun, rain, sleet/hail, and winds! Sometimes all if it at once! But I've figured out how to cope with it:). This was probably the worst biking weather I've had because the winds were so strong. One local I've met thinks I'm amazing for biking this hilly and windy island. I'm having fun and loving the challenge!!!
Very remote up here. I'd had my sights on a backpackers I'd read was in this last "town" (more like dot on a map), but when I got here no one was around. The gas pumps are operable. The johns are open. But everything else is locked up. Season's over. Because the wind was so bad, I found an sheltered information board across the street. Thought I might be able to put my tent up there but it's not free standing so that wouldn't work. My bike is under there though for the night.
It's 6:30. It's dark. And the wind is gusting. I will say this tent does very well in wind, thank goodness. I hope tomorrow night when I'm camped up on the tip, the weather is more inviting. Today the temps were in 50s and 60s. It's been up on the 70s mostly before that. Night temps vary. I can tell at bedtime if its a warm night or a cold night. Tonight's a cold one. Will be below 50, I'm pretty sure.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
20 kms south of Cape Reinga (the northern most point of NZ)
The word for the day is weather. Actually that's the topic for yesterday and today. We've all heard the saying "if you don't like the weather, wait a minute...it'll change". Today that was literal! It would be dry, sunny, breezy then...wham! Major gusts of wind and hail-like rain would be pelting me painfully. I learned at the first sign of a sprinkle to get the umbrella opened. When the winds picked up and the skies opened, it was my only shelter. I'd stop pedaling, face the umbrella into the wind, pull up my legs and actually tuck behind it sheltering myself and wait until it passed.
It was always less than 5 minutes. The North Face HyVent raincoat I bought in Ireland last summer has saved me again. It's the best! True rain protection with breathability. Love it! The umbrella protects my face and legs while the raincoat protects my head and back.
So for the 30+ miles I biked today over rolling hills, I had sun, rain, sleet/hail, and winds! Sometimes all if it at once! But I've figured out how to cope with it:). This was probably the worst biking weather I've had because the winds were so strong. One local I've met thinks I'm amazing for biking this hilly and windy island. I'm having fun and loving the challenge!!!
Very remote up here. I'd had my sights on a backpackers I'd read was in this last "town" (more like dot on a map), but when I got here no one was around. The gas pumps are operable. The johns are open. But everything else is locked up. Season's over. Because the wind was so bad, I found an sheltered information board across the street. Thought I might be able to put my tent up there but it's not free standing so that wouldn't work. My bike is under there though for the night.
It's 6:30. It's dark. And the wind is gusting. I will say this tent does very well in wind, thank goodness. I hope tomorrow night when I'm camped up on the tip, the weather is more inviting. Today the temps were in 50s and 60s. It's been up on the 70s mostly before that. Night temps vary. I can tell at bedtime if its a warm night or a cold night. Tonight's a cold one. Will be below 50, I'm pretty sure.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, May 4, 2013
My Marae
May 2-4, 2013
Herekino, Kaitaia, Pukenui, NZ
Yvonne, the Maori woman I met in Miranda at the campground (also met her daughter Zara) who hosted me with her daughter, Nicola, in Papakura, south of Auckland...well, she and her daughter hooked me up with her ex-husband, Steve, and his wife, Erina when I got up north. That's where I am now. Getting her wasn't easy. The road I biked down yesterday was gravel and steep...and I knew there was no way I could pedal up it. Sure hope this is the right road and I haven't passed the house. Stopped a car. Nope. Next mailbox on the left. Pull in. Go to gate. STEVE! ERINA! No, I'm not him. They live up that driveway. You've got to be kidding! I can't bike up that! It's washed out and way too steep. I'll help you push it. Ok. And up we went.
What a warm and wonderful welcome. Steve, Erina, and grandson, Harlem.
Stayed 2 nights spending a day touring the area, a peak at Shipwreck Bay and up 90 Mile Beach, meeting family, touring the family's valley, and spring cleaning the marae. I felt so honored being able to connect with this Maori family and meet so many aunts and cousins! And now that I've left my energy in this marae, I belong!
Then Friday headed out:
with Blaze getting a royal treatment because she couldn't get herself up the steep gravel road. But I wasn't going far. Just up to the next town where Erina was going to help her cousin, Ruth with a garage sale. Another night with the family (Grady, Ruth, Erina, and William:).
Now it's Saturday, May 4th and I cycled out after the rain eased up. Met Ian mowing by the side if the road and he invited me home for tea and to meet the family. They moved up here in the Far North from the Bay of Plenty and have found it more temperate not even needing heat. They're busy growing edibles of all kinds! NZ's amazing for growing fruit trees and all kinds of veggies year round.
The rain really let loose later today and I opted for a backpackers for tonight. Sometimes ya just need to be cozy.
Saw this kauri museum with a 45,000 yr old tree dug from being buried and finished off with a staircase up the inside!
Cape Reinga in 2 days! (If the weather doesn't slow me up...)
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Herekino, Kaitaia, Pukenui, NZ
Yvonne, the Maori woman I met in Miranda at the campground (also met her daughter Zara) who hosted me with her daughter, Nicola, in Papakura, south of Auckland...well, she and her daughter hooked me up with her ex-husband, Steve, and his wife, Erina when I got up north. That's where I am now. Getting her wasn't easy. The road I biked down yesterday was gravel and steep...and I knew there was no way I could pedal up it. Sure hope this is the right road and I haven't passed the house. Stopped a car. Nope. Next mailbox on the left. Pull in. Go to gate. STEVE! ERINA! No, I'm not him. They live up that driveway. You've got to be kidding! I can't bike up that! It's washed out and way too steep. I'll help you push it. Ok. And up we went.
What a warm and wonderful welcome. Steve, Erina, and grandson, Harlem.
Stayed 2 nights spending a day touring the area, a peak at Shipwreck Bay and up 90 Mile Beach, meeting family, touring the family's valley, and spring cleaning the marae. I felt so honored being able to connect with this Maori family and meet so many aunts and cousins! And now that I've left my energy in this marae, I belong!
Then Friday headed out:
with Blaze getting a royal treatment because she couldn't get herself up the steep gravel road. But I wasn't going far. Just up to the next town where Erina was going to help her cousin, Ruth with a garage sale. Another night with the family (Grady, Ruth, Erina, and William:).
Now it's Saturday, May 4th and I cycled out after the rain eased up. Met Ian mowing by the side if the road and he invited me home for tea and to meet the family. They moved up here in the Far North from the Bay of Plenty and have found it more temperate not even needing heat. They're busy growing edibles of all kinds! NZ's amazing for growing fruit trees and all kinds of veggies year round.
The rain really let loose later today and I opted for a backpackers for tonight. Sometimes ya just need to be cozy.
Saw this kauri museum with a 45,000 yr old tree dug from being buried and finished off with a staircase up the inside!
Cape Reinga in 2 days! (If the weather doesn't slow me up...)
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, May 3, 2013
Feeling Alive!
May 1, 2012
Herekino, NZ
I'm writing this morning at a gravelly gated entrance to a pasture. I want to capture this moment.
It's been a quiet road I've been cycling and that's a treasure in itself. It was overcast for several hours and not unpleasant, but I've noticed my mood shift with the burst of the sun.
The wind on my skin and in my hair.
The sun warming me.
The smells of grasses, dried leaves, cow manure, and trees
The strong beat of my heart powering my legs around.
Birds chirping and fluttering by.
I am alive!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Herekino, NZ
I'm writing this morning at a gravelly gated entrance to a pasture. I want to capture this moment.
It's been a quiet road I've been cycling and that's a treasure in itself. It was overcast for several hours and not unpleasant, but I've noticed my mood shift with the burst of the sun.
The wind on my skin and in my hair.
The sun warming me.
The smells of grasses, dried leaves, cow manure, and trees
The strong beat of my heart powering my legs around.
Birds chirping and fluttering by.
I am alive!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, April 29, 2013
Road Weary
April 29, 2013
Omapere, NZ
I've gotten behind in my journaling. I think I'm feeling road weary. I can keep pedaling, but seem to be tired of all the other parts of traveling: the food shopping, the blogging, the picture taking.
And given my poor memory, I'm not sure what I'll recall. One wonderful night was deep in the kauri forest at a lookout. So dark. So quiet. Utter joy! Then in the morning when my back tweaked, I thought what would I do if I put my back out so far from anything. Wait until someone showed up, I guess. But a few spinal waves (yoga cat and cows) and it was all better:).
View from the lookout:
I got there from a recommendation from locals, but I was a bit concerned cycling a long ways down a gravel (or as they say here, metal) road. Luckily I could continue down in the morning and didn't have to climb out. It's staying in remote places like that that I feel most serene. Magical place. But in the morning I heard this whoosh. A big bird flew in and landed. Then cockadoodle do. Rooster? Really? What a pesty bird it was harassing me all morning while I did chores, dried gear, and cleaned my chain. Maybe it wasn't a chicken but a special NZ bird, for all I knew...someone suggested to me.
Looking back through my photos jars my memory. I stopped at the Kauri Museum. The biggest slats of wood! Enormous logs!
Breakfast of apple, yogurt, and muesli by the side of the road. Standing up using the back if the bike as a table.
View from a bridge in the kauri forest. So beautiful.
And then there are the kauri trees! In the middle of woods with trees of all sizes, you turn a corner and a humongous tree appears:
With these stats:
I'm currently camped at a hostel. My second night. Delightful place. Met an amazing woman from England (actually the town my trike comes from:)) who is doing her first trip. Wild woman, Mandy! She spent 5 months in a very Aboriginal area (northwest) of Australia because she wanted an aboriginal experience. And it came to her. She knows about the Universe delivering and trusting. We've agreed to hook up for a backpacking adventure some time, some place. It will happen.
Today we did a coastal walk, plopped ourselves down in the deep grass and shared our stories with an amazing connection. What magic meeting her was!
Quiet afternoon doing laundry, reading, and napping. Just what I needed. In 2 days I'll be meeting up with the rest of the Maori family on a marae up north. Can't wait!
I'm scraping the bottom of the food bags. I'm out of bread because it went moldy. The gas station in town had nothing I wanted to give them my money for. So I made lentil stew with feta cheese. Quite tasty. I have an apple, an orange, a square inch of chocolate and some ginger snaps. There's always ramen noodles, mushroom soup packets, 2 hard boiled eggs, milk powder, macadamia nuts, honey, and butter (but nothing to put them on except maybe a block if ramen noodles...hmmm?). And yogurt and muesli for breakfast:)!!
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Omapere, NZ
I've gotten behind in my journaling. I think I'm feeling road weary. I can keep pedaling, but seem to be tired of all the other parts of traveling: the food shopping, the blogging, the picture taking.
And given my poor memory, I'm not sure what I'll recall. One wonderful night was deep in the kauri forest at a lookout. So dark. So quiet. Utter joy! Then in the morning when my back tweaked, I thought what would I do if I put my back out so far from anything. Wait until someone showed up, I guess. But a few spinal waves (yoga cat and cows) and it was all better:).
View from the lookout:
I got there from a recommendation from locals, but I was a bit concerned cycling a long ways down a gravel (or as they say here, metal) road. Luckily I could continue down in the morning and didn't have to climb out. It's staying in remote places like that that I feel most serene. Magical place. But in the morning I heard this whoosh. A big bird flew in and landed. Then cockadoodle do. Rooster? Really? What a pesty bird it was harassing me all morning while I did chores, dried gear, and cleaned my chain. Maybe it wasn't a chicken but a special NZ bird, for all I knew...someone suggested to me.
Looking back through my photos jars my memory. I stopped at the Kauri Museum. The biggest slats of wood! Enormous logs!
Breakfast of apple, yogurt, and muesli by the side of the road. Standing up using the back if the bike as a table.
View from a bridge in the kauri forest. So beautiful.
And then there are the kauri trees! In the middle of woods with trees of all sizes, you turn a corner and a humongous tree appears:
With these stats:
I'm currently camped at a hostel. My second night. Delightful place. Met an amazing woman from England (actually the town my trike comes from:)) who is doing her first trip. Wild woman, Mandy! She spent 5 months in a very Aboriginal area (northwest) of Australia because she wanted an aboriginal experience. And it came to her. She knows about the Universe delivering and trusting. We've agreed to hook up for a backpacking adventure some time, some place. It will happen.
Today we did a coastal walk, plopped ourselves down in the deep grass and shared our stories with an amazing connection. What magic meeting her was!
Quiet afternoon doing laundry, reading, and napping. Just what I needed. In 2 days I'll be meeting up with the rest of the Maori family on a marae up north. Can't wait!
I'm scraping the bottom of the food bags. I'm out of bread because it went moldy. The gas station in town had nothing I wanted to give them my money for. So I made lentil stew with feta cheese. Quite tasty. I have an apple, an orange, a square inch of chocolate and some ginger snaps. There's always ramen noodles, mushroom soup packets, 2 hard boiled eggs, milk powder, macadamia nuts, honey, and butter (but nothing to put them on except maybe a block if ramen noodles...hmmm?). And yogurt and muesli for breakfast:)!!
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Rugby Club
April 26, 2013
Dargaville NZ
Yesterday I titled my post "Crazy Yank" and then forgot to say why. That's how the 3 Aussie couples lovingly referred to me:). I hope to be able to stay in touch and reconnect when I cycle Australia...whenever that is.
Uneventful day for you. For me I talked to one of my daughters but Skype was herky jerky so it was challenging.
Camped tonight in the side yard of a Rugby Club. Always a good spot:)
Heading into the kauri forests and there'll be hills ahead I've been told. I love the challenge:)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Dargaville NZ
Yesterday I titled my post "Crazy Yank" and then forgot to say why. That's how the 3 Aussie couples lovingly referred to me:). I hope to be able to stay in touch and reconnect when I cycle Australia...whenever that is.
Uneventful day for you. For me I talked to one of my daughters but Skype was herky jerky so it was challenging.
Camped tonight in the side yard of a Rugby Club. Always a good spot:)
Heading into the kauri forests and there'll be hills ahead I've been told. I love the challenge:)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, April 26, 2013
Crazy Yank
April 25, 2013
Ruawai, NZ
The countryside here looks a lot like upstate NY with its rolling green hills. The only thing that makes me realize I'm in NZ are the palm trees and Toi Tois (like the plant on my bike).
Stopped by the Kauri Museum today. Kauris are giant trees much like our redwoods. But many of them were cut down by the early settlers. I'll see some of the big boys when I get further north. They've even found trees buried in swamps still preserved after 45,000 years. The other thing was the sap of the kauri, called gum, and harvested out of the swamps for turpentine and other uses. Today it's a polished stone called amber and used in jewelry mostly.
Tonight I pulled into town and found a green patch near some johns. I needed to find a wind block because I was tired if being hammered all afternoon. Three campervans were parked there, so I asked if the minded if I cozied up with them. They're Aussies. Been interesting learning a bit more about Oz. Did you know they have intense gun control laws? They must be licensed and only the licensed individual can have access to the locked up firearms. And they must be locked up and hidden away. No gun racks in the back of trucks.
As I've been traveling this tour, people are always giving me tokens. Someone asked why I carried these trinkets and I said because they come with good energies for a safe journey.
Some examples are:
Necklace from around a Maori woman's neck
Metal snowflake
Medallion
Business pen
Laminated photo
Poem
Religious writings
Chocolate bar. Here, take this. I didn't know why I bought it, but now I do:)
And I'm sure there are more but I can't remember them.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Ruawai, NZ
The countryside here looks a lot like upstate NY with its rolling green hills. The only thing that makes me realize I'm in NZ are the palm trees and Toi Tois (like the plant on my bike).
Stopped by the Kauri Museum today. Kauris are giant trees much like our redwoods. But many of them were cut down by the early settlers. I'll see some of the big boys when I get further north. They've even found trees buried in swamps still preserved after 45,000 years. The other thing was the sap of the kauri, called gum, and harvested out of the swamps for turpentine and other uses. Today it's a polished stone called amber and used in jewelry mostly.
Tonight I pulled into town and found a green patch near some johns. I needed to find a wind block because I was tired if being hammered all afternoon. Three campervans were parked there, so I asked if the minded if I cozied up with them. They're Aussies. Been interesting learning a bit more about Oz. Did you know they have intense gun control laws? They must be licensed and only the licensed individual can have access to the locked up firearms. And they must be locked up and hidden away. No gun racks in the back of trucks.
As I've been traveling this tour, people are always giving me tokens. Someone asked why I carried these trinkets and I said because they come with good energies for a safe journey.
Some examples are:
Necklace from around a Maori woman's neck
Metal snowflake
Medallion
Business pen
Laminated photo
Poem
Religious writings
Chocolate bar. Here, take this. I didn't know why I bought it, but now I do:)
And I'm sure there are more but I can't remember them.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
April 24, 2013
Brynderwyn, NZ
Hilly terrain. Avg 25 miles a day and that's at 5.5 mph. Add the changing weather: rain, sun, wind, clouds, and calm. I can't decided to wear a jacket or not, use the umbrella or not.
Last night I camped on Council land in front of a farm. Met Virginia, the farmer, who offered me a shower and coffee in the morning. I'll take the coffee. (A shower's wasted in the morning...just going to sweat it off in 15 minutes down the road.). Then I met the neighbor, Althea, who was dropping off her daughter to ride Virginia's horses. Horses? Horses? She also gave me some tomatoes from Virginia that went into my lentil stew for dinner. Yum! And Althea brought over some trail bars later...I love how food just finds me:)
This morning I shared coffee with Virginia and David, the other farmer. They had farm chores up attend to so it was a quick visit, but I did get to feed the horses:).
Yes, challenging terrain with these here hills. Add to that weather that can't decide what to do. Fall in NZ. Yet I'm told it's still milder than usual. It can keep that up. Oh ya, and it's dark by 6:00 so I have to quit earlier or eat in the dark. But tonight as I lay in my tent with the wind whipping outside causing quite a breeze through here, I'm happy. I love being outside. On my bike. In my tent. At a picnic table. Sitting in a field or on the side of the road. Outside. That's what all this is about. I've finally figured it out:)
Today's Eggs Benedict:
Off to sleep my 11 hours!
BagLady
P.S. was doing so well, then I seem to have lost my little knife:(. And then today...what's that noise? Didn't stop. There it is again...oh no! My iPod is bouncing on the pavement at the end of my earbuds. The on/off button isn't working...but I've figured a workaround. When it's asleep, it wakes up if I attach it to a power source..then I can change songs or whatever..then it goes asleep again. Learning to accept everything: the good with the bad.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Brynderwyn, NZ
Hilly terrain. Avg 25 miles a day and that's at 5.5 mph. Add the changing weather: rain, sun, wind, clouds, and calm. I can't decided to wear a jacket or not, use the umbrella or not.
Last night I camped on Council land in front of a farm. Met Virginia, the farmer, who offered me a shower and coffee in the morning. I'll take the coffee. (A shower's wasted in the morning...just going to sweat it off in 15 minutes down the road.). Then I met the neighbor, Althea, who was dropping off her daughter to ride Virginia's horses. Horses? Horses? She also gave me some tomatoes from Virginia that went into my lentil stew for dinner. Yum! And Althea brought over some trail bars later...I love how food just finds me:)
This morning I shared coffee with Virginia and David, the other farmer. They had farm chores up attend to so it was a quick visit, but I did get to feed the horses:).
Yes, challenging terrain with these here hills. Add to that weather that can't decide what to do. Fall in NZ. Yet I'm told it's still milder than usual. It can keep that up. Oh ya, and it's dark by 6:00 so I have to quit earlier or eat in the dark. But tonight as I lay in my tent with the wind whipping outside causing quite a breeze through here, I'm happy. I love being outside. On my bike. In my tent. At a picnic table. Sitting in a field or on the side of the road. Outside. That's what all this is about. I've finally figured it out:)
Today's Eggs Benedict:
Off to sleep my 11 hours!
BagLady
P.S. was doing so well, then I seem to have lost my little knife:(. And then today...what's that noise? Didn't stop. There it is again...oh no! My iPod is bouncing on the pavement at the end of my earbuds. The on/off button isn't working...but I've figured a workaround. When it's asleep, it wakes up if I attach it to a power source..then I can change songs or whatever..then it goes asleep again. Learning to accept everything: the good with the bad.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, April 21, 2013
A Weekend with the Sumiches
April 19 - 21
Henderson NZ
In the morning, Corie and Sonya, 2 women out for a walk through the park stop by to chat and the next thing I know, I'm invited to Corie's house to use the wifi to see if I can get my iphone activated after the unlock. Great.
Warren, the center manager also stopped over to chat. Turns out he had seen me on the Scenic Drive last night and called one if his staff at the center telling them to let me camp there. How sweet is that?
So I pedaled back down the road to Corie's house. But it was down, down, down. And I must admit I thought about not going. This is crazy. I should just go to town. When I checked my map and realized I could cycle forward past Corie's house to get to town, I kept going. I thought I'd only be here for an hour or so. Then I was invited for the night. That would help because the phone was going to be another 24 hours before being unlocked. Then John, Corie's husband invited me to go with him on a bush hike on Sunday. Sure if you don't mind if I stay until Monday. No worries.
What a wonderful weekend off the bike. Luncheon with girlfriends, birthday dinner with 8 friends at a winery
, shopping at a garden center, planting the buys in the garden, the bush hike rebaiting poison stations
, and Sunday dinner with the the 2 gramma's, daughter Kim and her boyfriend Nick. A full yet relaxing weekend doing "normal" things and meeting wonderful friends.
Thank you, Sumiches for a delightful weekend of laughs and relaxation...and good eats!
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Henderson NZ
In the morning, Corie and Sonya, 2 women out for a walk through the park stop by to chat and the next thing I know, I'm invited to Corie's house to use the wifi to see if I can get my iphone activated after the unlock. Great.
Warren, the center manager also stopped over to chat. Turns out he had seen me on the Scenic Drive last night and called one if his staff at the center telling them to let me camp there. How sweet is that?
So I pedaled back down the road to Corie's house. But it was down, down, down. And I must admit I thought about not going. This is crazy. I should just go to town. When I checked my map and realized I could cycle forward past Corie's house to get to town, I kept going. I thought I'd only be here for an hour or so. Then I was invited for the night. That would help because the phone was going to be another 24 hours before being unlocked. Then John, Corie's husband invited me to go with him on a bush hike on Sunday. Sure if you don't mind if I stay until Monday. No worries.
What a wonderful weekend off the bike. Luncheon with girlfriends, birthday dinner with 8 friends at a winery
, shopping at a garden center, planting the buys in the garden, the bush hike rebaiting poison stations
, and Sunday dinner with the the 2 gramma's, daughter Kim and her boyfriend Nick. A full yet relaxing weekend doing "normal" things and meeting wonderful friends.
Thank you, Sumiches for a delightful weekend of laughs and relaxation...and good eats!
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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