Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Omitted photo...
This is my suitcase for flying to Rome!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
"Home" Again in New Zealand
December 7, 2014
Christchurch, NZ
Everything went smoothly getting packed up and to the airport in Rome. I bought a large roll of plastic wrap and bundled my 2 panniers and sack together to make one bundle with Boris' help. (0mitted photo of bundle)
Then I wheeled everything to the train station where there was a cheap airport bus.
But since I went when Boris needed to go, I was there 7 hours ahead of my flight. Too early to check in my baggage, so Blaze had to stay with me. Certainly a conversation starter:)
My flight was to Abu Dhabi, then Sydney, then Christchurch...5.5 hours, 13 hours, and 3.5 hours. Entering NZ has some restrictions that the airlines enforce more than NZ Immigration. Having a flight out is one of them. The trick is to book a fully refundable flight, then cancel it after you arrive. My flight was to Sydney next month. With only an hour connection, New Zealand Air said I had to have a valid visa into Australia before they'd let me board. You can do it on line but do you think I could get the airport computers or the free wifi to work quickly enough to process. No. They pulled my baggage and booked me on a later flight after I resolved this restriction. The later flight was 9 hours later. I was a zombie!! I finally set up an Australian visa, but of course it's starting right away and we won't be going there for 2-3 months. A joke. And April didn't have to do this on Qantas Airlines. And customs didn't even ask about it. What a joke! Now I've got to cancel that visa somehow so it doesn't affect my getting a 12 month one when I need it.
And I arrived in Christchurch at midnight. Blaze arrived in fine shape. I got her all set up, tires re-inflated, and set off to cycle 6 miles to my hostel. A beautiful night for a bike ride! No traffic. Fresh air. Just what I needed after 48 hours of travel!!!
April, my friend who travelled with me in Europe, met up with me here. Her bike took a detour, not arriving when she did. But managing to show up the following day, thank goodness. Just a wee bit of a scare.
I saw Christchurch quickly last time I was here on a one hour tour with locals. Was nice to be able to bike around and see a few changes this time. The Cardboard Cathedral is completed for the congregation who can't use the severely damaged main church.
The Box Mall made of shipping containers has grown to many more stores.
But there are still many vacant lots and streets under repair. Still so sad to see. I did stop by the White Chairs where a chair was donated and painted white to represent the people who died in the quake. You are invited to sit and .... I did. And I cried.
So after 4 nights in our hostel, a small quiet house with private rooms and a large back garden, we cycled away.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Christchurch, NZ
Everything went smoothly getting packed up and to the airport in Rome. I bought a large roll of plastic wrap and bundled my 2 panniers and sack together to make one bundle with Boris' help. (0mitted photo of bundle)
Then I wheeled everything to the train station where there was a cheap airport bus.
But since I went when Boris needed to go, I was there 7 hours ahead of my flight. Too early to check in my baggage, so Blaze had to stay with me. Certainly a conversation starter:)
My flight was to Abu Dhabi, then Sydney, then Christchurch...5.5 hours, 13 hours, and 3.5 hours. Entering NZ has some restrictions that the airlines enforce more than NZ Immigration. Having a flight out is one of them. The trick is to book a fully refundable flight, then cancel it after you arrive. My flight was to Sydney next month. With only an hour connection, New Zealand Air said I had to have a valid visa into Australia before they'd let me board. You can do it on line but do you think I could get the airport computers or the free wifi to work quickly enough to process. No. They pulled my baggage and booked me on a later flight after I resolved this restriction. The later flight was 9 hours later. I was a zombie!! I finally set up an Australian visa, but of course it's starting right away and we won't be going there for 2-3 months. A joke. And April didn't have to do this on Qantas Airlines. And customs didn't even ask about it. What a joke! Now I've got to cancel that visa somehow so it doesn't affect my getting a 12 month one when I need it.
And I arrived in Christchurch at midnight. Blaze arrived in fine shape. I got her all set up, tires re-inflated, and set off to cycle 6 miles to my hostel. A beautiful night for a bike ride! No traffic. Fresh air. Just what I needed after 48 hours of travel!!!
April, my friend who travelled with me in Europe, met up with me here. Her bike took a detour, not arriving when she did. But managing to show up the following day, thank goodness. Just a wee bit of a scare.
I saw Christchurch quickly last time I was here on a one hour tour with locals. Was nice to be able to bike around and see a few changes this time. The Cardboard Cathedral is completed for the congregation who can't use the severely damaged main church.
The Box Mall made of shipping containers has grown to many more stores.
But there are still many vacant lots and streets under repair. Still so sad to see. I did stop by the White Chairs where a chair was donated and painted white to represent the people who died in the quake. You are invited to sit and .... I did. And I cried.
So after 4 nights in our hostel, a small quiet house with private rooms and a large back garden, we cycled away.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Thursday, December 4, 2014
A Week in Rome
November 30, 2014
Rome, Italy
I'm sitting here in the airport awaiting my flight to New Zealand. Seems like a good time to recap my week in Rome.
I stayed at the sweetest hostel. Great people working there. Fun people staying there. Hostels are great places for solo travelers to connect with other people. And I did. Rozie, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was my dorm mate and tour partner for a couple of days. She was on her first solo tour and so capable at getting around. I was impressed. From her I learned about the bus that would get me up the airport and the fun of being an Asian photographer:).
After my quick tour of all the famous ruins u spent most if my time walking, window shopping, and fretting what to buy my daughters for Christmas that weighed nothing and represented Italy. And let me say how much I stress shopping for others. So many beautiful things that would have cost an arm and two legs to ship. A postcard is $2.50 for postage.
And eating and drinking coffee of course are an Italian pastimes.
A German man, Boris, who I met in Hawaii three years ago, flew down to Rome for the weekend and we palled around for my last few days here. First he got ripped off by the Romans taking our photographs. This photo was expensive!
Then we braved the crowds at the Vatican...actually more like braving the "beggars", people wanting you to take their tour or buy their stuff. I was yelling at them after awhile. They were every 3 steps!! OMG!
Then off to window shop.
Gladiator museum next. That was a cruel sport. Sickening.
Walking in the rain with no umbrella or coat because the weather report was good.
And more eating...
Followed by drinking later...
And today it was packing...
Don't ya love my plastic wrap luggage?!!
And getting to the airport.
Off to New Zealand!! Wahoo!!!!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Rome, Italy
I'm sitting here in the airport awaiting my flight to New Zealand. Seems like a good time to recap my week in Rome.
I stayed at the sweetest hostel. Great people working there. Fun people staying there. Hostels are great places for solo travelers to connect with other people. And I did. Rozie, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was my dorm mate and tour partner for a couple of days. She was on her first solo tour and so capable at getting around. I was impressed. From her I learned about the bus that would get me up the airport and the fun of being an Asian photographer:).
After my quick tour of all the famous ruins u spent most if my time walking, window shopping, and fretting what to buy my daughters for Christmas that weighed nothing and represented Italy. And let me say how much I stress shopping for others. So many beautiful things that would have cost an arm and two legs to ship. A postcard is $2.50 for postage.
And eating and drinking coffee of course are an Italian pastimes.
A German man, Boris, who I met in Hawaii three years ago, flew down to Rome for the weekend and we palled around for my last few days here. First he got ripped off by the Romans taking our photographs. This photo was expensive!
Then we braved the crowds at the Vatican...actually more like braving the "beggars", people wanting you to take their tour or buy their stuff. I was yelling at them after awhile. They were every 3 steps!! OMG!
Then off to window shop.
Gladiator museum next. That was a cruel sport. Sickening.
Walking in the rain with no umbrella or coat because the weather report was good.
And more eating...
Followed by drinking later...
And today it was packing...
Don't ya love my plastic wrap luggage?!!
And getting to the airport.
Off to New Zealand!! Wahoo!!!!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Monday, November 24, 2014
Rome. Day 1
November 24, 2014
Rome, Italy
I actually surprise myself with how comfortable I am riding through a large city. The hardest part is knowing where I should be going. Google Maps is a godsend, but in Italy it doesn't have a bike option. If I put in auto, it takes me to the nearest highway and if I put in walker, it takes me up steps and one-way streets the wrong way. Adds to the challenge for sure. And that was today because I had to use walking instructions. There I was pedaling past the Vatican on a 4 lane road, my side, and thinking this is feeding into a highway, I think. Trying to read the myriad of signs and my phone...and not get wiped out by all the cars coming in every direction. (I almost did get backed over first thing this morning...my greatest fear is seeing backup lights coming my way!). So I noticed a bunch of cops standing on the sidewalk staring and I cycled over. "How do I cross the river?" Great machine you have there! A Dutch guy handed me a map...how sweet. I got the info but it took me to a bridge that came towards me not the way I needed. But I managed to figure it out. I have to pull over often and figure out where I am and where I need to go. Did a couple of loops when roads didn't do what I thought they did. Lots of one-ways in this city!
But around every corner was this
And this
And this
And this
And this
This city is built around these ancient ruins. They pepper the city. Everywhere I looked today was a ruin of some sort or another. Pretty amazing.
Found the hostel. Third floor walk-up. Blaze is under the stairs by the front door. All my gear is strewn about the room. This weekend there'll be 6 women in here, but for now it's just us 2. Got laundry fine first thing. It's been weeks since it's gone through a machine! A clean now:)
I asked the girl at the desk here where I could find Christmas presents. "But it's not the season yet!" she replied. I love it! Wish we'd wait awhile in the States. That's one reason I don't like to be stateside during the holidays. Too much stress.
So I'm booked in for 6 nights. Ahh. I've been chillin' all afternoon after biking 15 miles in chaos and walking for an hour or so doing errands. Sightseeing (and Christmas shopping:)) can wait until tomorrow.
Did have some good pizza around the corner today.
And I don't know if I've mentioned how much I admire European drivers for their ability to parallel park...but they can squeeze in some tight spots. Loved seeing this way to park too.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Rome, Italy
I actually surprise myself with how comfortable I am riding through a large city. The hardest part is knowing where I should be going. Google Maps is a godsend, but in Italy it doesn't have a bike option. If I put in auto, it takes me to the nearest highway and if I put in walker, it takes me up steps and one-way streets the wrong way. Adds to the challenge for sure. And that was today because I had to use walking instructions. There I was pedaling past the Vatican on a 4 lane road, my side, and thinking this is feeding into a highway, I think. Trying to read the myriad of signs and my phone...and not get wiped out by all the cars coming in every direction. (I almost did get backed over first thing this morning...my greatest fear is seeing backup lights coming my way!). So I noticed a bunch of cops standing on the sidewalk staring and I cycled over. "How do I cross the river?" Great machine you have there! A Dutch guy handed me a map...how sweet. I got the info but it took me to a bridge that came towards me not the way I needed. But I managed to figure it out. I have to pull over often and figure out where I am and where I need to go. Did a couple of loops when roads didn't do what I thought they did. Lots of one-ways in this city!
But around every corner was this
And this
And this
And this
And this
This city is built around these ancient ruins. They pepper the city. Everywhere I looked today was a ruin of some sort or another. Pretty amazing.
Found the hostel. Third floor walk-up. Blaze is under the stairs by the front door. All my gear is strewn about the room. This weekend there'll be 6 women in here, but for now it's just us 2. Got laundry fine first thing. It's been weeks since it's gone through a machine! A clean now:)
I asked the girl at the desk here where I could find Christmas presents. "But it's not the season yet!" she replied. I love it! Wish we'd wait awhile in the States. That's one reason I don't like to be stateside during the holidays. Too much stress.
So I'm booked in for 6 nights. Ahh. I've been chillin' all afternoon after biking 15 miles in chaos and walking for an hour or so doing errands. Sightseeing (and Christmas shopping:)) can wait until tomorrow.
Did have some good pizza around the corner today.
And I don't know if I've mentioned how much I admire European drivers for their ability to parallel park...but they can squeeze in some tight spots. Loved seeing this way to park too.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Last Night Before Rome
November 23, 2014
La Storta, Italy
Where to start? Maybe I'll work backwards to cover the last few days. That'll be different:). Today I had to ride on a divided highway for about 5 miles. The good part was it had a wide shoulder. The bad part was that's where all the shit lands and I got a rear flat. Took me awhile to realize it. Ew! Not good for the tire. I was able to pull onto a side road to do the repair, thank goodness. It was easy to find:)
But not so easy to fix. I pulled the tube and patched it. Mounted it on the rim. Mounted it on the bike. Started pumping it up and it would only inflate so far. Dang pump! Don't break on me now. Again and again I try. I think the tube's not holding. Unmount everything again. There's a second hole next to the first. Use my last patch on it. Remount on the rim. Remount on the bike. Pump. Pump. Pump. Dang! Still not holding air. I give up. Replace the tube. I mount everything again. Remount everything again. I got it DOWN!! An hour later. We're off! I found a back roads route that was longer but a tad quieter, so the ride was fun. Lots of toots and pics of me. I make people smile. And that's fun. Since I knew I'd be on the outskirts of Rome tonight, I planned on a convent. Good thing. It's very congested in this area. Camping would not be an option.
Sweet convent. Lovely colors. Up on the hill away from the hubbub below.
Saw this saying on the wall here...how perfect for a place near the end.
Ok, now yesterday. I started the day at another "religious structure", Convento Cappuccini, and decided to see if I could find a bookstore for a replacement book. I wandered the streets of what felt like the oldest village I've wandered through. Can't really say why, but it felt amazing. And photos don't capture it.
Then when I stopped for coffee I asked the guy there about this back road I found that wound around but ended up where I wanted to be. No. Very steep. Take the main road to Rome. Buts it's a good road? Yes, but not for bike. Well, steep no longer worries me...that's my road! I can't handle biking on main roads with no shoulders and truck traffic. I'd rather deal with hills. And it was fun. Still no shoulder, but the cars are a bit slower. So that helps.
Met Florian, a French guy hurrying to get to Rome to meet up with a friend for the weekend. He's off to Istanbul (where I was suppose to be going but for visa limitations).
We both agreed that Italian road surfaces sucked for biking. I said I noticed it was only on my side of the road.
So challenging with 3 tracks to keep out of the holes.
(As I'm writing tonight I'm devouring everything that's left in my food pannier. I've eaten yogurt, leftover beans and rice from last night, leftover ham and bread from lunch today, potato chips, cookies, clementines, pomegranate from last night...and there's still tomato, cuke, pepper, onion, apple, orange, tuna...lots more to eat...I'll make antipasto!)
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
La Storta, Italy
Where to start? Maybe I'll work backwards to cover the last few days. That'll be different:). Today I had to ride on a divided highway for about 5 miles. The good part was it had a wide shoulder. The bad part was that's where all the shit lands and I got a rear flat. Took me awhile to realize it. Ew! Not good for the tire. I was able to pull onto a side road to do the repair, thank goodness. It was easy to find:)
But not so easy to fix. I pulled the tube and patched it. Mounted it on the rim. Mounted it on the bike. Started pumping it up and it would only inflate so far. Dang pump! Don't break on me now. Again and again I try. I think the tube's not holding. Unmount everything again. There's a second hole next to the first. Use my last patch on it. Remount on the rim. Remount on the bike. Pump. Pump. Pump. Dang! Still not holding air. I give up. Replace the tube. I mount everything again. Remount everything again. I got it DOWN!! An hour later. We're off! I found a back roads route that was longer but a tad quieter, so the ride was fun. Lots of toots and pics of me. I make people smile. And that's fun. Since I knew I'd be on the outskirts of Rome tonight, I planned on a convent. Good thing. It's very congested in this area. Camping would not be an option.
Sweet convent. Lovely colors. Up on the hill away from the hubbub below.
Saw this saying on the wall here...how perfect for a place near the end.
Ok, now yesterday. I started the day at another "religious structure", Convento Cappuccini, and decided to see if I could find a bookstore for a replacement book. I wandered the streets of what felt like the oldest village I've wandered through. Can't really say why, but it felt amazing. And photos don't capture it.
Then when I stopped for coffee I asked the guy there about this back road I found that wound around but ended up where I wanted to be. No. Very steep. Take the main road to Rome. Buts it's a good road? Yes, but not for bike. Well, steep no longer worries me...that's my road! I can't handle biking on main roads with no shoulders and truck traffic. I'd rather deal with hills. And it was fun. Still no shoulder, but the cars are a bit slower. So that helps.
Met Florian, a French guy hurrying to get to Rome to meet up with a friend for the weekend. He's off to Istanbul (where I was suppose to be going but for visa limitations).
We both agreed that Italian road surfaces sucked for biking. I said I noticed it was only on my side of the road.
So challenging with 3 tracks to keep out of the holes.
(As I'm writing tonight I'm devouring everything that's left in my food pannier. I've eaten yogurt, leftover beans and rice from last night, leftover ham and bread from lunch today, potato chips, cookies, clementines, pomegranate from last night...and there's still tomato, cuke, pepper, onion, apple, orange, tuna...lots more to eat...I'll make antipasto!)
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Another Day on the Via Francigena.
November 17, 2014
Radicofani, Italy
Last night was interesting. Got near this town (on a hill, they all are!) and called to see if anyone would be around at the "religious structure". Several numbers provided. Finally someone answers. Broken English. Closed for repairs. Will book me into B&B for 20 €. High, but what the heck...new experience. Then she texts me that the B&B is full. Try the Aubergue at the square or the parish, she says. This is a larger town. I have no clue where she's talking about. Get to the aubergue after asking many people. Closed with phone number. Voicemail in Italian. Call original woman back. She tells me where Parish is. Find that. A Father answers. Broken English. He takes me to a Pilligrini sign on a door and points to a phone number. Arrgghhh. I call. Think I've talked to this woman before. A guy comes on. He wants to give me another number. It's getting late. Rain is beginning. I'm feeling lost and frustrated. I gotta go out up my tent I tell him and hang up. My faithful tent:). I find a picnic spot just out of town and set up in the early sprinkles getting inside before the skies open...for the next 4 hours! Eat something cold: bread, cheese, salami. And to sleep at 6 pm. Slept 13 hours!
It rained so heavy last night off and on, but my tent held up well. I slung a line to dry my pants during the night without much luck. So this morning I put them on over my long johns and hopped back in my bag to dry them. 45 min later, voila! Now they were just damp to begin with, but I love these pants because they dry so fast. No rain pants for me...just these. The rain stops and my pants dry quickly. So fast it surprises me. And I appreciated that this morning when it rained early during my ride. Rain and cold. Not fun. But then the skies cleared and it was a gorgeous day for cycling.
I was going to go to another town tonight, but during the last 5 kms I changed my mind. I found a picnic spot on the side of the road and set up.
The road noise will quiet in a while and it's easier to tolerate than bells. The first cop of my whole journey stopped while I was cooking in the dark, just to see if I was all right. How sweet is that?
There's some great heat lightning going on out there tonight. Great clouds earlier today too.
I'm trying to eat up all the odds and ends in my food bag...kinda like cleaning the fridge before going away. Not buying much, so making do. Tonight was sautéed eggplant and mushroom soup. I got the soup in France:). I carry something's as emergency food for when I can't find a grocery store. But lately the meal emergencies have been being unable to cook because of the rain. Then it's a real scramble to see how I'll feed myself. Of course sitting in my tent from 4 pm onward means there's lots of time to be munching. Not so good if there's nothing to munch on! That's why I go to sleep early. To turn off the mouth:)
Just 5 or 6 more days until Roma!!!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Radicofani, Italy
Last night was interesting. Got near this town (on a hill, they all are!) and called to see if anyone would be around at the "religious structure". Several numbers provided. Finally someone answers. Broken English. Closed for repairs. Will book me into B&B for 20 €. High, but what the heck...new experience. Then she texts me that the B&B is full. Try the Aubergue at the square or the parish, she says. This is a larger town. I have no clue where she's talking about. Get to the aubergue after asking many people. Closed with phone number. Voicemail in Italian. Call original woman back. She tells me where Parish is. Find that. A Father answers. Broken English. He takes me to a Pilligrini sign on a door and points to a phone number. Arrgghhh. I call. Think I've talked to this woman before. A guy comes on. He wants to give me another number. It's getting late. Rain is beginning. I'm feeling lost and frustrated. I gotta go out up my tent I tell him and hang up. My faithful tent:). I find a picnic spot just out of town and set up in the early sprinkles getting inside before the skies open...for the next 4 hours! Eat something cold: bread, cheese, salami. And to sleep at 6 pm. Slept 13 hours!
It rained so heavy last night off and on, but my tent held up well. I slung a line to dry my pants during the night without much luck. So this morning I put them on over my long johns and hopped back in my bag to dry them. 45 min later, voila! Now they were just damp to begin with, but I love these pants because they dry so fast. No rain pants for me...just these. The rain stops and my pants dry quickly. So fast it surprises me. And I appreciated that this morning when it rained early during my ride. Rain and cold. Not fun. But then the skies cleared and it was a gorgeous day for cycling.
I was going to go to another town tonight, but during the last 5 kms I changed my mind. I found a picnic spot on the side of the road and set up.
The road noise will quiet in a while and it's easier to tolerate than bells. The first cop of my whole journey stopped while I was cooking in the dark, just to see if I was all right. How sweet is that?
There's some great heat lightning going on out there tonight. Great clouds earlier today too.
I'm trying to eat up all the odds and ends in my food bag...kinda like cleaning the fridge before going away. Not buying much, so making do. Tonight was sautéed eggplant and mushroom soup. I got the soup in France:). I carry something's as emergency food for when I can't find a grocery store. But lately the meal emergencies have been being unable to cook because of the rain. Then it's a real scramble to see how I'll feed myself. Of course sitting in my tent from 4 pm onward means there's lots of time to be munching. Not so good if there's nothing to munch on! That's why I go to sleep early. To turn off the mouth:)
Just 5 or 6 more days until Roma!!!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
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