Auckland NZ
I headed out from the Goldswain's to exactly where I didn't know. I'm cycling through a city and camping is a challenge, as you can expect. Looking at maps, I decided to stay to the west side and out of the center city. I had spied a scout camp on the water and figured that would be a good option. So that's where I headed.
But first, I'm having technology issues that I have to resolve so off to the village to figure things out. The Telecom guy said I could probably get my 4s phone unlocked. Really? Not for $180? So I went down to see Faris and for $70 he said he could get my under contract iphone unlocked. Ok. Lets do it. It will take about 24 hours. I had real positive vibes about this guy's integrity. But I'll be up the road a bit if there's a problem. Well just trust, I told myself. But I also needed to find wifi to activate it and west Auckland libraries don't have free wifi (I found out later). That would pose another issue.
Back to biking north. Very congested area with busy roads and lots of commercial properties. And hilly! Oh well. About 5ish I find the scout camp with some nice places to camp, but lots of Private Property signs. Found some parents who couldn't authorize me and the scout meeting wasn't until 6:30. Too late to be hanging around. Lets see if I can find something else. Quite a woodsy neighborhood with a dense park across the way. A pedestrian I asked said go around the corner down to Green Bay. Ok. I head over there but the walkway to the beach was too steep to cycle back up. That won't work. Will I just trespass on the scout land? Then David shows up curious about my trike.
Know a place I could camp?
Sure, my yard! Just 2 doors up.
Camp spot, wine, hors d'oeuvres, shower, laundry, brake adjustment, and free wifi. Love the serendipity:).
Next day I hit a bike shop at David's suggestion to see about my brakes. Pads looked good. Minor adjustments. I continue on. Next destination is Arataki info center on the Scenic Drive through the Waitakere Ranges. There's a tent symbol on my map so I'm hoping I can camp there. I've been warned that the road is hilly, narrow and twisty. Ok. So what else is new? I get to the center and see a sign about self-contained vehicles only. Dang! Plenty of grass space. Lets see what unfolds. I park Blaze and climb up to the gallery. A park ranger meets me.
Is that your bike downstairs?
Yup.
A woman just called us wanting us to tell you that this road is too dangerous and you need to turn around.
I smile. I appreciate her caring about me but I've cycle thousands of kms on worse roads than this. I take care and watch the traffic, pulling over as needed. I'll be all right. But I do need to talk with you about where I can camp.
We're self-contained only.
Any suggestions where I could go? (Good to put the problem on them:))
Looking at a map, her suggestions were further than I could cycle before dark.
Can't I camp here?
We'll have to get permission. She then turns to her colleague who says, she can camp here. Sweet, again. Picnic tables and a bathroom. And a park to roam. All for $6. I'll take it.
A delightful evening stroll through the native bush with plant labels. Just what I need. Manuka tree that I've been seeing and hearing about for weeks is Tea Tree. So that's the healthy oil they get out. And I learned that the silver underneath of the Pongo frond the Maoris used the lay in the pathway for lighting.
Later a running club came swarming into the parking lot around dark. Jonathan was insistent that I cycle out to Piha tomorrow. After much deliberation I decided I didn't need to go that far to see another beautiful coast.
This woman was a street/sidewalk cleaner. She traveled on her scooter with a trash can on the back and picked up litter with a long grabby thing then tossed them into the can. Hey, it works!
BagLady
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