Thursday, April 4, 2013

Silence

April 3rd, 2013
Tanners Point, NZ

I finally broke away from Tauranga and Liz's wonderful home and company. It wasn't easy but the day had to come. I was gobbling up all her data allotted in wifi, poor girl. She had to cut me off:). Wifi is so costly down here and not unlimited. I should have known because of all the trouble I have getting it while on the road. It had a favorable outcome though: when she called up to see what could be done, they gave her 3x her old plan for $5 less a month!

The road today was so busy, so noisy, so exhausting! I have this busy section before things will quiet down again. I much prefer just the logging trucks and an occasional car to all this traffic. A few honks and cheers helped my mood.

As delightful as staying in a house always is (and it was fabulous!), I'm happiest on the road, on the move, sleeping and eating outdoors. I don't know why. Even as a child I played living in the woods:). I have to find my "indoor/outdoor living" place. That's a term I thought I coined, but it's used frequently down here. Another thing I have in common with Kiwi Land!

Tonight I rode down a road towards the coast and found a civilized launch park with a parking lot, toilets, and a lawn for me. A couple of campervans are here too. Lorraine already stopped by and introduced himself. No photo.

But I did have lunch with Bruce (not Boat Boy Bruce:)), that I met when I stopped for something to eat.



So we shared a table and conversation about bikes and touring. He's a retired teacher that loves teaching kids to swim and play the recorder because it makes the kids feel good.

It's so so quiet here. You could here a pin drop. This is a bay so there are no waves lapping. And there's no wind. Silence. Necessary after this crazy, noisy day.

I'm off to start a new book. April Fool's Day by Bruce Courtenay, one of my favorite writers.

Beddy-By BagLady


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Pics from Tauranga

Liz and house (forgive the quality...pic of a pic)




Girl and dad from jazz festival:




Group playing:



Too busy relaxing and enjoying to take many photos.


BagLady



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Easter in Tauranga

March 29 - April 2, 2013
Tauranga, NZ
Liz, Moa's sister-in-law, whom I met at Christmas in Wellington, graciously offered to put me up (to put up with me) when I got north to Tauranga. And I didn't know when that would be exactly. But I called her a few days out and gave her Thurs or Fri.
I arrived Friday.
And getting off the bike for a long weekend has been an incredible treat. So has meeting her girlfriends! Friday night it was dinner at Bet's with us and Sally. Good cooking and girlfriends!! Doesn't get much better! And I forgot to get pics:/. Guess I'm on holiday too.
Saturday we ran around downtown at the annual jazz festival and did a bit of shopping. Yup! New marino wool sports bra and a new inflatable ExPed sleeping pad. Tired of sore hips and several blowups during night. Treating myself. Got the demo at a discount. Their version of a NeoAir. Got my fingers crossed because I had no luck with the latter.
Tauranga has a beautiful downtown section right on the water and the rain held off. So it all worked out. Sunday we were down there again with two more girlfriends, Judy and Gail. Lunch, girl talk, and jazz...oh ya!! I've enjoyed the opportunity to be "one of the girls" in NZ. Thank you for including me!
And today was a tour of Mt. Maunganui, the Mtn and the town...and lunch on the strand. Quaint place. Cute shops. Delightful views.
Liz has been the sweetest host, treating me like a princess!
BagLady
More pictures are posted at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/104890875270597877610
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