Thanks very much to everyone who has so far made a donation. I have all the names and in a couple of weeks i will make up a list of names on the Blog. Current totals stand at around the 400 pound/NZ$1000. Keep `em coming!
in a couple of weeks (thereabouts)-camping up at the Cape and the trip back south on the train which was great. Right, I`m orf to not do very much and not cycle ANYWHERE for a couple of weeks before I go back to work in Wanaka at the YHA. Take care good folk...
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Bloody made it!!!!
February 3rd 6.30pm. 3596k, 2 months, 2days after setting out from Bluff.
Monty we did it! Good work mate!
Well, I couldn`t have done it without your legs.
Errr... no, right.
To Cape Reinga/Te Rerengawairua
Lovely open road in the morning, big country. Stopped in Te Kao`s very cool little grocery store which is the last one before the Cape. Inside a kitten slept on the newspapers and Ella and Louis sang sweetly on a stereo. And if you don`t know who they are ask your Mum or Dad. Te Kao also had a rather strange mosquey type building but with Te Reo (Maori) writing on it so I don`t know what the story of that is. Should have asked at the shop I guess.
Stopped again for some food at Waitiki Landing and then the last 20k which is a steep windy gravel road but with stunning views of enourmous sand dunes and the sea and Manuka (tea tree) forests and rippling native grasses and green fields. Bloody hard work though.
Mangonui - Rarawa Beach - The Far North Feb 2nd - 1 day to go...
Nice open road as i finally hit the far North road. Good south-easterly too. Lovely quiet DOC campground at Rawera Beach. The camp manager`s friends were visiting with 4 kids in tow who were very curious as to my trip. Hi guys if you`re reading this. Felt Shoulda taken your picture.
Felt quite excited to almost to be at the top
Mangonui
Nice little harbour town, stayed at Maori Point reserve off by the water and had a pint at the pub so pretty mellow evening really.
Dinosaurs and Meteors
Well that got my attention. A small museum by the side of the road with indeed meteors and dinsoaur bits along with many other random yet interesting things including a mummuified rat. The curator, who was quite a character, had also made a Wetarie. Now Wetas are Nz`s big scary looking insects. well they can be. The Wetarie was basically a tall thin tunnell made out of brick and concrete and once you`re eyes adjust the walls are seething with Cave Wetas. There were one or 2 males on the roof that must have been 4 inches long.
He also has a very interesting project underway that I cannot disclose.
And he also has a cool dog.
Kahoe
Kahoe is a small town on the way to Mangonui. It is notable for its Jandals fence which someone told me about way down south. Near Wanaka there is a bra fence and a bit further on there was a bike fence. Monty told me not to linger
Three thousand three hundred and thirty three kilomtres Jimbob!
Yes Monty, you wouldn`t want to say that after a few pints would you?
No
Actually what would you know about getting drunk?
Well, you know, sometimes when you think you`re in a safe spot and you don`t lock me up?
Yees.
Well...you know sometimes us bikes, late at night, we hook up, go for a little freewheel down to the river, crack open a few tinnies...
Kerikeri
Just a short hop over a couple of hills really to stay with Catherine`s (who is friends with Ana and Marcus) father Derek and his wife Monica. Monica made a nice dinner and we talked about her family (she is from Germany) who have a very interesting history. Its a long story and perhaps not my business to tell it here. Anyway it so happened that she and Derek were in Berlin just after the fall of the Berlin wall and on their mantlepice they have an original piece of it.
Paihia
Right, where was I...
Had a pretty quiet evening in Paihia and stayed at the very spic YHA. The managers have a nice dog.
Friday, 1 February 2008
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