Tell Me Another One

The difference between a good cycling trip and great one is the leadership and guiding.  Wrangling eighteen very different people, through rides, hotels (we will have slept in twenty hotels by the time our trip is over), and sites is a daunting task.  Feeding the hungry beasts even more so.
In come Bas and Sean, from Adventures South NZ - a dynamic duo full of expertise, information, and amazing stories.

Bas is a Renaissance man with a strong love of history, politics, and basically mankind.  Sean is a wealth of knowledge in all things Maori, flora, fauna, and the planet.  Bas has cycled around the world, Sean has served in the military with many tours of duty - thank you Sargent Major.

These two planned and plotted (with the help of the home office, Sandra) and gave us a trip of a lifetime.  All with humor and grace - even when the situation didn’t necessarily deserve it.  With their experience, they were able to adapt and adjust our rides to accommodate interests and abilities.  They cared for us - like really....that’s big.

They were the type of guides that made you want to go back and do more research on the subject, learn more because it was so darn interesting.  Besides everything I learned about New Zealand, it’s people, history and environment, it’s the storytelling that will stay with me.

Both Bas and Sean wove tales that made you laugh, wonder or both.  If I  had heard a story without Jeff around, I would hold onto it until a particularly nasty climb ( plenty to chose from), and retell it - while trying to breathe.  (It kind of reminded me of labor, and being distracted by a focal point, but let’s not go there.).  Anyway - this ones for you - Bas and Sean...cheers mates.

Sean left, Bas right...thanks to Sally for the photo

Joe the Volcano

 No - that’s not the name, but we watched the sunset and opened our eyes to see sunrise from our bed over this volcano in Tongario National Park.  We were led by our naturalist Sean on a hike through the bush, learning about ferns, trees, birds and of course possums (this time an x-rated possum story :)

Adventures South has done a great job of mixing it up.  Just when you think you’re about to lose your mind over the world’s nastiest hill (Gentle Annie my Aunt Fannie), they have included Maori Cultural performances, walks to waterfalls, mineral pools and those hikes.

Last night we had dinner at Gintrap - Jeff was happy.  (I thought the Hawkes Bay was pretty tasty...)

How North Can You Go?

We’ve continued up our trek along the west coast, all the way to Cape Reinga the northernmost tip of the North Island.  There the water of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific meet - pausing and combining.  The 12-17% grades are relentless, but you never know if it’s that or the views that take your breath away.  Today we rest in Russell.

We are beyond grateful...

Kiwi searching, possum avoiding, ancient trees and hoping we don’t run into wild pigs!

The meeting of Tasman Sea and Pacific

Seconds before, hands were on knees and sucking wind...just saying...

Ferry on...

goodbye little harbor...

Blue Bottle Jellyfish - cute and pesky

                                   What can I say?  Still haven’t seen one, can’t stay up late enough...

Just a bite...Los Angeles

RockN Seafood Manhattan Beach

We were there in 2012, loved it so much it was the first place we went.
Vibe - charged and comfortable, wrapped in one.
Service - friendly, knowledgeable and perfectly paced.
Drink - they know how to make a Manhattan.
Wine- unpretentious yet elegant selection.
Food - though it was Dine LA week, and offered a couple of tempting three course options, we ordered off the menu.
Grilled artichoke - tangy, smoky, smooth.
Mediterranean- filled with garbanzo beans, feta, freshest of greens, and a light, enhancing dressing,  Our mains were ahi tuna and salmon both fresh and luscious.

We’ll be back.

https://mb.rocknfish. 

What’s that smell?

As we go along the west coast, riding to the northernmost point of the North Island, we pass long pockets of an earthy smell of warm honey. At first, with all the beehives around, we thought that was the source.

Sean, one of our guides, a naturalist and environmentalist, among many other badges, wondered if it was the honeydew, a sweet secretion from a scale insect found on trees - ew.

Then, as we just stood there in the heat, there was that smell again, and he knew just what it was - NZ Tea Tree - a kind of spruce. When you rub the sharp needles, its fragrance blooms. If bee keepers, whose beehives stand unprotected since there are no bears (shocking NH folks when they ride by), they place their hives near the Tea Trees to enhance their Manuka honey.

I just breathe deeply while I suck wind on the uphills, and I almost forget my quads. Almost...

Ti Pikinga Reeserve

Waipu 

Cape Reinga

                                                        Inhale...

Climbing, climbing, climbing

 A man with a plan...

Two days of warm up rides outside of Auckland.  We’ve gotten the hang of riding on the left (Scotland and Ireland were a big help).  I’m pretty sure Jeff dreams about my voice, “Tight left, wide right.” We almost have our rhythm and routine together, and a 3,640 foot climb today was both  humbling and consolidating.

Yes there were sheep, the ones with the black faces, but oh so many cows.

Rolling hills, riots of cicadas and birds in the trees, and some plant that smelled like warm honey.









The ocean kept our attention, and cooled our tired toes.

Auckland seems both new, and a moment captured in past times, full of construction, melting pots of cultures, and bursting the seams.  It too is climbing...

Excellent Adventure

Manhattan Beach ‘20

In 2012 Jeff and I had an excellent adventure.  We rode from Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, to Boston. CrossRoads Cycling Adventures, at that time owned and operated by Tracy Leiner, and manned by a beyond amazing support group, made this trip not only possible, but truly shifted our lives.  I know, dramatic, but...

We’ve always planned on returning to CR to repeat that ride as more seasoned riders, only to have missed the opportunity with Tracy and Co. My search began.

Then there was Mel and Tandems East. Every couple of years, he and his wife Barbara have organized a cycling tour in New Zealand.  I’ve never met Mel in person, but have had plenty of contact with him.  Mel custom designed our current bike. Jeff is a full twelve inches taller than me...think Mutt and Jeff. You always want to answer the personal questions needed to have a proper bike fit.  I’ll just leave that here.

So tonight we fly to Auckland, meet the new crew, and begin our next excellent adventure....