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....