nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Slow Travel. The Big Hill. Quick Descent.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/slow-travel-big-hill-quick-descent.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Monday, February 4, 2008. Slow Travel. The Big Hill. Quick Descent. Ellen recently wrote me about Slow Travel, suggesting that it was my mode this trip. An interesting idea, but it seems to have been co-opted as a marketing theme for short-term house rentals. That isn't really all that new a concept. Villa rentals in Europe, at least, have been going on practically forever. We did that in the 90's. Off the soapbox and onto the journal. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). The Jou...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Gisborne Hospital. International Orthopedic Surgeons. Titanium Plate.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/gisborne-hospital-international.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Sunday, February 17, 2008. Gisborne Hospital. International Orthopedic Surgeons. Titanium Plate. Anyway, the operation took about an hour and a quarter and I missed the whole thing, waking up in the recovery room. The nerve block was quite effective as I couldn't move my left arm at all, but it all came back in a couple of hours. I should be here until Monday. My friend Tom Hepburn is driving down from Auckland, a favor above the call of duty, to pick me up on Tuesday morning.
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Short Ride. Fresh Free Snapper. Blokes Camp.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/short-ride-fresh-free-snapper-blokes.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Saturday, February 9, 2008. Short Ride. Fresh Free Snapper. Blokes Camp. It was a short ride today, just under 30km with a couple of "moderate" hills from Opotiki to Hawai. The next practical stop would be Te Kaha at 70km from Opotiki with several more hills in between, including a 200m high one just after here (my morning exercise tomorrow- or will it be morning torture? The grounds are actually quite nice, with trees and little gardens. there is a row of "baches" along the...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Heavy Hills. Too Much Stuff. Lighten Up?
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/heavy-hills-too-much-stuff-lighten-up.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Saturday, February 9, 2008. Heavy Hills. Too Much Stuff. Lighten Up? What's the problem and what to do? I obviously carried less last trip. Since I was staying in hostels, homestays and farmstays, I didn't carry a tent, ground sheet, sleeping bag, mattress, or cooking gear. I also had a smaller camera and computer. So, what do I have? Cook Kit- two small aluminum pans, plastic bowl and cup, knife, fork, spoon, micro espresso maker, foamer, lightweight butane stove, stove gas, mo...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Slippery Start. More Big Hills. Disappointing finish.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/slippery-start-more-big-hills.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Monday, February 11, 2008. Slippery Start. More Big Hills. Disappointing finish. Today, I had the choice of Waihau Bay at 25km or Hicks bay at 70km, with hills. I could have never made it to Hick's Bay. It is beginning to get abit discouraging as the hills are getting harder to climb and I don'tthink that they are getting any steeper. Then there are 3 short, but tall, hard climbs to get to Tikitiki on the next leg. I wonder where I can catch a bus? Port (N)Ohope. Cheddar Val...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Torrential Downpour. Short Ride Wanted. Yeah Right.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/torrential-downpour-short-ride-wanted.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Torrential Downpour. Short Ride Wanted. Yeah Right. After my day as a tourist in Rotorua, I came back to the camp hoping for an early start the next day and a ride towards Whakatane. Didn't happen. Fortunately, the floor was holding and the inside was mostly dry andeverything was still dry. I moved everything on top of the Thermarestjust to be sure. When I finally went back to the tent after the rain let up and the river stopped running through it, the...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Cool Night. Whakatane or Ohope? Gale Repeats.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/cool-night-whakatane-or-ohope-gale.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Wednesday, February 6, 2008. Cool Night. Whakatane or Ohope? I seem to be a glutton for punishment and the wind does not abate (a familiar refrain). The ride today was eventful only in its length. A 70km slog to the coast, ending at Port Ohope. Most of my ride today was on the main road from Rotorua to Whakatane, which was fairly busy, but it really got heavy after it crossed Route 2. But I got into Whakatane around 1pm. Not many photos toda:. I caught your blog on my google ale...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Gray Again. Lots of Onions. Old Campers.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/gray-again-lots-of-onions-old-campers.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Friday, February 1, 2008. Gray Again. Lots of Onions. Old Campers. Today's journey was a relatively short one, 39.96 km, from the Te Aroha Holiday park to the Opal Hot Springs Holiday Park, outside Matamata. I made a stop at the new Kaimai Cheese Company (est.2005) factory and cafe. I had a cafe latte and the only small cheesy item from their menu, a piece of delicious cheesecake (and before lunch- life on the road is tough! I think she has been here at this campground the whole...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: Port (N)Ohope. Cheddar Valley Pottery. Big Trucks.
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008/02/port-nohope-cheddar-valley-pottery-big.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Friday, February 8, 2008. Port (N)Ohope. Cheddar Valley Pottery. Big Trucks. For some reason, I found the campground at the end of Ohope Beach to be somewhat depressing. It must have been the disheveled end of the season look of a holiday camp at a too popular vacation spot. So, I left Port (N)Ohope fairly early and headed to Opotiki,a town we have visited in the past, the gateway town on the way to the East Cape circuit and only 40km away. I'm staying at the Opotiki Holiday par...
nz2008.magnell.org
New Zealand 2008 Journal: January 2008
http://nz2008.magnell.org/2008_01_01_archive.html
New Zealand 2008 Journal. Thursday, January 31, 2008. Mostly Cloudy. Long Flat Roads. Te Aroha. There's nothing like a good night's sleep, and I've had nothing like a good night's since I've been on the road. I'm not sure that the Thermarest and I are cut out for each other. A couple of more tries and it will be time for a good hotel (or at least a clean cabin). When I got up this morning and was going over to the office, to get some yogurt from the camp store, there was a trio of motorcycles, packed for...
