Back in 2001 - Paul, Eliza (3), Karen & Sylvie (1)
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A big THANK
YOU!!! Our
New Zealand expedition was generously funded by the Yosemite
National Institutes and the Matthew
Baxter Memorial Fund.
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October 12, 2001 - El Portal/Yosemite, California, USA Oct 18 - Whangarei
Ahhhhh... We've made the long tiring journey,
across the equator, across the dateline, down to the end of the
earth! We're finally in New Zealand! The hassles of
airport transfers with huge piles of luggage were actually quite
smooth. I was constantly looking at our mountain of stuff
and moaning, while Karen kept saying, "remember Paul, we
have 4 vehicles and 2 passengers with us!"
We were "collected" at the airport
by new friends Paul Doherty and 3 year-old Maddie, and are
staying at their home up north in Whangarei. Eliza and
Maddie have become wonderful buddies, so much so that we worry
about their separation tomorrow! Tommorrow they'll drive
us up to Cape Reinga to begin our ride... It will be so
good to finally be on the road!
I am happy to say that the stars are out
tonight, and I have NEVER seen any of these ones! It feels
so excellent to be charting new territory, to feel really at
home and comfortable traveling here, yet be disoriented at the
same time! There is nothing as wonderful as exploring a
new place!
Speaking of which, a few people asked us to
check the drainage down here in the southern hemisphere, and
it's a consistent "clockwise." I hope that
settles things!
Pictured above is our first riding day, Oct.20, at Tapotupotu Beach... We were driven to Cape Reinga, visited the lighthouse at "land's end," then camped at this dramatic place! We awoke in a blowing monsoon of a storm, packed up, snapped this photo, then proceeded to push our heavily laden rigs 3 kms up a steeep muddy gravel road. Eliza asked, "daddy why aren't you on your bicycle?" We soon boarded the bikes, and trundled along for 20 more kilometers of rolling gravel and mud before hitting our first pavement... We would have made better time if I'd had windshield wipers for my glasses. What a downpour! We were on the way south!
Nov 22 - Thanksgiving Day - Kaikoura! Nov 23 - The day after Thanksgiving Dec 17, 2001 - BLUFF!!! The "Land's End" of southern New Zealand
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