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Day 18 - 18th November 2012
Rest Day at Orewa
Rest Day at Orewa
Interesting New Zealand facts:
Here’s a really good reason to visit New Zealand – there are no snakes in the country!
There are also no nuclear power stations in New Zealand.
Here’s a really good reason to visit New Zealand – there are no snakes in the country!
There are also no nuclear power stations in New Zealand.
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PREVIEW:-
Orewa is a beach-side town.
Time can be spent relaxing here – there are hot thermal pools just “over the hill” in Waiwera – or it is not too far to travel back into the city of Auckland.
The main thing to do today is relax and re-charge - the next three days won't be easy!!
Orewa is a beach-side town.
Time can be spent relaxing here – there are hot thermal pools just “over the hill” in Waiwera – or it is not too far to travel back into the city of Auckland.
The main thing to do today is relax and re-charge - the next three days won't be easy!!
REVIEW:-
How good it felt to be able to sleep in, until 7:00 am - and then to have a leisurely breakfast!!! I guess there is so much need for a tough "mental" attitude on a ride like this. We were certainly ready for a rest day though - but there were still things to do!!
High priority was to get Margie and Anne's bikes attended to so that they would be fit for the final 3 HUGE days we are going to have to make it to the Cape!! Luckily for us, local bike shop "Bike Me" - Daniel Hart - attended to both bikes straight away, so they will be ready to roll tomorrow.
The laundry at the Top 10 Orewa Holiday Park burst into life with loads of wet, muddy cycling clothes as well as a catch up on other general laundry. The day was fine, but the wind horrendous, and we were thankful that we were not riding today - and hoping that it will drop tomorrow!! Apart from constantly blowing the clothes off the line - it did dry everything in rapid time!
Later in the morning, Margie tootled off to visit friends for the day, and Don and Annie rested and caught up with family and friends.
One thing I was really looking forward to today was meeting one of our "sponsors" who has become an extremely enthusiastic supporter and follower of our big adventure - Julie Bonner and her husband Andrew from Toi Toi Wines. We have been wonderfully provided with Toi Toi Sauvignon Blanc from the Bluff - and today - they delivered supplies - "sparkling" supplies for when we complete our journey and reach Cape Reinga!! Toi Toi Sparkling Rose and Toi Toi Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc are now stowed in our van - ready to be put in the fridge on the last day, and "uncorked" in 3 days time!!!! What incentive!!!!
Julie - I do thank you for this support - loved meeting both you and Andrew today - and - of course - loved meeting Dan the white/cream Border Collie (apologies for suggesting he was some sort of cross-bred)!! Thanks for taking the time to come out and see us - appreciate that ................. and I LOVE my new jacket!!!! Pat is VERY jealous!
The "rest" of the "rest" day flew by - it was 3:00 pm before we "lunched" - so I that became dinner. As I wrote this - I could look out and see Pohutukawa trees starting to flower - and I also noted - that the wind has dropped!! Maybe the weather Gods are going to smile on us tomorrow!!
It will be an early night for all tonight - as we prepare for the last huge 3 days!!!!
While we have hit each days target to date, I have been harbouring a nagging doubt about my plans through this section and have been really thinking perhaps I should have had two shorter days in here, meaning 4 days from here to the Cape instead of the 3 big ones planned! Too late to change things now - we'll just have to push on!!
How good it felt to be able to sleep in, until 7:00 am - and then to have a leisurely breakfast!!! I guess there is so much need for a tough "mental" attitude on a ride like this. We were certainly ready for a rest day though - but there were still things to do!!
High priority was to get Margie and Anne's bikes attended to so that they would be fit for the final 3 HUGE days we are going to have to make it to the Cape!! Luckily for us, local bike shop "Bike Me" - Daniel Hart - attended to both bikes straight away, so they will be ready to roll tomorrow.
The laundry at the Top 10 Orewa Holiday Park burst into life with loads of wet, muddy cycling clothes as well as a catch up on other general laundry. The day was fine, but the wind horrendous, and we were thankful that we were not riding today - and hoping that it will drop tomorrow!! Apart from constantly blowing the clothes off the line - it did dry everything in rapid time!
Later in the morning, Margie tootled off to visit friends for the day, and Don and Annie rested and caught up with family and friends.
One thing I was really looking forward to today was meeting one of our "sponsors" who has become an extremely enthusiastic supporter and follower of our big adventure - Julie Bonner and her husband Andrew from Toi Toi Wines. We have been wonderfully provided with Toi Toi Sauvignon Blanc from the Bluff - and today - they delivered supplies - "sparkling" supplies for when we complete our journey and reach Cape Reinga!! Toi Toi Sparkling Rose and Toi Toi Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc are now stowed in our van - ready to be put in the fridge on the last day, and "uncorked" in 3 days time!!!! What incentive!!!!
Julie - I do thank you for this support - loved meeting both you and Andrew today - and - of course - loved meeting Dan the white/cream Border Collie (apologies for suggesting he was some sort of cross-bred)!! Thanks for taking the time to come out and see us - appreciate that ................. and I LOVE my new jacket!!!! Pat is VERY jealous!
The "rest" of the "rest" day flew by - it was 3:00 pm before we "lunched" - so I that became dinner. As I wrote this - I could look out and see Pohutukawa trees starting to flower - and I also noted - that the wind has dropped!! Maybe the weather Gods are going to smile on us tomorrow!!
It will be an early night for all tonight - as we prepare for the last huge 3 days!!!!
While we have hit each days target to date, I have been harbouring a nagging doubt about my plans through this section and have been really thinking perhaps I should have had two shorter days in here, meaning 4 days from here to the Cape instead of the 3 big ones planned! Too late to change things now - we'll just have to push on!!
PICTURES FROM THE DAY:
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"Long" is a relative term. A minute can seem like a month when you're pedalling uphill
- Lance Armstrong |
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