Although our final 5 day adventure in NZ (Northland, Bay of Islands) was a bit of a disaster due to a torential downpour that resulted in severe flooding, we were travelling via our 1997 Starlet 3 door (3rd door is the hatchback) rental car and not via bicycles. While we were physically unable to see what is allegedly some of the most beautiful (and visited) parts of this region of NZ, it gave us plenty of time to rest, write, sit still and watch the Lord of the Rings--things we did very little of while on our bikes.
Before leaving NZ, we began reflecting on our adventure(s) there. We discussed some of the places we had been, especially those that we really really enjoyed, and many seem like they occured a year ago, not a month ago.
We went with the intention of selling or shipping home our bikes, but after a week of cycle touring and meeting and cycling with Sofie and Manu (Belgians who have been cycling the world for 13 months), we decided we would box up our bikes in Auckland and take them with us. We will probably not cycle in SE Asia (too hot), but we hope to do some cycle touring in China, although we're still searching for a "cycle China" book (not sure it exists). We then plan to cycle in Croatia (and probably Hungary and Slovenia) and France and Spain, and then if we're still going, in S. America.
New Zealand is a wonderful place to travel, especially if you are not so keen on developing countries. We often discussed (and half planned) a cycle tour across the U.S. and we imagine you would have days (if not weeks) where you would see the same scenery (i.e. RAGBRAI/Iowa). Not so in NZ. We only averaged about 35-40 miles a day, but there were very few days (if any) in which the scenery stayed the same. Although we would get tired, hungry (always very hungry) and even cranky (Ari more so than Lisa), we were never bored.
Our time off the bikes was as rewarding. Our two "off bike" weeks in the south island included Mt. Pupka (previous post) and four days kayaking and backpacking in the Abel Tasman National Park. Abel Tasman was and is a magical place and of course we had good weather. Our last night we camped at Anipai Beach. There was one other couple campling there, otherwise we had the whole, long beach to ourselves. No roads, no cars, noone else. The full moon lit up the light blue water, the golden sand, and the dense forest in which we camped. Magical...
We celerated Ari's birthday on the North Island cycling the East Cape (E. side of the N. Island, where the movie Whale Rider was filmed). We spent 6 days cycling, including one day in which we (inadvertently) cycled 92 km (approx. 55 miles) through very hilly areas and into the night. After six hours and 45 minutes of cycling (when we finally found a camping ground), Lisa was reconsidering her choice in a mate but held it together because the next day was my birthday and she couldn't divorce me during "Birthday Week."
When we reflect upon and remember NZ fondly, especially the people. Whether it was reacquainting with old friends (we spent 4 days with my camp counselor buddie of 12 years ago, Paul Julian and his family at the Julians Berry Farm), meeting friends of friends (my brother's friend Hazl who was in Japan with Adam as exchange students 13 years ago), or making new friends out of strangers (see previous posts), the people will be a big part of our memory. The beautiful, actually spectacular and never ending, geography and scenery will be our other lasting memory.
We are now in Bangkok, where we have been for the last three days, and leave for Cambodia (Angkor Wat) early tomorrow. We were in Bangkok longer than desired due to waiting for our Vietnam visas, which will enable us to enter Vietnam after Cambodia. We then hope to travel north through Vietnam, into Laos, and then back into Thailand from the north. On June 2nd, we fly to Shanghai to visit and travel with Eli and Susannah.
Love to you all...
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