Saturday 17 December 2016

The Last Fritter

What a great end to the white baiting season. After a very disappointing season I wasn't sure wether I could be bothered setting up the net for the last 3 days of the season but I'm so glad I did. It might of been only enough for a feed but a feed is all you need. Such a shame everyone doesn't take that stance and there really would be enough for everyone, not just now but in the future too.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Working 9 to 5

An interesting month from shearing alpaca's to working 9 to 5. Travelling in and out of Whakatane to work on a caravan in the plumbers workshop. Just too normal. Amazing how quickly the stress builds up and you slip back into bad habits. How does working 9 to 5 do that to you? Sure makes you appreciate the weekends though.

Sunday 9 October 2016

September 2016

House sitting finished, 'Clean up Matata' done and time to hit the road properly again. Yeah. I shouldn't sound so positive as there are some benefits of house sitting.
Number 1, it's a great opportunity to do some maintenance on the vehicle, underseal done, inverter fitted to power/charge tools and oh yes the all important shelf/slot made for his lordships whisky bottle. But secondly and most importantly it's a good time to reflect on why we chose to live on the road in a little black box. It sure makes me appreciate our simple, minimal, nomadic life.

Tuesday 13 September 2016

August 2016

House sitting in Thornton. A good opportunity to give the truck a spring clean and for Mark to do a little bit of maintenance while I dig out my whitebaiting net and head to the river for the start of the whitebaiting season.

Monday 8 August 2016

July 2016

Back in the Whakatane area again. It doesn't feel that long since we were here last but actually its been nearly 6 months. Where does the time go?

Monday 4 July 2016

June 2016

Eventually we made it down to Cape Palliser to see the North Island's, most southern lighthouse. A few little detours via a few of our favourite spots, the odd job here and there and back to Napier for the sunny weather.


Putangirua Pinnacles Track.

Lovely winters days walk on the Putangirua Pinnacles track.
I'm not sure how we did it because we couldn't find it on the map, but we managed to combine the lookout track with the walk up, or should I say the walk up and down the streambed. The gravel below your feet makes it a pretty slippy walk so you definitely need to be wearing sturdy shoes. Worth it though for the spectacular views from both perspectives.

There is a DOC camp at the reserve too but unfortunately at this time of year it was just a bit too shaded in the valley for our solar. Excellent freedom camping spot just round the corner at  Ngawihi though on the way to Cape Palliser.

Monday 13 June 2016

The Lakes

We managed to make it to the Lakes around Rotorua before the cold, wet, winter weather set in. We even managed to a hook a trout. Well the boys did. I just like to paddle. I think I might of had my last dip for the season though. Winter is definitely here.

Monday 9 May 2016

To Sleepout or Not

We've spent a good part of this month parked up outside some very nice little self contained helpx sleepouts while up north. So rewarding to know we have made a contribution to make these electrically safe and more functional for generations of helpxers to come.

Whangarei Falls

Only a short 1.8km walk but well worth the effort. Feel really guilty we didn't jog it but oh well next time.

Sunday 3 April 2016

Trounson Kauri Park DOC

Only a very small DOC site but it does have its benefits. Hot showers and cooking facilities. The walk was only a short 1.8km but it made a good jogging track. Our jogging fitness isn't up there at the moment, as it can be quite hard finding appropriate routes when you move around so much. Still I was pleased we managed to loop it 3 times, covering about 5.4km by my calculations.

It always pays to walk the track and check the terrain/route the day before you jog. In this case it was handy to clear a few branches that had fallen down in the storm. Other times it's saved us costly detours when we've missed a sign going one way to see it clear as day going back the other way. Or even helped us make the decision that the route might be too slippy/steep to jog. Good idea to check the tides too because if part of your route is down the beach it can be pretty hard on your legs running in the soft sand at high tide.

Rainbow Falls

A lovely, cool couple of hours walk from Rainbows Falls, Kerikeri NZMCA Park to the Stone House in the shade of the trees. Some nice swimming spots on the way and if you are brave you can even explore behind the waterfall. Next time maybe!

Oh yes and I omitted to say the Falls are just a hop over the style from the NZMCA Park, which is a top place to stay.

Matai Bay

Somebody told me there were 500 steps on the 2hr walk from Matai Bay to Bland Bay. They just neglected to tell me that they are all up hill if you walk anticlockwise. It goes without saying that I'll be going clockwise next time.

I Love You DOC Pass

I'm sure I've told you before, but I now love you even more. Your great locations and facilities just got better the further north we went. First it was a cold showers at beautiful beach locations then just as the weather changed and the storms began to brew. A sheltered spot, hot showers and cooking facilities too.

Sunday 28 February 2016

Lifestyle Choices

Our last promised helpx electrics are completed and we are making our way north. It has been good to meet new people and gain an appreciation of their lifestyle choices, while at the same time helping them with their electrics, but it is now time for us to spend some time exploring our lifestyle of choice which is to travel. I'm not saying we won't be doing anymore helpx electrics, just maybe only small/short jobs with plenty of time to explore in-between.

Sunday 7 February 2016

Suburbia

January again and time to 'House Sit' for 2 weeks while everyone else is on holiday. Not that I'm jealous, as the  roads are pretty busy at this time of the year and most of the freedom camping spots are pretty full. Plus it won't be long now until the last long weekend of the summer is over and all the spots will be available once more. Roll on February the 9th.

I have noticed though, that the longer we are on the road, the harder it is to go back to suburbia and 'House Sit' (AKA 'Garden Sit' or in this instance 'Drive Sit' as we were parked on the drive and slept in the landy). It only takes us a couple of days now until we start to get itchy feet again and are ready to move on -lawn mowers, traffic, loud voices, banging doors - It does make me wonder if we'll be 'Drive Sitting' again? Well not for so long any hows!

At least we had some Electrics to do to keep us busy but at the end of the day suburbia is suburbia and it doesn't matter how close to the beach you are or how pretty the suburb is they all seem the same to me.

Friday 5 February 2016

Omokoroa Peninsula Walk

If you combine all the small walking tracks around Omokoroa Peninsula into one it gives you a good 2 to 3 hour walk. I recommend you start from the top of the golf course down Kayelene Place, as it is much easier to find the walkway from there, which curves its way along the eroding edge of the golf course. At first having unsuccessfully tried to find the track across the golf course from the opposite direction I had thought the strategically placed - No Entry- signs were protectionism by the golf club, but having seen the erosion followed by a quick read regarding walkways and the Queens Chain in NZ, I now believe the golf club are probably well within their rights to project their land and hope that they continue to enable the walkway to remain open for locals and tourists alike. Either way if you are in the area I recommend you do the walk sooner rather than later so you don't miss out.

Te Puna Quarry Park

The sign says just 45mins for the circular walk, but by the time you've taken a few detours to look at the different gardens and sculptures, probably best you give yourself a good couple of hours. Not to mention time for the big kids to play. Plus maybe an extra half an hour or so if you want to wonder down/up to the waterfall.

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Little Waipa

Little Waipa to Arapuni Dam and back. 14 km - 3hr walk via the cool suspension bridge. Part of the Waikato Bike Trails. Not sure exactly how far but it would be much shorter to walk from Jones Landing and oh yes a lot easier on the legs to bike.

Sunday 3 January 2016

Cruising

Cruising around the Bay of Plenty and back to the Waikato for the end of the year.