Fourth day

Today we traveled from Picton to Bulls. We shared a table on the ferry with a couple from Levin and the time passed pleasantly.  The sea in the sounds was green but once in the strait the water was  charcoal. Into Whanganui - a - Tara and the waters lightened again.
We had lunch in the Sunday market and went to Te Papa,just to see the Gallipoli exhibition.  It is a very emotional time. There is such an absence is speech. Few adults say anything.  There is mostly the voices of the soldiers telling their stories. Very little children, those too young to understand the gravity of war,and the raw emotions of adults, call to their daddies, and that actually adds to the pathos of it all.
Once I hot Ron into the correct lane I slept ad I had not slept at all well last night.
We arrived at this lovely little campground in Bulls just as the owner was about to leave to spend his new years eve elsewhere. Lucky eh.
And now,at 9 pm,it is time to prepare for bed,with the traffic roaring past regularly.  I am trusting that it will stop begore long. Surely people must all have something else to do tonight than to drive by our campsite.

Third day of northward travel

What a lovely way to wake this morning, by the sea. All night it sounded like wind in the trees and I had to keep checking that the walls o fthe tent were still. But it was just the sea rolling in. We packed leisurely and I wondered at the three vehicles that pulled up right in front of our site, almost blocking us in, but they were just waiting for us to leave so they could take our site.
We went to Omaka Heritage Aviation Centre - amazing place! We had coffee there. It came with a jelly plane. Not a jetplane, but in the shape of a vintage plane. Very cool.
Then we went to a lovely little gallery near the junction of the Nelson highway and Rapuara Road. We tried to find The Ned winery but without any luck, so we went to the Moa Brewery instead. It has changed since the last tme we were there. It is much bigger and much busier.

Day 2

The drive up the coast is as glorious as ever.  There are interesting changes and it would be nice to be able to stop more often. The water has changed from the beautiful blue green close to shore to a murky pale green.  It looks as if the rivers are flooding and pouring their silt into the ocean. But many of the rivers are only pools or trickles or have dried up completely. Even the mighty Clarendon looked less feisty than we saw it last.
Tonight we have stopped at Marfell's Beach,a DOC campsite. The sea is rolling in, breaker after breaker, a constant meditative backdrop.  It has cooled considerably and clouds are gathering. 

And we are starting

We finally packed and left Gore in beautiful sunshine about 12.15. Always there are those final things to be done which take a little longer than you expect.  We had a pleasant drive and stopped for lunch in Milton.  Ron has been thinking about learning archery in his retirement and,serendipitously, we spoke to a couple in the cafe who were part of an archery club in Balclutha.
We called in to see my friend who is home from England for a holiday. It is such fun catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
Aunty Colleen was not at home in Timaru but we later found out she had a fall and was in hospital. 
My big brother was at home in Ashburton when we called for a cuppa. 
We stayed the night with Shona and Peter in Christchurch. Polly was pleased to see me.

Unexpected training

At the very hottest part of the day my family decided that the drunken talk of the night before should be made a fact. So off we went to Croydon Bush to walk to Grant's Knob. Just over 2km relentlessly uphill and just under 3 down. I am somewhat shattered it would be fair to say. The rata was blooming and the bush was scarlet.  It is flowering early this year.  All the trapping by the Tramping Club is having a good effect.  There is more rata than I have seen before and there was fairly constant birdsong.

The route

This is the route we will follow. We have books by the Kennett Brothers.  The Tour Aotearoa is a brevet which is done in between 10 to 30 days but we ae NOT going to try to do that. We intend to enjoy this. It is the break between work and retirement.  Sort of like a gap year in reverse.

Thank you

This morning I went for a radio interview with Cave FM. And Wendy put the Givealittle page on line last night. $250 already. This is quite exciting - and very daunting!

Marketing

Here is the link for the Givealittle page:  https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ride-for-refuge

It is starting to seem quite real and very close now. Yesterday Wendy and I went to  the bank and opened an account for the Givea little page. All monies donated will go to the Gore Women's Refuge.
Wendy has also arranged a radio interview with Caveman Radio. 106.40FM to take place on the 21st. And now I can't sleep!

here: https://travellingwithcathrina.blogspot.co.nz/

Ride for Refuge - Givealittle

To help raise funds for the Gore Women's Refuge and to help stamp out domestic violence. - Givealittle is the place to donate and fundraise for causes and charities online.

GIVEALITTLE.CO.NZ

Gold Creek

Today took me out via Gold Creek and then back to town. I met our neighbour, Bill, on the other side of the bridge on my outward journey and he told me I was a long way from home. I pointed out that he was further from home than me.
I discovered where the fire yesterday had been when I saw a burnt out hay shed. It was still smoking and the smell stayed with me for about a kilometer. When I turned on to Gold Creek Road it was a case of onwards and upwards. And just when I thought I had got up the hill... there was another bigger and better.
The horses that I passed yesterday were in a different paddock today but they still listened when I talked to them. There was another which I thought was hurrying down the paddock to  meet me but he was just running to meet his friends in the next paddock so that they could share their news. Being horses they are far to well bred to simply gossip!
It's a great view from Palisade Road across over Gore.
Coming back into town I passed a display of vintage farm machinery. It looked quite busy and should, I thought, have been more widely advertised.
The river is very low. I don't think I have seen it so low so early in the summer. It does not bode well for the rest of the season. A mother duck and her seven ducklings hurried down stream as I came close. She looked disgusted when I drew up beside her and she had to turn back upstream into the current.
As I returned across the bridge I stopped to watch a fly fisherman casting. Hs companion was on the bridge giving directions as to where to cast. A little unsporting,  I thought. The fish was quite large and very well camouflaged.I hope it was catch and release. While I was watching I felt a spot of rain. I had been considering adding a few extra kilometers, but decided that the shortest route might be best. Up Johnson and Thistle Streets, no stopping, a lot of puffing, and only a little bit wet. My hi vis jacket is not waterproof. It does cut the wind though.

I just love the clouds we get in Southland. This is a view of the Hokonui Hills from the Gold Creek Road.

Otamita Bridge Ride

Lovely morning for a ride.  Not too hot. There was a surprising amount of traffic on the road though.  I hate those big utes,often with trailers on, that don't pull out to pass. And it always surprises me that people towing horse floats don't give a lot of room either. They would hate it if a vehicle didn't give them room when they were riding. Share the road.
And while I am having a moan I have to mention litter. What is it with people that they think it is acceptable to chuck out bottles, fast food packets, plastic, etc on the roadside. It is not so noticeable when in a car but on a bike you see it all.
But the birds still sing,the sun still shines,and the stock still watch me pass by.

Did I mention that I have had my ride pimped? New stem to raise the handlebars and a slightly wider seat for my very well padded rear. It does allow me to ride in a more upright position and my neck does not get quite so sore. It lifts that front bag right away from the wheel too - no rubbing.

Why?

Why have I decided to do this ride from Cape Reinga to Bluff? 
I like cycling but haven't done enough to look like a cyclist.  In fact, I think I look like someone who has led a rather sedentary life and who enjoys food. 
When I decided to retire I thought that I did not want to just slide into retirement and vegetate. I needed a plan. 
I had been going to the gym and on the loop of songs there was one about living a life you will remember. It was written by Nicholas “RAS” Furlong.
What was I going to do in my life that I would remember. I certainly didn't want to do the same as the video, which involved a lot of jumping off very high places. 
So ride New Zealand it was. And if I was doing it then it needed an even greater purpose. If I can raise some money for the Gore Refuge then that will be a bonus. 
My husband, Ron, is going to be my support. We start the journey south on the 7th January. 

The last day

Today was my last day at work. I cleared my desk and washed it down, took my photos off the wall and said goodbye. I managed fine until I had to say goodbye to Mary. We have had our differences over nine years but we have managed to get over them. Mary has been a great and knowledgable colleague, always ready to share her sharp brain. We complemented each other.
Mary, Lynne and I went to Mandeville for a lovely lunch. How pleasant to be able to relax together. For so much of the time we have been like ships that pass in the night - only it's day time - with one coming into the office as the other leaves. And when we were in there at the same time we were each busy with our own work. Time to build relationships is vital. We need to appreciate each other because there is not a hell of a lot of appreciation given in the job. Still I did enjoy it.
I started in education in 1957 and I finished a full 60 years later in 2017. 11 years at school, 3 years at training college, and the rest teaching with a bit of time out now and then to raise a family but always relieving except for 1989 when I did not go into a classroom except as parent help.
I will miss this but I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RIDE.

End of an era.

Today a farewell was held for me by my colleagues. They told me many things about myself that surprised me and moved me. It didn't make me sorry that I was leaving though. This is the right time and the right decision. I can't wait for the next step. I am not sure when I will ever wear fishnet gloves or go shopping with oversize yellow glasses but there may be an occasion. You never can tell.