Pearls On Wheels

After three full days in Auckland catching up with friends and a memorable afternoon tea at Pt Chevalier with Mary and friends, it was time Time to head home South via Paeroa, Hubbard territory To Waihi Beach for lunch with cousin Marie, and on to cousin Brian in Ohope. Arriving just as the fisherman arrived home with his bag filled with flounder, my favourite. Fresh fish for dinner and dawn-caught flounder for breakfast... Then south through the Waioeka Gorge, We were lucky because flooding had closed the road the day before. For us the sun was shining, the road was cleared, hallelujah. Through myriad types of landscapes Farm scapes Seas scapes and threatening cloud scapes To Masterton for the night An early start, over the Remutakas (the new road signs spell it this way) Over the Hayward Hill to cousin Margaret and Jim at Titahi Bay To Karori to catch up with Team Kiwi originals Shirl (Ken was away fishing) Down the hill, past the Beehive the NZ seat of government To the InterIslande...

It is twelve months since we rode into Ushuaia with Ken and Mark. What a day of hallelujahs that was. Since then we have travelled to far flung places  - Australia(motorcycle circumnavigation), Botswana. Croatia.. We have loved being with family and friends and meeting people along the way. We are on the road from Auckland to Queenstown. We began the big Americas bike ride in Queenstown in May 2012. This trip is going to be a leisurely ride almost the length if New Zealand. There is something special afoot. Being on a motorcycle journey ensures that. First stop  on this journey was at Putaruru with friends from when we lived in Niue, Brian and Shirley.  Memories of life on an isolated atoll came flooding back as we talked. Charlie Clown, my first born, put in an appearance. He is 42 this year. Shirley with Charlie During the next hour or two on the bike my mind was filled with  images prompted by Shirley's amazing photo journal. The day's rid...