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| Map of Travels |
| AOTEAROA . . . (Maori for NZ) While Sunshine relaxes peacefully in Alan's backyard, earning a well deserved rest, I left American roads, for a bit of holiday myself, visiting new friends in their home islands of New Zealand. For the month of March I'll have the opportunity to ride two wheels instead of three. The journals to follow will detail my experiences. T'was a long journey to this land down under, down under. More than 30 hours passed, most of it jammed into a seat barely big enough for a tightly formed body, let alone someone with more hips. The aircraft's little windows framed our familiar moon as it climbed to back-light towering, dirty white clouds. Pressing my nose against cold plexiglass and shielding my eyes from interior lights, I could see a multitude of unfamiliar stars, glued against a black void. An experience not to be missed. Your reporter was finally delighted to hear the 747's landing gear grind down as the lights of Auckland welcomed weary travelers. Suffering from serious jet lag I'll write soon. I'm here in New Zealand with my friends and ready to roll...soon. * * * * Isn't strange that all you folks are hanging by your heels while I'm standing tall. Well that's not quite accurate. I'm not so tall at the moment, since I'm still energy low even after a long night's uninterrupted rest. I got a prescription for a half dozen sleeping capsules to ease the long trans-pacific flight. I took one last night just before I finally collapsed and headed for bed. Within seconds of putting down the water glass I was zzzing my way into dream land. Unfortunately one good night's rest is not quite enough to fill my energy well. I got up late this morning, headed for a rejuvenating shower, dressed in my casual T and jeans and made my way to the dining room where Faye laid on breakfast items of cereal (there were three choices, different than the myriad choices in the Stoyates, sorry . . .I mean states. She also laid on tubs of creamy, hazelnut filled yogurt (incidentally, the best I've ever eaten) fruit and coffee. Faye wasn't a stay-a-bed like your reporter; having left earlier for work. Tonite they're are planning a barbecue (I never heard them say Barbie) so I can meet some of their friends. Hopefully I'll be charming , funny and awake. I'm sitting in Keevin's office looking out into a lovely neighborhood full of trees and well kept homes. A post-woman delivers mail on her bicycle fitted with large panniers and a very large basket above the front wheel.. She's dressed in a bike helmet, shorts, sneakers and somewhat colorful bike togs. The differences in this environment and my own, or the many that I've seen while traveling are most often quite subtle. Of course they drive on the "wrong" side of the road and the profligate road signage is different but I feel most comfortable here. I shouldn't forget I was close, very close to being sideswiped (by a car) because I looked the wrong way (a lapse of consciousness) as I stepped off the curb. This is the kind of thing one should keep in mind or suffer grievous pain or God forbid, early death (no matter how old we are, death is always too early. (Death is one thing but the bureaucratic red tape involved just to ship one home is really not worth dying for). Kevin (Keevin...they do talk funny here) returned from his errands. An hour or so later after he cleaned his new Mercedes we motored into downtown Hamilton (a very nice city filled with trees, parks and a lovely slow moving river. We picked a sidewalk table and waited for Lee, Phil and their Sheila's to meet us for lunch. Conversation was fast and funny . . . I think. I'm getting mighty tired of hearing myself say what? What? What? (Joanie...where are you when I need you). Joanie was my unsung heroine, a much appreciated interpreter; saving me from a great deal of angst when we were together on a photo shoot in South Carolina a year and a half ago.I had a tough time with the slow southern accent. She was born in the south and never lost her ear for the drawl. So here it is late afternoon and I'm beginning to punch the wrong keys . . . Time for a nap. I should be up to the rigors of motorcycling tomorrow so we'll break out the bikes and I'll begin to broaden my Kiwi horizons. Until then. |
| 2005 - Journals 1 & 2 |
| FOLLOW THE YELLOW LINE Motorcycle Touring with Stuart Davis and His Side Car www.followtheyellowline.com |