The time is nearly upon us to say goodbye...

Really? I get to look forward to this?

The time is nearly upon us to say goodbye New Zealand.  It is hard to believe that we have been living in, depressingly rainy at the moment, Tauranga since April and that our return flight is less than a month away.  Say what?  But, I thought you got a sweet 6 month contract as a data analyst.  Um, shut your sassy mouth.  I'm telling a story here.  Beth is returning as planned early next month and I have yet to change my return flight.  It is on my list of things to do in the next couple days. I did try to get Vayama to exchange my ticket to be used for the gnarly 2013 titanium butt-a-thon.  However, they gave me the line that you have to use the same airlines as your departing flight.  So jet setting around to various countries isn't going to work.  I'll have to buy another ticket for what I already laid out as my itinerary.  You ready for it?  In order not to waste a half a ticket, I'll be coming back to MN, for a brief period (see the very scientific term '*smack* nom nom *groan*': the time it takes me to eat ribs), before coming back down to Kiwi-land to start my journey back to MN. 

 

Come on New Zealand, make these!

So what is new?  We are moving out of our flash digs here next week.  I'm moving in with 3 strangers, well they are not complete strangers any more as I have met them.  This place is 2 blocks from where we are now and its super flash.  It is right on Pilot Bay, so I'll be able to take the SUP out with ease and still run around/up the Mount.  I may even get to go sailing again if my time frees up.  My rent is considerably cheaper than before and we have a grill.  So maybe I can find a place that sells ribs here and I can smoke my own.  Robert, send me some recipes for some dry rubs.  I'll be moving in to the place this weekend as next week will be very frantic.  Maybe I should smoke an entire lamb.  I think I know where are few are.

Get the grill ready and look out for the cops.

Besides officially moving out of the Atlas next week, its also my birthday.  Turning 33.  For those that want to get me something.  I have a list of things I could use on the 2013 bike adventure.  Leave a comment and I'll let you know what I could use.  Back to the topic at hand, we are also heading up to Auckland where I will see Beth off.  She isn't departing permanently, but she is going across the ditch to visit Australia.  I'll be doing something up in this area for a couple days as I wait for Skog to arrive.  I'm thinking of doing some freedom camping, aka tossing my bivy sack and sleeping bag on the ground some place off the road and seeing how I fare at being alone in the middle of nowhere.  Having never solo camped, I better know how it feels if I'm going to do it for 6 months.  Skog gets in early Friday morning and I'll be picking him up.  Not only is he our first friend to visit, he gets to experience my first time driving in a foreign country and on the wrong side of the car and road.  Lucky him.  We will head back to Tauranga to drop some a couple things I had him bring from the States at the new digs.  I have a feeling I'll be the best flatmate for those 3 weeks as I wont be there, but still paying for the room.  Then we will most likely head towards Taupo, Rotorua, and a couple other places before getting back to Auckland on Monday Night for our 1 week stint in Australia.  With Tongariro acting like a kid off his Ritalin, we may not get to do the 42nd Traverse, but we'll find some other place to explore by mountain bike. 

Hey Bri, if you are reading this: please contact your biker friends in Sydney to see if they have some bikes to loan out and if they can have a couple guys (us) crash with them.  Nah, I'm only serious about the bike part as I have no problem with hostels, unless the guy is sick and has the bottom-less bag of chips.  Ugh memories of my first couple nights in Japan last year.  Skog is already looking up places to eat in Australia that include some pretty awesome looking butchers and buffets.  Beth is likely to meet up with us here in Sydney before we all go to Queenstown.  She has a whirlwind 2 weeks planned with either scuba diving or snorkeling up in the Great Barrier Reef and planes, trains, and walking as her means of transportation. 

Will he be as excited?

In Queenstown, we'll be meeting up with my friend Michelle (former macpac cohort and biking partner) for some snowboarding and extreme (got to say it like the guys from Harold and Kumar) action.  We'll be on the S. Island for the remainder of their time in NZ not counting the departure window.  Doing what?  I can't really say, but meat will be eaten and bones may be broken.  As long as its not me that ends up like Gabe.  (Gabe is one of our tenants back home last recently destroyed his wrist.  I would have said break, but that would is not descriptive enough).  Then its the 3 days of airport action: Beth departs on the 9th, my cousin Mekayla arrives on the 10th, and then Skog leaves on the 11th.  I was supposed to return on the 12th, but I think I'm going to miss my flight for some reason.  I don't know about the international terminal, but the domestic has some pretty tasty tonkotsu ramen.  It will be weird to say goodbye and live here by myself, but I got to make and save some money so I can afford to do a short bike jaunt back to the house I left back in April.

Planning the next year: A Rough Estimate

Unique thoughts happen when riding

So Beth is leaving in about a month, well we are going over to Australia and the South Island for the last bit.  Originally the plan was for Skog to visit from the August 25th till Sept 11th and for Beth to return on the 9th and me to return on the 12th.  Those plans have now blown up.  Beth is still going home on time and so is Skog, but we'll be jumping around like Mexican Jumping Beans up until that time.  Beth is going over to Australia for a couple of weeks and will be departing before Skog gets here.  I'll be heading up North of Auckland for a couple days for some adventure.  Once Skog gets here, we'll be looking to play on mountain bikes in Rotorua and summit either Mt Taranaki or Mt Ruapehu.  Depending on the time, we might try to fit something else in before heading over to Australia ourselves.  We'll have about a week over there before we head down to Queenstown.  We'll be trying to hook up with my friend Michelle for some snowboarding even though she has been working 12 hour days, 6-6.  From there we have no set plans.  We may get to several other spots, but we'll let our plans be flexible.  I wont be returning home for some time as I have gotten a contract until January.

The kicker is I really want to bike back.  I understand that to most people this concept is either beyond them or they think I'm a nutter.  Yes, this is a long and some what crazy sounding task.  It will test my resolve and may hurt the bank, but I've been tossing some quick figures together and well here they are.  I have not estimated what it would cost other than when I looked at a plane ticket for multiple locations it would be under $3000, which didn't include my existing flight that needs to be changed.

New Zealand: Tauranga to Invercargill to see New Zealand at a slower pace: approximately 2400 km.
Australia: Sydney to Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef and eat a roo: approximately 2800 km.
Japan: Nagasaki to Aomori to sample as many different varieties of ramen as I can: approximately 1800 km.
US: San Francisco to Minneapolis to get back home: approximately  2000 miles.

So Grand Total:  ~10,000km at first glance at Google Maps

I figure about a month or just over for each leg other than the domestic one where it will take as long as it needs to take.  I wouldn't be getting back until it was Summer time in the US.  I know that it would be a long time away from Beth.  About 10 months, but I'm sure we can handle it.  I just hope my bike and bum can handle the daily riding as I have never done anything like this before.  Sure, I have done a few multi-day trips back home, but never sustained riding.  The plan would be to do 100+ km a day with a rest day here and there.  On riding days I would bike about an hour then get off the bike for 5-10 minutes of stretching before resuming.  Then breaking at mid-day for some off the bike fun.  The days would be longer as it would be summer in the Southern Hemisphere, I could bike for a longer time in the sun and not do any night riding.  I would also try to camp as much as possible to keep the trip as cost effective as possible and allowing my budget to go to my already bottomless pit of a stomach.  I'm busy typing up a list of gear and planning what I think I would need.  I've already talked to Gabe, our friend/bike mechanic/beer brewer/tenant/dessert eater, about getting my Surly Cross Check up to the task.  Its time to make a decision as my ticket already needs to be changed ASAP.

South Island Tales

Nite time view of Auckland.

Today Beth's parents landed in Auckland and we took a really long ride on Naked Bus to meet up with them.  I think I would rather just rent a car and actually drive then take the bus.  As much as I hate to drive in the US and haven't driven in NZ I don't like cold and uncomfortable rides in which I have no control of.  Then there is the time and distance difference.  If driven like a rational person would be about 2.5 hrs and the route taken for the company pushed it to about 4.5 hrs.  I wonder how much longer it is going to take to bus from Christchurch to Dunedin.  I think we are scheduled for 5.5 hrs.  I just hope I'll be able to either enjoy the ride or just sleep. 

Scared of heights?

Today, 09/07/2012, we wandered over to the Auckland Museum in the Parnell area.  Entry was a requested donation of $10.  The lower levels reminded me a lot of Te Papa in Wellington, but they did have a huge amount of space dedicated to military affairs on the 2nd level.  Here we got to see some gnarly early guns.  This included some early anti-tank guns that Conan might have trouble wielding.  These things were just massive.  This afternoon we checked into our swanky 2 bedroom hotel room at the Auckland Harbor Oaks.  We have a room on the 26th floor and we actually have a deck with no protection from jumping.  This is something that would not fly back in the US as the rate of jumpers would be too great.  On our way home we stopped and ate at Poderi Crisci Vineyard.  This was a much larger place than the store front would lead you to believe.  I felt like I was back in Argentina visiting Peter and Leanne.  The small entry way gave way to a large court yard and then a bar and enclosed restaurant.  We all settled in for pasta even though they had a wood fire pizza oven named Vesuvivo.  I ordered a pumpkin gnocchi with a blue cheese sauce topped with rocket and parmesan.  It was very tasty, but Beth and I had to have some dessert from a cafe down the street as they had a caramel slice topped with a chocolate chip cookie instead of the traditional chocolate layer.

That is right that is my single log bench.

It is 6:30pm and they are about to go down for the count.  I have to applaud their ability to stay up for most of the day.  We are watching the sport news and the announcers are just having a field day with the Andrew Murray and the finals.  The stuff they are able to say about people is just amazing.  I don't remember the exact quote about Mrs Federer, but it was something on the lines of that is the clap of the cold hearted bitch who knows that her husband just broke his opponent.  Tomorrow we are flying to Christchurch and then taking a long bus ride on to Dunedin.  We hit up JetStar for our flight to Christchurch.  I got to dine on Spicy Tonkotsu Pork Ramen in the airport as well.  Not as good as Tokyo, but damn tasty.

Spicy Tonkotsu Pork Ramen.

Couldn't cross the Bridge of Remembrance.

Quick little recap of Christchurch as we spent almost no time in the city.  There are a fair number of bike commuters in the city.  I saw several kitted out riders on their 29s and even a few brave souls on SS.  I say brave as I saw a few hills in the distance that would test even the best to ride up on a single gear.  We stayed in an interesting place that had 3 beds in a single room.  We stayed on a fairly busy street so the traffic could be heard all night long.  Glad I can sleep to music.  We did get out and wander the streets for the evening and even found an interesting place to geek out to.  But alas it was not to be as it was closed.  The place had dishes named after fantasy and sci-fi characters.  I was so going to eat me some Yoda or Dalek.  We did get to see the unfortunate destruction caused by the severe earthquake from last year.  The city will probably take a really long time to get back in order.  We wandered through outdoor art exhibits and even did a little grocery shopping at Countdown.  Every time I see the store, I start to sing "its the final countdown" and that is the only line I know of the song.  We ended up eating at Spagalimis Pizza as most things in the CBD are closed.  I did send out a tweet about places to eat and I got one back about Honeypot Cafe (which is only a couple blocks from the Countdown), but we were trying to eat at Astro Lounge, which unfortunately was closed.  We boarded the extremely well heated and screwed shut bathroom door Naked bus at 8am which meant an early morning as we had a 30 minute walk to the pick-up.  What happened for the next 5+ hours I can't really tell you.  I must have been rocked to sleep within a couple minutes and only woken up by Beth for bathroom breaks and lunch.  I did get to see some of the coast line and the mountains inland.  Everything around us seemed to be sheep or cattle.  I felt like I was in the Midwest minus the ocean and mountains.

Always take care when riding down tracks, getting off is tricky.

Dunedin: Do-knee-din not to be confused with dune-din.  We are staying at a backpackers just out of the inner octagon.  If you look at a map you'll understand.  We did a little wandering of the city today before becoming tourists.  Beth did not think my idea of crafting a tale of how we posted on lonelysinglemen.com for a tour guide was a good idea.  We were sold a tour of the area by the young chap, Richard, at the reception desk.  It just so happens that the person who gave us the tour was his father, Russell.  We started at 12:30 with a quick little jaunt around the CBD where he showed us the churches (June, I took some pictures for you!) and the railway station.  He also pointed out the Cadbury Factory, which we are attempting to take a tour of.  It being the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, the town is seeing a lot of action. 

I'm Russell and I like to take drive ms daisy.

We were giving a good commentary of the area and Russell is very knowledgeable.  I said to Beth more than once, that this spot or that spot would be good for dumping a body.  I think we are on tour with a serial killer.  Once again she says that isn't very nice to say.  I have to agree, but we are out in the middle of nowhere with a guy we don't know on a gravel road at a place unfamiliar to us.  Your imagination may get the better of you.  Russell is a very friendly and like able fellow and nothing like my crazy imagination makes him out to be.  I would totally recommend you do the tour with him, if you like to be driven around and conversed with.  It must be some sort of record, because I did not sleep in the van.  I don't recall the last time I was a passenger in any vehicle on a trip and didn't fall asleep.  Any way I digress.  We were taken to many scenic outlooks and told the cultural significance of this and that.  If you want to find out what they are, take the tour.  I'm not going to be giving away his information for free.  It is the Internet and most of it can probably be found on Wikipedia.  You wouldn't get the accent though.  Speaking of accent, Bill and Betsy were having a hard time understanding Richard last night.  He was talking about a Scottish girl who asked for something.  He turned and handed here a pin and pepper.  She had asked for pen and paper.  Ok, it might have been funnier in person.

Batman exists even in Dunedin playgrounds.

 Back on tour we went to an albatross reserve, where we loitered in the gift shop/welcome center as you had to pay more money to walk up another 50m to another building.  If they were flying you would be able to spot them from the road.  They have a 3m wingspan.  Its not something you have to sneak up on to see.  We did get the privilege to see one soaring right above our heads though.  Next we left the company of Russell for the company of a gentleman that neither Beth nor I could place his accent.  Daniel works for the penguin sanctuary.  We were on the hunt for the yellow-eyed penguin.  We got to see several coming in to the beach, but only 2 up close.  After the 1+ tour, we met back up with Russell who drove us back to town along a flat, but very narrow and windy road.  There was a very small bike lane along side the road that Beth didn't think would be safe to ride on, but I disagree.

Paying their respects to us. 

The scene of the execution of 50,000 Jaffas.

The next day we packed up our day bags for a little jaunt over to the steepest residential street in the world.  It was to be the scene of the execution of 50,000 over-sized jaffas later that afternoon.  We were about 2 hours early and just wanted to run up the 350m street, but were turned away.  This was just a minor inconvenience as both Beth and I did run up some steep steps in the neighborhood.  We also were going to hike up Mt Cargill (680m) and then circle back to the city.  The hike wasn't very difficult as it doubled in many spots as a mountain bike track as well.  There were some sections that were dicey, but you just took it slow at that point.  We were treated to some spectacular views at the summit before the rain and fog came sweeping in.  We waited at the top for Betsy and Bill who crested about 15 minutes behind us.  We then had about a 7 mile descent back into town via a long road.  I was starving and decided to have a pie from the bakery and the rest just wanted to relax for a couple hours.  It wasn't long until hunger got the better of everyone else and we wandered over to "Minami" for some tasty Japanese goodness.  I was delighted when I ordered the house special and received nigiri, sashimi, udon, tempura, and miso.  It didn't stand a chance nor did Beth's left overs.  A 14 mile hike will do that to you. 

Meter long pizza anyone?

Want to get massive?

The next day was our last in Dunedin and we thought we would take in the Cadbury Factory Tour, albeit the abridged version as it was a weekend.  We were treated to some chocolate and a very informative 7 minute history lesson via DVD.  Next we were herded outside where we had to deposit all electronics and jewelry in a secure locker.  Then we were hurried past some of the early milk and delivery trucks as it was raining.  Next we entered the factory where the temperature was drastically higher and there was an overwhelming smell of melted chocolate.  It was at this point that my stomach became very upset and I had to leave the tour.  I was escorted back to the main lobby.  I arrived just in time to see Beth's arm, as she was wearing a bright green fleece, behind the chocolate waterfall.  After that I sat with my head in my hands until I was collected after the tour along with our electronics.  We had just enough time to grab some lunch before having to catch the 5+ hour bus back to Christchurch.  We went to a place called Angus Cafe & Desserts where I got a soup to try to get my stomach to behave.  On our way to the bus station, I happened to see a protein powder bag that rivals all others.  It was 10 pounds of powder.  If I needed any here, I would probably saw how much it costs.  Once again, I found myself uncomfortable on a Naked Bus.  The bathroom was once again locked.  I believe they are just for show and that the first bus was a fluke as it was open for use.  This bus ride was pretty chilly, but I just wore my soft shell and beanie and tried to sleep.  I also made frequent pit stops on the bus ride and the driver kept asking if I couldn't make it to another stop.  Open the bathroom up and this wouldn't be an issue.  Cleaning a toilet is pretty easy.  I should know as I've pumped out several in my day at the airline.

Love me some happy.

Our cell for the evening.

We got into Christchurch later than expected as the driver took his sweet time re-fueling the bus before departure.  We had  short 20 minute walk to our accommodations for the evening, jail.  I'm serious.  We stayed in a hostel that was the old jailhouse.  We were treated to a nice cell that was pretty spartan.  There was a plastic bunk that almost fell over when I ascended to the top bunk.  There was a small dresser that was home to 2 thick blankets as the beds were made up with a flimsy blanket and sheet.  I didn't get to explore any as I had to get to bed for my early departure.  I had a shuttle pick-up at 6:30am.  I had to get back to Tauranga to start my data analyst gig on Monday morning.  Somehow I managed to sleep through 2 different alarms and quickly through my gear in my pack and headed out to meet my shuttle.  The guy was 15 minutes late and said they both texted and left a voice mail for me.  My phone has no record of either.  I could have probably gotten in a quick shower.  Oh well, the people on the plane and my next naked bus leg would have to suffer.  From pick-up to through security was about 25 minutes.  I remember when it was easy back in the US.  Oh the price we pay for that warm fuzzy feeling when we board a plane.  Its like TSA foreplay.  I wont bore any readers with the rest of my uneventful trip back except to say that I met a nice Japanese girl in Manukau when I was buying some bottles of green tea.  She was from Yokohama and we chatted for about 10 minutes before I boarded yet another Naked Bus with a locked bathroom.  I think I'm going to start a facebook page called just for show and take pictures of all the locked or screwed shut doors that I find and ask that others post their images as well.  It was nice to get back to my now very familiar town and sit down for a home cooked meal instead of eating out.  I had rice and smoked tuna.

TransAlpine shot

Their elaborate hostel.

Beth and her parents stayed another hour in Christchurch before hoping on the TranzAlpine train ride.  They stayed in the town of Greymouth last night and are flying back to Tauranga before they wander the North Island for the next week.  I will not be able to join in any of the reindeer games as I will be settling in to my new gig.  I'm one of 14 people in a small office on the 5th floor of a beige building.  I did get a slew of keys and an access card today.  I can turn the lift on and off.  Get into the parking garage, and lock/unlock our office.  What responsibilities I was given after only a couple hours.  The gig looks like it will be a good fit.  I will be able to utilize what I know and also grow in the mean time.  It will probably be a blend of development (coding) and data work.  The data work may be creating custom reports or doing ETL work.  Either way it looks like it will be a good way to spend the next 6 months.  If I can only talk the CEO in to taking me with her on some of the oversea trips.  She is in Western Australia right now with trips to Asia and US in the future.  Just have to prove that I'm useful to have around.  Kind a like MacGyver.

Visitors are soon to arrive. Our itinerary.

Want to pull a Scrooge McDuck and swim in this.

Next Week:

Beth's parents are coming in 2 weeks for a 2 week visit.  I'll be joining their adventure on the South Island and duck out of the North Island adventure as I am joining the ranks of the full-time employed.  Our itinerary includes going to Dunedin for the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival.  For those that know me well know that I am a Cadbury Creme Egg fiend.  One of the best things about New Zealand so far?  They sell them all year long.  No longer do I have to stock pile and ration them for the few weeks after Easter that they typically last.  There is also a jaffa race down the World's Steepest Street, Baldwin Street.  This race consists of 25,000 contestants.  Each jaffa will have a racing number and the first one to the bottom wins. 

What is a jaffa are you asking?  These lollies are a soft chocolate coated in an orange flavored shell.  They taste like sixlets to me, but are bigger.  They are a little bigger than peas.  I usually get a small zip-lock bag at the dairy (convenience store) down the street from work. 

We will also be trying to capture some evil penguins while being away from our dwelling.  Beth and her parents will also be taking the TranzAlpine train to Greymouth while I board a plane and return to my first day of "real" work in 4+ months.  I know that Skog and I will be doing this when he visits in August.  The new employers are cool with me taking off 3 weeks while he visits.

This week:

This Thursday, Tim and I are going to Rotorua to mountain bike in the Redwoods.  Our original plan was to do the 42nd Traverse, but someone (*cough* me *cough*) got scheduled to work.  We are looking to have some dirty fun.  I got out and did some single-track last year, but most of my time was spent on the road.