Set out from Paraparaumu YHA at about 10am. Cool with some sun. The entire area is a real estate hotspot. There's endless plots and little developments for sale. Reminds me of cycling in the US when they were amidst their housing boom.... Although NZ has only say 40 million people they mostly live in bungalows with sprawling gardens and lawns so they probably occupy the same space as 30 million Brits would, accustomed as we are to flats and tiny gardens. Anyway, we set off lost in the midst of endless coastal suburbia and slowly found our way to the coastal road - the state highway 1. We reached Waikanae and spotting a public loo decided to relieve the effects of breakfasts massive tea consumption. We were rapidly joined by a couple of men, one of whom bore a striking resemblance to Quentin Crisp. Unexpected. Perhaps he's still alive and living in NZ!? He combined a cycle helmet with a sunhat, a complex and impressive combination and giving a right royal air to the wearer. They directed us towards the right road at the next junction. Quentin's friend did not look well so prerhaps that led them to a public loo near Waikanae.We sped on and on along the dreary route 1 - good views but heavy traffic. Undulating countryside. We washed up at Himatangi Beach where we paid $16 each to camp. NZ is not cheap for brits. The campsite is pleasant and decorated with Santa, in neon, doing various culturally appropriate things - so he's riding a dune buggy in one happy image. Needless to say; the beer here is lousy. At one point during the day I took a photo of some wayside flowers - it's timestamped as about our lunchtime so perhaps that's why I took it. Looking at it now I realise how beautiful a few flowers on a mossy bank can be.... Better than the coastal sprawl anyway. If you can tell me what they are please email botany AT wutheringbikes.org.uk and I'll update this blog (OK you can just email steve AT wutherin... etc, I just liked the idea of an entire botany dept beavering away).
Set out from Paraparaumu YHA at about 10am. Cool with some sun. The entire area is a real estate hotspot. There's endless plots and little developments for sale. Reminds me of cycling in the US when they were amidst their housing boom.... Although NZ has only say 40 million people they mostly live in bungalows with sprawling gardens and lawns so they probably occupy the same space as 30 million Brits would, accustomed as we are to flats and tiny gardens. Anyway, we set off lost in the midst of endless coastal suburbia and slowly found our way to the coastal road - the state highway 1. We reached Waikanae and spotting a public loo decided to relieve the effects of breakfasts massive tea consumption. We were rapidly joined by a couple of men, one of whom bore a striking resemblance to Quentin Crisp. Unexpected. Perhaps he's still alive and living in NZ!? He combined a cycle helmet with a sunhat, a complex and impressive combination and giving a right royal air to the wearer. They directed us towards the right road at the next junction. Quentin's friend did not look well so prerhaps that led them to a public loo near Waikanae.We sped on and on along the dreary route 1 - good views but heavy traffic. Undulating countryside. We washed up at Himatangi Beach where we paid $16 each to camp. NZ is not cheap for brits. The campsite is pleasant and decorated with Santa, in neon, doing various culturally appropriate things - so he's riding a dune buggy in one happy image. Needless to say; the beer here is lousy. At one point during the day I took a photo of some wayside flowers - it's timestamped as about our lunchtime so perhaps that's why I took it. Looking at it now I realise how beautiful a few flowers on a mossy bank can be.... Better than the coastal sprawl anyway. If you can tell me what they are please email botany AT wutheringbikes.org.uk and I'll update this blog (OK you can just email steve AT wutherin... etc, I just liked the idea of an entire botany dept beavering away).