Solana Beach Cardiff

…........and so the journey home begins. Emotions are mixed as we look forward to the home coming but saddened by saying goodbye to Margaret & Dee and the fact that its all over.

This truly has been an epic adventure far beyond our expectations and the last few days has continued to build on an already amazing time.

Checking out the sunset

Dee came and stayed with us about 2 years ago. She is a passionate surfer and found a job at the Mount Surf Shop. She is now living in Cardiff some 70km north of San Diego. It is a beach side resort and not surprisingly (for those who know Dee) there are some famous Californian surf breaks in this area.

Dee is supporting herself working in a Patagonia shop while completing her Masters in English Literature.

Dee found us a little house one block from the beach and it has been a relaxing treat of good company, sunny skies, warm days, warm water and okay surf. Usually the day starts with a 6.30am swim (I'm slowing up) followed by a ride on the cruiser bikes(that come with the house) along the beach and up to a cafe for coffee before catching up with Dee and her parents.

Dee's parents, Ron and Brenda have come down for the week from Seattle to catch up with her and go to a wedding in Phoenix tomorrow. They have been very easy company and we share a lot of common values and views. Comically Dee introduces the 4 of us to her friends as her America and New Zealand parents.

 

 

 

 

It has been a chill time mixed with shopping, body boarding, hiking, paddle surfing (very cool, we might need to get a couple of these) cycling and sunbathing.

With a sunburn nose and overstuffed bags from some crazy outlet sales we found, its off to San Diego to fly via LA to Auckland.

This will be the last update to this blog.

Thank you readers for your interest in our trip, tolerance to my spelling and grammar errors and comments. English was never my subject at school and since that time my writing has been limited to work related reports, letters and emails. This has been a refreshing challenge to write descriptively without boring everyone with the detail..... particularly on a smart phone.

Credit has to be given to my children for their editorial input as they tune Dad up on length and content but this is my lot....... and its not limited just to this blog.....

Till next time.

New York

We have been staying on Manhattan with Paul Johnston and Sharon Addington. Sharon is Ju's first cousin who came to Heidi's wedding. They have serious jobs with big hours. It is typical of those living on the island.

They have been extremely warm and generous and we have lived, dined and seen the attractions like royalty.
Times square, Ground zero, Empire state building, Central park, Chelsea markets, Highline park, Niki world, Christian Dior, Trinity house, and Macy's..
just looking thank you..... I say to the male attendant  with a weird hair cut, funny voice and pink lip stick.... .. .. ... well I think it was a male.... the distinction is not always obvious.
.....No you don't want to mortgage your house to own a Loui Vuitton set of shoes, even if they are a limited run of black crocodile skins with ivory buckles ... my wallet screams, as the attendant shakes his head in disgust that I would pass up on such an investment opportunity.

But Random Margaret was getting worried that our experience of New York was too one dimensional and we have now relocated across the water to the Brooklyn district where the tone is a little  different.

...... We are back on bikes again sliding through the traffic like water around rocks in a stream as we desperately try a keep pace with Margaret's on her fixed single speed.
There seems to be only one rule regarding cyclist in New York. Don't ride on the footpath

. ...anything else goes. Down one way streets the wrong way, around the policeman,through the red light we dash and puff every trying to keep her purple helmet with the clashing pink back pack in sight.
Past the the old black man sitting on his step rolling a cigarette and the young lads huddled together with hair and clothes that haven't seen soap in the last 12 months.
We wave at the little girl with her beautifully pressed uniform, scrubbed face and tight black curls holding daddy' hand and her lunch wrapped in a brown paper bag as she goes to school.

Flying through a large Jewish district we see more Orthodox Jews than we saw in Israel. It is sukkot time and there are sukkah's erected on balconies and front lawns and footpaths.

Into the old hipster area we drift and screech to a halt for the girls to go Op shopping. The same clothes we saw up down selling at 1% of the previous price

Bronni is in her element. A 99% sale.

We charge through china town across Manhattan Bridge then cutting up the left side of the vehicles waiting for the lights, the purple helmet turns right across the front of all the waiting traffic and slides into a dedicated cycle/ walking path on the right to cross the old Brooklyn bridge
. ... With fingers crossed that the light doesn't change  and a 150 heart rate, Les and Bronni stick tight  on her tail as she scatters the wandering tourists with her ring bell, pumping legs and demanding 30km/hr pace.
..... what a ride.... what a girl.

For those not familiar with Margaret she came out to NZ in '03 and '06 and stayed with us for a while. In 06 she worked at Waimapu in kiwifruit for a season.
Margaret is studying nutrition at Uni in New York and works 5 nights a week in a high pace restaurant that turns the tables 4-5 times a night. She has matured into a lovely person with an extremely unique and quirky personality that clicks very much with my dear wife.

Now onto San Diego




 

Goodbye Europe

The Teva's have died. A minutes silence please.

These loyal sandals have carried me through streets of Ho Chi Min city, soaked up the smells of Cambodia, crossed over 5000m on the death road in Bolivia, walked through elephant dust in Botswana, Hyena dung in Kenya and seen the dog wonders of Europe.
They have sufficient organic material embedded into them MAF NZ would be requesting a quarantine period to see if the creature has fully expressed itself with its unique "international fragrance".
Like a skunk they have developed their very own defence mechanism which is not always to every one's liking.  Mellsop wanted to tie them to the rear bumper of the car, my children challenged their Spanish tongue  sourcing a neutralising agent in Peru and on many occasion they have been relegated to outside the door and never been nicked.......Lets face it they are just about have been the only thing that has not been nicked.
So after leaving my boots to some lad in Africa, my old running shoes to a dust bin in England and now the Teva's dying the only footwear I have left is my old crocks. (Not sure that I'll cut the fashion magazine in New York and I'll probably have to show a bank statement to the US immigration to prove that I can afford to live in the country.)

It is an interesting observation that as time has progressed through this holiday our packs have got lighter. When you remind yourself that you have to carry it for the rest of your journey there is a reluctance to purchase the lovely........ whatever.
Weight has always been an issue if you are a budget traveller using public transport. Hauling 32kg up and down stairs through metro's and down old cobblestone roads is not my idea of fun. As we have completed each segment of the holiday we have shed gear that we won't be using again and not particularly interested in hauling all the way back home.
Of course we have been assisted with our keen men in Cairo and Barcelona. All this is about to change as we fly through New York and San Diego on our way home.
I've already discovered Amazon.com and purchased my new Teva's and have topped up Bronni's smart card to take advantage of the high exchange rate. Last time I travelled through this country NZ$1.00=US$0.45.
Update
We are sitting in the Charles de Gaul Airport Paris waiting for our plane.

Friday was our last day of the bike ride as we rode the 70km from Angers to Saumur. The skies were clear, the sun was out, there was a slight breeze on our backs and the muscles were eager for a workout after having a lazy day.
It was a beautiful cruise which included amongst the usual some old slat mines, a river crossing on a punt boat,  caves made as houses with their chimneys just poking out of the ground on top of the bank, pip and stone fruit orchards and us biking an extra 10km when we lost the marked Loire trail and instead followed another trail to some famous (well I'm sure it must have been famous) ruin.

On Saturday we trained to Paris and after having a lazy time wandering around some arty market we finished the day by splashing out and going to a comedy show.

Both of us have mixed emotions because this epic adventure is quickly coming to an end. While we look forward to seeing family and old friends, having Cornflakes with Sanitarium Muesli and  Marmalade on toasted Vogels bread for breakfast and getting the boat ready for summer, we could easily continue with a new challenge..... and I'm sure we will.



Warning to all. Remember to lock your bike

2 padlocks no less