Our first mistake after leaving Kerry’s car at Maraetai Beach was to ride up the promising grass track beside the stream into the bush.
Continue reading Maraetai Forest and Beachlands Coast track
Author: John Potter
Henderson Creek
When an after-breakfast check of the rain radar confirmed my hunch the grey clouds were unlikely to amount to much, we decided to go for a kayak. On the way down the road, Felicity consulted the map and reminded me that we intended to return and explore the main channel of Henderson Creek, which seemed like a great plan to me.
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Eli’s naming day celebration
This is the last day of our trip to Australia to meet my first grandson: Eli Saxon Potter.
His grandmother Waveney was the main celebrant, but I was asked to read a poem by Susan Polis Schultz. I glanced at it briefly beforehand just to make sure it didn’t suck too badly, but when I began reading I quickly realised that it expressed my values better than I ever could have done in my own words.
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Cudgerie Loop and Mt Cooroora
Today’s adventure started with a drive to the top of Black Mountain, which was pretty much a waste of time unless you are extremely interested in telecommunication towers. We then made a detour to the end of Black Mountain Rd before realising that we should have been on Black Mountain Ridge Rd, which heads in the opposite direction.
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Noosa National Park
It was after 10 by the time we got ourselves organised and in to the park, by which time every carpark was taken, so we drove over to Sunshine Beach and found one of the southern entrances. This part is very dry, with sandy tracks and lots of Australian Grass trees. When we were here last time there had been a big fire and everything was black, but the forest has now recovered and turned green again.
Meeting grandson Eli
Yesterday we packed up and headed north to the Sunshine Coast, stopping at Brisbane airport on the way to pick up no.1 son James. We had a much longer wait than we expected, because he should have applied for a visa in NZ before he came, which he neglected to do. The immigration official came and talked to us and they finally agreed to give a rare border visa on compassionate grounds, after we explained that he had come to attend a big family reunion in the weekend.
Burleigh Heads beach
By popular demand, it was decided that today would be a good idea to go to the beach. By the time we arrived at about 10am, the swimming areas were packed.
Daves Creek Circuit Lamington National Park
At the crack of dawn this morning a kookaburra outside our window let us know it was time to get up. We had planned to camp up at Binna Burra, but hundreds of other people had the same idea, and enough of them had remembered to make advance bookings, so every site was full. When we saw all the tents packed together like sardines, we stopped behind disappointed.
Continue reading Daves Creek Circuit Lamington National Park
Illinbah Circuit Lamington National Park
I knew I was in a different place as soon as I woke up this morning because of the loud Australian bird-calls from the golf course next to where we are staying on the Gold Coast. Felicity was so impressed by the change of temperature so she jumped into our friend’s pool before breakfast – if it had been big enough to do a few lengths I might have joined her.
Dual on Motutapu
On Saturday morning, Felicity and I woke at 5am and headed to Devonport so I could catch the 6.30 ferry. A couple of hours later I was re-united with my bike and waiting for the start of the 50Km race.
Tawharanui Art Exhibition
On the way to see a display of art and sculpture at Tawharanui Regional Park, we stopped at the Matakana market for supplies.
Gills Road development
I walked home from Albany this morning after dropping Felicity’s new Yaris at the mechanic for a service.
Palmer Head Wellington
While waiting at Wellington airport this evening, I decided to go for a bit of a hike.
Transformation at Woodhill
On my way out to Parakai to see Dad this morning, I stopped at Woodhill for a ride.
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Eve’s Bush Orewa
Hoping that the trail would be reasonably dry, Kerry and I headed to the top of the hill behind North Orewa where a steep grass track leads down the hill.
Mataitai Forest
When I read a recent newspaper article that DOC was considering closing the Mataitai Forest to public access to prevent the spread of Kauri dieback disease, it immediately sprang to the top of my priority list to explore.
Taupo Rotary Ride to Aratiatia
I started this morning’s ride at Spa Park in Taupo, and headed down the right bank of the Waikato on the Rotary Ride.
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Wairaki MTB Park
This morning I briefly considered doing yesterday’s ride all over again, but I forced myself to drive past Waipa and continue on to Rotorua.
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Split Enz is my favourite trail ever
At 9.30 this morning I was at the bike park ready to ride, and thanks to the shuttle, 15min later I was 300m higher near the top of the hill.
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Rotorua in the rain
I’m in the back of my X-trail beside a steaming hot pool in Rotorua, about to spend my first night.
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