Hi K & M

It was lovely to see your pictures & read some of your blogs. Well done for a great effort does not seem to do you justice. Good to see you liked the Dolphin - I did.

Best wishes for your new adventures!

Alastair

JUST A QUICKIE TO LET ALL YOU GUYS WHO OFFERED ACCOMODATION IN AND AROUND AUCKLAND, LUCY AND PETER AND ALIZON AND PAUL, AND OF COURSE BRIAN AND JULIA THAT WE WILL SEND PERSONAL EMAILS TO YOU ALL AS SOON AS WE ARE BACK ON HOME SOIL. BUT THANK YOU PUBLICLY FROM THE HEART OF OUR BOTTOMS!!! (A CYCLISTS JOKE . . . I HOPE!)

Hi Keith and Maureen.....just wanted to give Keith a little reminder that he was supposed to be at work on Monday!...Not sure what your excuse will be,but let's hope you have a good one!!......Also not sure if you know but some ruddy volcano or something has caused a lot of problems somewhere in the world but hopefuuly I should be ok to drive down to Rye on wendesday. Still better go as I have work to do. Keith maybe say that it's an age thing and you forgot to come in on monday or something like that anyway!!...lot of love me!..

Is you's still stuck out there or have you found an escape route. Hopefully where ever you are your making the most of it.

Hope you will enjoy the extra days/weeks in New Zealand. More time to keep fit, but don`t waste away, make sure you enjoy all the lovely food. A Novelty at first but you probably will be ready to come home?

Lovely photos great scenery

Take care

Pauline & Dave

not surprised to hear about the flights but have not been able to keep in touch as no english tele and no papers, there on strike. So bought a french dongle for £40.00 ( 6 hours) yet another rip off here. We have made it to BEAUME today nearly 400 miles but have got a nice hotel overlooking golf course.

Hopefully you get a flight soon before you have to look for temporsy work. This volcano seems to have caused caos around the world its all you need at the end of you trip.

D & L

Day 497
Still no flights, Keith's saddle disintegrated and he now just rests his bum on the pole...but he's not complaining. The tyres shredded weeks ago but the rims and holding their own for now. Can't find a bed for the night... we've outstayed our welcome at every b&b in the country and no-one else will have us. Still, the news is that Ryanair are laying on flights - only $17 each - the journey will take 3 weeks, there are no meals available and drinks cost $72... and there are no toilets (they wanted to squeeze in 2 more seats) but at least we'll get home safely... see you all soon (maybe).

K & M

Glad to hear you are still enjoying it - yes this volcano is certainly causing some problems - we heard about it on the morning of our departure and at 8.25 a.m. heard our flight was cancelled so made a quick decision to drive to the south of France, booked channel tunnel and arrived in Calais about 1 p.m. Arrived at Troyes at 7 p.m. to find all hotels fully booked, luckily drove into the country and found a Best Western hotel by a golf course (more our style). Set off again next day and finally arrived at Bormes Les Mimosas at 7 p.m. knackered - bad back - hungry - nothing open - fridge empty! But, this is a lovely location and the apartment has stunning views but getting ripped off daily (7 euros for 2 coffees}, also by Eurotunnel for changing our return time to Saturday giving us 6 full days here. On reading the papers we seem better off than a lot of other people who either didnt get away at all or can't get back. Hope your flight is not delayed too long as I remember you were due back late this week. Looking forward to catching up with you on your return. Enjoy the rest of your holiday. Love to you both - Dave & Lin xx

Huong said: " Enjoy your days in New Zeland!" We hope you are having a wonderful holiday and happy times!! Love Lee and Huong!

Day 02 Horning - Norfolk Broads
Great weather this morning and just under 5m to cover today. Beginning with getting out of the boat yard! spectacular views over reed beds and Mt Norwich followed by flat rolling flat bits for many meters. When we reached Stokesby, one of hundreds of places to eat, we decided to drop into the restaurant as we hadn't had a good pub meal since lunchtime . . . after chatting with a man from Cromer, travelling around the broads in a yacht, got to bed by 10.40pm.
Day 03 Potter Heigham - Norfolk Broads
Lovely ride travelling out of Stokesby with flat field ranges all around main river for the journey into Potter Heigham and there is nothing you can do but relax, it's the main river (Ant) with no moorings in some part, especially when you travel under a bridge, which are very rare - much the same problem as on the canals. The day cruisers with trailers (rowing boats) come rushing past at quite a speed (approaching reach 5mph), some give you room if they can but others ........ Rode around Potter Heigham, once a little market town and location of the lowest bridge in Norfolk which rises to 7' above the water at low tide! You can do everything here, eat, drink, cruise, shop... and if we travel the short distance to Bungy we can leap off the boat (bungy jumping) beautiful place. Always something relaxing to do. Off to Ranworth Broad tomorrow via Ludham... should be another exciting day.

I bet that Germans camper van looked tempting, have a good rest of your holiday.

Weather improving here off to camper van show today, cheque book locked up though.

D & L

There is obviously either a shortage of hotels there or more people than you imagined. The accommodation sounds a bit hit and miss with you mainly hitting the misses.

Still quite wet over here had to buy some wellies for the site caravan sinking fast, just as well not moving it until July.Still got the cote d'Azur to look forward to next week lets hope the appartment is a little better than your last one.

best wishes see you when we both return