NZ Day 2

What a day!

I slept SOOO good last night. I was super sleep deprived from the past day(s) that when My head hit my pillow, I was out!

So, I woke up today refreshed and ready to go! d*** an my cabbie from yesterday was picking me up from the hotel to take me to the bike shop. Go d*** on! Good guy!

I got to the bike shop and was immediately greeted by Aidan. He was super friendly and more then helpful. We sat around and shot the s*** so to speak and took our time going over everything and loading up the bike, and then eventually he lead me on my way and pointed me in the right direction. To bad you couldnt have road up North with me Aidan, It was a GREAT ride.

Today was warm. In the 70's. I had to remove the liner from my bike pants and leather jacket, it was THAT warm. Everything is loaded up great, with room for Ashleys stuff. It will be tight, but we'll manage fine. I did manage to forget to bring my padded bike shorts. Those things are GOLD for letting your butt do another 100 + miles more every day. I wish I hadnt forgotten them. GRRRR! Aidan however did give me one of their bike shirts, which was very cool!

The bike is great btw. pretty much just like mine back home, but has one more gear, which ROCKS! I love the hard luggage too, Its SOO much nicer then my canvas soft luggage. Something to think about for the future for sure.

So, today We ride North as far as we can. We passed some beautiful beaches, and rolling hill after rolling hill. Very cool indeed. I took tons of pictures and shot videos, but So far, my internet connections are being "sold" on megabytes. So uploading of them wont happen until I get FREE internet.

We also rode through a JUNGLE today. Technically it was called a forest. But sure as heck seemed like a jungle. I am seeing lots of new flora and fauna as it were. Hills unlike anything we have back home and birds unlike any I have ever seen. Very cool! Lots of Cows. Too many to count and/or honk at. Lots of sheep to as NZ is famous for.

By the way... the Forest I rode through is called Waipoua Forest. Go to the below google web site to see pictures of it. AMAZING!

http://images.google.com/images?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=Waipoua%20forest&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Not a lot of straight roads out here, they just twist and turn all over the place. Definitely a motorbikers dream. Oh..and Not many cars to "share" the road with either. Awesome!

I did get the pleasure of riding through about a mile of gravel today. Brought me RIGHT back to Canada, and how bad the gravel sections of the highway were up there. I almost lost the bike twice, but thankfully didnt.

Once we arrived into Rawene. the road ends, and you have to take a ferry. For $3.50 for a motorbike. it's a great deal, and runs every 30 mins. I met another biker there named Tim who was from Auckland and just out riding for a few days break from his job. We got to talking as bikers often do, and he asked about my travels and whatnot, and he told me how many years ago he quit his job, and traveled to South America, USA, and eventually Germany, where I think he met his now wife, and has 2 kids. We laughed about how often these "risks" as it were, seem to pay off HUGE. Even Aidan from the bike shop told me that he used to be a banker for years, making over $100 G's a year, but now works for the bike shop doing bike tours, and even though makes less, loves what he does.

I think this being said that if any of you are contemplating a big change in your life, or just feel like you are stuck in a dead end job. Get out and do something about it! Change the bad in your life. You only live once, make it worthwhile and make yourself happy. It really does work! Humans are very adaptable and resilient creatures. My life has changed so much over the last year, and Im loving every moment of it!

Oh yeah, and Tim the biker paid my $3.50 ferry crossing. What a nice guy! I owe him a beer!

So...here we are, up in Ahipara. Just mere feet away from the Ocean. The Tasman Sea to be exact. Up here in Northern NZ. the Tasman sea side (west side) has black sandy beaches, where as the Pacific Ocean (the eastern side) has white sand. We're going there tomorrow, you and I. I know..I cant wait either.

So, for tonight, we sit in the cabin, its small, but rather nice and only $38. nice! TV, our own bathroom, nice bed. and kitchen too. which will help clean up after the horrible dinner we had tonight. Fried chicken from the ONLY takeaway place nearby. Thats bad dinners 2, George 0.

I know rain is coming. perhaps by sunday, but it's definitely coming. Here we go again!

Hopefully I can upload pics soon, Miss you all

Peace!