Grunt grunt wheeeeeee!!!!!

What a bikey hikey adventure bigbro John and I embarked on, exhilarated over and proudly suffered upon.
We mounted our trusty rusty steeds and off we went up hill down dale all the way to Millerton and Stockton. Having 'doneded it' the day before I was totally sorted cos I knew the script and what was round the jolly corner so BIG TICK off my bucket list - I did the 'Grand Canyon'!! Big ta to our smiley support crew - Les and Chris who stopped frequently to check on us and even offered a tow (and obliged when the offer was accepted!) Up the new road which has been created all in the name of Solid Energy and down the old road which is kind of out-of-bounds, overgrown and a tad treacherous which made it all the more appealing. What a wheeee-y whizzzzzy zing ding ride down we enjoyed. Cold beer and bubbly cider was definitely in order upon our arrival home. The picture on the right shows how damn high we actually did get.

Rockin' Robin

Further to our charming adventure up the Charming Creek Walkway - we happened upon a cute wee bush robin baby that just didn't quite have the birdy nous to stay away from me and besides that just couldn't resist me so here she strutted right up to my footsie and fossicked a bit.

Charming walk..........

Charming Creek is an iconic wee jaunt up the road from #16 that we often partake of either partially or completely. This day we - me and cuzbro's from Tokoroa way - got us dropped off up 8 kms infield of Seddonville to trek through the wild west bush southwards for another 8kms (give or take) to Ngakawau and a cool beer at - yes you got it - The Charming Creek tavern. Bloody nice time!

See the Cam doing the limbo rock? 

And check out the Mangatini Falls and the adjacent swingbridge YESSSS!!!

Roadtrip to Coast

Mmmmm - one of the better things in life - a few days / daze in Hector with my whanau. It's about this spot in the luscious Buller Gorge - about 2/3 of the way there that I start driving like a demented homing pigeon. The bush, the river and the blooming rata at this time of year serve to set a mean pace for me and two sets of traffic lights in the middle of nowhere slow me down to whats deemed a safe speed. All in all I always arrive safe and sound to where I think and feel I belong.

Sojourn

Heading westward again to be with Daddio for a bit. Just time with him to breath, chat, snooze, read, garden, catch up with whanau, bikeride north or south, eat and drink like we do, play a bit of uke and harmonica and all the while enjoying Mama spirit and presence with us all. Mmmmmmm - soul food X

Found this card which I love and was saving it for when I really do feel all discombobulated but can't wait so here tiz. Hope its see-able.

Tigs

My bewdiful old gal Tigs fast asleep on the back doorstep mat in the sun. I love the way her wee tail curls inbetween her back legs - it always does. Coming up 17 years this feline matriarch of mine and she so spesh cos she is a ginger she.

Wild Waves

Tahunanui beach looking grey and wild and those dots in the far sky are windsurfers absolutely hooting!

The water was choppy, the wind was brisk and the bike ride today took me into town, past the Jazz fest @ Farfield Park. I stopped for a wee peek and pleasant listen. A mate passed by and gave me her half used ticket $20 worth and I passed it onto another who was keener than me to face the crowd. Home again then with no tail wind to zing me along my way and dodgy gears makes me very determined to buy me a decent bike for summertime.