Week 2 in North Island

It could be summed up by hills and lots of fun in water.

We have had two days off the bike, Stuart has done some white water rafting, we’ve been treated to a day on a yacht, we hired some kayaks and paddled to some amazing Maori cave drawings and if that was not enough we’ve spent most evenings chilling in hot pools some of which were awesome

The days we’ve spent on the bike have been very hilly, it is like cycling in telly tubby land with lots of rolling hills. Other than the fact that we have passed lots of avocado and kiwi fruit farms we could so easily be cycling in rural England

We have met more cycle tourers on route and stayed in some very well equipped camp sites, so much so we feel like we are glamping.

We’re heading to Wellington this week and then on to South Island
Hope all is well with everyone

Love and Kisses

Gary, Ginette and Stuart

Gary can find stairs anywhere even in New Zealand

Stu standing on a rock to make Gary look even shorter, at Mount maunganui.

we’ve passed lots of avocado and Kiwi farms

sea surf race, Mount Maunganui

Lake Taupu

Our new friend Sarah with kevin behind the lens, at Mount Maunganui

Sunset on top of Mount Maunganui

Not a sign we see in the UK

The happy couple next to Huka falls

come on keep up (says speedy nickers Netty)

Stu white water rafting, he has just completed a 7ft drop but still smiling

Stu on top of Mount maunganui

a rose between two thorns

I don’t need to be asked twice

Kevin and Sarah yacht on Lake Rotoiti.

fly fisherman trying to extract Garys wisdom teeth

yuk Gary eating an over ripe avocado

Thumbs down from Net but thumbs up for Stu, If he keeps finding these gravel roads Net is threatening to send him home.

we saw lots of Te Puke signs my favourites included Te Puke Bakery, Old Te Puke Cemetery and Te Puke stay in the left hand lane

sun setting on Mount Ruapehu

Huka falls

Second busted chain. it took 7000 miles for the first and 1300 miles for this one, I think a stone from the gravel track did this one.

view from the top of one of our camp sites