Jer Mahon

Jer Mahon

📍 Kanada Okumaya devam et🇨🇦British Columbia

Takip Et İstatistik

Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Riding after the rain 🌦️
25 Eylül, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The forecast for the day was grim with 25mm of rain all day. Thankfully the rain passed by 9am, leaving the roads only slightly moist.

We left our accommodation by 11, with a quick stop at Okanagan Spirits located downtown Kelowna to grab something special for the cabinet at home.

J suggested the Westside Road route for a leisurely ride to Vernon. The trip did not disappoint! Lots of curves and twists, very little traffic, and views of Okanagan Lake. On the south end near West Kelowna, there was still evidence of past fires from 2023. Soon we were traversing through dense ponderosa pine forests, perched on the steep slopes. As we approached the north end, we rode through the devastation of the recent August 2026 fires. The power poles were mostly re-strung and replaced, but so many homes and forested sections remained charred and stark on the now barren landscape 😢...

We arrived at J's Aunt K and Uncle S's just after 1pm. The timing was impeccable as light rain intermittently fell for the remainder of the afternoon, punctuated by thunder 💥

J's cousin B arrived home from work. After socializing for a bit, they treated us to dinner at Hot Spot on 6 for a savory Greek dinner.Okumaya devam et
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- Kelowna
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
As the Crow flies 🐦‍⬛
24 Eylül, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Enjoyed a casual morning with friends as they prepared for the day. G&I entertained us by showing us more of their toys and costumes. J treated us to a breakfast sandwich. I decided soon after she wanted to be at daycare since we were having too much boring adult talk. While E was out, we prepared for our departure.

With the forecasted 25mm rain for the entire region within the next day we modified our travel plans. Instead of a full day of riding to get to Christina Lake we took the more direct route to Kelowna, where we got a last minute deal on an Airbnb.

We rode through the area of Blewett to merge on to highway 6 and passed along Kootenay Canal, leading to BC Hydro generation station. It was empty as crews were re-grouting the concrete seams. We also passed the Nelson Power generation facilities of Upper and Lower Bonnington. Lastly, across from Kootenay Canal, was the Fortis South Slocan Generating Station.

Traffic moved expeditiously as we headed west along the Kootenay River where highway 6 became highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. We took a slight detour to ride through Castlegar to get a sense of the town. Like most Kootenay communities, the streets were very eclectic with historic and newer buildings.

The road was fairly quiet, with the occasional vehicle or two, as we zipped along the route on a westerly heading. Soon we crested the summit of the Bonanza Pass, with an elevation of 1535m. On the long decent towards Christina lake, we met the procession of vehicles relegated to a crawl due to heavily loaded rigs. One driver thoughtfully pulled over to let a slug of us pass. Thankfully we found a downhill shared passing lane to get around the remainder.

We arrived at Christina lake, which strangely boasted a sign reading "warmest tree-lined lake in British Columbia". The Trans Canada Trail, Dewdney Trail and the Kettle Valley Railway Trail all merge at the lake, attracting visitors to the area from all over. The region is frequented by hikers and bikers along the local trails in the lake area.

The valley began to open up, and we found ourselves following the Kettle River. A short time later we entered Grand Forks where we stopped for a break. The city is located at the confluence of the Granby and Kettle Rivers with the original settlement in the 1890s, becoming the city Grand Forks in 1902 when it merged with other settlements in the area. E suggested the Wooden Spoon Bistro. We shared a couple of savoury pastries and a bowl of homemade currey carrot soup.

Once sated, we continued our zig-zag journey west through Greenwood, Midway, and other small communities. In Greenwood we found ourselves behind an older classic looking bobtail (a semi-truck operating without a trailer attached) belching out plumes of noxious blackish exhaust 🤢 The fumes were a bit nauseating, and we were desperate for a passing lane.

Finally reaching Rock Creek by mid-afternoon, headed north along highway 33 towards Kelowna. The devastation of the 2015 fire was still present. Due to the arid nature of the region, very little growth has occurred with the exception of a few ponderosa pines dotting the landscape. We continued to follow the Kettle river for a while longer until it met Ed James creek at Westbridge.

The afternoon continued to be decently warm, but a noticeable bite was in the air despite the 18C to 20C temperatures on the display. Once we rounded the corner near the turn off to Big White, felt an immediate temperature drop; very glad to have heated grips 🔥

The views of Okanagan Lake and the expanding valley view were quite picturesque despite the subdued afternoon lighting. Alas, most of the photos from the road today didn't quite pop due to the the overcast sky.

We arrived just in time to enjoy crawling through rush hour traffic, finally arriving at our accommodation for the night on the eastern hills of the upper Mission area.

Once settled, headed across town to visit A’s cousin L and her little ones. She treated us to delicious orzo pasta, and chocolate chip bar for dessert. Unfortunately, we did get to visit with S as he was working late.

It was a fabulous bed and breakfast with a huge hot tub and outdoor pool. None of the other two suites were using the space so we had it all to ourselves on the full moon evening 🌕Okumaya devam et
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- The Wooden Spoon
GezginJ & I have explored some of this area in past but not near as completely as you two .. good memories. And great writing... Bk
9 saYanıtlaÇevirmek
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Kool on Kootenay
23 Eylül, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Wanting to arrive in Nelson in the early afternoon, we hit the road by 930am. A suggested a quick grocery stop for cheese, to go with the sour dough baguette. Onto a twisty side road towards Cranbrook, passing by St. Eugene's golf course.

Heading south, and pushing thought the quirky named village of Yahk, found it boasted businesses of "two's" : Two Pump Paul's (Gas Station), Two Scoop Steve's (Ice Cream Parlour), and Two Toke Timmy's (Pot Shop).

Nearing Creston we took a detour route through the area of Erickson, passing multiple Orchards. Since we forgot about the time change, had an extra hour to enjoy the area, making a stop at the Mountain Barn for more baked goods.

A decided he wanted some fresh peaches, so we circled back in to Creston, and stopped at Rosewood Orchards before heading along route 3A to Kootenay Bay to catch ferry over to Balfour. They were super ripe and very inexpensive.

We had a bit of a longer wait in Kootenay Bay than expected as we read the summer departure schedule instead of the winter. A great time for a picnic to enjoy the cheese and baguette in the warm afternoon. Once on the ferry conversed with a Rossland local, R. He was curious about the bikes, and we exchanged travel adventures. This summer he had ventured to Tuktoyaktuk, YT!

Once across Kootenay Lake we disembarked at Balfour, and were first off the ferry. The ride into Nelson was enjoyable, with minor construction delays. Before long, we were crossing BOB (Big Orange Bridge) into Nelson. After a couple errand stops, headed a short distance west to stay with our friends from Hudson’s Hope, J&E, and their kids.

E made a wonderful baked salmon dinner, while A entertained the kids. Had a wonderful evening catching up, and a hot tub soak before heading for bed.Okumaya devam et
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Columbia Valley Chilln' 😎
22 Eylül, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Feeling rested and relaxed after the Hotsprings soak, and a good, but short, sleep. We were on the road by 10am. Our first stop was Invermere at the north end of lake Windermere.

Invermere means "at the mouth of the lake" or "confluence of waters at the lake," combining Scottish Gaelic and Old English roots. Windermere means "Vinand's lake," combining an Old Norse personal name (Vinandr) with the Old English word mere, which means a lake or pool.

J found the local bakery, boasting fresh pretzels. After missing out in Jasper, we were rewarded with a selection of pretzel options. We also had to get an orange infused Boston creme donut, bacon cheese twist, and a cream cheese cinnamon bun.

Once sated with the delicious treats, we circled down to the beach, and then off to the Dutch Creek Hoodoos for a hike. J found a less traveled and more relaxing route along the west side of the lake, aptly named Westside road. We noticed a paved pathway that parallel the main road for cyclists and walkers that almost traversed the full length of the route (Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail).

The morning definitely warmed up quickly. We doffed the riding gear, then headed to the 3.5km loop trail. There were a few other vehicles in the lot, but otherwise had the trail to ourselves.

Afterwards we were paralleling Columbia lake, zipping past Canal Flats, and Skookumchuck, finally arriving in Kimberly late afternoon. A found lodging at The Larix hotel just off the Platzl, Kimberly's historic pedestrian only shopping area. The Larix used to be the Kimberly hotel, and before that, the main office for Cominco.

Cominco (Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company) ran operations of the legendary Sullivan Mine (discovered by prospector Pat Sullivan in 1892), a massive lead-zinc-silver for over 90 years, and transformed the region into a major global mining hub. The Sullivan Mine officially closed in December 2001 after producing roughly 150 million tonnes of ore!

The hotel was cozy and stylishly decorated with classic cottage and modern elements. Once settled, we walked a loop of the Platzl, and enjoyed the serenade of Hans from his Cuckoo clock. The hotel had complimentary e-bikes to use, so headed for the rails-to-trails pathway to Marysville to visit with A's aunt and uncle, A&M.

A short walk to The Marysville Pub (MVP), A&M treated us to dinner. They frequent the pub often, but not typically on week days. It was much busier than expected, and the meal arrived about an hour after the initial order. This alloted us a nice long visit. As it was much later than expected, we said our goodbyes and peddled back expeditiously before it got too dark.

Before retiring for the evening we enjoyed a sweat in the wood-fired sauna, and a tea in the library, conversing with other guests.Okumaya devam et
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
🛡️ 93 Southbound
21 Eylül, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Lucky for us, our roommates did not snore. It was a beautiful morning outside too!

A few guests were enjoying the kitchen and were cooking a very aromatic cuisine. Fried onions with eggs and fish sauce 🐠🍳🥴

We decided to enjoy the brisk morning air and converse over breakfast with fellow travellers from Denmark, H and R. We heated up the baked goods from yesterday and made a few coffees with our press. H asked about it and it was obvious she likes good coffee too. We insisted to make one for her, and she loved it especially with no cafés for miles around.

We went for a quick walk to the nearby Rampart Creek once we were packed and ready for the days adventure.

J suggested a slight detour east at the crossing for a short hike to Siffleur Falls near Abraham lake. The trail was mostly flat, and the views were spectacular. A decided it best to doft the riding gear this time, and it was a good idea as the day continued to heat up. We made the 8km return hike in about 1.5hr, and continued our journey for Radium Hotsprings.

The road south to Lake Louise was definitely busier than the day before. We were happy when a passing lane appeared to enjoyed an unobstructed ride through the amazing valley while taking in the endless breathtaking views.

As expected Lake Louise was a bit chaotic. A quick stop for fuel (10% higher than normal), then headed for the more casual and less traveled route along the Bow Valley Parkway. Once we reached Castle Junction, we crossed the busier Highway #1, and we were bound for Radium Hotsprings.

This section of highway 93 was less busy, and offered sweeping corners along the Kootenay River. Soon we were were entering the Sinclair Canyon as we passed the Radium Hotsprings and arrived at our destination.

Once checked in, we grabbed a few items to cook later for dinner, and headed for a well deserved soak in the Radium Hot Springs.Okumaya devam et
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- Radium Hot Springs
- Invermere
GezginStunning scenery guys. Not even spoiled by your presence in the pics. 🥰
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Icefields and unlimited awh!
20 Eylül, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Our night at the Raven's Nest was enjoyable, though a bit stuffy in the middle of the night. We trapesed our bags back down from the second level room to the bikes. We made a quick stop at Horseshoe Lake, which wasn't amazing, so southbound into the mountains we continued.

Mount Robson greeted us in its grandeur of a beautiful blue sky. The Berg Lake Trail allowed us to stretch our legs. The parking lot was quite full, but we made some space for the motorcycles. That's why they paint the hash marks where cars cannot fit, right? 😊

A Subaru was strangely parked 3/4 out of its space. Climbing gear strewen on the ground, hood open and two guys standing around.

"What kind of adventure you guys having?
Battery is flat.
We have a booster🔋 . It's got a tire pump if you need to top up your tire.
Actually, we have a flat tire too 🫪"

So, we rescued the motorists within 4 minutes, before starting the trail. It's 21km in length but we only ventured one km for a taste. The sunbeams were too hot, so it was decided all future walks would not include the riding pants or boots, as comfortable as they are 👢👖🫠

"Wow. Amazing. Gorgeous. Absolutely Spectacular." These words were on repeat as we ventured down the Icefields highway. The mountains, glaciers, rivers and lakes.... ⛰️💫💕

We popped into Jasper. There's a lot of rebuilding underway to remediate the devastating wildfire of 2024.

Bigfoot Bakery sold us its last cinnamon bun. We missed a pretzel as the people ahead of us snapped it up, our consolation item was a spinach and feta mini loaf. A grocery and beverage stop was required as our destination tonight is, the offgrid, Rampart Creek Wilderness Hostel.

South from Jasper there were next to no vehicles in our direction and it was a treat to ride. A couple obligatory stops for photos.

The hostel is 100m from the road, but does not allow vehicles up to the buildings. Parking was roadside and handy carts provided for transporting luggage. This is one of the oldest wilderness hostels in Canada. Rustic, and room for 24 guests, and very well set up. It was a full house tonight. $50 per person was a steal of a deal compared to Banff's $600+ room options. It had a nice kitchen, spotless pit toilets, propane heat, fridges, solar power, filtered river water, and a surprise Starlink connection to the web. Our room was shared with two other couples. One from Denmark and the other possibly Belgium.

We cooked up our tortellini with garlic shrimp and tomato pesto. A double helping of salad too. Cold honey brown beers seemed fitting for our setting in the woods.

Around 8pm the host, G, lit a camp fire for anyone to join. We joined one other couple D and T from Calgary, and had a great visit. They were enjoying backcountry overnight hiking and this was thrown into their mix.

As we were enjoying the fire and our Pre-mixed Sparkling Negronis in a can, we realized it was our 18th anniversary 🥂 🏅 🎉 It's a wonderful adventure!Okumaya devam et
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Happy anniversary 🎉 [Steve]
3 gYanıtlaÇevirmek
GezginCongratulations on the anniversary... And they said it wouldn't last😁
1 gYanıtlaÇevirmek
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Marvelous McBride
19–20 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After a fantastic rest, quick visit and breakfast, we were packed up and headed for the 9:40am ferry to the northside of Francois Lake. We were last on, but first off the ferry, and enjoyed the unobstructed twist-turny undulating road into Burns Lake. The morning was slightly overcast, and a few degrees warmer than the day before. The heated grips were perfect to take the edge off.

Surprisingly the route east was fairly quiet, but soon got busier as we approached Vanderhoof. J suggested a bakery he found earlier for a light lunch. Bakkerij Lobelle offered a feast for the eyes with their assortment of sweet and savoury offerings. J was disappointed they were out of the Aussie Pies, and instead enjoyed a leek and onion pasty. A enjoyed the daily soup special and a samosa. The apple fritter for dessert was delicious, but a bit oily and sweet.

After a quick fuel stop, we were back on the road towards Prince George. A had an issue with a power cable so a quick stop at the dollar store before bypassing the downtown retail traffic. J suggested a top up of fuel as the next service wasn't available for the next 200km in McBride.

The ride was fantastic! The Yellowhead highway was empty of traffic and offered many sweeping corners, distant vistas, and multiple water crossing. Halfway we made a stop at the Ancient Forest to hydrate, finally savour our slice of cheesecake from Smithers and stretch the legs.

Arriving late afternoon in McBride under mostly clear skies, walked across to the Gigglin' Grizzly restaurant, which sported a limited menu, mostly deep-fried offerings. The beer on tap was in frosted mugs 🍻

Fun fact:
The Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) is named after the Yellowhead Pass, itself named for 19th‑century Iroquois‑Métis guide Pierre Bostonais, nicknamed Tête Jaune (“Yellow Head”) for his blond‑streaked hair. In 1819 he led a Hudson’s Bay Company brigade through the pass and cached furs near today’s Tête Jaune Cache, BC. The pass later became a key rail route, and when a modern road was built in the 1960s, it adopted the historic name and became part of the northern Trans‑Canada Highway.Okumaya devam et
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Wandering through Wistaria
17–18 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
It was much cooler camping next to the river than the forest in Stewart; we woke to light morning fog. The trains on the other side of town made a lot of noise between 5 and 6am 🚂 🔊 🔔 So much for sleeping in 🫨 Many people were already fishing at the rivers edge.

D had a good idea to head in to town for breakfast to warm up, and let the sun evaporate the dew from the tents. The four of us walked to Louise's Kitchen where A and J shared a large breakfast platter. It was surprisingly warmer and sunny up the hill too.

D's idea worked as the tents were mostly dry upon our return. A used a small cloth the remove the rest, and it was quite dry by the time everything else was packed up.

It was close to noon when we finally departed town. On our way to Houston, we managed to get a glimpse of D and T ahead of us but couldn't tuck in behind them due to traffic. We stopped in Houston for fuel. J's parents suggested taking a popular backroute near Ootsa lake through the small farming community of Wistaria.

We turned off highway 16, onto Morice River service road. Before long the beat-up asphalt gave way to a very wide gravel road. It wasn't too bad, but we kept the speed low as the top layer of gravel was quiet loose. Other road users blistfully sped past us kicking up quiet a dust storm; thankfully it wasn't too busy, so we only endured the occasional dust cloud requiring us to hold our breath and momentarily slow down.

We stopped for photos near a wetland with Nadina mountain in the distance, and shortly after found a turn off to Owen lake recreation site.

After 64km of the haul road, we turn on to a less used gravel road. We crossed the Nadina river on a very narrow bridge. The devistation of the 2018 fires was still present, but a healthy green undergrowth dominated the charred ghostly landscape. Around the 72km mark we merged with Oosta Nadina road. We continued to head further south and east at a much quicker pace. The dirt road was smooth, packed, and free of gravel.

We came upon a rise overlooking Ootsa lake and distant vistas, it was breath taking! Just like the brochures 😉 The scent of manure all over the road from the herd of cattle ranging nearby was powerful.

Once passed Wistaria, the dirt road became nice asphalt. The burnt forest turned into rolling landscape dotted by farmstead and pastures.

Arrived late afternoon in Southside where J's parents have a place. We greeted them at the dock as they returned from fishing in their canoe.

Once settled in, enjoyed the waning sun from the front deck overlooking Francois Lake.Okumaya devam et
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
South to Smithers
16–17 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
It was a surprisingly warm night, not what we expected camping in Stewart. No dew on the tent or bikes. A made coffee while J assembled the collapsible chairs to enjoy a relaxing morning ahead of the adventure.

J noticed a patch of bolete mushrooms, and luckily captured a photo just before a fellow camp guest harvested them.

After a simple breakfast, we packed up camp, and headed to the estuary boardwalk. We bumped into a number of other travellers at the park. As luck would have it, we also met with dad's friend from a Portugal tour, M from Florida, and his companion, C. Their adventure is Alaska to Portland, relocating two motorcycles via Vancouver Island.

Our casual morning had flown by. It was noon, so we grabbed a light lunch from the local grocery store since the restaurant was unexpectedly closed.

Onwards southeast to Smithers, our evening destination.

The day was more subdued with cloud cover that was slowly lifting as the day moved on. We again spotted the beautiful Bear Glacier. It's so photogenic!

A couple hours later we found ourself at the Kitwanga Junction, where highway 37 meets highway 16, and grabbed fuel. It was a pretty chaotic spot, so we moved on to Seeley Lake near Hazelton for a leg stretch and snack.

Finally arrived in Smithers by late afternoon. Our first stop was Canadian Tire to buy sleeping pads as J found out his had a slow leak, and A had a hard time sleeping on his squeeky air mattress. We then made our way to Riverside Municipal Campground. The camp hosts were quiet quirky, and seemed to be confused at what they had for available spots. We ended up with the largest one tucked in the corner.

The weather was amazingly warm, and the sun was still shining while we set up camp. D and T had arrived much earlier, and greeted us with a text. Had they seen us ride through town? Nope, FindPenguins tracking 😂 told them were we were! They had already in town for an early dinner. We walked the short distance to pick up libations and our dinner. A suggested takeout burritos to savour by the Bulkey River back at the Campground. Riverside dining on a warm September evening is a real treat!

D and T joined us at the picnic table and conversed over local brews before calling it a night in our cozy tents.Okumaya devam et
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- Riverside Municipal Campground
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Nass Nostalgia
15–16 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
After last minute visiting and a quick breakfast, we managed to leave Terrace mid morning. Our evening destination was Stewart through the Nass Valley. The Nisga Highway is a 169km scenic drive that undulates through the valley initially paralleling the Kitsumkalum River to Kalum Lake. At the north end of the lake resides the rural community of Ross Wood with its scatter 150 homesteading residents, served by its iconic General Store.

We soon reached the turquoise waters of Lava Lake. It was created in the 1700s when lava from the Tseax Cone hardened and acted as a natural dam across the valley.

We enjoyed the warm breeze while following the twisty-turny highway though the forest that gave way to the lichen cover lava bed.

Clouds were still clinging to the mountain tops that soon dispursed revealing the glacier capped summits. We enjoyed these gleaming vistas while having lunch on the patio at the Lava Roc Restaurant in New Aiyansh while fueling our bellies with burgers.

Our next stretch of the journey took us across a 50km stretch of forest service road to connect to the Stewart-Cassier highway. Initially the road made navigation questionable with all the loose chunky gravel, but it eventually became more hardpacked and enjoyable. Thankfully there was very little traffic. Along the way we saw a friendly waving hitchhiker. We stopped and had a good visit with the guy, G. He was headed back home after helping at his friend's remote offgrid cabin.

When we reached the paved highway, stopped to enjoy the scenery of the Cranberry River, hydrate and dust off the remnants of the gravel road.

The north bound route never ceased to amaze us with it endless snow capped vistas and picturesque landscape. We eventually arrived at the Meziadin Juntion to head west to Stewart. A heard J mention the "nice" lake with a bit of a southern drawl. Then the realized he probably said Nass Lake 😂, which would have made sense, but its called Meziadin Lake, which connects to the Nass River; it sure is nice! The tight valley was dominated by distance glaciers and looming mountain slopes. We made another stop by Strohn Lake and Bear Glacier.

The weather forcast was fabulous so Rainey Creek Campground was our destination. A very friendly helpful caretaker checked us in. We were assembling our tent when we realized we had a audience, D & T from the ferry! They arrived today and staying at the hotel in town. They invited us to join for a delicious dinner at El Tostador. The Margheritas were tasty too.Okumaya devam et
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- Bear Glacier Viewpoint
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
1
Skeena Meandering
14–15 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Enjoyed a relaxing start to the day after our early morning 1am arrival. The hotel had a decent breakfast spread to start the day. Once packed and bikes fueled up, made a quick stop in Seal Cove. It was an industrial bay dating back to 1910 to cure and refrigerate fish, to boat and marine services. Then, in the 1940s developed into a military and commercial air base.
https://coastview.org/2026/09/08/aero-point-sea…

Next over to the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site near Port Edward. Unfortunately, they were closed on Mondays, but we still enjoyed the historic aspect of the location and imagining what it would have been like in its production days
https://northpacificcannery.ca/

They road to the site had a lot of personality - dips and bumps! Very few vehicles were on the road. Minutes after parking, two more motorbikes showed up - D and T from the ferry! It was nice to have another visit with them.

We headed East and they ducked back to town for lunch. There was very little traffic on the highway and it felt exclusive! The skies were mostly sunny and a warm 19C. The Skeena estuary is very wide and flat. Many sections of the road are straight and it attempted to lull us into its zen, but the spectacular scenery kept us alert.

Exchamsiks River Provincial Park was a nice place to stop, have a snack and stretch our legs. There was one car in the parking lot, so I suppose it was still pretty exclusive 😂 Stunning green water in the river 💚

Lakelse Lake was our next stop. Pretty fresh strong winds were coming down the lake. We kept our riding gear on and were cold seeing the only other family there in Tshirts and one even in shorts 🥶! We returned to town on the twister, and more fun, Old Lakelse Road through Thornhill.

A quick stop for fuel and grocery in Terrace before getting to J's parents house. They were very excited to greet us. E did a quick lap around the block on one of the bikes and then Mom jumped on the back for a ride too.

Delicious pizza, salad and dessert rounded off the evening along with visiting and catching up. We enjoyed going to bed at our usual time.Okumaya devam et
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Gezgin ♥️
1 hf.Yanıtla
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
Ciao, Bella Bella
13–14 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
It was an early 5am start to make our ferry up the Inside Passage. The short 11 minute ride felt surprisingly warm, yet with noticeable moisture in the air.

BC Ferries requires you to arrive no less than 90 minutes before the sailing. Unlike most other ferry crossings, motorcycles load last. We picked up boarding passes in the passenger lounge, who stop selling 20 minutes prior to departure. Clearly we were newbies on the route as a couple other motorcyclists arrived closer to 7am 🙃

We enjoyed a standard "ferry" breakfast on board, exchanging motorcycle tales with D and T, who rode up from Sydney the day prior. We eventually found our way to the premium lounge we had prepurchased, with its comfy reclining seats. It was a bit surprising that basic tea and coffee weren't include with the extra $42 charge. The boat was quieter than expected, with plenty of general seating available, including the now retired buffet area still filled with local paintings and carvings.

Our lounge seats had a great view of the coast as we traversed the small section exposed to the open ocean with tiny rollers which barely bobbed the boat. The low fog really amplified the glow of the sun as it made its daily journey from east to west. Clear blue skys were revealed when the fog finally did burn off. A very calm morning.

Our journey north is 16hrs in duration up the spectacular west coast passage. The weather was amazing with blue skies, warm air and calm seas. No connectivity onboard, unless you were with the small group of Chinese tourists who setup their Starlink on the stern deck 🤣

This is was our first time in this route and eating 3 meals onboard. We hoped for something better than burgers for dinner and lucked out getting the 5th and 4th last serving of 10oz prime rib beef! 🐄😋

We enjoyed roaming the ship, admiring the sceneries, and chatting to our new motorcycle acquaintances. Our one stop along route was the small First Nations town, Bella Bella. Only passengers disembarking or joining used the terminal.

Five movies were shown in the lounge and we caught the last, No Country For Old Men. The final 2hrs of the trip we tried to nap in our loungers.

Alas, at 1am a nice light fog greeted us in the Prince Rupert terminal, we disembarked and zipped the 6min ride to our hotel. A much nicer hotel and comfortable beds. It was hard to try and sleep with being out of sync on our usual schedule 😴

https://www.bcferries.com/web_image/images/h0a/…Okumaya devam et
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GezginWow, that is a beautiful trip. Just don't cross that border.
1 hf.YanıtlaÇevirmek
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Tour de BC Adventure 2026
1
Hearty Arty 'n Port Hardy
12–13 Eyl, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
A full day attending to last minute details in preparation for a 20 day motorcycle tour around BC.

In between packing, cleaning, and organizing, we managed a moment to visit a friend, W, who was in Campbell River for a couple days. D arrived mid-day by motorcycle from the south island to keep our lovey ladies 🐈‍⬛ 😻 company while we enjoy our trip.

We finally got riding after 5pm in a sweltering 28C, and arrived in Port Hardy just after 8pm, with a much cooler 16C. The ride up was magnificent with clear blue skies and a waning sun. We were reminded how West facing that road is as we rode into the blinding sunset 🌇 The vanishing sunlight really highlighted the distant vistas.

The hotel restaurant closed early at 8pm, so no Mexican feast which A had been dreaming of 🇲🇽 🌮 We ended up having a great walk in the warm evening air into town to pick up pizza for dinner.

The Quarterdeck hotel is showing its age; faded photos, musty dirty carpet and tired siding. Thankfully the beds we comfortable and the window opened to let in fresh air.

Early to bed 😴 as we have a very early ferry boat to catch ⛴️

A note on the title; our pizza was 'The Athena' (spinach and chicken) which was very reminiscent of the Hearty Arty (spinach, feta and artichokes) pizza we used to order living in HH. Mmm mmm good!Okumaya devam et
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GezginLooking forward to following along.
2 hf.YanıtlaÇevirmek
What a great photo... good looking bikes; oh and all of you as well .. barb [Barb]
2 hf.YanıtlaÇevirmek
Awesome looks like another great adventure 👍🥳🏍️⛴️ [Jason]
2 hf.YanıtlaÇevirmek
2 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
🌞 Sautéd Saturday 🌴🫠
20 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
After a later-than-usual night, we tried to sleep in before joining the group for one final breakfast together. Most were heading off to catch their flights, so it was a bittersweet farewell.

We graciously accepted a ride into town from H, who was on his way to the airport, and took the opportunity to explore a bit. The 4 km walk back to the resort was lovely, mostly along the beach front. We popped into a couple of shops—partly to browse, and partly to cool off as the heat was becoming intense. Along the way, we spotted a gelato shop and couldn’t resist sharing three scoops: passion fruit, tamarind, and lemon. So yummy!

Back at the resort, we retreated to the cool comfort of our room to sort through photos and reflect on the trip. Only one other couple from the DFL group had an early Sunday morning flight with us, so we invited them for dinner. While eating, we watched two rays gracefully glide in and out of the lit shallows—a quiet, magical end to a memorable journey.Okumaya devam et
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Wonderful photos, sounds like a very worthy cause. Glad you enjoyed it and are safely home, I guess it's packing up time now? Love NAN [Nan]
22.09.2025YanıtlaÇevirmek
GezginAnother great trip that you've graciously allowed me to experience vicariously. Where are we going next? XxooBarb
24.09.2025YanıtlaÇevirmek
1 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
🪅 👯 Festive Friday 🎉 🪩🕺
19 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
The morning was a frenzy of activity as we prepared for the final dives of the trip. With three boats ready to go, everyone was hustling to get out for the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. morning excursions.

A storm was brewing at the north end of the island, rumbling with thunder and flashing with lightning. Fortunately, our first dive was planned at the southern end, at Chez Heinz. Visibility wasn’t ideal, but the ocean currents revealed a fish feeding frenzy along the reef. Sadly, that also meant encountering more floating plastic garbage, which we collected during the dive. Midway through, we spotted a large lionfish stalking a smaller reef fish. Nearby, a shimmering tarpon and a couple of barracuda appeared to be hunting as well. We were lucky to be visited once again by a pair of reef squid near the boat.

After a quick shore stop to refill our tanks, we headed to the southern tip of Klein Bonaire to steer clear of the storm. Our destination: South Bay. Visibility remained poor, but marine life was abundant. In a dark crevice in the reef wall, we discovered another spider crab. Without a macro lens it was not possible to photograph. We also encountered a fairly large spotted drum (a misnomer, as the fish is striped) with its elegant trailing fins, along with several spotted boxfish. On our way back, a pair of barracuda watched us cautiously as we passed.

The two of us wrapped up the day with one last shore dive, bringing our total to 16 dives for the trip, before returning our few items of rented gear.

Dinner was another highlight: prawns, chicken, pumpkin stew, mashed potatoes and more! We capped off the week with a farewell tiki-themed pool party that our group organizers had planned—a perfect end to an unforgettable diving adventure. Our exclusive use of the pool allowed us to have the music loud and dancing both in and outside the water. The staff enjoyed themselves getting into the costumes, dancing and even the pool!Okumaya devam et
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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Tan Lines and Lionfish
18 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
Woke up to a moist landscape after a light overnight rain shower. The day was mostly cloudy, but by midafternoon the sun burst through with intensity, making up for the cooler start. Despite applying sunscreen, J ended up with a very defined leg tan where the wet suit stops.

Our first boat dive wasn’t until 11 a.m., so we decided to squeeze in a morning shore dive beforehand. This time, we headed north along the reef—unfortunately, right into a strong current. Along the way, we spotted an abundance of marine life and various manmade features. The return trip was much quicker than expected, so we lingered for a few more minutes, watching fish dart through the shallows.

Our midday and afternoon dives took us across to Klein Bonaire. The first site, Sharon’s Serenity on the north side, featured a curious green moray eel that followed us through the hidden coral passages. We also saw a large crab, a lionfish, and a sizable pufferfish.

The Bonaventure site, located at the southern tip of Klein Bonaire, was probably the highlight of the week. Visibility was fantastic. We encountered another pufferfish, an urchin, a crab, and a couple of lionfish. Near a large white anemone, we spotted a pair of tiny cleaner shrimp. The dive ended with three large shrimp gracefully maneuvering near the boat.

The evening wrapped up with the much-anticipated raffle draw and charity auction—an uplifting end to a memorable day. We purchased a gift bag of treats from Hawaii: macadamia nuts, coffee, and more!Okumaya devam et
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2 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Turtles, Tarpons, and a Win!
17 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
We kicked off the day with an early and energetic start for our back-to-back dives. Our first stop was a return to the "Bon Bini Na Kas" dive site, as our planned location, "Country Garden," was already occupied. Before descending, we were treated to the sight of two sea turtles gliding at the surface—a magical way to begin.

Unfortunately, once we were in the water our dive camera refused to wake up. Due to the current, we followed the shorter route, but this time the reef was teeming with life. Various species of smaller reef fish had gathered into one massive, shimmering shoal.

Back at the dock, we quickly offloaded our gear onto another dive boat and headed out for a short trip to the "Small Wall" dive site. It was another spectacular dive, full of reef activity. A large, pale puffer fish cautiously watched us as we descended deeper along the wall, and barracuda dotted our route like silent sentinels.

After a light breakfast, the hearty lunch buffet was a welcome refuel. We cooled off in our air-conditioned room before regrouping for some late-afternoon socializing.

By mid-afternoon, we decided to take advantage of the spare tanks for a shore dive. Geared up and in the water by 4 p.m., we casually glided to the reef edge and descended to 19 meters. Heading south into a gentle current, we soon encountered an old sunken boat. Not long after, we spotted a small sea turtle, followed by a large moray eel weaving through the reef. We also saw a couple of lionfish and two flounders near the end of the dive.

After a quick rest back on shore, we joined a group of fellow enthusiasts for an naturalist night dive. As luck would have it, we encountered two octopuses, several moray eels, and five tarpons that followed us, hoping to use our lights to hunt. We figured the lighting would not have been great for the camera, but in hindsight we should have given it a try.

To top off an already incredible day, we were the successful silent auction bid for a week long condo stay in Puerto Vallarta! Our donation for hosting in our Campbell River house had multiple bids and raised some funds too. We look forward to having our guest stay in our new home sometime after the Spring.Okumaya devam et
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1 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Staghorn, parrots and worms
16 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
Today was the first morning we could sleep-in, with our initial dive scheduled for eleven. We took care of a few home-related tasks on the computer, and then headed for breakfast. Our dive pod gradually filtered in, and we enjoyed some casual socializing over the morning spread. Everyone is assigned a ten-person pod group to dive with for the week. Ours is an assortment of folks from all over the States. We are the only Canadians in attendance this year.

For our first dive, we traveled north along the coastline. Once again, the dive master opted for an alternate site from the original plan. We ended up at Bon Bini na Kas—which means “welcome home.” It was a decent dive, though not as teeming with aquatic life as the previous day. Still, gliding past the soft corals was peaceful, and the Staghorn coral was especially fascinating.

Back on shore, we had a quick turnaround before the afternoon dive. Lunch was another delicious spread, featuring a variety of fresh salads and fish dishes.

Soon we were back on the boat, motoring toward the southern coast of the island. Our destination: Windsock Reef, near the airport. This dive did not disappoint. The reef was bursting with marine life—we spotted a couple of lobsters (one impressively large), several anemones, eels, barracuda (including a school chasing a shoal of fish), and plenty more.

Tonight’s social event focused on selecting charities to receive the proceeds raised throughout the week. Diving for Life was founded 33 years ago to "unite all gay and lesbian divers while raising money" for AIDS. Since then, it has grown into an annual event attended by members or allies, united by a shared love of diving and a commitment to giving back to a multitude of community organizations around the world. We have requested funds from our participation be allocated to Rainbow Refugee.Okumaya devam et
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2 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Magnificent Monday
15 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
We kicked off our day with the 8:30 a.m. dive slot, which meant an early rise, a light breakfast, and gear prep. The patio was already buzzing with life—an inquisitive iguana made a cameo, and tropical birds flitted nearby, clearly hoping for a bite of our breakfast.

🐠 Dive One: Oil Slick Reef Surprise

Our original plan was to explore the iconic “1000 Steps” site, but a dive boat had already claimed it. No worries—our dive master pivoted to “Oil Slick,” a reef named after a long-abandoned plan to build an oil refinery there. Thankfully, the reef’s beauty won out, and the refinery was relocated.

The dive was mesmerizing. Soft corals swayed as schools of fish darted through the terrain. A curious barracuda glided silently past our group, and on the way back, we watched a sea turtle munching away at the hard coral like it was a buffet.

🛍️ Market Stroll & Midday Feast

After rinsing off and cooling down in our room, we wandered to the local grocer store. Soon after, the lunch buffet opened, and the chef served up fresh fish burgers—a delicious blend of Mahi-Mahi and Tuna that hit the spot.

🌊 Dive Two: Eighteen Palms & Silvery Giants

In the afternoon, we headed southwest to Eighteen Palms. Descending to 60 feet, we were greeted by shimmering Tarpons making multiple passes. Rumor had it a shark made a brief appearance, and we spotted another turtle, a lionfish, a crab, a couple of tuna, and even a lobster.

📸 Dockside Moments & Manager’s Special

As the sun dipped low, we gathered for a group photo on the dock. Surprisingly, everyone found their spot with ease—no chaos, just good vibes. The evening rolled into the resort’s “Manager’s Special” night, complete with live music, drinks, and the busiest crowd of the year. The staff handled it like pros.

Dinner was a BBQ feast that instantly transported me back to Croatia, where we once devoured a tavern-style sampler platter. Pure nostalgia.

🌙 Poolside Wind-Down

After some downtime and underwater video editing, we joined a few others for a late-night swim. The resort had graciously extended pool hours to 24/7, making it the perfect way to end a day packed with adventure.Okumaya devam et
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GezginGreat underwater pics.
17.09.2025YanıtlaÇevirmek
2 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Let the Scuba begin 🐠 🐟 🤿
14 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
It was an early start to an action-packed day. After hauling our gear down to the lockers, we grabbed a quick light breakfast before the mandatory dive briefing. The dive shop buzzed with energy as divers convened, prepping for the day ahead. There are about 60 divers for this year's event.

🎒 Gear Glitch Alert
As part of our gear checks, we realized our BCDs wouldn’t inflate! A fast dash back to the shop to rent replacements, and we still made the 11 a.m. boat departure for our first dive. While most divers did a test dive at the dock, we skipped ours and crossed our fingers. Luckily, our weight guess was spot-on ⚖️

🐠 Dive 1: Andrea 1
This warm-up location was teeming with reef life. We spotted a sleek barracuda, a couple of large puffer fish, and a colorful cast of underwater characters. It was the perfect way to ease into the rhythm of the ocean.

🥪 Lunch Break
Back on shore, we enjoyed a light lunch and swapped stories from the morning dive.

🌊 Dive 2: Ebo’s Special, Klein Bonaire
Our second dive took us across the bay to the northern shore of Klein Bonaire. Ebo’s Special offered a deeper descent along a dramatic shelf. Highlights included a school of small white puffers, fire worms, and trumpet fish weaving through the coral. We took the insta360 camera for its first plunge and it worked very well 📸👍

🍹 Happy Hour & Games
One of the DFL members brought out a Mexican Train domino set, and we jumped at the opportunity to play while enjoying a happy hour cocktail. Laughter, drinks, and a little friendly competition set a fun tone for the evening.

🍝 Dinner Buffet
Dinner was a DIY pasta buffet—three types of pasta and three sauces. Mix, match, and make it your own! Fresh salads and tasty desserts rounded out the meal nicely.

🎉 Poolside Party: “Sarong, So-Right”
The night wrapped up with a themed pool party. The dive shop manager, a Dutch native and passionate DJ, spun classic tunes that had everyone dancing in their sarongs. We didn’t stay out too late though—our group had an 8:30 dive time the next morning. The music was quite loud so we enjoyed the tunes until the party end around 11:30p.m.Okumaya devam et
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2 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Bon biní na Bonaire
13 Eylül 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
On the 5-hour flight to Miami we managed to watch a movie before attempting some rest. Unfortunately it was hard to come by with cramped leg room, cushionless seating, and lots of turbulence. We left the plane bleary-eyed, and in a time zone 3-hours ahead.

While wandering through the early morning desolate departure hall of Miami airport, we found an amazing Colombian coffee shop. More art decorated the spaces with fascinating flooring designs of corals and fish inlaid in the chip-rock concrete.

Five hours later we boarded our last leg of the journey to Bonaire. It was a quick 3-hour hop across the Caribbean. Exiting the plane came as a shock; felt like walking into a hot air furnace. The weather indicated 33°C, but "felt like 41°C" with humidity.

Bon biní na Bonaire
https://howtosayguide.com/how-to-say-welcome-in…

The airport was under renovations with little room to stand and collect baggage. Even though it was an open air hall and very warm, it was nice not being in the direct-broil of the sun. A bus full of us divers were quickly collected and shuttled to our week’s accommodations at Captain Don’s Habitat.
https://www.habitatbonaire.com/

After check-in we finally had a moment of solitude for a quiet rest/nap. Once freshened up, we joined the group for the orientation with the highlights of the week’s events and proceedings. We then mingled over happy hour drinks watching the sunset, and enjoying a fantastic fresh and delicious buffet.Okumaya devam et
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1 beğeni
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
A day @ SeaTac
12 Eylül 2025, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
It was a typical travel day filled with stretches of waiting and bursts of frenzy. People-watching never ceases to amaze those who are observant. Everything went smoothly—which is always a win when traveling!

The flight from Victoria to Seattle was a short 25 minutes. We had the luxury of an 8-hour layover before catching the red-eye to Miami.

SEA Airport is impressively expansive, feeling more like a shopping mall than an airport. We grabbed a quick bite at Lucky Louie’s Fish Shack, which offered an interesting spin on poutine: thick, creamy chowder in place of gravy, topped with bacon bits, cheese, and green onion. Afterward, we wandered the halls like a couple of mall rats. That little adventure racked up 11,000 steps for the day. We ended up meandering through nearly every wing of the airport and definitely got our fill. It was nice to see such a variety of art installations decorating the space.

Eventually, we settled in with a beer at the Tap & Pour lounge, watching the constant flurry of planes coming and going. Warm sunlight streamed through the vaulted windows. Later, we made our way to a Mexican spot for dinner and Modelo beers. The sunset cast a soft glow of pinks across the sky just before we boarded the 5-hour red-eye. The flight was turbulent, jostling the plane and making sleep a bit of a challenge.Okumaya devam et
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GezginBonaire is beautiful- you're in for a treat! Be sure to check out the flamingos at the nature preserve. And the diving relaxing...barb k
15.09.2025YanıtlaÇevirmek
1 beğeni
Travels 2.0
Homeward 🇨🇦
16–24 Mar 2024, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Almost two months after departing Canada, we're wrapping up this final chapter of the sabbatical. We've enjoyed many adventures, visited family, old friends and met new ones.

The night flight from Auckland to Vancouver on an Air New Zealand Dreamliner was very comfortable. Though we were not successful getting our bid accepted for a Sky Couch, our seats at the last row of economy were quite nice. Nobody bumping the backs of the seats and able to recline normally! The fellow sitting next to J was a very friendly Kiwi, returning to his home in Canada, who chatted for hours about many interesting topics. J is good at chatting but could hardly get a word in! The food was great, service friendly, a few naps & movies later, and the 14.5hrs flew by ✈️

After a short layover in Vancouver our final flight up to Fort St John. Friends picked us up at the airport after their afternoon of errands in "the big city." It was an unseasonably very warm weekend of 19°C!

Sunday we drove 4hrs to Prince George to have dinner with our friend who graciously had our cats with her for 2 months! We then enjoyed watching the early screening of Dune Part 2; it's almost 3hrs long! Monday we fetched the cats and drove home. They were very greatful to be home and settled right in.

Slowly adjusted to being back home and resetting our sleep clocks so we don't wake needlessly at 3am. Temperatures dipped to more seasonable; freezing 🥶 and some fluffy snow ☃️ to brighten things up. Woodstove fires to keep the cats, and us warm. Sunny days slightly above zero to melt the snow.

🤞Spring is around the corner ☺️ and we're eager to plan for a stellar garden after a year off. With a few growing seasons under our belt we have a better plan of what we want 🍅🥕🥔🥒🌽🥬🥦🫛🍟🫘🧄🧅

In what seems at times like a blink of an eye 345 days has flown by! We're grateful for the support of friends and family helping to make this dream happen ❤️🙏☺️

That's a wrap! Thanks for following along, 💕Okumaya devam et
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GezginIt's been enjoyable to follow along.
30.03.2024YanıtlaÇevirmek
GezginAgree- thank you for sharing your journey and memories of a lifetime. This blog was a great idea.
31.03.2024YanıtlaÇevirmek
GezginIt has been wonderful living vicariously thru you both thanks for the fabulous photos and funny stories😎
2.04.2024YanıtlaÇevirmek
A year to remember forever! Thank you for sharing all your beutiful adventures! 😃 [Pat]
2.04.2024YanıtlaÇevirmek
2 beğeni
Travels 2.0
1
1
Spectacular Steamy Sunrise 🌅
15–16 Mar 2024, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
For whatever reason we both woke up early, way too early! That said, we did want to be at the beach around 5am to enjoy quiet solitude in a hand-dug hot pool next to the ocean 🤗 With our trusty rented spade and headlamps, we walked along the dark pathway to the beach. There was only one other couple who had arrived slightly before us, and soon we were both hunkered down in our respective pools. We managed to find the spot that had cool and hot veins of water. This was ideal to have both as the hot water is scalding! Every once in a while a burst of hot water would come through and you could really feel it ♨️ 🥵

It was very peaceful and relaxing in the pre-dawn light with the lapping of the nearby waves as the tide continued to flood. In hindsight we probably could have dug the pool a couple feet higher up the beach as the waves were lapping around our sand berm. As the minutes moved along more people began to arrive to dig their own soaker pools. Eventually we had to abandon ours as the waves completely washed everything away 🤣🌊. J opted for a swim in the ocean while A dug 💪a new pool that shortly succumbed to the fate of our earlier hard work, but worth it 😊. Definitely a highlight of the sabbatical! Check out the great time lapse video 📹⌚

With the sun up well past the horizon we meandered back to the holiday park to warm up with a hot coffee, shower, and farmstand fresh avocado 🥑 on garlic bread 🍞. By 10am we were checked out, and back on the road. A had leafed through a magazine and found a couple points of interest. The Macadamia nut farm was first stop. The proprietor was very friendly and informative telling us all about the harvesting and seasoning of the Macadamias. Got to crack our own nuts too😉. The macadamia brittle looked amazing so we grabbed one for tonight's dessert. We also left with a few items to share later 😋

By this point the weather had turned, and a light mist rain was falling. We drove to the end of the road for a quick peek at the Stella Evered Memorial Park Reserve. A lovely story of a farmer who left his estate to become a park for others to enjoy. Then into Hahei for coffee and a snack.

A short distance around the inlet and up the coast we came to Whitianga, taking a slight detour to cruise through this beachside town. A few fix'r upper beach view houses for sale.

The highway meandered lots of tight corners along the beach for a while, then headed east, into the small mountain range. We kept our eyes pealed for more farm stands, and were rewarded for our efforts with a bag of freshly picked figs. We weren't too sure of the variety, and they looked really green but took a chance.

Once we traversed the pass and twisty road, we found ourselves oceanside once again in the quiet hamlet of Coromandel Town. Our final night in New Zealand was at a quirky, but well maintained nautical themed Motel, the Anchor Lodge ⚓.

A short walk through town, and we picked up a few items to cook for dinner in our kitchenette. We stopped at a smoked seafood shop and picked up chowder and smoked snapper to go with the pasta and salad dinner J had in mind.

The late afternoon sky was still quite overcast, with the sudden periodic shower, lending to the feeling of a quiet and relaxing night in. It's been a busy three weeks in New Zealand so it's what we needed.

The dinner was amazing that J cooked up! It's a perfect way to wrap up the final evening in NZ 🇳🇿Okumaya devam et
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Gezgin Stunning
23.03.2024Yanıtla
3 beğeni
Travels 2.0
Hot🔥 Water💦 Beach 🏖️
14–15 Mar 2024, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Our sleep was ok, but interrupted a bit from noisy doors closing in the hallway of this budget-style hotel/hostel. We took advantage of the communal kitchen and had a simple toasted-croissant with fruit juice for breakfast. No one else was around and we sat on the balcony overlooking the pool and towards the Kuirau Park across the road.

A walk through Kuirau Park on this sunny warm morning after last night's showers was perfect. It is quiet extensive and also contains a number of geological thermal features. The city installed a few small pools for people to relax and soak their feet. The trails circled and wound around the various cordoned off spots of interest. Safety first as walking into sink holes or scalding water wouldn't be fun. There was a section of trail closed due to hot water covering the boardwalk and access points likely due to shifting ground. Before leaving Rotorua, we made a short loop through a portion of town to shop for some gifts.
https://www.rotoruanz.com/things-to-do/family-f…

When choosing our drive on Google Maps, we opted for the slightly longer route north, despite a tolled section of highway as it was more scenic.

We passed through a number small towns, and some very tight gorges with twisty roads. As we approached Katilati, A noticed a lot of plantations along the highway, and realized we were driving through a avacodo🥑 and kiwi🥝 growing area! We did stop at a couple farm stands and bought some avacodo to enjoy for breakfast. The first stop didn't work as we were without small cash for the honesty box. The second stop was at a farm house. All the avocados on the table were too hard, so the owner, G, came over to assist. She graciously found me two avos that were almost over ripe (hidden on the back table) and declined to take any payment for them 🥑💕 She reminisced about a July trip to Canada which was unseasonably cold too.

Mid-afternoon we arrived at Hot Water Beach. We checked into our cabin at the holiday park. As the tide was still low, we hoofed along the path to the beach. A narrow strip of sand was already pock marked with eager bathers digging holes to enjoy the hot water coursing beneath the sand. We didn't rent a spade to dig our own pool, but just as well as the good spots were very conjuested with happy people. Since the weather was so nice out we decided to enjoy the ocean for a splash, and it was warmer than expected. Even located another hot spring with the feet in the water.

Once back at the cabin, we enjoyed cold beverages in the sun on the little front patio before heading off to dinner at a nearby restaurant. Hotties was just a short walk away. We were the first to arrive for dinner, getting the best seat in the house, though they are all pretty epic😁 Started things of with a couple cocktails, then shared a prawn ceviche, capris salad, and the John Dory fish special. Of course we left room for dessert, and enjoyed their peach cobbler with ice cream. The walk home in the dark star-filled sky was lovely and very quiet in this tiny beachside town: not a soul in sight 🌟

The final glass of wine on the patio made for a good laugh when A noticed a chunky in his cup at the last second of a sip and didn't swallow. It was a small roach! He was relieved of his swimming duties and promptly disappeared under the deck boards😜! The room had finally cooled off from the day's warm rays, with the windows open and fan blowing so we retired for the night.Okumaya devam et
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1 beğeni
Travels 2.0
Geothermals & Redwoods
13–14 Mar 2024, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Today's early 10am adventure was a short distance away from Taupo to watch the first of four daily water releases, creating the amazing Aratiatia Rapids 🌊. Priority stop on the way was at a cafe for good coffee. The date scone & carrot cake spoke to us and we had to buy them 😋. We agree with a review that this ultra-nutty carrot cake is the best ever! Maybe they'll share the recipe?

Fun fact: Aratiatia Rapids was the location used in The Hobbit trilogy for the barrel and rapids escape scene. It took a bit for the upper pool to fill as the spillway gates were only partially open, then the torrent commenced 🥳 Before long the water began to ebb, and we decided to walk to the end of the viewing path and back.

A couple hours up the road we stopped at the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. Again another repurchased ticket online provided some savings 🎫👍. This tourist location can get a very busy in summer, but mid-week early in Fall time was more relaxed. We witnessed some pretty amazing geothermal wonders. We didn't arrive early enough to see Lady Knox Geyser, as it's a triggered event once a day and not necessarily much of a spectacle. The LOTR director recorded the sounds of the bubbling mud in a sink hole for the sounds of Mordor. There was also plenty of sulphur and moisture in air 🤢 to keep us moving quickly at times.

Finally arriving in Rotorua, we stopped for a snack at a sushi express before continuing on around the block to walk through the Redwood forest. VERY. BIG. TREES 🎄😍 Sweet smells of the forest were refreshing especially after the thermal aromas (Sulphur).

Late afternoon found us at our evening accommodation where we got a free upgrade to a larger room with a private bathroom. We freshened up and went to explore dinner options. The Eat Street restaurant area was excessively loud and busy, so we opted for a walk to a quieter area across town and enjoyed a Mexican sampler platter for two. We were hungry, but the serving was large enough for three or four!

The owner's seven year old son was hanging out. He was playing a bit, but was curious for a visit. It didn't take much to engage him in a conversation and learn a bit about a local's perspective from a young mind. The owner apologized for his interruption, but we quite enjoyed it.Okumaya devam et
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