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Linda McKinlayLinda McKinlay
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Joined Feb 4, 2024 Read more
  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    Day 71

    DAY SIXTY EIGHT

    April 20 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    St Arnaud and a nippy 2 degrees this morning. Now in Blenheim a comfortable 18. St Arnaud is a quaint place with lots of old holiday cottages set between hedges and a few modern homes in the street where we parked up. Of course there is the lake for water fun and in the winter a ski field so it does get very busy. The DOC visitors centre is very informative and has good displays. On our walk we came across this dear chapel with the gorgeous picture (distraction) window. Had coffee at the lodge/resort on the way back home and were so impressed with the friendly staff and homely warm ambience decided to return for a pizza at dinner time. We weren't disappointed. That's where the taxidermy (photo) were. The other Swiss chalet building is back packers accommodation. Roger enjoyed a look around the museum. The boat used to belong to Jaqui Kennedy and was used in.one of the James Bond movies. It is due to be shipped back to America. Visit St Arnaud if you get the chance. There's more to it than you might think. An interesting side note - when we lived in Tawa our neighbour family used to go there to a family batch in the Summer. One year Leah went with them.
    Other than a walk to the supermarket we are taking the opportunity chill this afternoon and make plans for our day tomorrow .    Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    Day 70

    DAY SIXTY SEVEN X 1

    April 19 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Brrrrrr what a cold morning 🥶 4 degrees outside and not much better in the motor home. My watch stopped overnight and my pens wouldn't write this morning. What a change from sunny warm Richmond. Just some bush walks today so I thought I'd share a pictorial report of the beautiful tracks we walked. I do want to explain about the black sooty mold on the trees though. It's quite weird to see and I thought it was killing the trees. Its caused by a scale insect which feeds on the inner bark and sends out a silver thread (honey dew) to excrete her waste. The mold obtains nourishment from this waste. Numerous birds and insect feed on this honey dew and so while it looks like the black mold is killing the trees it is actually doing good not harm. We bought some honey due honey earlier in our travels. I must say we have done numerous walks in the bush and never have we heard such a loud concentration of bird song. It's just beautiful here. 1-17 such an array of Fungi. 18 -19. Protected eel under the jetty. 20. We were warned about these pests but haven't seen or felt any.Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    11
    Day 70

    DAY SIXTY SEVEN X 2

    April 19 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Photos from our 4 bush walks today and a few extra for fun. 15 shows the lovely leafy path. Zoom 20 to see a drop of honey dew. Video enjoy the Bell bird song

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    11
    Day 69

    DAY SIXTY SIX

    April 18 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    "Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day. ........" 🫨 First time in a while that I've been able to sit outside in the sun with my bowl of cereal. 🥣 👏 Richmond to St Arnaud (pronounced "Ah No") today. While Roger popped into the Wakefield bakery for some fresh bread for lunch and a nice dessert for dinner, I took the opportunity to take a couple of photos since I forgotten yesterday. After a short drive we arrived at St Arnaud at mid day. Roger chose to park at a POP in the village where there is lots of sun. Unfortunately we have swapped the melodious birdsong, bush and lake view at the DOC campground for the sun, which is a shame. Took a walk to the DOC info cetre to check out walks for tomorrow (resting up today) and came home via the lake.. A couple of hardy families were kyaking making us wonder if we should unpack ours. 🤔 Probably not at this stage as it's right at the back of the boot. ☹️ Right by the POP is a classic boat museum which has good reviews.
    I'm sure Rog will be heading that way tomorrow. Very quiet here. No trains, planes, loud cars, loud music or barking dogs. Should sleep well tonight. 😴 Photo 6 you will have to zoom to read. Found a bit more toilet humour for you. 🤣    Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    11
    Day 68

    DAY SIXTY FIVE

    April 17 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    It's all about another ride today. ( I apologize to non cyclists.) Parked the truck in the pretty village of Wakefield about 17km from our camp. They have a very nice bakery which we remembered from a previous visit. So the bikes were unloaded and along the road we went.. 😋 Coffee and treat later we were on the saddle. We were keen to ride Spooners tunnel as its pretty special being the longest unused railway tunnel in the country. It was quite an experience riding 1.4km in the dark with our bikes lighting up the path in front of us. We rode to Kohatu historic Flat Rock Cafe for a lunch break then turned around and rode home. On the way we had a steady 5km gradual climb to the tunnel and that meant on the way back we had a fun downhill ride. Wheeeee 😁
    Roger actually went 5.5k without peddling. It was another fabulous day with lots of variety.
    Forest trails, beside rivers, through some bush, alongside a little bit of road and also farm paddocks. (Roger liked the chickens) Great to be able to enjoy rural countryside, smells and all 🤭 Did I mention it was another 55km today. Giving our bikes a rest for a few days now. We are staying at the A&P Show Grounds in Richmond, and it also incorporates the trotting club. We went for a walk earlier and I noticed someone is very good with a paint brush. Had to share with you. Also there is a small memorial garden surrounded by this chain from the Wahine. The 3 ladies are over the men's urinals. 🤣    Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    11
    Day 67

    DAY SIXTY FOUR

    April 16 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Beautiful clear skies and sunshine again today. Almost feels like summer. Slept well after our big day yesturday and decided apart from a short easy cycle this morning, the remainder of the day would be for necessities, ( ie laundry supermarket hair cut etc) and rest. But don't be too wowed by the distance traveled yesturday. It's very easy to clock up kms on an electric bike and still feel fresh. It was just those jolly hills and being aware the battery was running down not wanting to use too much power. Anyway plans changed when Roger found the flat Tyre he noticed after our ride yesturday was actually a puncture needing a tube change. So Grant stayed home for moral support while Rog delt with it and Sharon and I set off. Richmond to Rabbit Island and return. About 21km. Almost perfectly flat so just the ticket for me after yesterday. We enjoyed ourselves without the boys and had a lot of giggles.
    We're treating ourselves with a powered site for the first time on this trip having done very well staying at a couple of DOC campgrounds, Wings camps, Freedom sites and $10 a night POPS. You don't have to spend a lot on places to park up if you are 'self contained' and mostly you don't have to book so last minute change of plans on account of weather or "just because" isn't an issue. I've kept the best photo till last. Believe it or not these are plastic molded outdoor seats.    Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    Day 66

    DAY SIXTY THREE

    April 15 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    A beautiful morning enticed us onto our bikes to ride a bit more of the Great Taste Cycle Trail. 🌞 So after a brief visit to the local cycle shop for a quick repair to Roger's bike, then the obligatory coffee stop at a coffee roaster we were passing, we were good to go. 60km, almost dead batteries and almost dead legs later, we limped in the door for a cold drink 🧃and a breather. We rode from Motueka to Mapua warf for those of you familiar with the area. We'd previously ridden Richomnd to Mapua so wanted to complete this leg. The reason for the low batteries was 2 very steep long hills which gave our thighs and bikes a good workout . 🥵 Mind you, we'd enjoyed the same hills going the other way 😊
    Anyhow was a great day with a very nice lunch at the Mapua Village Bakery 🥪🥮 and beautiful coastline along the way too.⛵️⛱️ Now in Richmond staying at the samp camp as Sharon and Grant so nice to catch up with them again. Photo 2 and 3 give you an indication of the elevation of our ride. 6 is a bike stand created from cycle parts and because I always try and give you something to make you smile you have 7 and 8 🤣    Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    Day 65

    DAY SIXTY TWO

    April 14 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Yahhhh woke to a dry morning and the sun trying to shine. Contrary to Roger's trusty weather forecast it hasn't rained yet. Took the bikes of the rack and did a very nice ride to Riwaka. 20km return so a short one because we are trying to save the batteries for a long ride tomorrow. Most of the trail followed the very pretty estuary where this shipwreck lies.. lots of people out walking and stretching their legs after being house bound for a few days. Hope you will notice that the half price car is actually half a car. Suited my sense of humour so deserved a photo. We are in a 'Wings' camp and behind us is a very nice inner estuary/lake with lots of walking paths around it which we explored this afternoon. Actually if you like walking or cycling I recommend staying here. The pantry is bare and no shopping till Monday so its take away night tonight and no dishes. 🥳Read more

  • TravelerMACKS MEANDER
    Day 64

    DAY SIXTY ONE

    April 13 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Another house bound, wet day in Motueka and sooo much to do 🌧☔️😠 The Burgers we made for dinner being the highlight of the day. 🍔 Expecting better weather tomorrow 🤞

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