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MACKS MEANDER
  • Linda McKinlay

MACKS MEANDER

3 or 4 sleep till we head of on another Southern adventure. I'm hoping we'll get away Tuesday evening and maybe stay at Ardmore Wings. That way we won't have to fight the traffic on Wednesday morning. Doing the clothes pack today. Very excited. Read more
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  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    DAY SIXTY THREE

    April 15, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler
    11

    DAY SIXTY FOUR

    April 16, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler
    11

    DAY SIXTY FIVE

    April 17, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler
    11

    DAY SIXTY SIX

    April 18, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler
    11

    DAY SIXTY SEVEN X 2

    April 19, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    DAY SIXTY SEVEN X 1

    April 19, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    DAY SIXTY EIGHT

    April 20, 2024 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

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    Christmas on the Coromandal

    December 24, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL 🤶

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler
    1
    1

    Christmas on the Coromandal

    December 28, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    So special sharing a camping holiday with the Mahoneys. The camp ground was packed like sardines. I'd forgotten what camping in peak season was like. Didn't suit me at all 🤨 Unfortunately it poured with rain Christmas day evening and boxing day and the next day strong winds. So 2 days without the use of our kyak was disappointing. Home now with a pile of laundry and a motorhome to clean in readiness for our next getaway in a couple of weeks. Happy days 😁Read more

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    SHORT BREAK

    January 9 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    3 nights at stunning Mahurangi West Regional Park CSC camp. ALSO known as Sullivan's Bay. Thankyou Auckland Council. Our favourite beach. Crystal clear flat water, all tide swimming and NO sea lice. Nice sheltered bay for kyaking. Great parking spot with grass and a big tree for shade and only about 30min from home. 15 boats anchored overnight our first night here. Did an energetic 30min walk accross farmland and up to a lookout this morning. Was very special having Carys with us. We now know how to assemble the epare bed.👍 Lesson learnt today! ALWAYS put the 2 plugs in before heading off for a paddle 😱Read more

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    MACKS MEANDER AGAIN

    January 30 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Off we go again 🥳 Wanaka here we come 🤗 First night Tauranga so we can do some real estate buisness on Saturday morning. From there we will head to Taihape for an over nighter. Our sailing is booked for Sunday afternoon. ⛴️ Will give an update once we've 'crossed over'.Read more

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    A Cracker Ride

    February 7 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Bit of a cloudy, chilly start to the day so a good chance to lie in. Then a yummy cooked breakfast to sustain us on our big ride. Really enjoyed today's cycle!!!! (Even the 7.5k Pukaki flat didn't seem tedious) So nice after yesterday's disappointment. Started in Twizel township and rode across some very dry plains to Lake Pukaki then around the lake for 10k. Stopped lakeside for a snack and rest then turned around and did it all again. Stopped at the Pukaki visitors centre and salmon shop for photos and smoked salmon. 😋 Excellent ride 40k and a very satisfying day with a nice riding temperature. (It did warm up) Now in the Miller's drive way for a couple of weeks. I'll probably be a bit quiet while we're here unless something special to report.Read more

  • Linda McKinlayMACKS MEANDERTraveler

    Lisbon Thursdsy 18th

    September 18 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Oh my gosh tourists are everywhere. It's like the Mount in the Summer only worse. And of course we're on the tourist trail so adding to the crowds. The tourist season is almost over as in October the sunny weather swaps to chilly. Today we explored Lisbon and the area surrounding. I do love the colourful and decorative homes and buildings. Portugal is known for its tiles especially the blue and white and the cobbled streets are amazing too. So much work involved in laying them all by hand. Producing ceramic tiles since the 15th century. Another castle today but this one not as opulent and the first time we've seen an original kitchen. We drove up into the hills to a lovely quaint wee village called Sintra to see this castle. Lots of magnificent historic mansions here. It was a place the nobles had their holidays. Then headed to the coast to Cascai aka the Portugese Riviera! Nice beach, shops and restaurants and walls of an old castle which would have been protecting the town. so an opportunity for lunch and a coastal walk. Drove back to the city following the Atlantic coastline stopped at a couple of notable monuments. Finished the day with a walk down the main street with the guide pointing out monuments and buildings with historical interest. In 1745 Lisbon was almost completely wiped out by an earthquake and tsunami. When you travel in Europe you sure realise how "young' nz is. Have I mentioned as well as the guide traveling with us each place we stop at we have an english speaking local guide who shows us around and tells us all the history and interesting information. Sometimes it's information overload. 😵‍💫 I haven't told you about Sardines. They are very popular here. We haven't eaten yet but have had lots of encouragement to try and shops selling just sardines and anything representing them. Cooking books aprons t towells and sardines every which way. Ist photo is a gorgeous sardines shop. The big white chimneys in the last 2 pics are over the kitchen sorry its out of order. Had to get from Rog.Read more

    Trip end
    April 30, 2024
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