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Hash-Packing the World
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

Hash-Packing the World

Whether you know me as Nancy Webb or Pat Bonetar, I hope you enjoyed my trip through 4 continents and 17 countries! I can't wait to do it again!! Read more
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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Cape Reinga Day Trip

    February 25, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    We arrived in Paihia without incident. I walked around town a bit looking for a haircut and a grocery store. No luck on the cut (I forgot it was Sunday), but I found a store and picked up stuff to make dinner, breakfast, and snacks.

    Despite the hostel claiming FREE WIFI and outlets at every bunk, the wifi didn't work and the plugs were in the corner furthest from the bunks. The kitchen, common room, and bedrooms with en suite bath were okay though.

    We left the hostel at 07:15 this morning and are now on the road to Cape Reinga, the northern most point on NZ, having already traversed the part of the road that runs along 90-Mile Beach...which is 55 miles long. The story goes that it took the Europeans three days to ride horses down the entire stretch if the beach. Since horse and rider usually made about 30 miles per day, the men figured the beach must be 90 miles long. They didn't take into account the difficulty of walking in sand.

    We parked in the middle of the "road" and got out to take photos. After taking our "exit," we drove through a Kauri forest. When we popped out, we saw a herd of wild horses. The Slavic gold hunters brought a few as pack horses then left them here, so now there are a few hundred or so roaming around.

    Our next stop was the Giant Te Paki Sand Dunes, New Zealand's tallest dunes. By far. The younguns sand boarded down. I just walked up to take pics and walked back down. Didn't feel like getting sand down my shirt and shorts, and didn't want to risk my glasses. The wind was blowing so hard though, I think I still have sand all over me. I'm not sure what's next, but the bus doesn't get back to Paihia until almost 19:00 tonight, so there's a bunch more stuff coming.

    Oh, yeah. I saw a great road sign on the way up. Background: NZ puts "No Exit" in little letters underneath street name signs, as in "No Outlet" or "Dead End." Today's street sign was for Cemetery Road. Hahahaha 😂😂😂.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Sailing in Bay of Islands

    February 26, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 70 °F

    Finishing up yesterday's tour in the very far north, we made three more stops before getting back around 18:00. First was to Kā Uri Unearthed, a company that makes things out of Kauri wood, trees and stumps that they recover from swamps and such, no logging (there aren't any left to log). See here: https://ka-uri.com. They have a staircase made from one. A staircase!

    Next was a late fish and chips lunch at "World Famous" Mangonui Fish Shop (http://www.mangonuifishshop.com), then a short walk in Puketi Forest where a handful of massive Kauri trees survive.

    There is a version of the story about the whale and the Kauri that you absolutely have to read: https://tuapapa.com/2017/10/23/the-whale-the-ka…. It explains why the tree's bark and the whale's skin look so much alike. Even if you read just the first few paragraphs you'll find the beauty, but I hope you don't stop there. (Content notes: golden tears and blood are sap/amber; whales beach quite often.)

    This morning is a sailboat expedition to Moturua Island. The sole crew member is Luke and there are 11 passengers (8 Germans, 2 Swiss and me) on his 10-meter catamaran. We're on our way to the island now. The weather is great! Sweet as!!!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Back to Auckland

    February 27, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Yesterday's sailing was terrific! The island was beautiful and full of birds. I made the short trek over the hill and through the trees to the other beach where I ate my lunch. There were four boats anchored there and around 25 people on the beach, so I went back to our beach after eating. The trail was nice, so I walked barefoot the whole time. It was lovely to be so quiet and not to disturb the birds and their whistles, clicks, and squawks. Tui birds are very common (and loud) and I was able to get a fairly close shot of one with my camera.

    After getting back to Paihia, I walked up to the main drag for a haircut. Just the sides because I haven't decided what to do with the rest of it yet. I like the ashy blond it's faded to, but miss the purple. Anyway, I found a historical marker for the church I saw the other day. The treaty it tells of at the end is what gave the British crown its rights here. The treaty grounds are only a few kilometers away, but I won't make it there this trip.

    This morning, I had a delicious chorizo, black bean, and corn salsa breakfast burrito and am now reading my book until the bus gets here to take me back to Auckland.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️

    P.S.: I forgot to tell you. The Bay of Islands is a hammerhead shark breeding ground. Luke said he saw one the day before we sailed, but we weren't that lucky. He said they live birth at the mouth of the river and the pups come further out the larger they get. Cool.    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Down Day

    February 28, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    Remember the night I won the island hopping trip in Fiji? I did it again. Sort of. I'm staying at Base Backpackers in Auckland and last night was Trivia Night. Our team, the other members of which were much younger and answered all of the music questions, won. There were seven of us and six prizes, so I blew it off. Let them have it. I got mine before. But then, the two Irish girls gave me the 50NZD bar tab and 50NZD travel voucher that they couldn't use. Cool.

    This morning, I used the travel voucher to buy two trips in Aussie that I know I'm doing: snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and an overnight stay in the Daintree National Park. Yay!!!

    Now, I'm watching Netflix and waiting for the upstairs bar to open so I can use the bar tab. 😜

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    At Xerox's Again

    March 2, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Helen and I made it to Xerox's home on Lake Rotorua without issue. Since X was at work, another hasher collected us in town and took us to the grocery store and then he house. We made a nice salad, cheese, and fruit, then waited for X and the kids to get home.

    Later that evening, since it was Friday night the three of us and the fourth who picked us up went to the pub. We picked up a nice curry dinner on the way home, then X and I broke out the music books. We had another great musical night.

    Today, we made breakfast then popped up to the hospital to visit Jubes. She's the hasher who let me drive her campervan back from the south island because she badly broke her leg. Anyway, she's much better although still not able to put any weight on her leg. We just happened to be with her for the noon selfie. Yay!!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Back on the Stray Bus

    March 3, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Xerox, Helen and I had a brilliant evening at the house watching parts of the Grammy and Oscars. I introduced X to Ray Stevens, a comedy singer. Search YouTube for his songs The Streak, Blue Cyclone, Mississippi Squirrel Revival, and Guitarzan, to name a few. He finally got on the drum kit and jammed out some serious speed rock. I knew he was good, but holy cow!

    Time got away from us, so it wasn't until well after midnight when we finally called it quits. The 06:15 alarm was very loud. Lol. X gave me a ride into town where I jump back on the Stray bus for a couple of nights.

    Now, we're stopped in Waitomo and its glow worm caves and black water rafting. I elected not to do any activities. Instead, I am plopped in the local cafe and have just finished my taxes. I got a huge refund! Yay!!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    2

    Raglan Surf Town

    March 4, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    After finishing my taxes--which I would've done earlier but I totally forgot--I got back on the bus and we headed to the Tasman Sea (west coast) and the surfing community of Raglan. Actually, to the hostel about 15 minutes outside of the town past Manu Bay Reserve. The surfing at Manu Bay has a world famous left hand break (the waves hit the rocks from left to right, which apparently is not that common, but I don't surf so whatever). Anyway, I did see the surfing movie "Endless Summer," which was filmed there.

    Our hostel was in the bush about a click from the beach. I saw a sign about glow worms being beside the road, so around 21:00 I took a walk to find them. Until last night, I had only seen them in caves. I found them (picture with a couple of spots), but I also stumbled upon a possum. Although protected in Australia, they are considered pests here because they are not native and destroy the indigenous trees. I was surprised how similar its face was to a wallaby.

    This morning I walked up to Inspiration Point for a nice view of the beach area. Then we were back on the bus for Raglan. After a quick walk down to the water, I grabbed a cup of coffee. While I was slowly sipping it--I don't like coffee so why I get it sometimes I have no idea--I was approached by Mike, a Kiwi doing a survey. We spent about 45 minutes chatting about environmental tourism (from him) and the Hash (from me). We both learned something 😁. Then I made my way to the old Harbor View Hotel for a glass of wine and a salad for lunch, where I am now. Yummy!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    1

    Mount Maunganui

    March 5, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    After lunch, we were back in the bus headed to the Pacific Ocean (east coast). We stopped at McLaren Falls for a very chilly dip. Very. This was quite different from other waterfalls I've visited. The water patiently trickled through giant boulders, many of which had been "bowled." That's almost certainly not the word for it since I just made it up, but the rocks had bowl-shaped crevices in them, from espresso cup sized ones to ones Andre the Giant could use as a lounge chair. The ones you could see under the water looked like deep, dark and perfectly round holes that could swallow you up. It was beautiful in an odd way.

    After that we arrived in the beach town of Mount Maunganui, named for the extinct volcano on its shore. I saw an Irish pub as we.drove to the hostel, so after checking in and dumping my bags, I made a beeline there with my fingers crossed for Kilkenny beer on tap. Yay!!!! They had it, and so did I!

    A quick stroll in the beach at sundown, then I was back in the hostel for some food, reading, and sleep. Nice day.

    This morning started off terrible. I was first awake at 03:33, but able to get back to sleep until about 05:30, when my brain turned on. Yuck. I stayed in bed, though, finally getting up around 8. Checkout was at 10:00 and we met the Stray bus driver to put our bags in the bus so we didn't have to carry them around until we left at noon.

    I walked along the beach and pretty little Moturiki Island, then grabbed some lunch. Now, I'm hopping back on the short bus to go back to Rotorua. Mount Maunganui is a pretty cool place in which I could definitely spend more time.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the KILKENNY 🍺!!! ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Last Time in Rotorua (This Trip)

    March 6, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    After leaving Mount Maunganui, we headed back to Rotorua. On the way, we stopped at Boyes Beach on Lake Okareka at my suggestion for a better place than Blue Lake/Lake Tikitapu. Short Planks (see Day 239) lives there, so I knew how beautiful it was. The gang loved it.

    We hung out for about an hour, then drove into town where Helen picked me up and took me back to Xerox's. He and the kids got home around 17:00, then we all went to a Hasher couple's house for dinner and laughs.

    You've probably noticed that my hair is a different color. Lexy had a great time doing it and she did very well. Even Leon helped by holding my shirt when I bent over to shower out the goop.

    It was a short night, though, since the kids had school and X had work. Helen and I stayed up chatting, but eventually succumbed to sleepiness.

    I woke very early, so I took some pictures of the magnificent sunrise. I will miss this beautiful home in a beautiful if slightly stinky city. But X and the kids I will miss desperately. Leon gave me double hugs when they made their way out the door to school. Little man.

    Around 11:00, Helen took me into town to get back on the Stray bus, and we grabbed a light lunch at a cafe, where we are now.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish.✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Back on Stray

    March 7, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Yesterday, Helen dropped me off so I could catch the Stray bus and head south to Wellington. What's really cool about Stray is that it's not just taking a bus from one place to another. You can do that for about $25 US. Stray takes you places in between.

    Our first stop after leaving Rotarua was to the boiling mud, my third visit and still mesmerizing. Then we stopped in the Kaingaroa Forest, the largest man-made forest in the Southern Hemisphere at 276,000 hectares. Interestingly, Harvard University and a Canadian teachers pension fund own the land. However, New Zealand is trying to return traditional tribal lands back to the Maori, so this tribe will receive 85,000 hectares in 2045.

    We picked up Ena, our 18-year-old Maori tour guide, who has perhaps the bubbliest personality I've ever come across. What a hoot. Anyway, she took us to see the rock carvings in the forest. They date to about 1050 and depict the Moari's Great Migration from Hawaiki, their original homeland now lost from knowlege, to New Zealand, called Aoteorua for the long white cloud in Maori.

    After that, we went to our accommodation, Kohutapu Lodge on Lake Aniwhenua in the very tiny town of Murupara. Some of the group learned then performed the Huka, while I played with the very friendly goat and pig. The owners and their team served us a delicious hungi, traditional Maori meal.

    The next morning was another magnificent sunrise, then we were back on the bus. Our first stop today was to a daycare facility in Murupara, to which we gave the rest of the hungi and interacted with the kids, aged 6 months to 4 years.

    Then, we made a short stop at Huka Falls. Enough water flows to fill five Olympic-sized swimming pools every minute! Cool.

    Now, we're in Taupo for lunch. According to Maori legend, the lake is the heart of the fish that is the North Island. It's NZ's largest lake and was formed by a massive eruption that vaporized the land (a crater lake). Gorgeous.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Blue Duck Station

    March 8, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 61 °F

    After lunch in Taupo, we continued our drive south. But before getting too far down the road, we stopped at a lovely little swimming spot on the lake called Bulli Point.

    Our next stop was in Tongariro National Park, where we had a gorgeous view of Mount Doom (really called Mt. Ngauruhoe).

    Our accommodation for the next two nights is Blue Duck Station, a working cattle, sheep, and honey farm. We had a lot of fun with Beer Pong outside our lodge last night.

    This morning, I slept in until 09:00...finally not waking before the sun. At 09:30 I made my way to the stables for horse riding. I'm so glad I had the chance to do it. I've been thinking about it ever since I got to this incredible country. That's Hangabout with me in the selfie, and we had a wet but nice couple of hours walking the station. With all of the rain today, I'm not sure I'll be doing anything else.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Snowy Waters Lodge

    March 9, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    As predicted, the continuous rain yesterday kept me inside finishing a book and starting another.

    I was up at 02:57--what is going on?--so I laid in bed until just before my alarm went off at 05:00. We had to leave at 6, and I still had to pack.

    We arrived in the tiny town of National Park around 7 to drop off the other 40 passengers who were doing the Tongariro Crossing today. Over 19 kilometers hiking across the mountain path and considered one of the best hikes in New Zealand. I passed on it because I promised Helen that we would do it together when we're back in 2021. Plus, I don't really have the proper clothing. Yeah. That's it. No proper clothing. 😉

    There were two of us who didn't go the hike, so we and the driver are at the hotel. We can't check in yet, so I'm hanging out reading and have just come in from the deck where I've been sitting in the gorgeous, sunny, but cool weather. Great day.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Back to Wellington

    March 10, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    After finally getting checked in yesterday, I continued reading my book until everyone got back. Then they began showing me their pictures and saying how tired they were. I have no doubt they were tired after tramping 19.4 kilometers up and down hill. The pictures were stunning though. It will be terrific to do it with Helen in two years.

    I finished my book in bed and was probably up later than anyone else, but the mattress was terrible and I woke up every hour and a half or so. I finally got out of bed at 05:30 or so. Breakfast was leftover dinner and phone call home to Mom and Dad. Very nice.

    We left at 08:00 bound for Wellington, completing my Stray loop of the North Island. We didn't drive straight though though.

    Our first stop was in Taihape to partake in the town's gumboot throwing. Gumboots are Kiwi talk for rubber overboots, also called Wellingtons or Wellies. Anyway, they have a "lane" with distance markers every 10 meters. Too funny!

    The second stop was Flat Hills Cafe And Tourist Park in pretty much the middle of nowhere. They had terrific meat pies, though, and a delightful collection of animals including alpacas or maybe llamas. The pig (one of three) was too funny and really liked being pet. The ducks were just sleepy.

    Our third stop was in Bulls, a town infamous for its punny signs and business names. The cops are the consta-bulls. Hahahahaha!!!

    Our final stop was to a lovely little park in Levin. When we pulled up, the driver told us to get out of the bus and go play. Haha. That's where we are now, zip lines, hamster wheels, and swings galore. There's even a miniature train I assume you can ride, but it's in its shed. Nice stop.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Waiting For The Bus

    March 11, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    We made it into Wellington without any problems. I repacked all of my stuff, then had dinner and finished my book. I had the four-bed hostel room to myself for about four hours this morning since the other three left early. Nice.

    Now, I've checked out if my room and am in the lounge waiting for my InterCity bus that will leave at 19:00 and take me overnight back to Auckland for an early flight to.... Not telling. You'll have to see where I am for tomorrow's selfie and post. 😉

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    New Tattoo

    March 20, 2019 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    I got a new tattoo in traditional Fijian design last night. When I get back to New Zealand, I plan to get a Mouri one on the other elbow that will cover my surgical scar.

    Today is just another lazy day.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    Read more

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