Wow what a big day 19km tramp up Mt Arthur, 8.8km up, 8.8km down plus 1.4km returning because numb skull forgot to turn off the vehicle lights and had to return and turn them off. Yep it’s only 8.8 km to the summit but boy are the climbs long and steep. The first 4km to Mt Arthur Hut is not too bad as it climbs steadily to 1300mtrs. Once past the Mt Arthur Hut the wind blew over the ridges constantly lifting the cloud up and over the ridges amplifying the cool temps at altitude, the track narrows and starts getting into the long steepRead More →

15th December has arrived so quickly, we have settled into our house sit. Jude decides that we need to have a day out of Motueka and a change from our regular MTB ride to Rewaka’s Ginger Box for our daily coffee, a round trip of 25 km. She had been looking at some rides in a cycling tracks book she found at our house sit and thought the Flora Track would be a good change…. marked as “easy” she seemed pretty happy to leave the eBike batteries at home for this one…. I say nothing. Well I’m no stranger to Jude and her desires toRead More →

Leaving Balmoral we head to Waiau to travel the inland route to Kaikoura. The pass through to Kaikoura was windy, hilly still showing signs of damage from the Kaikoura earthquake of 2016. Overall a pleasant trip through the gorge and one of the many routes we had not taken until now. Arriving at Kaikoura it was warm and we spent two lovely days walking the town looking at the galleries before deciding it was time to move on. While at the NZMCA park we met John and Barbara Kerse, a lovely couple from Rangiora and now keep in touch with them via social media. LookingRead More →

While staying with Harry and Tui, Jude and I have been earning a bit of extra spending money for our trip to Canada. Working for NZ Fruits in the Packhouse is hard out physical work that is focused on absolute speed. Packing kiwifruit into single layer boxes never sounded hard until you have to do it yourself. The fruit comes along a conveyer belt from the sorter and as they come out you check them for softness, damage, labels, double check they are the right size, and after making sure they are straight in the box, you then wrap the fruit and close the boxRead More →

[Feature Picture Of Hackfalls Arboretum by Jude Edge] Its been a while since we have updated our blog but that’s how it goes when you are busy as. But now it’s time for a little change. Working hard out in Gisborne packing kiwi fruit is…. well what can I say… it’s an experience and a half. If anyone says it’s easy money, believe me they have no idea. But work is work and it’s pocket money for Canada lol. With the many days off due to rain Jude and I have taken the opportunities to explore the surrounding areas. Today we visited Tiniroto via theRead More →

Motueka is like a magnet to Jude and I, it has been a year since we were last here and here we are back again. We arrived at the NZMCA Park yesterday (Friday 4th) to beautiful hot weather, just as we remembered it last January. Went down the Main Street and being a Friday it was as busy as, with people everywhere, lots of traffic heading either to Kaiteriteri or over the Takaka hill to explore the Golden Bay area for the weekend or possibly they just got their Xmas leave after working the holiday period. It was a hot afternoon and the walk backRead More →