6 days down...359 to go!

Tomorrow will complete my first New Zealand week. I currently reside in the town of Katikati for two nights while my insides heal. Since my arrival, I have ridden through lovely pastures, rolling hills, quiet shorelines, the outskirts of Auckland, rails to trails of the Karangahake Gorge, tiny towns, the birthplace of lemon and paeoria soda (world famous in NZ)...through sunny skies and chilly enough rain for me to pull out my ski pants.

Advised by incredibly wonderful warmshowers hosts, Belinda and Roland, I stayed my first night at a beach named Topopokanga Regional Park. Only three other campervans, along with me-my-bike-and-my-trailer resided at this gorgeous site for the night...towering orange cliffs, a crystal clear bay with the very green and mountainous coromandel peninsula in the distance, and glorious load of new types of sea shells for me to sift through...and I was greeted by a pasture of 100's of recently sheered sheep who seemed to be curiously wondering and yet obviously avoiding my slightly overpacked trailer.

This would be my third night in the country. I was walking back to my tent on the deserted beach at sunset when an older gentleman approaches me asking what I know about RV's being allowed at this site. They weren't allowed, but we talked a bit more and I said maybe twice that I had just arrived in town a couple days earlier so I really didn't know the rules. Then I mentioned I was on a bike- the pedaling kind...and then you could see a light bulb go off in this guys head.

We had an encounter, though brief, at the airport a few days prior. He's a taxi driver for the executive types so he was in a fancy uniform...which is why I didn't recognize him at the beach. He questioned what I was doing as I was building my bike and trailer and when he found out why (to ride around the country- from the airport) the two simple words he uttered were "you're crazy!". Haha, more than likely true.

I figure running into him at the beach was a fun chance encounter and let's me know I am starting my kiwi experience in the right direction...because i do believe in that sort of thing. After I finally could pinpoint which stranger he was to approach me at the bike building area of the airport, I went to his parked for the night RV and met his wife, Sally...he told her the story and brought me along so she would believe him...

Did I mention how beautiful this beach is...and the shells! Oh my...I so look forward to making my first set of NZ made earrings :) I'll mail a pair to the first person who responds (if you want a pair).

Next stop: Tauranga

Big aloha!