I'd rather be in outer space šø
The Stonewall Inn
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
ā£ Chile in a Photography ā£
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Product Placement
NASA
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The Bowery Presents
Fieri Frames
Origami Around
Color Me Curious
YOU ARE THE REASON
tannertan36
Phantogram Three
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Not today Justin
cherry valley forever
ojovivo
pixel skylines
seen from Malaysia
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@bikeworldly
Discovering Vietnam's Mekong Delta by Bicycle
Sweat streamed from every pore, my clothes were soaked, and my skin throbbed under the relentless sun. I had just stepped off the bus from Saigon to My Tho, a town in the northern part of the Mekong Delta where I would begin my bicycle journey. Ā The flat roads, slashed by 28,000 kilometers of waterways, would make for easy riding. But Vietnam is already gripped by the hot season in mid-MayĀ andĀ itā¦
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How to put your Bicycle on a Plane
Put your bicycle on a plane without breaking the bank or your bike.
People are often surprised to learn that I brought my bicycle with me overseas. They assume it is very expensive to do, but actually checking your bike doesnāt have to cost anything. It also doesnāt have to mean putting your bike at risk of being damaged in transit. Hereās how I recommend you put your bicycle on a plane without breaking the bank or your bike.
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7 Tips for Better Bicycle Touring
I recently met an 18 year old French bicycle traveler. In seven months, the same amount of time Iād been biking around New Zealand, he cycled from LA to New York AND back again, rode around Hawaiiās big island (hiking with his bike at some points since you canāt actually cycle around it), and zig-zaggedĀ New Zealandās south island several times exploring all of the mountain passes. āI have 35 daysā¦
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Bliss, Boots, and Cow Poo
My short stint slogging through manure and learning to follow my bliss
āā¦If you do follow your bliss and put yourself on the kind of track that has been there waiting for you all the while, waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss and they open the doors to you. I say follow your bliss and donāt be afraid and doors will open where you didnāt knowā¦
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How to Cycle the Otago Rail Trail on a Budget
The Otago Rail trail is New Zealandās original cycling trail and widely considered the countryās premier biking route. If youāre looking for a real challenge, youāll be disappointed. If youāre happy to pedal blissfully past tussock speckled hillsides toward lavender hued mountain ranges thisĀ 150 km journey between Middlemarch and Clyde is for you. Central Otago is simply the best of New Zealandā¦
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Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
Stunning scenery on the relatively flat Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
Near Otematata, NZ
New Zealandās Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is 300 km of some of the most stunning and varied scenery you will encounter in the country. This trail is a must ride to truly get a taste of the real south island. You will pedalĀ past unbelievably blue glacier fed lakes, rocky snow-capped mountains, grassy slopping mountains, flat farmland, and ride into the sea in the historic and funkyā¦
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Finding Freedom in Failure
My bicycle touring adventure has taken many twists and turns and a long haitus. Here is where I am now
My belongings are in a heap at my feet as I stand alongside Highway 85 with my thumb out. It is still summertime in New Zealand, although youād hardly know it. My hitchhiking hand is nearly numb from the cold and my right hand is buried inside the pocket of my sweater. Misty fingers are digging into the crown of the mountain range in front of me. Behind me lies the one pub village of Oturehua. Aā¦
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It is time to get back to reality. See, Iāve been on holiday recently and now I return to the life of a traveler. Whatās the difference? Well, as a traveler I rarely pay to stay the night anywhere. Here in New Zealand I am able to work for my accommodation or camp to save money. I also never do any ātouristā excursions which cost money. Instead I take advantage of all the free hiking and biking and beautiful scenery. I cook simple meals and if Iām not cycling somewhere then I hitchhike. Iām living the meager existence of a long-term traveler. But in the past month and a half two really incredible things have happened. A best friend, who was also my roommate of 4 years in Austin, came to see me (and New Zealand, of course). Then, after she left, my mother and brother flew in for a visit. They each stayed for two weeks.
The road to Glenorchy
There were some difficult adjustments in transitioning from solo traveler to accompanied tourist. At first, it was tough for me to get into the mindset of going out to eat or even just buying a coffee. I live on a pretty tight budget in New Zealand and those little luxuries add up fast here. But, it was a nice change to enjoy some delicious Indian and Thai meals and I became reunitedĀ with an old love ā the chai latte. I saved all of my pricey excursion activities to experience them with my friend and family. We kayaked Abel Tasman National Park, boat cruised on the Abel Tasman, sailed off the Banks Peninsula, dolphin watched and swam with seals in the Marlborough sounds. These amazing experiences were worth every penny and Iām so happy I was able to share them with my loved ones.
It was also challenging to switch from moving as a solo traveler to a couple and group. Iāve traveled quite a bit with my friend and we do well together because we move at a similar pace and usually agree on what to do. But, there are always compromises which must be made when traveling with another person. Getting used to moving at family pace was a little trickier. Nothing happens quickly when you have three people and family dynamics. For someone who does everything very fast this was not an easy adjustment. Plus, there was all sorts of stuff to carry around now for two and three people. Iām always trying to figure out how little I can live with because I know I either have to carry it around on my back or my bike. But, you can cram all sorts of things in a car without even thinking twice about it. Before you know it, youāre loaded down with heaps of food, souvenirs, and rocks. Yes, thatās right, rocks. My mother cannot let any freebie pass her by and within just three days of our trip she became a fanatical rock hoarderĀ collector, and was piling up bags of Greenstone from the west coast into the trunk of the car. Bags of rocks, I tell you! Sheād never survive as a backpacker.
Momās bag of rocks
The visit with my mother and brother was a whole new ballgame for my family. Last year we went to Costa Rica together and that was the first time we had traveled together since my brother and I were young. My mom planned that trip and it involved traveling to only two towns on the island, staying in hotels, and being driven from place to place by a tour company. This trip we did things a little more my way since I am the New Zealand travel expert now. We traveled a circuit of most of the South Island, covering thousands of kilometers in just two weeks. It was a lot of travel time for my mom, but there is so much to see in New Zealand. It was also her first time staying in backpacker accommodation. New Zealand has some lovely hostels and you can meet people there from all ages and walks of life. She really enjoyed several of them and at approximately $30 NZD per person, she could appreciate the price tag at all of them.
Road tripping was a new one for me. Iāve never enjoyed car travel. Besides the fact that you know I believe bicycling to be the very best way to see the world and havenāt even owned a car in four years, I have horrible motion sickness and the twisting New Zealand roads are not for the faint of stomach. I did not imagine that I would drive at all in New Zealand, much less spend 4 weeks with a rental car. But, there I was driving on the wrong side of the road, navigating New Zealandās insanely narrow and curvy highways, and without incident! I always recommend public transit over car rental because it is better for the environment and you have opportunity to meet more people. However, renting a car was the most economic and time efficient option in New Zealand. I think this is unfortunate and the country is dealing with the consequences due to some horrible, deadly vehicular crashes caused by tourist drivers. I was able to feel a little better about having a car by picking up some hitchhikers along the way. Iāve had wonderful kindness shown to me during my hitchhiking travels and it felt great to pay that forward to someone else. Plus, I had a captive audience to share my podcasts with. Iāve made several new Moth Storytelling converts, which brings me great joy.
I was thrilled to make these adjustments for the opportunity to explore New Zealand with my loved ones. Ā I did not imagine when I decided to move to the other side of the planet that people would come to see me. The experience was incredibly surreal. Here I am sending pictures of the amazing things Iām seeing, posting blogs about my adventures, and feeling very far from home. Suddenly, Iām not just retelling stories over a spotty wifi connection. Iām living the adventures with some of the people I love most in this world. My Texas friend is joking around with my hostel buddies from Takaka, my mom is squished in the backseat of the car with two French hitchhikers, my brother is playing open mic night at a bar in Kaikoura. Iām laughing so hard my belly hurts because my best friend is stuck in a kayak with a Norwegian scoutmaster whose belting out every Norwegian sailor song ever written. My brother and I are attempting to steal a rowboat in the middle of the night to get a better view of the phosphorus in the waters of the Charlotte Sound. Iām explaining to my mother why sheās going to be detained at customs for attempting to export a suitcase full of rocks. Suddenly, Iām not so far from home. New Zealand is just a plane ride away, after all.
Ā Ā Here's what I've been up to in New Zealand! It is time to get back to reality. See, Iāve been on holiday recently and now I return to the life of a traveler.
Hating Hosteliers and Yuletide Euphoria
My Christmas Abroad - Hating Hosteliers and Yuletide Euphoria
āTwas the night before Christmas, when all through the Backpackers
not a traveler was sober, not evenĀ the slackers
The kitchen was wrecked, the dorm rooms a mess
The WWOOFers were scrubbing dishes and everyone couldnāt care less
After nearly a decade of working holidays in the television news business Iāve given up the stressful career, moved abroad, and find myself again working holidays. Onlyā¦
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New Zealandās Golden Bay is famous for its abundant sunshine, white sand beaches, and deep blue waters. Due to the fact that most of the area is national parkland you need some sort of transport to experience the stunning sights. Of course, I believe the best way to really take in the gorgeous scenery is by bicycle. Ā The eclectic village of Takaka is a great centralĀ base for exploring Golden Bay. You will find everything you need there with a large grocery store, excellent cafes, and a variety of local shops. Ā From Takaka it is a lovely 100 km round trip for a Wharariki Beach bicycle and camping adventure.
View of Wharariki Beach
The ride out to Cape Farewell and Wharariki Beach is relatively flat with a bit of climbing between Takaka and Collingwood. After you pass Collingwood it is a flat ride and scenic coastal ride to Cape Farewell. Ā Your biggest hardship will be the wind, so try and plan for a calm day. Once you arrive at Cape Farewell you can follow the sign to the Farewell Spit Cafe and information center. The cafe has a beautiful deck looking out over Farewell Spit. You can also take a short walk around the spit from there.
To get to Wharariki Beach and Cape Farewell by bicycle you will need to ride 6 km on an unsealed road. There is also another small and charming cafe at the Wharariki Beach carpark. It has a limited food menu, coffee, and lovely shaded seating. Both cafes are open 7 days 9 am ā 5 pm. The Wharariki Beach Holiday Park is also located at the car park. Ā The holiday park has tent sites for $18 per person. There is a large, equipped kitchen for cooking. Showers cost $2. The camp has lovely and well kept grounds.
There are a number of tramping options around Cape Farewell. I recommend stopping at Pillar Point on the way to Wharariki Beach and hike up to the lookout for stunning views (1 hour with return.) When you arrive at Wharariki Beach you can enjoy a lovely beach walk and do a portion of the hilltop trek for even more incredible lookouts. Try to plan to be on the beach during low tide to watch the seals play. On your ride back to Takaka you might consider stopping off at the legendary Mussel Inn for a craft pint, mussels, and perhaps some live music. This overnight cycling adventure was one of my best experiences in cycling New Zealand.
Ā Cycling and camping at a stunning white sand beach? Sign me up! #newzealand #goldenbay #bicycletour #nzmustdo New Zealand's Golden Bay is famous for its abundant sunshine, white sand beaches, and deep blue waters.
Takaka - Where Backpackers Unpack
I'm in beautiful Takaka, NZ - a place where backpackers unpack
After some extremely difficult bicycle treks, frightening weather conditions, and farming adventures I find myself in Takaka, a tiny town in Golden Bay. Just the name Golden Bay sounds like somewhere youād like to settle in. Seep right into the white sand beaches like butter on a heap of mashed potatoes. Takaka is found near the west coast of New Zealandās south island. It is about 105 km fromā¦
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Bicycling Marlborough- with Beer and Chocolate!
If you are a wine-lover or even just a casual wine drinker you are probably familiar with New Zealandās white wines. Many are distributed worldwide. But did you know New Zealand also has awesome craft beers and delicious chocolates which you canāt typically buy outside of the country? The Marlborough region is a fantastic area to sample all three and with its typically sunny skies, dry weather,ā¦
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Thanksgiving Tears and Christmas Ham
My first Thanksgiving living abroad went by unnoticed on the organic farm where I am living and working for a week. Of course, it was already Friday in New Zealand when everyone back in the U.S. began celebrating in grateful gluttony. But the big event on the farm was Morkās execution. Mork and Mindy are the two resident pigs, but it was decided that Mork would make a fine Christmas ham and heā¦
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Bicycle Rotorua
Rotorua, NZ
Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland which sits right on the Pacific Rim of Fire in Ā the central North Island of New Zealand. Here you will get to observe the incredible forces which formed New Zealand and experience Maori culture. The city, nicknamed the Sulfur City, Ā is renowned for its mountain bike tracks but with its flat lakeside paths and labyrinth of gently winding trails anyā¦
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She Who Bites Off More Than She Can Chew
I shiveredĀ inside my sleeping bag on top of a decrepit mattress in a small wooden hut listening to the sound of rain pound the tin roof overhead and rats throwing a Labor Day party inside the walls around me wondering how I always end up in these bizarre predicaments. Why canāt I just be the girl who decides to turn back? Or the girl who stops to ask for help? Or even the girl who thinks, āGee,ā¦
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Bike to the Beach - Cycling Auckland to Raglan
Bike to the Beach ā Cycling Auckland toĀ Raglan
If youād like to get out of the city for the weekend on two wheels, cycling Auckland to Raglan is a great option for a long weekend getaway.
Raglan, New Zealand
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When Saying Goodbye is Nearly Impossible
When Saying Goodbye is NearlyĀ Impossible
Bike loaded to ride the west coast
My second attempt to leave Raglan, New Zealand was in the pouring rain. I decided to bicycle 44 km on Highway 23 to Hamilton to stay with a friend while I reconfigured my route for the next few weeks. A small, skeptical crowd gathered in front of the backpackerās hostel, smoking hand rolled cigarettes and watching me load up my touring bike. Iām pretty sure betsā¦
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