Bugger!

We visited a cafe on SH25....it serves good coffee...and celebrates many "bugger" moments in photos around the walls.

Driving Creek Railway and Potteries

Our one tourist trip in four months....Well worth the 35$ each for the trip on the railway...powered by the engine from a grey Fergie! Unfortunately we missed the exhibition, but what we did see was inspiring.

getting back to normal

Which begs the question, what is normal?!

The change from 24C in Auckland....and landing at dawn in Dubai..at 24C...then landing in Glasgow in a bright and sunny afternoon...which lost its shine as we travelled towards home. A cold night followed, then a day of 4C.  A shock to the system!!
Its as if Nature is saying Tried to avoid Winter, did you? Well I've saved a bit for you!!
We are beginning to feel that its more like November than April, with murky low cloud and a decided windchill.
We have at last got back on our bikes, but its steady going so far. We've both 4kg lighter than when we left Scotland four months ago, which makes riding uphill easier.

At last I've got the photographs from the tablet on to the laptop, now to use some of them.

back home

Safe home...and we're homesick for Aotearoa/New Zealand.
We left Auckland at 24C, landed in Dubai at dawn...24C...landed in Glasgow on a pleasantly warm and sunny Sunday afternoon.
Three buses later we arrived home, and it was beginning to feel a little chilly...and after a cold night we reached the dizzy heights of 4C!! 
Further North and East from us, up in Aberdeenshire, roads are closed due to snow, and it has been hailing and snowing (but not settling) here. 

Spring??!!

I'm back on my old laptop, so blogging is easier...I just need to transfer the photos to here then I can share a few .

Our Monday afternoon was brightened by the arrival of a parcel from Ohio...a pair of beautiful handwoven towels from Joanne of "Cup in the Bus". A priceless gift.  Also an incentive to get back working myself!!

Packing

Washing done and drying and ironing as well. Ironed clothes fit better into a small place when packing. Thinking of weight allowances and making decisions.
Weeding out clothes that are worn out or that we can just do without. Placing some items in a box to stay in the campercar as it will be kept for our return, apparently....
Pirate has gone for a short ride to loosen his legs as the bike goes back to Bombay tomorrow. We decided that the new Kamo path would be ideal to avoid traffic, so he is trying out the section from Kensington to Whangarei centre and back.

Unfortunately we've missed my potter friend from Street again...so near, he was only at Matapōuri..never mind, he only lives twenty minutes drive from my brother...which is about 500 miles from our home in Scotland!!
I agree totally with what he said in his last message to us.. Aotearoa..the only place I feel homesick for when I get home.

I am not looking forward to the leaving or the journey.
We are looking forward to meeting Kamo Lady, even if we have missed Amy and Raewyn and my cousin near Taupo Bay.

Dargaville

Tour of the Northland...second half

Starting from Opononi on Saturday, on the way to Dargaville

Not Tane Mahuta, the tallest Kauri..but still impressive.

 Not sure what this bird is but it looked like a small stork..as on the two dollar coin?

 Masseurs and the queue!

Dargaville HQ..the Boat Club

The last day was very foggy so I followed the main road instead of causing more traffic problems to the race..they turned up Tangowhahine valley and down the Mangakahia to Maungatapere before the finish time being taken at Maunu before finishing at Whangarei.

A very happy and relieved Pirate..and he was presented with a bottle of bubbly and a cycling top for being the first..and only..80+....but at least he was in the top 4 of the 70+, out of about 9 starters.