New Zeland

My road : Wellington, Upper Hutt, Featherston, Masterton, Alfredton, Pahiatua, Dannevirke, Makotuku, Takapau, Waipukurau, Havelock North, Napier, Taupo, du 01 au 05/04/2010, Reporoa, Rotorua, Ngongotaha, Tauranga, Omokoroa, Katikati, Waihi, Whangamata, Tairua, Whenuakite, Ferry Landing, Whitianga, Coromandel from 08 to 13/04/2010, Thames, Kopu, Turua, Kaiaua, Kawakawa Bay, Clevedon, Whitford, Pakuranga, Auckland, from 16 to 18/04/2010.

I leave Wellington to go north east and Auckland where I should leave this country. But from this city, only 2 big axes that are leaving, then I take the option to get away by train and find myself in the campaign. I get Masterton from where I start to ride, leaving the main roads and looking for the back roads, and found myself virtually alone and in the peace, in the midst of a farming region and valleys. By reaching Alfredton I found a place where to stop, called Dmaine, taking advantage even of a present premises to spend the night. In the morning, without seeing anyone, I am getting ready to continue my journey. For 32 kilometres it is again the great tranquility, until to arrive at Pahiatua and at the national road number 2, but did not remain long on it, starting again on a secondary axis as soon as possible. At night I arive to Mokotuku, a small town with a campsite at 4 $, alone to occupy it, run by a nice old couple. In reaching Waipukurau the next day, I have to supply my food for several days, due to the big weekend of 4 days, that everything will be closed tomorrow, and I have 2 days without localities before Taipo. Before to start again, I take my lunch, time is well advanced. This time I'm on the highway 2, and a madness traffic, that for 42 kolimetres until the approach of Napier. Pakipaki reached, I left it go toward Havelock, hoping to find where to camp, especially since I'm at 100 kilometres traveled. Finding nothing by myself, I get a house, waiting for people who ask me to leave, and with it getting late. I did not take long to introduce myself to a second house, finding the owner in his garden. At my request he is hesitating for a moment, then asking to his wife, he leads me on the edge of his land and leaves me there. Regardless, I have at least a place to spend the night. But late in the day, it comes back to me, searching to talk with me, and telling me that I'm expected for dinner. The time with this couple and their 2 children is nice, offering me then a shower. On the morning of April 4, New Zealand has changed their time, to backing their watches an hour, which will take me at short evening, and find the night at 18.30 pm. I also found the couple of the last night with Bruce and Jane invited me for coffee. Bruce handed me a bag of provisions with sandwiches, fruit and a chocolate bunny for Easter. Then talking about my way, I propose to drive me outside of Napier, where I could start to ride toward Taupo. My bike loaded into his vehicle, he get me of 25 kms. Then the road becomes rapidly rising, with steep sections and only 35 kms covered at noon. The lunch break is now more than welcome. From there it takes me 2 more hours to reach Te Haroto, walking and pushing my bike over long distances, and traffic never ceases, but fortunately a pleasant journey. Once there my powers are weak, not knowing where I'll spend the night. Then I met a couple by car with which I discussed a while. Then leaving me, they come to me asking me if I want to continue with them. Hanging my bike in the back of their vehicle, they took me 16 kms away where there is a campsite, now staying there for the night. The next day I get up in the damp, mist and gloom, while fearing the rain today. Started, the sky becomes partly clear and blue. After 12 km more or less difficult, it's a flat course, and slightly down with the wind in my back, hanging a high gear and getting the 35 km/h. So I am in Taupo by noon, I went to the address of a couple who is absent. I sit in their garden for my lunch and a nap. Then there are the neighbors who invited me for coffee, and contacting Toni and Llewyn arriving in the afternoon. These people are preparing to hit the road in a few days and of course are curious to hear me, spending 2 days in their company.
Passing through Rotorua, I meet Byrde, a girl passionate with bike, having traveled to Europe with her sister for 7 months. It is also the place known for geothermal activity and numerous hot springs, but the foul odors.
To Omokoroa is a new meeting with Chris and Val, living on the edge of the ocean in a beautiful place, also people who have attraction for the bike trip, traveling in Europe soon. Apart from those meetings, my journey brought me little pleasure, I'm tired with the traffic, these vehicles who don't want to respect me, so these rough roads covered with big bits of gravel, a weather report which restrains me in the photography. Knowing as my date of exit, I am looking forward to leaving this country. From there, I'm go away in bypassing the Coromandel Peninsula, finding a place usually, came here mainly to avoid large areas, and seeking to reach Auckland. It is again with Cherrie and her daughter Vicky that I would keep memory of this region from two days in their company, tinkering with even an afternoon to the delight of Cherrie. From their home I need 3 steps to reach Auckland, including one to fight against a south wind.
In Auckland, I spend most of my time to get ready for Japan, to design a box for my bike, also being interviewed for a newspaper. On the morning of April 23, I'm leaving early for the airport, but to find a galley. At the moment to check in, we ask me my ticket continuation from Japan. But being one way, I am refusing to leave, requiring me to get some ticket. I then get a superb support from a woman trying to help me. In vain the clock turns and the take-off is about to take place, that must myself to put off my departure. I am then forced to spend 24 hours at the airport, but also to buy a ticket to Los Angeles so that tomorrow I can pick freely.

New Zealand ends, not unhappy to go elsewhere. This country does not have me so passionate, yet before I came I heard that it was an extraordinary country, telling people to go to Norway. A country which as Australia will not have tempted me to return.