A couple of years ago, my friend from the UK, Sally, had mentioned wanting to do a trip/ride to New Zealand. That definitely got my interest and I said I'd be interested as well. We had tried to plan it for 2014 but things didn't come together so we got seriousand put it on the calendar for February 2015.
There seemed to be trouble afoot that might derail the trip but we soldiered through them and set the dates. On Wednesday, February 11, I boarded a plane from SFO to Auckland and then a connecting flight to Christchurch where our journey would begin. Sally got there a couple of days before me and had cased the place for my arrival. The Cricket World Cup was going on in town and we were very lucky to find a hotel room before we left.
I don't sleep well on planes,if at all, but I managed to doze a bit and was holding my own when I arrived. Sally was out shopping (she had left her riding jacket behind on the plane ride over) and returned triumphant with a new jacket. Our bikes would be delivered later that day so we decided to head into Christchurch to do some sightseeing.
There had been a huge earthquake in 2011 causing much damage and the city is undergoing massive transformation and construction. In an effort to keep their fair city attractive, there was art everywhere to brighten up the views in very creative ways.
A sobering and moving art exhibit - 185 Empty Chairs by Peter Manjendie... each one represents a life lost in the 2011 earthquake...
Taking a break on whimsical sidewalk furniture... for those that remember the show Laugh In, I couldn't help but think of Edith Anne... and that's the truththththththththththth...
There seemed to be trouble afoot that might derail the trip but we soldiered through them and set the dates. On Wednesday, February 11, I boarded a plane from SFO to Auckland and then a connecting flight to Christchurch where our journey would begin. Sally got there a couple of days before me and had cased the place for my arrival. The Cricket World Cup was going on in town and we were very lucky to find a hotel room before we left.
I don't sleep well on planes,if at all, but I managed to doze a bit and was holding my own when I arrived. Sally was out shopping (she had left her riding jacket behind on the plane ride over) and returned triumphant with a new jacket. Our bikes would be delivered later that day so we decided to head into Christchurch to do some sightseeing.
There had been a huge earthquake in 2011 causing much damage and the city is undergoing massive transformation and construction. In an effort to keep their fair city attractive, there was art everywhere to brighten up the views in very creative ways.
A sobering and moving art exhibit - 185 Empty Chairs by Peter Manjendie... each one represents a life lost in the 2011 earthquake...
Taking a break on whimsical sidewalk furniture... for those that remember the show Laugh In, I couldn't help but think of Edith Anne... and that's the truththththththththththth...
