A Venture in to the city and Tamaki Drive

We set off on another adventure this morning - enjoying the Autumnal weather - crisp blue sky, no wind, just right for cycling. John took this over his shoulder as I passed him on the North Western Cycle route. Naomi wasn't too well, and was waiting for us in at Tamaki Drive in the city. I told her 1 hour, but it was more like 2 by the time we had a mishap.John got very clever with the camera - I've deleted all the ones of his feet and the pedals. This is a glimpse in his new cycle mirror.

Still waters DON'T run deep in this case - the tide was in, and it was mirror still, but the water is only centimetres deep in much of the right hand side of the harbour.
Our first stop - the overbridge at Waterview.
. . .and that lovely sense of clowning around BEFORE the tragedy occurred. It DOES feel like flying sometimes.
Onward and upward with the golf course on right and the motorway on left.
Ah. . .and a long break from photos. John's wheel wobbled almost OFF as he was going up a steep hill, and it knocked him off the bike, and we spent some time hovering over it, with him adjusting and rebolting the wheel back on. It wasn't a permanent job, and fortunately I knew of this newly moved business not too far from where we were. Adventure Cycles is run by a very friendly and helpful fellow called Bruce, who took John's bike in to fix and provided him with a free bike to continue on our journey. What a lovely man!
Signing on the dotted line. . .
My bike acquainting itself with the friendly bikes for repair or sale out in the paddock.
John's bike up on the stand.
and then we were off again. This time heading back in to town with a different bike, along the tram tracks.
After a number of hills and hollows we virtually freewheeled down Symonds St and Constitution Hill and through the lower parts of Parnell to catch up with poor Naomi, who'd been waiting all this time for us.
She was first off the mark to head around Tamaki Drive.
Taken over my shoulder at the two behind me. . .
We stopped at Kohimarama for brunch, in this instance some pretty nice Eggs Benedict with bacon.
The three worthy cyclists enjoying coffee at last.
And the last photo taken on the way back to the car at Mission Bay. THEN we went to the cycle shop and I got a ride there in the car, and from thence I cycled home to Te Atatu. A great day!

To Devonport with the Cowans

John and Naomi and I headed off to meet in Takapuna today, and from thence to Devonport by bike. It was a spectacular Autumn day, hot enough to still be summer really. Here they are consulting the map before we head off.I just held the camera behind me as I went downhill, and amazingly, picked up this shot of my fellow cyclist coming up behind me fast.

. . . and in front was Naomi, heading for the end of the road and the cycle path.
Some good boardwalks here, among the mangroves.


and then a great view of the harbour bridge in the distance.


John was clicking away merrily. . .
I took this great shape in the sharpness of the morning sun.
and we DID have a few hills to negotiate.
John visited with some relatives . . . you can see his face in the bike mirror as well. This is his great grandfather, and great (?) uncle.
The main road has recently had a cycle path put into it. Not that wide, but at least it's a SPACE . . .
and when they're not on the road, they're on the footpaths.
another map stop. ..
and finally the flat ground by the ferry building.
Really cute homes from a century ago!
IN Devonport at last.
the ferry coming in.
and Naomi and I heading off toward the distant pier.






Great coffee at a Devonport cafe.



the end of another good cycling foray. Nice pic of the Cowans in front of Rangitoto.

Autumnal meanderings

Yesterday evening was a bit of a girls' night - DVDs at the ready, kids not home for the night, so the three of us collected forces in one home and decided to bike on down to the local Thai takeaways for dinner before heading into the movies. This is Jan and Helen ahead of me. Nice evening - not too busy road. Great skirt on Helen.
. . . and looking downward the comforting sight of my own basket and recently attached bling. You will notice that the bell was put on wrongly. I'm gonna fix that - really, I am. And yes, that's a computer crudely clinging to the bar.
Nice shot - they'll love their rear ends showing on this shot, and my silhuette. Just how I like it.
Hanging out at the Thai Restaurant making our orders. What a basket bike gang we look!
Nice distance shot of the three of us. . .
and a video of a curl of road we took a ramble down while waiting for the order to be filled.