Helen's latest bike

Look at this little red beauty - posted all the way up from Wellington. What glorious lines it has. What pleasant adventures it whispers of. How snuggly the basket sits on the back. How green have I become. . . and how happy is Helen- VERY!

Oratia again, and Just Plane Interesting

To Ponsonby from Te Atatu and back

A very pleasant Saturday spent cycling into Ponsonby Road and enjoying some shopping and cafe stopping along its length. We even managed a loll in Western Park at the end and some reading. Perfect.

Te Atatu to Oratia and back.

Here we are tying the bikes up at the Packing Shed cafe at Just Plain Interesting in Oratia. A great place to cycle to, with live music (in this case, a Spanish guitarist), homely food, and great ambience.

Most of the way there is on cyclepaths, and through some interesting spots, like the Millbrook neighbourhood garden.

Holiday cycling

That's my bike up above, with friend Gordon cycling around the treacherous bottom end of Lake Rotoiti to get the paper - negotiating logging trucks and other traffic on the open road. Braver than me.
. . . however I WAS on the road behind my sister, in this one of many rides at Waihi Beach. On our way for a coffee at the other end. Very nice.

Evening ride in from Te Atatu to the Domain for the Practice Christmas in the Park

That's Dion on a one gear bike and his mother, waiting with me for Helen and nurse friend to join us at Te Atatu Medical Centre, and cycle in to the Domain. It's 6.15pm.
Helen and friend ahead, where friend will leave for her home in Pt Chev, and we four will continue.
Nicola and son behind, and a glorious evening with the sunset behind us.
Finally in at the Domain and joining up with other members of the family. Dion didn't return with us, and we left at around 9:45pm.
Below: not much to see, but the air was wonderfully balmy and the moon a thin sliver, and we had the entire route to ourselves all the way back to Te Atatu, arriving at 10:45pm.

Checking out inner Mt Roskil and Sandringham

Starting from the Pak n Save in Mt Albert, we headed off over the road and down the metal path into the parklands there.
It did eventually become concrete path, and then we hit Sandringham Rd and found the pathway beside the new motorway.
. . . and headed towards Hillsborough.
In the industrial area of Three Kings, we had a coffee at The Rock cafe.
and then headed home. . .


following the slope of Mt Roskill. . .

Over the overbridge. . .
and into the extensive parklands (who'd have known they were there!) in Stoddard Rd area.