Frankfurt May 6-12/09

Leaving Nepal was uneventful, fortunately no "bandh" (strike).

After a 3 hour hop to Bankok, 5 hour wait in airport (chatting with an older woman from Copenhagen) and a long flight to Frankfurt I arrive around 6AM. I catch the train to the hostel (historic old building)which is conveniently located across the street from the train station.






In the afternoon I sign up for the free city tour. Along the way there are historic buildings, sculpture and the river. Peter arrives safely the next day. I meet him at the aiport and cry when I see him.







Getting my bike is an all day affair. First waiting for it to arrive, then finding out that we have to pick it up at the cargo depot instead of at the airport...taking the train then a couple buses. Unexpectedly I have to pay 19 EU (Customs Clearance). From the cargo office we walk close to a kilometer to Customs fortunately they don't inspect it which would cost 53EU.

We walk back to the cargo office then over to the warehouse. The fellows look at us when we tell them we don't have a car as the box weighs 45kg (approximately 100lbs). We think that we have to wait 2 hours for the next bus, we start carrying the box however one of the fellows takes the box via a forklift to the bus stop and tells us that the bus is in 3 minutes.

The hardest part is carrying and dragging the box across the street from the train station to the hostel...we stop several times to rest. I put my bike together (while Peter naps) and spend about an hour scraping tar off my rear wheel (from New Zealand).

We look into options to get to Italy. Ryanair is cheap but with the bikes and our luggage we expect that it won't be so cheap. Although expennsive, we end up booking the train to Munich then overnight to Florence for 238EU ($380Cdn).

Although the hostel includes a breakfast which sometimes includes museli, yogurt, toast or buns, coffee or tea and boiled eggs and cold cuts cheese, it is expensive 20EU ($32Cdn) (dorm) and 48EU ($76Cdn)(private)(compared to Nepal) for our budget.




The art museum in Frankfurt has some portraits from the 16th century with amazing skin tones. Peter picks up a couple maps and a guide book for Italy.

Leaving Nepal May4/09

Tomorrow I fly to Frankfurt, Germany. I will meet Peter there on May 7th.

Nepal is a wonderful experience. I have some good friends here and when I finish school before treking the Anapurna Base Camp, my heart is aching at the thought of leaving my students. I do not realize how strong the emotion is until it hits me one day. I love these children and hope that I will get to see them again.


Maiti Nepal is a wonderful organization, and if you are coming to Nepal and have room in your luggage, please bring clothes for the children from tiny tots to children (boys and girls (mostly) up to 18 years old) or consider sponsoring a child as your dollars can go a long way here.

Miranda-Thames-Coromandel Town Oct12-15/08

We have a cool campspot at Miranda between two hedges.


Before we reach Thames (good size little town) there is a long single lane bridge to cross -cars on each side get a light to go across. We have $5.00 Take away fish & chips in Thames.

It is a 12 km cycle to the DOC campground in the Kauaeranga Valley winding first through suburbs of Thames then winding up on a hilly country road. We have to avoid some herded big horn cattle on the way up. It is 4 km of gravel before finally reaching campsite which we initially have to ourselves. Woods are very thick with bush/trees so no free camping on the North Island.

A bird makes a whirring sound then slams into the side of our tent...raining, raining, raining. We pack up and staff at the Visitor Info Centre kindly gives us some boiling water for coffee to warm up. We have lunch in Thames (Subway) and run errands. As late we only stop outside Thames to stay at motorcamp (Butterfly Garden).

Motorcamps are interesting with little caravans (RV's) and cabins, good kitchen facilities and shower, flush toilets, laundry and TV room.

Meet a lady, Annie (permanent), a couple from UK and German family who are touring New Zealand by caravan for 5 months and then travelling to Australia.

Lovely cycle along coast, see some long neck birds gathered on rocks on beach and a huge tree with big broom like clumps hanging down. Before we reach Coromandel Town we have 3 big climbs, names I can't pronounce (except I am cursing the steepness as I am cycling or pushing my bike up) like Kurita Hill.

Nice motorcamp in Coromandel Town, walking distance to town. We get a BQ Chicken and some frozen vegs to cook for supper. Took photo of pretty little park and mosaic (children's faces painted) on side of public toilet.

The 15th we take as a rest day in the town. Viewed a couple galleries and chatted with locals.

Day 3 cycling - 37KM
Day4 cycling - 17KM
Day 5 cycling - 54KM

Auckland -cycling Oct7-12/08

It is a 14 hour flight from Vancouver to Auckland. We splurge on a hotel for 3 nights to get over jetlag and get our bikes and gear together. Our hotel near the airport has a Kiwi bird on top. We do a bus trip into Auckland to pickup maps, supplies, exchange funds etc. The info at the airport was helpful. A thanks to the fellas at the Bike Central that switched my pedals at no charge so my toe clips will fit.

Initial impressions of New Zealand, lush green, cows, sheep, rolling hills, no shoulder, beautiful bird sounds and different foliage than Canada. We take the train from Puhinui to Papakura to begin our cycling. Further from Auckland the roads are quiet.

We stay in a couple motorcamps Orere and Miranda (hotsprings)...we enjoy the hotsprings after fighting crosswinds. Te Motu Hill is tough, I am in my lowest gear and still have to get off and push the bike up for a kilometer or so.

Day 1 cycling 54KM

Day 2 cycling 40KM

PS: having difficulty downloading photos