Jim's blog - Cycle touring and Tramping

Walking Te Araroa

nospam@example.com (Jim) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:54:33 +1300

This evening Jo and I went for a walk around the local golf course to stretch our legs after a day cooped up in shop and office. It has been beautiful day and evening and it is a magic way to relax. We hadn't got far before we were passed by a keen looking walker, obviously walking a bit further than we were as he had a small backback of gear. We passed and re-passed him several times as he stopped to take photos of the toitoi bushes with the late afternoon sun shining through them. We exchanged greetings and a few comments on the photo subject and just before we headed in different directions I asked where he was walking from/to. Turns out he had walked from the Tawa area today and was heading to the south coast. Jo asked if he was walking Te Araroa trail and that was the start of a long conversation. Freebird ( his trail name) was completing the North Island section of Te Araroa trail and has walked most of the long trials in the US in the past - at least one several times. It's a way of life for him. Anyway he has some fascinating stories to tell and is a great raconteur.

Our friends Rob and Debbie are also walking Te Araroa so we are well acquainted with stories of it. Rob and Debbie are now somewhere south of Rakaia Gorge and should be finishing their trip in Bluff in about a month. Their blog is here

Mountain biking in Bolivia

nospam@example.com () — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:12:10 +1200

Well Dave and Anna have been in La Paz, Bolivia for about 5 months now and are loving it. Dave gets to guide keen tourists down the "world's most dangerous road" 3-4 days a week. He is working for Gravity Assisted Mountain bike Tours. On days off he and other guides seem to be keen to do even more biking or get out partying if there is a local fiesta on.

Anna was working in the Gravity office for a bit but found a much better role working with the animals in an animal sanctuary near the bottom of 'the road'. They see each other when Dave makes it down the road with tour groups and at weekends.

Take a look over their blog with photos, stories etc.

Bolivia...

nospam@example.com () — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:09:49 +1200

Got a call from my son David this evening to say that he and Anna have been offered work with a mountain bike touring company in Bolivia. Fantastic. They are going there next February after a trip to the US, Europe and a friends wedding in UK and expect to stay at least a year.

Seems like I feel a trip to South America coming on in the next year or so. Coincidentally a friends son and his girlfriend are heading off for two months in the Americas next week.