Some where to paihia

Some where to paihia 

Well it's stopped raining 

After packing up I start riding a long the cycle trail to opua - it one place I have to unhook my bike trailer so I can get thought the ant- moter bike barriers as the trailer is a few cm to wide to fit when still hooked up to the bike  then there's the train station at the end of the rail line for trains ( for now ) that runs back to kawakawa - part of the bay of islands railway that was one of the first rail way lines in the North Island of nz ( built in 1884) after the station there is a long bridge that has been rebuilt in the last year or so the trail then runs next to the sea before heading though a short tunnnel and back next to the sea to opua where the car ferry to Russell leaves from as I'm still heading north I climb up a steep hill on to a not so nice busy road that heads over a few more hills before dropping into paihia where after a visit to the information Centre to see if a back road walking /cycle track to kerikeri is open ( that happens to be part of the te Araroa trail ) I head a few km to the waitangi treaty grounds - only to find its now $15 to get in - was free for kiwis when I was last here lest then a year ago - so I decided not to go this time and head back to paihi to find a place to stay the night - just for some thing different I decide to stay at the yha backpacks ( who don't have any issues with me not having photo id- unlike just about any other back packers I have tried staying at lately- even some camp grounds as wanting photo id now ) so I ended up having a nice room for $20 a night - even came with bedding  ( was a 8 bed room with its own bathroom  but only had  2 other people staying there that night ) 

Friends place to some where

Friends place to some where

After a late start to the days riding I say good bye the my friends place has head back to sh1 still heading north - with the weather still being wet I stop for a pie to warm up a bit then a few km latter there's a nice down hill back down to sea level and a few km latter I get to the town of kawakawa- it's a small town with a rail way line running down the middle of the main st ( so at times you have to give way to trains  : )  the rail way runs about 5 km out of town ( parts of the old rail line have been tuned into a cycle/walking trail ) 

After a bit of a break in town I head out of town towards the bay of islands- as I pass the ruby grounds ( and the start of part of the cycle trail ) I see a sign with a tent on it so I head in to find out more as it will be dark in about a hour or so - there a lot of people in the club rooms but after chating to some one they give me the ok to put my tent near the goal post for the night so I set up camp there and went to bed for the night with it still raining for much of the night ( hope I don't float  away in the night with all the rain )

Rest days at a friends place

Rest days at a friends place 

The plan was just to stay one night but my body had other ideas so my nice friends let me stay 2 full days as I mostly rested my body and mind -I did help out when I could around the place even saw a movie I have been meaning to see for a few years now on DVD there  :  )  it was very good to chat and chach up with my friends  

Doc camp site to friends place near hukerenui

Doc camp site to friends place near hukerenui 

After packing up camp I ride along sh1 to I get to the turn off to ruakaka where I deside to head a few km off sh1 to find some thing to eat to get me over the rolling hills into whangarei - it turns out to be a few more km then I thought it would be ( so more km to ride :  ) once I get back on sh1 the road rolls over a few hills before getting into the city of whangarei where I stop to look at a few shops before heading for the food court in one of the mails to get some lunch- as I'm having lunch I start looking for some where to plug in my phone - I spot a pug on the wall so I go and sit on the ground as I pug in my phone - at one point the person comes up to me and instead of telling me off for changing my phone she says I can have a char to sit on if I want - I just smile and say thank You (I'm used to sitting on the ground ) 

After I finish my lunch I head back out of town stoping at a supermarket for a few days of food before starting a climb a a long hill out of town and mostly just keep riding ( with the odd break here and there ) to I get to my friends place for the night with the last few km being on gravel roads 

Some where to doc camp ground at uretiti beach

Some where to doc camp ground at uretiti beach 

I get a nice and early start to the days riding - heading though a few small towns stoping at a cafe for some food and a hot drink then it's back to riding - on the way to the brynderwyn hills I see that 2 of the cafes I like to stop at are closed as I ride past  ( one is for sale and the other one is getting  rebuild ) 

Heading up pilbrow hill the road is steep and winding with not much room for larger traffic to pass in places. At the top I stop for some photos before starting the ride down the other side- as there is some road works going on the north side with a speed limit of 50 km/h in a few places I have to slow down so I'm not breaking the speed limit by going over 50 km/h  :  )  

From the bottom of the hill the road is flat as it runs near the sea to I get to the doc camp site at uretiti beach where I decided to stop for the day and have a part day off the bike so I'm not over doing things ( what I mostly spend reading a few books in my tent as there is a box of books for people to read at the camp ground )

Some where to some where else

Some where to some where else 

After heading back up the some what steep drive way I get back on the road with the next few km being mostly down hill as I drop back down to sea level then it's a bit of a up and down ride over short but steep hills ( at the top of many hills around here is a sign saying how steep the hill is (like 10%)  then it's time for the next long steep hill to be climbed over ( called cleaseby hill in one of the bike touring books a use ) it's a bit of a wet and windy day at times. At the top I stop for a few photos and a look around before descending down the other Side of the hill then there's only one last big hill before I get into the town of wellsford  where I spend a few hours out of the weather doing a bit of reading and recharging my phone - my so called smartphone only has a 1-3 day batter life before needing a recharge 

I then head to have some fish and chips at one of the food places in town ( even get free salet for some reason with it ? ) then it's Back on the road this time on S.H.1 north towards the next big city of whangarei ( what is still 2 days away for me ) I keep riding until it's starts to get dark when it's time to find some where to stay the night - It takes a few try's but I do find a safe place near some ones house for the night 

Woodhill sands to some where

Woodhill sands to some where 

After packing up my gear I stay a few hours to watch the event ( not a horse event ) as all theses people turn up in nice clean clothes ( many in fancy dress) only to run 6 or 12 km up and down hills though mud and water and over / under I few things in a fun event so everyone ends up wet and muddy: ) in some ways it reminds me of some days when I was walking the te Araroa trail   After the prize giving I say good bye to my friends and head north though helensville and kaukapakapa ( a place with a lot of k a's in its name then it's time to start on a long steep climb that I work my way up in low gear taking a few breaks along the way before finally getting to the top where I ask at a house ( part of a plant place so road down a long drive way and back up ) if there knew some were safe to put my tent - the nice people there give me the ok to camp in one of they paddocks for the night so after setting up camp it's time for bed for the night 

Auckland to woodhill sands

Auckland to woodhill sands 

After leaving the motel I head down queen st toward the train station stopping at a few places like getting a northland road map from a book shop ( with so many people using they phones or gps units to find they way around now I had spend a few minutes thinking of who sells maps in down town auckland) - I still use paper maps party as I don't have to worry about then going flat or not working when there is no cellphone coverage thoug I do tend to use my phone more in city's to find my way around 

After getting a few days of food at the supermarket I then head to the main  Auckland train station to get a train north west out of the city - was planning to get the train to waitakere ( the train used to go more North at one point I used to get it all the way to  helensville but no longer ) as it's the week end I find the train only runs to Swanson so I got a few more km to ride then planed 

After I get off the train at Swanson I give some friends ( who I know thought the horse world ) a call to ask if they know of someone's place I can put my tent for the night - they give me the ok to stay at they place ( thought there is a none horse event on at they place 

Now that I know where I'm aiming for I start riding keeping a eye on the map ( and phone ) as I head along some back roads to met up with S.H.16 at kumeu the roads a mix of a few hills ( some steeper then others ) and flater bits passing thought a few town like huapai and waimauku  on the way to my friends place at woodhill sands  where after a quick phone to say I got there and find out where they want me to put my tent for the night and talking to the person looking after the site ( there is a big event on at the center to do with off road running/climbing over/under things ) 

After setting up camp I head off to sleep for the night 

Part rest day in Auckland

Part rest day in Auckland 

I got a appointment at a spa today that my friend who save me last night set up and pay for- so what I'm doing at a spa  one might wonder? Well I'm getting my eyebrows done  -After some thought I decide  to walk into onehunga taking my time to look around wearing  some nice clothes and my long boots instead of taking the bike ( leaving my bike and gear at the place I spent the night ( after asking if it was ok first) then taking the train to ellerslie ( where the spa is )  the spa suff was fun though I had a few issues with my dyspraxia causing a few odd things ( to do how and where I feel pain - in this case even though it was my eyebrows getting done it feet like some one was doing some thing with my legs ) after the spa suff I decide  to get a bus to Newmarket to look around the shops there then a 2th bus back to near where I stayed the last night 

Once I got back to where  my bike and gear was I packed up my tent deciding  at the last minute to keep the nice clothes and long boots on as its only about a km of riding down to the train station at onehunga and about a km or two of riding up queen st to where I'm spending the night - it works out ok thought for any thing more then a km or so it's best if I use my bike shoes and clip in other way my feet to to come off the pedals a lot ( dyspraxia suff )  

After walking up part of queen street (5 o'clock traffic) I get to where I'm spending the night - it's a motel- part of the suff I'm going to be doing over the next 2 days in Auckland so it's some one else has set it up - all I need to do is go to the front desk to pick some thing up - then the fun begins as I get asked for photo I'd - well after telling the nice person at the desk about why I don't have any I'd ( that I just changed my name and gender and explain a few other things like my bike ) they let me have the room key before I took my gear to my room and went for a walk to find some food to dinner. Had some fun people watching as I walked down queen st  before heading back to the motel and bed   :  ) 

Some where to auckland

Some where to auckland 

More ice on my tent this morning :  ) 

Time to get back to riding  on sh2   - as I'm riding along I keep seeing signs saying 90 and safer speed zone ( or some thing like that ) lots of trucks on this road at one place as I'm riding over a road bridge I think to myself this looks like a place I been to in the last year or so - yep it's part of the Ta ( te Araroa trail ) walk - just before I had the many km of walking along stop banks to huntly on my ta walk :  )

After more km of riding I get to the point where sh2 joins on to sh1  - now what should be a ok way to get to pukekohe by Bombay hills is a pain as instead of crossing over the top of the express way then straight on the the express way ( what's not too bad riding as there's a ok shoulder to ride on ( better then many other roads in and out of city's in nz - the no entry signs to foot and bike traffic mean I have to go on the the southern side of the express way down a long hill for a few km (ie heading south when I want to head north ) cross over a over bridge into pokeno then find my way back on to the express way (the northern side ) as I work out just where I can /can't ride  back up the long hill I just came down - even then the fun is not over as I have to take a loop way on a poorly /not maintained walking/cycle path just to avoid maybe 200 m of express way  ( not that it looks much different then any other over bridge part of the road ) looks like just another part of poorly done road/cycle way done by someone who never have to use it  

Then it's time to head up the Bombay hills where I take it slowly in low gear ( as I don't want to push myself to much ) it's not a to bad climb up to the Bombay exit ( where I have to turn off as the express way becomes the auckland motor  way ( ie no walking or riding on the motorway)  after stoping for a break at the Bombay shops? I head mostly down hill toward pukekohe 

Once I get into pukekohe I head to the library to kill a bit of time and change up my cellphone before heading to the train station to get the train into Auckland having to change trains at penrose to get the train to onehunga- the plan being to stay the night at a camping ground in one of the auckland regional parks what I have done before ( like for one of the nights as I passed though auckland on my ta walk ) well that plan went out the window is when I called up to book to stay the night I found out that they close the camping ground over winter (to October? ) was told it's because cars and moter homes tend to cut up the ground when the ground is wet  - the fact that I was on a bike and staying in a tent don't help as was told the website booking, thing says the camp site is full ( even though its closed? For winter) - it would seem that "some body " thinks no one sleeps in tents or gets around by foot or bike when staying at the Auckland regional park camping sites  - 

Time for a new plan 

What happens is I do a post on Facebook  sayings what going on and asking if anyone knows of a place for me to put  my tent for the night - backpacks are out because of id issues  ( in that I don't have any I'd because of the name /gender change suff ) and the nearest camping ground is miles away ( and is out of my budget(at around $30-40 for a tent site person per night) a friend from the horse events lets me know of someone I can stay with for the night ( a big thank you to them)  so I head over to there to stay the night :  ) 

Thames to some where

Thames to some where 

After a fun but hard 2 full days it's time to get back on the road - after a bit of a late start to the day I ride back into town stopping at a few shops and getting food to last me to auckland- taking the cycle trail out of town i head about 6 km out of town before turning off the trail to head over the kopu bride on a bike/walk way on the side of the bridge - see a lot of broken glass on the path on the bridge ( some how I don't get a flat tire from all that glass I had to ride over ) once I'm over the. Bridge the riding is flat  as a head across the plans - I mosty keep riding taking the odd rest break from time to time listening to a few podcasts on my phone as I ride 

Taking a rest break at a crossroads I spend a bit of time thinking of which road to take into auckland- more riding along the coast then though clevedon- a nicer though longer way with more hills or take Sh 2 - a shorter but more busy road  - in the end I desider to take the sh2 way as it's been a few years from the last time I went that way ( also it will give me a extra day in Auckland before its time to met up with some people ) 

So taking the left turn that will take me on to sh2 in a few more km down the road  I keep riding until I get to where the road I'm riding on leads on to sh2 - taking a short break I look to see if the is any messages on my phone - I have my phone on airplane mode when riding partly to save the battery- well there is a few messages so I end up playing a bit of phone tag for a bit with a few people before getting back to riding 

I keep riding until it's starts to get late then I ask at a house if they know of some where I may be able to but up a tent for the night - well the pub a few km might let me camp out side so it's back on the bike to I get to the pub where after asking if it's ok - yep no real issues with me setting up my tent for the night  I do set up camp and changing my clothes ( so I'm not in my cycling gear ) before heading into the pub for a nice meal- just before I get tea my I get a phone call about some up coming things planned  in auckland so spend some time working thought a few things ( taking a break to have tea - a sea food basket)  after a few hours it's time for bed so I head back to my tent for the night 

Kauaeranga vallery to 5 km North of Thames

Kauaeranga vallery to 5 km North of Thames 

I decided to head into town a day earlier than planned and stay the night at holiday park ( camping ground ) so I didn't have to rush in the morning to meet up with the people I would be doing a few things with over the next 2 days - after paying for the doc camp site - where the cost has gone up from $6 to $10 a night ( might not seem much but when you on a low budget having to pay nearly 2x the cost for the same thing it's not a good sign of things to come ( a place to put a tent and a long drop tolet - about what one would find in many roadside rest areas in nz ) when one lives full time on the road by bike or on foot the cost to stay somewhere can be a big part of ones budget so having to pay up to $65 a night for a tent site tends be be a bit of a rip off as one now has little choice of where to stay partly because of the no free camping laws that have come in over the last few years ( mostly because some people in campervans have left a mess behind) also some camping grounds have been pushing to have it that you must stay in (high cost ) camping grounds as they think they might be missing out on business (and so charge even more )  also there's signs saying its un safe to free camp (playing on people's fears ) well in all the years of travel in nz I done  (around 16 year - the last 8 full time traveling) I had had no issues with my safety when free camping the only issues I have had when staying places have been in high cost camp grounds (the place where the government tends to say you must stay when you in a tent ) with a few things going missing or people playing with the bike or other gear over the years - that said I am cafull just where I set up camp each night and tend to stay away or spend little time as possible in less safe places (like parts of North land ) 

After getting into Thames I spend some time in the library for a few hours before heading out  5 km out of town to the camping ground for the night where after I set up camp I spend a few hours reading before going to bed for the night 

Kauaeranga valley ( rest days )

Kauaeranga valley ( rest days ) 

Spending most of my time in my tent doing some reading and relaxing- I did go for a 1/2 hour bush walk so I didn't spend all day in bed :  )  also had a bit of fun playing with the camera on my phone trying a few different ideas out  getting some nice photos of the bush also photos of myself 

On the trail to kauaeranga vallery (doc camp )

On the trail to kauaeranga vallery (doc camp ) 

Was a bit of a cold night - as I was getting out of the tent I see there is some ice on my tent and bike ( well it is winter time after all :  ) it's a good thing I have a nice warm sleeping bag. After doing a bit of de- iceing of my bike and gear I head along the trail until I get to a small town where the trail mets back up with the road for a few km - there is a small shop/cafe there where I stop to warm up a bit having a hot drink( hot chocolate ) and a pie then it's back to riding the trail to Thames where I do a bit of shopping ( finding some nice clothes on sale that I end up buying) before heading out to the kauaeranga valley for the next few days 

Some where on the rail trail to some where else on the trail : )

Some where on the rail trail to some where else on the trail :  ) 

After taking down my camp I get back onto the trail saying hi to many of the other riders using the trail -at one point I stop to chat to 2 riders who have just been riding in different parts of the world on the way to nz sharing a few storys before saying goodbye to them after more riding I head back into paeroa stoping at the library to charge  up my phone as I play a bit of phone tag to plan out the next few days ( to work out the best place to meet up with some people in a few days time ) after that I stock up on a few days food before heading north along the cycle trail out of town for a few km until I find a ok place to spend the night 

Hamilton to some where on the rail trail

Hamilton to some where on the rail trail 

Packing up camp I get on the road passing though Gordonton and a few other places as I take back roads zigzagging on to different roads ( it's aways fun trying new roads to take to get to places one has been to  before  )  aiming to met up with the hauraki rail trail around 10? km South of the town of paeroa - taking the trail into paeroa I stop a few times for a break before leaving paeroa taking the cycle trail into the gorge in the late afternoon and finding a place to stay for the night 

Cambridge to hamilton

Cambridge to hamilton 

After packing up my gear and saying goodbye to the nice people who let me stay the last few days it's time to get on the road towards Hamilton. Heading along sh1 the traffic is not to bad (keeping in mind it's the last day of field days so more traffic on the road ) ass I'm riding along though road works - part of the new bypass road around Cambridge ) I spot what might be a off road walk/cycle path getting build (as part of the new bypass ? ) some thing to keep a eye out for next time I'm down this way on the bike :  ) 

Getting into hamilton I stop for a bit of food before heading towards the Hamilton gardens where there is a off road walk/cycle path what I take that links up with the river trails - a much nicer place to ride to get around Hamilton then dealing with the city traffic on the roads. Turning off the river trail by the rowing cub I head back on to city streets into the cbd.After visiting a few shops in the Hamilton cbd  I head back on to the river trail riding it all the way out to pukete where I head along a few more off road paths to a friends bike shop (Cyclepro) to pick up a new tire as my front tire has just about wore out ( after around 12000 + km of use ) 

After saying goodbye to my friend from the bike shop I do a bit of food shopping ( and put some air in my tires ? ) before looking at the map to deside where to ride to next and where I might end up for the night - I deside to head out Gordonton way and take a few back roads to meet up with the hauraki rail trail to Thames  ( some where along the trail ) just before dark I find a ok place to put my tent out of site of passing traffic for the night 

Field days

Field days 

A very early start to the day as I'm on the bike before sunrise-just a light load today 2 back panniers  and my Handel bar bag - after a nice 16 km ride I get to where I'm heading for the day - the field days ( it's a big annual farm show/trade event near Hamilton each year ) after getting changed out of my cycling clothes  into street clothes ( a black skit with black leggings underneath ( it is winter after all ) long boots a pink t shirt and blue jacket) and parking up my bike in a safe place I pay the $25 to get in ( most of the time I'm working at events so I get in that way though this time I will get to see more of the event  this year )  as I'm walking around I noticed that I'm seem to be one of the few in a skit as most seem to be in shorts ( they must be tough or have else have cold legs as it's not that warm today ) or jeans ( I don't do jeans - no good on the bike or when it's wet ) - well if people are going to look at me I might as well give then a reason to look (what I'm a girly girl and like skits and dresses) I also did it for a bit of fun as some of my friends who are working at the field days today's don't know about the changes I have been making in my life ( well they soon found out when I saw them :  ) most was great some was being a bit of a pain ( only time will tell if they will still my friends)but I knew that was going to happen so I don't let it worry me 

At one of the trade sites I find a nice dress - as I was looking at it I though about buying it - yep I did end up getting it - life is short -buy the dress ( it's a annah s one for people who know what that means ) 

The field days is so big it takes a bit of planing to see everything on my to see list - I did see just about every thing on my list - with so many people there I mosty got web site info ( so I can look up suff in my own time ) from many of the places on my list as my speech ( dyspraxia  suff ) was causing a few issues when asking questions to the different people at the trade sites 

At one point as I was walking around the event with a friend ( from horse events ) we saw the pm ( John key ) ( and he's minders ) walk pass going the other way ( as he went pass he look me up and down then smiled at me - I did wait to they was well past before having a good luft at that - party as the pm and his minders was dressed in suits and ties so kind of stood out like a sore thumb with every one else wearing jeans or shorts 

It was nice to met up with friends at the event and find out how they been ( and give some a quick update on what I been doing 

Around 5 pm the event closers for the day - thought the fun for the day for me was not over yet as my friend who had nicey offered to pick me and the bike up couldn't get to where  I was with the bike because of the road closures around the event so after picking up my bike I had the fun of working out the best was to ride my bike  for a few km for the first time in a long skit ( as my bike is a folding one with no top tube I did not have the issue of a top tube to deal with :  ) and long boots  ( as I had no ware to change back into my  cycling gear)  pass long lines of cars leaving the event  - it went ok I did get some funny looks along the way : ) and had a car neary run off the road in surprise as I went past  .after getting to my friends car I put the bike in the back of the car and went back to my friends places stoping at the supermarket ( where I saw some of my friends doing some restocking for the next day - they have a food trade site at the event  ) after back to my friends place at was time to pack up my gear and get dropped off at a new friends place ( where I ending up sleeping in to around lunchtime the next day - going to large events tends to take a lot out of me mentally so I some times need a lot of sleep and rest to make up for it 

My nice new dress : ) 

Te kuiti to Cambridge 75 km

Te kuiti to Cambridge 75 km

Some what of a early start to the day as I get in the last of my packing before saying good bye to my mum and heading down the bumpey drive way (a good time to find out if any of my gear is going to fall off on gravel roads) once  I'm on the road the day's riding starts with a hill to climb over ( the first of many hills to climb). After heading down the other side of the hill I paused for a bit before turning left on to S.H.3 . With the temperature around 5c it's a bit of cold start to the day but then it is winter time . 

The next bit of fun for the day is some big road works where there is a big round about being put in ( some thing to do With many drivers don't seem to know what give way is so its going from side road with a give way sign to a round about ( that even less people seen to understand) I find it a bit crazy that is costing about $3.7m to put in the round about that is not even going to fix the issue of bad drivers not giving way or breaking other road rules  ( nz and overseas drives ) so it may even cause more crashes ?  As I ride over the potholes ( they still have to tar seal parts of the new road ) at around 25 km/h so I don't get run over by inpatient drivers I wonder not for the first time why people seem to want or think they need to get places as fast as possible at the same time breaking many of the road rules ( that are they for safety) for me if it takes all day to get some where it's ok because that's speed I travel  at ( 4 km/h when walking or 15-20 km/h when I'm on the bike ) 

After the road works I stop for a food break  (some bananas )  near the big apple cafe ( getting a photo of the big apple as I pass by ) a few more hills latter I get in to the town of otorohanga  where I take a 10 min break or so before its time to keep riding North  to the next town on today's ride stoping for breaks from time to time -at one of there's stop i look at my phone to see how many more km to my friends place where I will be staying the night - hum the road I should be taking to Cambridge off S.H.3 is before the next town and the next place to buy food so I decide to change the roads I'm taking so I will pass by a super market- well so much for the best layed plans as I end up going right pass the supermarket with out stoping as I'm busy working out what roads to take and dealing with traffic so I end up running  out of food about 10 km from Cambridge opps  - it's a slow ride into town for the last 10 km - much of the 25 km from te a to Cambridge is flat with no wind and not to hot or cold today. Getting into the town of Cambridge I stop to get some food and chat for a bit with some one who was getting lifts by thumb (I saw then at a few places on the side of the road today ) also had a chat to some school kids who asked about my bike and where I came from /where I was going ( the same thing I get asked by people 10-20 times a day at times ) then I heading off to my friends place for the night  ( only got missed place a few times along the way ) tomorrow ( Tuesday) is a rest day for me before I head off to field day's on Wednesday  

 

Seeing the world with fresh eyes

Seeing the world with fresh eyes

As I pack up my gear for my upcoming ride I'm thinking of some of the changes in my life and how I'm now seeing the world with fresh eyes now I'm being the real me not hiding my true self behind a mask - it's still early days for me and yet the last month or so has gone by fast as I worked on a long to do list (that never seem to end) some of the things on the list was fairly easy once I made up my mind what I was going to do - little things like getting new footwear (like my first pare of heels) and make up- other things like changing my name was a big pain - had to go up to Auckland and do a lot of running around for the paper work (partly as I have been living on the road for so long also not having up to date photo ID)

Do I have any regrets over making the changes in my life  - well at this point in time I would say no as I'm now a lot more happy in life and my meltdown issues seem to have gone as well as much of my depression that I have been battling with for many years

It is not a easy path that I'm talking but for me it's the only one I can take - there can be so much hate at at times on the Internet with people Giving they own 5c worth of how they think some one else should be living they life - yet at the same time there is a lot of support for people on the Internet who choose to live the real them regard less of what other may think - for me I just don't have the time to put up with people who disagree with my life choices and who try to tell me how I should be living my life - its my life so its my rules on how I live it - yes some people that I had called friends are no longer talking to me - that is OK with me as I know some will never understand so I will just move on in my life and live it the best I can

I don't tend to look at news papers or other news places like TV in that I don't really care what some pop star is up to or what some sports team/person is doing - same with Facebook and the rest of the Internet - it has its users but much of it is a waste of time - this is my view in that I would rather go out and see the world in person and met other people then look at a tv/Facebook all day like many seem to do

Some have asked me why I made the changes (and why I couldn't just stay the same as before) I have and what the difference is- for me it's a bit like saying what the color blue is to some one who was born blind in that it's a different reference point I guess it's one of those things where people who know can't explain it and people who don't know will never understand it

I have spent many years looking for a place to call home - for now the road is my home (where ever it may take me)

Back on the road

Back on the road

I'm packing up my gear to get back on the road tomorrow (with a fun new packing list to work from) - first up heading up to field days near Hamilton then on to Auckland before heading all the way North to Cape reinga to start a end to end bike ride - yep I'm going Cape reinga to bluff again by bike  - why one asks - well for a few reasons - yes I have done a end to end ride back in 2014 - that was a summer ride and I would like to see nz in winter time on a end to end ride as well, partly to give me something to do over winter time yet keep me fit as I do it  also my life has had some big changes in it from the last ride I did so it's a chance to see nz with fresh eyes and last but not least a simple why not go for a long bike ride

Will I be supporting/fundraising for a cause on  this end to end bike ride  - well at this point in time no thought at some point in time that may change (partly depending if a group or cause did  ask me to help them and it was a group or cause I agree with/get on with)

As for what roads will I be taking I'm looking at using some of  the same roads as my last ride in places and in other places picking different roads - will see what cycle trails I can fit in on the way as I head down the country on my bike

A updated on what's going on in my life

Hi all

This is a very hard post for me to type up - I had a choice of closing down my Facebook pages and blog and starting new or keep the same Facebook pages and blog and let people know what's going on in my life  and hope for the best

As some of you know I have been making some changes  in my life - this is a note to say a little more about some of the changes in my life.

 I am in the process of  changing my gender ( and my name ) that is to say I’m transgender and will be starting to identify and live full time as female (and would prefer the use of female pronouns)  

My new name is Damiana Day

Many of you will have questions about what I’m doing - (its also all right  if you don't want to ask me any questions : )
Im happy to answer any questions you may have about the changes that im making in my life - this is best done by pm (on Facebook ) or email or by face to face  - thought I will not put up with any hate mail - this is my life so my rules on how I live it

I have a new Facebook page (under Damiana Day ) my old Facebook page damian day will be going inactive after I have moved things over (what I have just about done) I will still have the same email address and cell phone number also my photo website will be staying the same

 I'm letting people know so they don't think I disappeared off the face of the earth - and so people can start to know the new me - some will still be my friends others will no longer want to be but that's up to them I understand that it may be hard for some to understand why I'm doing what I'm doing  -

This is some thing I have spent much time thinking about though I have had to hide it from many  ie this is not a short term thing ( over many months and years of doing homework and leaning things )

this is the real me no longer trying to hide behind a mask -  some time ago I had two choices -to kill myself by jumping off a bridge on the night of my birthday or to make big changes in my life to fully live life by being who I am - this is one of the changes that I have done - I have only been living as damiana full time for around a month now so it is still early days - what I will say is my depression and meltdowns are now 98% gone and I am a lot more happy in life now

Here is a link to an american website with a FAQ page on transgender info what you may wish to have a read of

http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.aspx

A 5 year look at my life

What's been on my mind latey   

                                 A 5 year look at my life -at the very least around every 5 years or so I spend some time looking at my life - what I have done and what I would like to do with my life but also taking a hard look at myself - seeing if I am being the real me - so what do I mean by that - the real me is who I am and what I want to do in my life not just what others (well meaning (or otherwise) think I should be and do with my life- are my goals in life my own or are they more things I do partly so others may like me better - it's a easy trap to fall into and a hard one to get out off at times partly as many people like things staying the same ( what they are used to in life) -  I know as I have at times in my life falling in to that trap -  part of why I have the reviews in my life so I don't stay in the trap )

As people just want to fit in and be like by others (even by doing that they may not be happy they self because it's almost like putting on a act at times to so called fit in)

so one of the only ways to be truly happy is to be true to  your self - some times one can stay the same other times some change is required for a person to grow -  change for many is never easy but still needs to happen

Being the real me may make others unhappy or even angry at times ( we get told not to rock the boat) but it's the real me not me playing a part to "fit in"  or to be liked  (as has happened at times In my past)

For me some of the things that was up for review and have been worked out in the last 3 months or longer -

are taking photos (partly why do I take photos and what I do with the photos that I take)

Horse events - do I keep going to then and why do I go? ( is it party to play back some how all the help that the riders have given me over the years like the bike and tent? Or is it just some thing I done for so long and so keep doing because its just part of my life and may need changing (at this point in time I'm not that happy at many events - do I go because I want to or is it more because others ask or I feel I have to go and help because of the bike and tent thing )

My bike riding - where do I want to go with it and why do I ride - more fun rides, longer ride or even less maybe riding?

My nz walk - looking at why am I doing the walk and do I still want to do the south Island leg? ( can I still even try the south Island part with the way my heath is now? )

There are other things in my life going on what I won't talk about on this post

Many goals that I had - have been taking off my list of goals (my to do list)  why?  Well after thinking about it for some time - long walks give much time to think  I decided that they was not so much my goals as much as ideas that others have done or talked about (some of then things people wanted me to do because " they" thought it would be a good idea for me to do them things

 other goals are off the list because I just will never have the income to do then no matter what I do (things like the Iron man or coast to coast race also taking part in para-dressage ) - I don't like people paying for stuff for me partly because I feel I really can't pay it back in any real  way

So for now my to do list has very little (if any thing) on it after horse of the year show

Ta walk day 1

I been leaning more on how to use my phone today so here is day 1 of my ta walk from notes done on paper most days (some times i do a few days at a time if i been to tried to do then the night before.  I will try to put up more on my blog as i have the time and energy : )

walk day 1

Well. Today is the day i start my walk along the te araroa trail- but first i need to get to the start of the trail at cape reinga what is still 20 km north by road so there is still one last bit to get a lift by thumb - well after some time walking a ute stops to give me a lift at least part of the way to the cape. As im walking down the road away from that lift one of the doc worker at the doc office offers me a lift (well as soon as do a few jobs around the place that is- some time latter the jobs are done so getting the last lift to the carpark for a 5 min walk down to the lighthouse.

the weather is very windy with some rain as im take some photos of me and the sign post (well trying to any way : )  i get talking to a man about the walk im starting on also about life on the road - well in his case its more life on a boat. After saying goodbye to him by the sign for the coastal walkway i start on the TA trail first heading down to sea level with the wind trying to push me around

I get down to a beach then there is some rocks to climb around. With the tide coming in it means some fun times getting the timing right between waves. After that theres some more beach walking then the trail over some hills with a knee deep stream to cross first then its time for the fun game called find the next marker as i head over the hills going from marker to marker - at one place i see a line of markers heading down to a beach. Looking at the map i work out its a side trail so i keep going ending up on a 4wd track (still part of the trail) that leads down to trylight beach - yep more beach walking (what would be nice besides the crazy weather - high winds and lots of rain)

at the far end of the beach is a set of steps leading up to a campsite (cooking shelter, loos, rainwater tank). Deciding to stay the night. I cook some food then set up camp as out of the wind as i can - with the weather its a wet and wild night - the rain still some how finds its way into the hammock thought the tent fly? so by the next morning most of my things are wet including my down sleeping bag (not good at all as down sleeping bags tend to take a long time to dry out)  any how i thought this may happen some time so i have back up plans on what to do  (thought i was not expecting it on the first night)  so not the best of starts but it can (and does) get better :)

Training/gear testing trip to Wellington

Training/gear testing trip to Wellington 

Having decided to go on a training/gear testing trip I get drop off in masterton where after picking up a few bits of gear and stocking up on food I head for the info center to find out when the next train to featherston is.. Hum the next train is not unto around 4:30- 5pm well there is a few bus's but I like the train better so after spend a few hours looking around town I walk to the train stop where after getting a train ticket ( with the stops hand writing in ? - it's a long time from the last time I saw that being done ) at featherston the weather is wet and windy and yep it's dark so on with the rain gear and head light for the 7 km walk to the doc camp site at bucks road with the wind trying to push me around - leaving town I walk on a tar seal road for a few km where it turns onto being gravel for the last 3 km. getting to the doc site I take note that the loo is tied down with steel cable ( it gets very windy at this campsite ) after setting up my tent I listed to the sound of the wind hitting the tent - good wind test - yep the tent came though the night fine : ) 

Packing up the tent the weather has gotten better as I walk back to featherston with the headphones in on low so I can still hear any cars ( maybe 1 car ever 3 hours on this road : ) back in town I take a  5 min side trip up a bush walk track before heading to a few places in town like the m ( ever time I have past though town in the past it's been close -has a lot of info on the WW 1 training camp/ WW2 POW camp that was just out of town ) leaving town around 4:20 pm I walk out to the start of the rail trail at cross creak 10-12 km away walking the last few km in the dark with the headlight - the last 2 km is a bush track up to where the railway town of cross creek used to be when the rail trail was still in use - the incline railway was replace by a long tunnel in around 1955 after being in use for 70 years .setting up the tent in the dark for the 2th night in a row 

A some what late start as I take some photos around cross creek before starting up the track that leads up the old  1/15 incline rail way trail - the fell trains used I 2th set of driving wheels that griped a rised 3th rail to help climb the 1/15 grade ( the 3th rail was also used to slow the trains on the way down ) the trail winds it's way up the hill though 3 tunnels - near one of the tunnels a train was blowin off the rails around 1880 - the trail there has be washed out in a big storm  a few years after the rail way closed so the trail drops down to cross a stream before heading back up to the old rail bed . It's a nice day for walking - not to hot or  cold and no wind. Stoping at the summit yards for a bit of a break getting some photos before starting down the other less steeper side of the hill stoping a few times before getting to a camp site where after cooking some food and getting some water I head to my tent to do some reading before heading off to sleep 

A windy start to the day as I keep heading down the trail passing over a few brides and a tunnel at the end of the trail I have some road walking on a tar seal road unto I get to the turn off to keep heading down the less? Used part of the old rail way to maymorn passing over a few more brides and one more tunnel before the end of the trail at maymorn where after looking at email and a few phone calls at the train stop I head to a friends place to camp for the night 

Time for the next train ride - I missed the first train by about 5 mins so had to wait about 20 min to the next train to upper hut where after a look around town picking up a few things then back on the train into Wellington where I spend a few hours looking around town and seeing some friends at esnz (horse people ) then on to a bus after 3 pm as no bus's from 9am-3pm ( some bus meting ?) to a friends place where I spend a few days 

- one for the days I do a 20?km day walk ( so no 20 kg backpack : ) along part of the te Araroa trail - around 15 km of the trail is along the city to sea walkway so lots of steps to climb up or down as the walk winds it's way thought the city using a mix of parks footpaths and trails - helps to have a copy of the ta track notes to work from at times around 4 pm I get to the end of the trail in island bay?- the end of the ta trail in the north island heading south - the plan is to be back in Wellington in around 5 months time ( around 2 months unto I start the walk and 3 months walking cape to Wellington ) then got some food at a fish and chip shop - well I was a bit hunger after walking 20 km on one ice cream before getting 2 bus's back to my friends place - also saw the old ( and new) cable cars at the gardens - the ta trail runs though part of the gardens 

Time to start walking out of Wellington on the ta trail - after re packing my backpack I head a long the road unto I get to the place where the ta trail cross the road - the trail drops down to a stream on bush tracks - at one point my camera bag falls off ( it's been doing that a few times a day on this trip ) this time falling down the back about 5-10 m in the bush so after working out the most likely place to start looking I head off track ( with out the backpack ) to find the camera bag - yep is less then a m from where I thought I saw it end up. After retracing my steps I chat to some one for a few mins and work out a better way to stop the bag from being lost then is back on the trail beside the stream until the trail heads up onto a road ( having a reread of the trail notes to make sure I'm heading the right way ) the trail runs beside the road up a hill before heading into a park then back on the roadside until the end of the road where after chatting to some people who was going to be  planting some trees I head up a steep track called bells track up the big hill up on to the skyline walkway up to a big radio mast of some type then the track heads down hill - what comes up must come down some time - lots of people out enjoying the nice sunny day ( a bit windy thought ) as the trail winds down at times I look up at the mast - it's a long down hill walk with the last 2 1/2 km ? Being on the old coach road that dates from 1858 then it's onto a one lane tar seal road for a few km where I stop at a tack shop /cafe and get some food and read the note bord  to see what events might be on : ) then back on the road passing many horse places - I end up chatting to some one who knew of me from one of the horse places that I was at over the years  ( a up side of helping at horse events over the last 10 years or so )as they was leading they horse down the road back it it's paddock - she gives me her phone number to txt her if I can't find some where to camp for the night - well after getting to the place where some one else said to camp only to see a big no camping sign ( some times I'm 1/2 temped to  still camp there and make a fire with some no camping places with the no camping sign : ) so after texting the person I met before I ending up staying in a old school for the night