from very bottom to tippy top

somewhere near milford sound
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All in a week! That's right, in a short week Betsey has gone from the very bottom of New Zealand to the tippy top. And I wonder why I have come down with a bad cold hmmmmm.... I have been doing so much driving I almost haven't been able to stop, it's like I don't know what else to do. But alas, now I think I have found the sweet spot for a wee rest- Raglan, world famous surf spot, great little town, but more on that later, I have a lot of catching up to do!

Last I wrote we had been to Stewart Island. From there we cruised up to Christchurch where I met up with another friend of a friend mountain biker. We went for a great ride, I even got to borrow his wife's sweet steel bike, and her shoes which meant clipless pedals and a whole lot of fun. At the end of that ride I felt that I had not had that much fun in 2 hours on my whole entire trip. I love riding again but I will write more on that in a separate piece. We got to stay at Laurence's house, a beautiful place on the top of a giant hill overlooking the trails and the ocean, those people really have a great setup. Cute kids, too- all cuddly and sweet- we watched Pure Sweet Hell together that night, and the movie worked- there is no cyclocross racing here in New Zealand but Laurence says that now he already has a race half organized for July- sweet!

naughty kia, cars are not food!
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From Christchurch we had 3 days to make it back to Auckland where John had to catch his flight so it was a whole lot of driving. And then since I was so used to driving I just kept on and just a week after I had been at the very bottom of the country I was at the tippy top! And my god, it is beautiful up there! I went through the Bay of Islands, up the East side and over. Stayed at 90 mile beach a couple of nights- it really is a 90 mile long beach. At low tide it is used as a road- of course I didn't bring Betsey down there but I definitely took a nice little bike ride.

mt. cook, as close as we got
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Cape Reigna is at the top of the country and just stunning. It is where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet and you can actually see where that happens. Amazing surf out there too- apparently it gets huge. On the drive up I felt as though I had been transplanted back home- it is so similar to Point Reyes it's crazy. I think that's why I loved it so much- I think Point Reyes is the most beautiful place  on earth (I can say that now and be pretty sure of it, having been to a lot of pretty places on this trip), but this place is a close second.

me and laurence- check out my (vivienne's) sweeet bike
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From there I headed back south to the beaches near Auckland- Piha and Karekare where scenes from the movie the Piano were filmed. Absolutely beautiful places but being the mover that I am I only stayed a night. Which brings me to where I am now, Raglan. A really sweet little town and, like I said awesome surf spot. This morning I counted 30 people out in the water! Unheard of for New Zealand but probably not for here. It wasn't today, but I guess it gets to be the most perfect wave that just goes on and on and on. I found a place to stay in the van on top of the hill overlooking the ocean, just a gorgeous spot. I am hoping to stay for a few days, take it easy until I have to get going again and sell dear Betsey. My time in this amazing country is almost up- as much as I want to stay I also really want to go to Easter Island and see just a bit of Chile and Argentina before I head home.