Hit Me With You Rhythm Stick

By -

This blog attracts a modest number of hits each day - maybe 20 on a slow day and perhaps 80 on a good day. However, since posting 'Little Boxes' a week ago this page alone gets 100-150 hits a day, all apparently originating in Greece. Occasionally a 'spam' comment gets left on the page and I assume that this is some sort of automated attack.

If, on the other hand, there is a VERY enthusiastic Greek reader could I suggest they get a life.

Oh yes, the Swedes are following things again so watch out for an Abba song soon.

I left at about 8 this morning and immediately turned right, leaving Highway 1 which is the main artery through Auckland, and taking Highway 16. This was recommended as quieter and more scenic. It was certainly quieter but I cannot comment on the scenery as it is hard to look around when you are hunched over the bars with eyes full of sweat as you slog over 30 miles on endless hills. If there was a single flat yard I didn't spot it.

Auckland is not a very heavily populated city at 1m residents but the housing is low density and it is actually one of the largest cities in the world by land area. I spent the next few hours crossing it. In the end I did not get my sea voyage as the route from Highway 16 back to the ferry terminal would have required a further 20 miles of sodding hills so I took the main road route which was flatter (I am learning that the word flat really has no place in any conversation about NZ and the word slightlylesshilly should be used instead). The price was very heavy traffic for much of it but by this point I was just focused on getting the miles done.

I am now south of the city in a nice little campsite. Very very tired but more or less on track.

To answer a couple of requests from the odd none-greek reader:

Annie - I have a photo of the harbour on my iPad but you will have to wait for wifi so I can upload it.

Alan - the beer is poor. There are some slightly better bottled beers but it is a bit of a lottery when choosing one. I found a promising looking 'IPA' yesterday........horse wee.

As for the photo - I'm not sure how well you can see it as the sun was behind it but THIS is my sort of motor home!

Steve

------------------

Comments

  1. Annie O11 February 2013 at 17:55

    I'll looking forward to seeing it. Am enjoying the geography lessons! Xx

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/Mr Tamborine Man/I Write The Songs

By -
Image
  After an 18 month separation Plum and I are reforming the band for another tour.  The two of us, plus 6 others, are heading up to Scotlandshire for another crack at the North Cost 500.  I should probably introduce the full line-up:   Lead Singer - David.  David is the young(er) pretty one.....brother of John.  David also happens to be my Financial Adviser and is funding this trip (plus a yacht and a cocaine habit) out of what he makes from my account.   Lead Guitar - Nick.  Friend for 50 years.  At school Nick was a keen cyclist and consequently, quite rightly, bullied.  Nick has forgotten more about cycling than I will ever know.   Bass Guitar - Stuart.  Stuart and I worked together for many years; he has powerful legs and can push out big watts while looking like he is coasting.  I hate Stuart.   Keyboards - Michael.  Michael is also younger but not pretty.  Michael believes that upgrading cycle compone
Read more

If I Could Turn Back Time

By -
Image
If ever you are in the Inverness area on a Friday and looking for a lively night you could do a lot worse than avoid Muir of Ord.  Our hotel, the only pub, wasn't serving food so we walked into town where it appeared that Steven Spielberg had just finished filming some sort of post-apocalypse movie: nothing open, nobody on the streets and the odd bit of tumbleweed blowing along the pavement.  Even the fish and chip shop couldn't be arsed to open...on a FRIDAY NIGHT!  We managed to find a take-away offering a rather odd choice of kebabs and curries (served in pizza boxes for added novelty) and purchased some food which made up for in calories what it lacked in food-hygiene standards.   I recall a meeting where a few of my co-riders and I met to kick around ideas for a group ride.  We considered all sort of destinations....mostly in those parts of Europe where the weather isn't consistently shite.  I'm ashamed to say that I think it was I that th
Read more

Julia's Song

By -
Image
As some readers will know, Plum is no longer Chard's most eligible bachelor.  The lovely Julia has taken on the job that Social Services would otherwise have to do....making sure he changes his pants once a week whether they need it or not and loading routes onto his Garmin.  We are all very grateful to Julia, especially Chards most eligible bachelorettes who can get back on the dating scene now Plum is safely off the market. As we were starting our trip Julia fell, dislocated her foot and broke her Tibia so she is probably missing Plum more than usual. She has insisted that the show should go on so thanks for being such a trooper. Today was another with a shortcut that promised to turn a very hard day into something more manageable.  Some of our group took the high road and others took the low but I had a more cunning idea.....get in the van.  Whatever is ailing me, long covid or acute spinelessness, reached the point where pushing the pedals just w
Read more