What’s up dogs. Coming at you live from Tapawera Campground. Splurged for a spot in the bunkhouse tonight and let me tell you, boy is it worth it. On any other day, this place would probably be a bit weird (sorry campground host aka Julie whose daughter lives in Florida and needs to remember life outside of resorts). But, on this rainy afternoon, it’s heaven on Earth. A real bed and a hot shower?? What more could you ask for.

Just finished up day 3 of biking. The first few have not been without their trials and tribulations, but honestly it’s been great. I’m just a big fan of bike packing these days. Don’t tell my summer employer, but I tend to find backpacking a bit boring recently. So being able to get into that same daily rhythm of wake, eat, go, eat, go, eat, sleep, and repeat while also cruising by different landscapes is pretty enjoyable. This trip has the added bonus of being my first time riding whole days off roads/on trails, so that feels exciting. This might sound like I know what I’m doing but let me assure you, I’m quite the amateur. Gives me the opportunity to laugh at myself constantly.

Anyway, I don’t really have the energy or mood for any pensive thoughts to share with you, so I’m going with random thoughts straight off the dome. I could tell you about the specifics of biking days or places I’ve been, but I’d rather provide you with some comic relief — just so you know what you’re getting into.

• I’ve been thinking a lot about the well wishes people give me before I head off for adventures and how they make me feel. This isn’t to make fun of anyone that communicates they care for my well-being and safety because I genuinely appreciate it. But sometimes I think the outcome is funny. For example, I get “Be safe!” a lot, which is of course a completely logical thing to say. But it’s not like someone telling me to be safe actually changes my actions in any way. So, instead, after the third person tells me to be safe, I’m left wondering what hazards are out there that I don’t know about… do these people know something I don’t?? Is fate trying to tell me something?? Sheesh. Before (what I presumed to be) a perfectly pleasant, non-adventurous bike ride the other day, a guy I passed goes, “good luck out there.” So then the whole ride I’m just wondering what he was talking about… when will I need his luck?? Was that bad patch of gravel it or is there something worse in store up ahead?? Worse yet, nothing bad ever came, so I’m worried I need to save his luck for another day.
• There’s tons of aggressive but relatively useless signs out here. A common one I pass while biking just says “CAUTION. You’re entering a multiple hazard area.” They don’t tell you what the hazards are just that there are multiple. Not sure what I’m supposed to do with that. Another one (back in the US too) is a rockfall hazard sign. Again, I’m like okay and? How do you want me to respond? I’ll get hit with the rock whether I’m alerted of the possibility or not. If anyone has thoughts of advice, please let me know.
• To the contrary of this experience, I really could’ve used more signage today. Towards the end of my ride, I passed a sign titled “Spooners Tunnel” with some size 16 cursive font about the historical importance of this tunnel. Of course, I breeze right by the innocuous looking sign and enter the tunnel thinking it will dimly lit and maybe 50 or 100 yards max. 1.3 kilometers and maybe 8 minutes later (I was going slowly because I was scared) I emerge from this pitch black tunnel with absolutely no lights or any sort of information inside. This is the one time they need a giant aggressive sign saying CAUTION DARK TUNNEL before the entrance. Size 64 font and bolded, at least. After I exited that hellhole, I chatted with a guy who informed me it’s actually the longest railway tunnel in New Zealand. “Railway people” are really into it, he said, which I think was a polite way of informing me that I’m clearly not a railway person. Flash forward to when I arrive at the campground and there’s a guy watching railroad footage on the tv. No commentary, just trains. 30 minutes later, same thing. Guess there really are “railway people” around here.
• Rode on the Great Taste Trail today. I purposefully didn’t look up what I was supposed to Taste in hopes of a good surprise. First stop, the factory for this peanut butter company here… yes please! I stopped. It was awesome. Unfortunately, the factory tours were booked out for 3 days so I couldn’t attend one but there was a group of legitimately 30 old people there, which means you know you’re at the right spot. Unfortunately, after the next stop of Great Tastes at a pizzeria that I declined, every other stop was a winery. Not a good surprise.
• I’ve ended the use of knives entirely. Too much effort. Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be cut up.

If you’re still with me after that, congratulations. The mind is an endless place when you let it wander. All jokes aside, I’d like to end this post by saying thank you to all of you that are reading this and/or reach out to me about it! While so far from home, it’s very nice to have a way to feel connected to you all and I love when that connection might bring you some joy, too. Til next week!

Warmly,

Jaquelin

Sent from my iPhone