A Wee Bit Behind

This post should catch you up to speed on our latest adventures and perspectives. Two weekends ago we went back to the mountain biking park for my second attempt in New Zealand at conquering the overwhelming fear and nausea that pervaded my body whenever I set out on a mountain bike trail with the hopes of finding the fun and joy that Brian swears it is.  I didn’t fall, and I did noticeably better in many parts of the trail. Dare I say, I didn’t hate all of it, which was a major improvement!

As if huffing and puffing my way along a few hours of mountain biking trails wasn’t enough adventure for one day, Brian pointed out the fact that we were finished with at least 3 or 4 hours of daylight to spare. He asked if I’d be up for a hike. It’s important to take into account that I had done a new group fitness class at the gym everyday that week, and was rather exhausted and sore (FYI, Zumba is hysterical). I agreed on what was described to be an easy-intermediate, 1.5 hour tramp (they call hiking, tramping here), called Te Henga (pronounced “Tay Hang ah”) Walkway. The trail is between Bethells Beach and Muriwai (pronounced “Murray why”) Beach, and started with fantastic views.

 Can you spot Brian?

From this point on the trail was about an hour of a fairly steep descent. All I was thinking about was how much energy it was going to take to get back up to where the car was, and I just honestly wasn’t committed to the tramp. Even as I post these pictures I can't believe this is what I was thinking while looking at this amazing place, but it was. I was tired.

There are people on the ridge line to give you some perspective.

Once I saw the ocean, I encouraged Brian to tramp on without me as I was going to begin the long, steep ascent back. As I approached the top/beginning of the trail, I was rather shocked at how easy it was to get back up. Apparently my work at the gym and all of our adventures are finally paying off in terms of my level of fitness (yes, the stairs to our flat have helped as well). I felt really disappointed in myself for giving up on the tramp, and not finishing it.

I remember saying, “It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have a choice,” after finishing our expedition in the South Island on our honeymoon, and I often relayed that same sentiment to parents of kids I worked with at the hospital in NYC.  I think the hardest part is just making the commitment. Brian often reminds me that once you’ve made the commitment, it’s no longer a choice which is easier in a lot of ways. A good lesson learned, and one that I will remind myself of should I want to quit a hike, or anything else for that matter, in the future. Below are pictures taken by Brian without me.

There are people on the rocks here to give you some more perspective but I'm not sure you can see them.

On Sunday we met up with our other new friends, Nicole and Sam. My friend and former colleague Melissa used to work with Nicole several years ago, and put us in touch with one another when she learned I was moving to Auckland. Nicole’s a nurse, originally from Canada, and has been living here for I think about 3 years now. Rumor has it she’s a ridiculous snowboarder, and she loves tramping and camping! Her boyfriend Sam is originally from England, and I think he’s been here for about 6 years now. He’s a teacher, and learning how to snowboard! Another suitable couple for us in terms of different levels of skills and thrills! We all went for a walk along Takapuna beach from our backyard and had breakfast. It was nice to hear their perspectives on living in New Zealand, and we really hit it off with both of them. Turns out that Sam is an avid mountain biker, so you know him and Brian went on about that! They’re actually coming with us and our other new friends, Michelle and Greg, snowboarding the first weekend of August!

Fast forward to this past weekend, which may have been my favorite weekend yet! After Brian and I had so much fun exploring the caves on Rangitoto Island (the island that we see from our flat), I went online to find more caves nearby. I’ve been caving in a few countries, and I've learned that the most important thing to me is that the cave hasn’t been commercialized. To each their own, but I don’t want handrails, stairs, and lighting (other than a flashlight) when I’m going caving. Nikau Cave claimed to be just what I was looking for so Michelle, Greg, Brian, and I went to explore it in Waikaretu, a sheep and cattle farming area in spectacular limestone country.

The view from the cafe near the caves, that's Greg, Michelle, and I in the foreground.

Another spectacular photograph by Brian!

Off to see the caves! I just can't help but start singing the 7 dwarfs' "Hi Ho" song when I see this picture of us in our hardhats!

                                     Even the cows in New Zealand make happy,  heart-shaped pooh! (credit goes to Michelle for that one)

Going down to the entrance of the cave.

The beginning of the cave!

Some stalactites on the ceiling!

Brian with stalactites

This was an easier part, before we had to crawl on our tummies, in the freezing water (which we later learned and saw is home to a few eels).

Brian emerging from the tight crawl space

These are the threads hanging down from the glowworms

This is from the website, to give you an idea of what the glow worms look like on top (the little green things that look like stars)

Hmmm, hope this stalactite doesn't fall into my eye!

Brian, me, Michelle, and Greg! Wet but happy!

Michelle and Greg

Heading back to the cafe post caving

Spectacular landscape!

Needless to say I loved the caving, and we all had a great time!

Sunday it was back to the mountain biking park for my third try, and it seems that the third time was the charm! I went through the course in at least half the time, if not more, than the weekend before, and did everything except for the uphill, slanted bridge at the end. Those who’ve seen Brian’s video of my mountain biking bridge experience at Mt. Snow should understand my apprehension. I actually felt really good, and enjoyed a good part of it. I’m not saying I loved it, but it was great to do parts that looked so tricky and scary to me before and feel that they were actually easy. So that was awesome!

From there we headed to Muriwai Beach for lunch, and decided to do some more exploring. There were tons of surfers in the water, and it was amazing to see just how far out they had to get in order to catch a wave rather than the break. At the top of the cliff, where we ate lunch, it was so windy and there were these two little model airplanes (like the $1 balsa wood ones) that the wind kept whipping around for at least an hour. Their flight pattern was so similar to the birds, it was really amazing. Might have been one of those “you had to see it” things though.

After lunch, we headed down closer to the beach and went walking around. 

We wound up on these formations that looked to me like what I always imagined tectonic plates must look like once they’ve shifted from an earthquake. Brian didn't have his camera, so I found the picture above of where we were. No one else was on this part when we were there which was nice, and apparently it's known as an extreme fishing spot! 

There's a gannet colony on the top of that big rock.

It was great, and the weather was just perfect!

I have lots more to write about in terms of more cultural observations and things, but for now, I’ll leave you with a Jeopardy answer.

 Zumba, a dolphin named Moko, and a New Zealand police dog named Gage.

You guess the question or wait in anticipation for next time!