The last couple of days I’ve been sleeping in an old Jail transformed into a backpacker. If you ever go to Whangarei, you must stay at least one night there! It’s an awesome place managed by Chrissi and Rian a lovely couple. I felt at home and stayed a second night. Now it’s time to leave to Opua where all the boat are waiting for a good weather window to leave NZ.
Day of my liberation
Bike loaded again for the last ride
I love this bike and seat!
I swear I didn’t cause any damage!
So today, after one month and a half and 2160km on New Zealand’s roads and tracks, I reached the final destination. Opua. It’s historicaly where all the boats are living New Zealand for the winter to go mainly in the Pacific Islands. Even if now there different marinas where boats are leaving, this place stay the main one. On this first part of the adventure I’ve met so many great people and shared so many awesome moments! I’m stoked! This country is amazing on every aspect! I’m still there and look already forward to come back!
Selfie took on the bike trail
Here, it will be hard to free camp. Tonight, I arrived in the dark and found a cycle trail. I thought it would be a good idea to find a spot to sleep by it but mangroves and sea arm mainly surround it. impossible to find a good spot. I gave up and put the tent on the trail. I hope no one will be riding the trail before sunrise. Tomorrow I will have all day to repeat the process to find a boat: Printing flyers, pinning them everywhere in town, meet the sailors in marina and hoping to find a boat to Australia…
Morning lights on bike trail where I spent the night.
…but I must go with the flow.
My plan is to sail from New Zealand to Australia but it looks like almost al the boats are sailing to the Pacific Islands, as Australia is very complicated for paperwork when you come from overseas.
I will have to be flexible and accept to change my plans. I might go to one of the Pacific Islands and from there I will try to find a boat to Australia or Indonesia. I hope to be able to cycle through Australia as it is one of my main challenges to cross the outback and find the best solutions to survive in the dry and hot weather for a couple of months.
There is always a good side!
But I’m confident and if I don’t go to Australia, then I will go somewhere else with other challenges. This situation makes me think a lot about flexibility and being comfortable with plans that change. I remember a few years ago, I was so strict on following the plans and now I accept what is coming on my path, even if it’s the opposite of my original plans and see the positive side of it. Those Pacific Islands are a paradise!
Today, I’m meeting a lot of people and have a few appointments to find a boat… fingers crossed!
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