I love everything about the Irish. Picton for me was a party. I really really great party. Everybody has been to an Irish pub. Most people frequent them regularly. But not often (unless you're in Ireland) are they actually packed with real, genuine, fun-loving, drunk Irish people. I love it. I love it. I love it. It's really another reason why I love rugby - because it brought so many Irish to me. I've always said that I want to go to Ireland to do seven t...

It was worth the efforts to get to Wellington. I cycled 90 kms to Masterton to catch a train to Wellington which got me in town before dark and ready for the midday rugby game the following day! Wellington officially marked the end of my North Island cycling!!!!!! Yay- that feels good. Some approximate stats are as follows: -650 kms cycled -420 kms driven by people offering me rides -2 train rides -15 barmps (translation for non-newfies: car horn honks) -...

Wow. Lamb and mint sauce; Im pretty sure eating this meal in New Zealand, cooked by kiwi farmers from a lamb that was raised by those very farmers on their land is the equivalent to being screeched-in in Newfoundland. That's right, I think I'm an honorary kiwi. And I'm quite proud of it. Before eating that meal I spent the day on the cattle farm learning the ropes and rounding up cattle to move into a different paddock. Stunning; that farm was picturesque....

Jim, the truck driver that I met in Atiamuri and stayed with in Napier connected me with family he has in Waipukarau. I would otherwise have probably camped somewhere. It's a good thing that I didn't. I had a lovely evening with Tracey, Shawn and their adorable three year old son who amazingly never had training wheels on his bicycle but went straight onto two wheels. They showed me around their lovely town, shared a beautiful meal with me, picked me up fro...

I casually met this guy, Jim, in Atiamuri. He's an older gentleman who was staying at the same hostel. He offered his name and telephone number and said that if I found myself in Napier that he has a spare room and I could crash at his place for an evening. I had no idea I would ever end up in Napier and I also had no idea how valuable that contact would be. After a couple of nights in a hostel I gave him a call to see if the offer was still on the table "Hi J...