rainy beauty

wow what a week up in the far north.
i travelled up to Paihia on monday for some chill time and good scenery, and got it in bucket loads.  it is gorgeous here and have ended up staying all week, just didnt want to move.

I'm staying in a lovely hostel with the beach just a spit away.  A small relaxed town surrounded by sparkly waters.  mostly.  Have had some rainy days, but even through the gales and driving rain today it remains beautiful.

I have been up to the most northly point Cape Reinga, so called but not quite true.  celebrated with a lighthouse and the belief that its where bad spirits leave.  It felt special to me and hope some of my negative spirits left me too.
The day also consisted of flinging myself down a huge sand dune, face first.  Sandboarding was a new one on me but lordy was it fun!  Ninety mile beach is also a bit of a fib, but with golden sands as far as the eye can see, who really cares that its really only about 87 km.
The next day took me on a dokphin swimming trip, sadly bo dokphins to be seen, but a gorgeous family of Orca's graced us with their presence.  They came right up the boat and swam under us, think they were saying hekko after watching them from afar for hours, quite breathtaking.  A trip around the bay of islands, even without dolohins was a joy.  There were some volcanic protrusions like the giants causeway apparently nestled amoungst the islands.  One of the guides jumped off t

hemisphere swapping

well hello  over there from all the way over here.
i am sitting in central auckland in my hostel room, listening to the rain batter against the window.  it really is as crazy weather as sthey say.  i was sutting in thep park eating icecream in the blazing sun yesterday!

so i left just over a week ago and still cant really believe im here.  i thought it would sink in, but no, still seems crazy.  good crazy!

first port of call was Hong Kong, which i loved, a beautiful city, the contrast of a city skyline against sparkling waters and lush green mountains just gave it so much charm.  we stayedin kowloon, out of the tourist area so saw a locals side which was great.  i took a trip to lantau island and up the cable car to see the giant bhudda, the scenery was stunning and loved a bit of spirituality to top me up.  the hotel was pretty luxury for a traveller, i even had a sauna like and swim on the last day, bliss!

another 11 hour flight saw us into Auckland, the fresh air and lush green to start my New Zealand adventure.
it has been a manic week, especially coming from  the boonies into a huge city.  but bank accounts needed setting up and phone numbers getting,.  but have also been busy exploring, i went to north head and climbed the volcano mound and down the caves, went to waheki island on the ferry, a spot of wine tasting perhaps! it was beautiful there, quiet and slow and the cleanest air.  the city art gallery was great and the lovely Albert park.
not forgetting a catch up dinner with a friend not seen for 20 years!

Auckland has been great, but time for a change and get miving.  im off up north tomorrow morning, at the crack.  be nice to be bit more chilled, have had a great week, but m all achey and tired, need some sitting down!


looks like i have some work for a few weeks at the end of the month, which gets me free accomodation, yey!
right rosie bo boo time, back soon with some photographic evedience im really here.

Rxxx

A land down under

............Well not quite, but I couldn't think of any songs about New Zealand.

Rosie's new adventure involves 2 x 12 hours on a big airy plane, thousands of miles and a green rucksack.
I am off to New Zealand tomorrow, flying out to discover a new world, a happy healthy world.
I am off to explore and find work, something I have dreamed of doing for many years but various things always preventing me from doing so. So I am taking my nomadic ways pretty much as far as I can!

I have no plans, leaving my adventure to take its own course and leaving any pressures behind me.
excited doesn't really cover it, A great big ball of nervous excitement has filled my tummy and whenever I think of the feeling I smile.  This is what I love and what puts fire in my belly.  New things, the unkown and a big challenge!

Rosie's dream is back in business, so feel free to keep track of my travels and keep in touch, will still need you all.

Bye bye and see you on the other side of the hemisphere.

Rxx

New Doors

Well Rosie is no longer boat Rosie.Sadly my boat adventure ended earlier than was in the plan, but in the 'take what is thrown at you' vein, I am looking to the next adventure.

I had a great time on the boat, discovered a world I never knew existed, developed confidence and met some great people.  Someone very dear to me is in my life because of my boat life and that alone is enough, but really I come away much richer for it.  It came into my life when I needed it and now it's time to dive through threw the next door.

My next adventure takes me further away and is a big unknown, but is super exciting.

Watch this space..........

Rosie x

Rosie doolittle

Have had some fabulous wildlife spots recently.

We saw a water snake on the Wey, swimming its way (Wey boom boom!) along side the boat!  This was the most exciting have never seen a snake in the UK.  Great spot by the boss.

I then spotted a turtle type creature, not sure exactly, don't think it was a terapin, was quite big.  He was just sitting there, on a big log, in the middle of the Grand Union, near Kings Langley.  A duck was sitting next to him.  Very cool!

A couple of days ago I was walking along the tow Path on the Grand Union, I hear a lot of rustling in the reeds on the other side. I saw something slinking in between them and thought some sort of water rodent, but as it went on realised it was in fact a fish.  A gihuge one!  It was flaffing around in the reeds then splashing around in the water, there may have been more than one at some point.  It was the biggest fish I have ever seen, thats for sure.  Not sure of it type.  It had a peachy pinky fin and a copper coloured body.  It must have been at least a metre long.  Was in a bit of a frenzy too!

A green woodpecker flying across the meadows on the Wey navigation.

A tree creeper, funnily creeping up a tree!  Never seen one of those either!

A young female Mandarin duck on the Thames.

Lots of exciting spots.
NO kingfishers though.  Keeping eyes peeled.

Rxxx

Swim hat Swim

My liability status spiralled this week.

I awoke in beautiful Cassiobury park on Thursday morning, feeling like I was in the Amazon.  Damp, misty morning, the birds singing in the trees, heard through the water drips hitting the leaves of dense trees and foliage.

A very wet night meant very wet ground and a very slippy boat.  I was walking along the gunnels towards the bow to untie the ropes and I slipped.  A difficult part where the gunnels are narrow and covered by material from the well deck covers.  I was being uber careful and slow, still not fully confident after my last incident.  The next thing I knew, was totally submerged in water, briefly opening my eyes to seeing nothing but vast amounts of green water.

The bank was high so I couldn't get out, I was pulled out by my arms and belt loops!
I was a bit spluttery from canal water going up my nose, a sore bit on my arm and a little bewildered, but apart from that was pretty ok.

After a little time to stop shaking and gather myself, I washed the Grand Union out of my hair, got into some dry clothes, and carried on with a 11 lock day.  A wee bit wobbly, but quite pleased I didn't visit the land of shock, as is my usual trick.  I have escaped quite well I thought to myself.
I woke the next day, realising this was a foolish, just foolish.  I was sore from head to toe and could barely bend down.  My arm is bruised and scraped from armpit to elbow.  It is very pretty!
I was furnished with Arnica cream and it is helping immensly and feeling much better today.

I am a spud, good job I can cook!

Rxxx

p.S.  I lost my hat, it floated away down the Grand Union, never to be seen again. Sob.

Term 2

Heydo hoo,  well it is term two and all is well and happy aboard the good ship.

A great week off has relaxed and recharged me and things feel right again, back into place.
Our new crew girl is doing fab and helping things settle.
The last couple of months have been a real rollercoaster but think I have finally disembarked and the nausea is subsiding!
My poor Rosies Dream has been abandoned and therefore forgotten all wildlife spots and that milarki, but there maybe a wee change of track for a while so watch this space!

We are currently sitting in a lock, near Guildford on the Wey, which is flooded and so we are stuck!  Please stop raining, one week of sun out of 2 months is not enough.  It just isn't.

So more smiles but more rain.
See ya ladel
Rxxx