Swiss Banker Andreas Pletscher Quits Counting Money To Pedal Around New Zealand...

There's more to life than money laughs the Swiss ex-banker Andreas Pletscher as he packs up his tent and minimum belongings to climb on his Cannondale to continue his ride to the Far North and New Zealand's Cape Reinga.
I caught up with him at the Department of Conservation's Uretiti campground recently.
Here was a man who knew the value of money but wasn't prepared to give his life for it.
Less is more he delighted in telling me.
The less I have to work to earn money to buy things I don't need, the more time I have to live a life I can imagine...

Wildboy Brando Yelavich Is A Happy Man With Only About 500 Kilometers Left To Walk On His Coastline Circumnavigation Of New Zealand...

I met up with Brando again yesterday at Uretiti Beach, just about five hundred kilometers short of Cape Reinga in New Zealand's Far North.
He's a happy man having already  raised more than twenty two thousand dollars for Ronald McDonald House and walked around eight thousand kilometers on his epic journey.
But he's worried what he's going to do
when he gets to his goal.
I might have to keep walking he said.
I just love it...

Round The World In A Tiny Home On Wheels...

Karin and Matthew are in New Zealand  for a few months as part of their round the world tour in their German manufactured 4WD Toyota Landcruiser.
They've already travelled extensively in Europe and were last in Canada, going back to their home in Austria where they're both employed as Energy Consultants.
There, they'll earn some more money to sustain their lifestyle.
I caught up with them at the Department of Conservation's campsite at Uretiti Beach a few days ago.
After New Zealand they'll go to Australia and then to South Africa.
Life's all about choices they say...

I Thought I Was Seeing Double...

I thought I was seeing double.
It was early afternoon and I hadn't been drinking so it could've been the sun.  But I was right and it was Phil and Zara with their two children PJ and Zach, arriving at Uretiti Beach in their 1979 Daimler Fleetline Housebus.
Originally a City of London bus, it was imported into New Zealand in 2000 and became an Auckland City Party Bus.
Phil and Zara have owned it for seven years and are well accustomed to the many who surround the bus to ask questions and take their photos.
It didn't take long for a group of guys to gather around the rear of the bus as Phil was showing off the huge six cylinder Gardner that takes up nearly the full width of the bus.
It's top speed is about 65kph but hey, who's in a hurry when there's a great life to live...

Having Fun Fishing...

Success finally. It appears that rewards come to those who have the patience to persevere, and then some.
There are those who think that where there's water there's fish, but for awhile now I've been proving them wrong.
I'm at Uretiti Beach. Yes again.
I've been having fun but not much luck with my balloon/bag fishing but at last, now know the reasons why.
Everything's so simple in hindsight isn't it.
Especially after taking some good advice.
I've been wanting to show you the wonderful Fishing Rig that my friend Glen, the genius with aluminium, made for me.
It's got nearly two kilometres of line on it and at the end of the line is a large yellow balloon, I've shown it to you here before. In an offshore wind, the bag takes the line with a number of hooks out as far as you like.
You'll see it way out there just under the arrow.
Then, after a suitable time, you wind it back in.
If you're lucky, well, it's like all your birthdays coming at once...

Simple Camping Made Simpler...

Old style camping at Uretiti has been great fun over many years for David and Ivy.
They'd bring their cute little caravan or their tent, a simple gas ring for cooking up freshly caught fish, some toast or a cup of tea .
They'd eat their cheese, their sandwiches, their watermelon and they'd go to bed happy.
Now, Field Candy are making a Yummy range of tents that look like food.
The plan is to go camping and if you get hungry and you've forgotten your provisions, simply eat your tent then go and sleep with someone else in their tent.
Take a hike over here and here to have a look at others on the menu...