Thursday, August 4, 2011

All good things come to an end (weep)

Well, we are now well and truly back in to work and - like you do - barely feel like we have been away.  Tans fading, fitness fading!  But it was great while it lasted.  Nice to have a weekend ahead (despite need to do work because of darn IT issues - sigh - bane of my life!).

Anyway, thought I would add a few last thoughts and experiences.
Boston - truly a lovely city, but I think we were quite touristed out by the time we finally did the trolley tour.  We ended up not really finishing it and the freedom trail.  But, gives us an excuse to go back in the future!

Boston, where the horrible raised highways used to be, after the big dig and they were removed

Glass Harmonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin

Paul Revere's house, which has been restored and made into an interesting small museum
 Cycling - we really missed the cycling in the last week of our trip, so now we know how we enjoy holidaying.  We have thought about organised tours, but the fun (and the bit of the holiday that means I don't think about work) is the planning, the riding, the packing.  So I think it will be more cycling and camping in the future.  But I don't know when...

We thought we were so fit and were so proud of ourselves.  Then on Wednesday (we got home to Turangi about 1pm on Tuesday), it was a beautiful day, so we got our our road bikes and went for an hours ride up and back up Waihi Hill  WELL I can tell you, I have rarely felt so vulnerable on a bike.  My road bike is about 1/10th the weight of my fully laden nice heavy secure touring bike.  I felt like the slightest breeze would knock me off.  Then I discovered that the handlebars are so much narrower, the seat and frame are so much higher, the brakes are on the opposite side and the bike goes so much faster! 

I didn't realise how different riding the two bikes are.  I was a nervous wreck coming down the hill, with the back brakes on the whole time (Peter thought I'd got a puncture I took so long!).  The climbing up the hill was exhausting (so much for the fitness), so Greg, it will be a lot more work if we are going to join you on the Round the Lake this year!!

Dunkin Donuts - I can't believe it, when we arrived at Auckland Domestic Airport (and saw the queue to get through security which was the full length of the terminal), we sat down and saw the Auckland Airport Dunkin Donuts.  So healthy!!!! And $2.30 for one donut vs $1.03 in the US. DONT try them, even for people without a sweet tooth usually (me), who worked in a bakery for 8 years and hated doughnuts... they are addictive.  You have been warned!
Auckland Domestic Airport Dunkin Donuts, what is this country coming to!

Home Despite having to work, and having IT issues, it is nice to be home.  Have two incredibly clingy cats and we are chomping through the firewood (ok, I admit, its COLD!!!). Looking forward to seeing everyone! Thanks for your feedback, it's been fun.

Till next year and next trip!  Carey and Peter