Motorbike School

US Road Trip Day 28 and Day 29 - NYC!

"Down into Philly for Hand-Drawn Noodles and a Greyhound bus to New York City. Through the Lincoln Tunnel and heavily loaded on to the L train over to Brooklyn, where we found the little walk up we discovered on AirBnB for the next few days. Sunday morning down to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade, the weather holding out for a grey view of the skyline. Up to West Greenwich Village for a walk around the confusing streets, then to the High Line Park and along the greenery among the old train tracks. An accidental stop at B&H Photo (the most ridiculously automated camera store in the world), then past Times Square and over to the grand old New York Public Library and the huge reading room. Closing out the evening with Grand Central Station and the Apple Store they've set up there, then back to Brooklyn for a night of letting the bones settle in the feet. Monday takes us to the World Trade Center Memorial for early tickets and a walk around the marble footprints of the fallen towers. Over to the Wall Street Bull and then into the trains for pizza slices up near Central Park. A short walk around in the lovely green to the Bethesda Fountain and the mosaic at Strawberry Fields, then on to the C train towards the main business of the day. Waiting and waiting and front row seats to see Jon Stewart and the Daily Show, then out from the laughter to walk over to 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Shattered and exhausted, so back to Brooklyn and a night cuddling an adopted cat named Ben. This morning spent packing and preparing and hoofing it to JFK, where we sit now waiting for the long night's flight on to London!" (MM)

Bay of Islands - Paihia to Opua

My second day in Paihia and we get beautiful sunshine which is good as I am desperate to get out of the hostel which is full of hung over children who are just waiting to get drunk again. Note to self... do more research before booking hostels.

 I choose to take a walk along the coastal track to Opua which is about 6km.  It is a pretty deserted route which is heavenly after the chaos on the bus yesterday and the crowds at the hostel. It is a really pleasant walk round bays and past, wading birds and mangrove trees.