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CoffeeWaffle
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Saturday, 28 October 2006
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Since I've owned my xtracycle many people, upon seeing it for the first time, ask the same old questions about it. Is that a skateboard on the back? Can you carry passengers? Is it strong? Why would you want to haul loads on a bike? Did I make it myself? What's the point? Anyone who knows me well and my passion for kite buggying usually gets around to saying something like, "Its pretty cool and everything but you won't be able to carry your kite buggy and kites on it". Well for all those doubters.... 5 words.
Oh. Ye. Of. Little. Faith. 
For the record the load consists of 1 kite buggy, 3 kites, 1 backstrap, and tools. Nothing loaded above the deck so the weight is all low, and no need to tow anythng.
Cars are for sissys. **Update**
I rode to the Wakapuaka Sand Flats and spent 2 or 3 hours buggying in a gusty northwester. It only took about 20 minutes (its usually a 8 minute drive). The best thing was being able to ride my bike right out onto the flats where motor vehicles aren't allowed. My friend Sam met me there too. You can just see his kite (a PL Vortex) in the back ground of the photo below. 
Here I'm all unpacked and ready to go with my 5.5m PL Pepper.
Packed up and ready to head home before the rain get here.
11:26:03 AM 
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Wednesday, 25 October 2006
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"The Belief that man is outfitted with an immortal soul, differing altogether from the engines which operate the lower animals, is ridiculously unjust to them. The difference between the smartest dog and the stupidest man... is really very small, and the difference between the decentest dog and the worst man is all in favor of the dog."
H. L. Mencken
10:28:27 PM
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Saturday, 21 October 2006
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Sunday, 15 October 2006
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She was born early this morning and has just found her legs.
Mother and daughter. Mum only stands waist high and belongs to one of my neighbours.
11:16:03 AM
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Saturday, 14 October 2006
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Spring has sprung and I've got heaps to do in the garden. I've made a small start for the season. I've got a good crop of garlic coming through (thanks to a lot of worm castings). In the photo above is a nice bright variety of silverbeet, and in the same bed are a variety of brasica's (cauliflower, brocoli, etc), two varieties of lettuce, a very large rubbarb plant, and a sprinkling of strawberries. I don't like to plant things in rows or group plants together. I just scatter them around. Seems more natural to me and makes better use of space. 
After last seasons success with spuds-in-a-tire I'm doing that again.
I've got chinese cabbage growing wild now (great). They are a winter crop so right now they're brightening up the place with their flowers.
My strawberry planters I prepared months ago are developing berrys.
I'm not sure what this plant is. It just popped up.
9:38:56 PM
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Sunday, 8 October 2006
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It's been a while since I had the kayak wet. It seems I have to many hobbies, or not enough weekends. I think it's the later. Today the weather and tides were perfect for one of my favourite paddles, and one that's only 10 minutes from home, Pepin Island. 
There were four kayakers in our party; Mark, Pamela, Devon and myself. We left the land bridge at high tide, paddled across the esturay, out the harbor mouth, and clockwise around the island. I also dropped of a Geocache in one of the islands little many coves, the co-ordinates of which I will be publishing soon. (now published here)
(click for 1024x768 or 1280x1024 desktop wallpaper)
7:16:06 PM
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Saturday, 7 October 2006
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The garden is really coming to life now. I've got a few plants in (lettuce, beans, silver beet or swiss chard, cauliflower, brocoli, potatoes) and they are doing well, but it's the bird life really makes it feel like the growing season again. The kingfishers are back in the poplar tree by the back door, and their call is now the first sound I hear each morning. They'll probably nest in the same hole in the tree trunk that they had chicks in last year. Such shy and wary birds. This year I may even build a hide to photograph them from. Its the only way I'll get close enough for a good shot. This morning a native pigeon, Kereru, was posing in the plum tree when I drew the curtains. I'm sure he was just waiting to have his portrait taken. He sat there while I made a coffee, grabbed my camera, walked out to the front lawn, took a few shots, then just after I turned to walk away again, he took off; probably up the hill to find some morning sun that was now creeping down the walls of the valley. 
8:29:11 AM
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Monday, 2 October 2006
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Sunday, 1 October 2006
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6:47:15 PM
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© Copyright
2006
Murray Neill
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Last update:
28/10/2006; 4:53:10 p.m.
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