Jun 29, 2024

Bikes Over The Years

 When you have been on your bike for years you get to own a lot of them. Sometimes 3 at once!

Some of my favourites.

Colnago C40 (Made in Italy) 

Specialized Stumpjumper MTB
American designed, built in Taiwan
A Giant Cadex 920. Aluminium lugs and carbon fibre tubing. One to the worlds early, if not the first, carbon fibre bikes. I use it for time trials. 1980's
This my Colnago C40 frame just arrived from New York. Starting the long job of assembly and fine tuning.
The finished article. In yellow trim.
Later I owned a Colnago C50 full, carbon hand made, with all the latest Italian Campagnolo gear. Beautifully made with  12 speed set up. It's still hanging up in my workroom. Best machine ever.
A Pro-Flex MTB. My first dual suspension mountain bike. designed in USA.
Always on the work stand.
Road dirt. Sometimes worse than in the forest.
Our Tauranga Road Cycling club jersey.
My old Advanti road bike on the trainer. I spent a lot of time on this bike on the road and on the trainer. In the rain, was a change from in front of the cooling fan inside. Sooo boring and sooo hard at times.
My Klein. American designed and made. I loved this bike despite it being very hard on ones butt.
I remember coming back from a 200km training ride over the Kaimai to Rotorua and back and could not sit down properly for days.
My beautiful aluminium Serotta. USA made. I imported it from New York. And set it up with new Spinergy aero carbon fibre wheels and with the aero bars it was a flying machine. The story I remember clearly about this set up was a seagull flew through my front wheel!
Trek MTB a very light and nimble dual suspension machine. It is still in the family.
Specialised Levo Comp Electric MTB. This bike is still in the family as well.
I replaced it with the later model.




Stunning Morning At The Mount

 Absolutely stunning burnt gold colours.  
Winter bravery
Then the mauve and violet tones arrived




Nana's Big Number Birthday

 A chance for those family pics.

Us oldies, with the grandkids. (Big and small 😀)

Us, with our two boys
Nana, a very proud mum.
With Jay and Lewis. Don't look at the number on the cake...

Nana and the grandkids. All grown up now.
Thomas, Nana, Grace
Jay and Lewis


Jun 16, 2024

Ball Night

 Thomas & Flynn 

The lads are nearly ready for the big ball night. Thomas (Right) has put in the extra effort (college attendance) to be allowed in the door. I am sure there will be stories....




Jun 15, 2024

Westfield Glitz

 All the big brands. 

While awaiting the boss who was 'shopping' I had a good look around Westfield New Market. Impressive but not really for me.

Look closely and see that this spectacular sculpture is to feature one small handbag!

I can't see anyone wearing this prisoner gear.
Beautiful shops all empty.


Wow, a famous local brand.
All pinked out, this one.


Jun 10, 2024

Latest Puzzle

 Snowshoeing from a Sunset Magazine cover  circa 1920's  

From the New Your Puzzle Co.



Jun 8, 2024

Jun 3, 2024

Lewis 7 Years Old

Just a few pics. 
This rainbow cake was his special request.

With Jay and Thomas

The older guys like the cake, of course...

More Birds

 It must be the time of year as more varieties of birds are arriving on to the Matua mudflats.

Pied Stilt. A NZ native.

Bar-Tailed Godwit. 
This lightweight bird flies non-stop from Alaska to NZ annually (I assume it returns). An amazing 11,000km. No other birds do this length of flight, non-stop.
Red-Necked Stint
Less common. Migrates to Malaysia, Phillipines and Australia.
Shag (Variety unknown)
New Zealand Fantail.
Not on the mudflats but in the nearby trees. They seldom stay still for a photo like this.