Notes from day 4 -on Ferry to Parakai

 

Update on TA=to end of day 4 Tuesday 1march on ferry headed over Kapihira harbour to Parakai which is just short of Helensville in west Auckland.

I type this atop a ferry loaded with 77 riders! All our bikes, plus ferry crew. It’s jam packed. This photo is we are sitting above decks with 3 others squeezed in between bikes as we wanted to be above decks in the open air. Down below was a little claustrophobic and it’s in the middle of a pandemic.

Once I get wi fi will send photos of us loading on lovely sandy beach where on arrival I had a lovely swim and play in the warm water but numerous chats as I am want to do.

I am moving (squeezing back) back a little as minimum room between me and bottom bracket and chain of the bike in front of me and bulkhead behind, and trying not to put weight on my neither regions to the deck.

This photo is  from lap with arms raised above my head to look back on the bikes that are topsides. There are a few more bikes on sea deck in front of the captains bridge. The front upstairs bulkhead is literally on my back behind me.

I am not sure where I finished up last post but believe was in a worried state because of posterior and still have concerns that tour may be over but frankly head space way better than where I was when did last post. 

Finished up at omapere  day two. way short of where I wanted but that’s all the body( butt) could take and so knew then if i continued  that would have two days to get to Parakai instead of plan to get there yesterday. It’s pretty hilly up here and my original plan for the start may have been ambitious. So perhaps focusing on the positive a blessing.

So we booked in a nice hotel at Omapere and had a very comfortable room on the beach front and went back a few kms   to a bar that was right behind the Opinoni statue to Opou, the famous dolphin that frequented the bay 50 years ago I guess. Continued to eat huge meals and so for dinner downed  huge ribs and loads of wedges. No what I should eat ordinarily these days, due to doctors orders,  but need the calories , a car won’t run without petrol.

Got up very early and did my last blog which I have not had time to edit yet so apologies for what I know will have typos.

Rang a medical centre as luck would have it , in the middle of an epidemic they could see at 9.15 am. Fantastic. Next fluke was is really close to where we were staying, so off we went . Full COVID practices were in place with all the full  gowns and face Protection, temperature readings , all the questions and more as we were not from this area they needed all the NZI numbers etc.

Got to see  nurse Cathy. A Bright and bubbly older  nurse . She has seen everything so a guys nether regions is just another day at the office. Was no sweet to me either, so just downed trousers for examination, I wanted it get this all fixed if possible and no time for pride or embarrassment, Yes confirmed has 2 large  buttock abrasions is the official description for ACC purposes.  They had what seemed likes pages of abrasion categories on the ACC website that Cathy had to fill in, including detailing what side ,which meant two entries in my case given the symmetry of the bottom on a bike saddle.

Applied some wonder cream inside pads designed for people with Bed sores that are about 100mm square to cover the abrasions and then had see thru the material that went about 50 all the way around that that stuck to the skin and held in place. Designed to stay on for 3 days. Rough Lyall has gone thru one set in each of the two days to date.

I type this atop a ferry loaded with 77 riders! All our bikes, plus ferry crew. It’s jam packed. This photo is we are sitting above decks with 3 others squeezed in between bikes as we wanted to be above decks in the open air.

Once I get wi fi will send photos of us loading on lovely sandy beach where on arrival I had a lovely swim and play in the warm water but numerous chats as I am want to do.

I am moving back a little as minimum room between me and bottom bracket and chain of the bike in front of me.

This photo is  from lap with arms raised above my head to look back on the bikes that are topsides. There are more on sea deck in front of the captains bridge. The front upstairs bulkhead is literally on my back behind me.

I am not sure where I finished up last post but believe was in a worried state because of posterior and still have concerns that tour may be over but frankly head space way better than where I was when did last post. 

Finished up at omapere  day two. way short of where I wanted , but that’s all the body( butt) could take and so knew then if i continued  that would have two days to get to Parakai instead of plan to get there yesterday. It’s pretty hilly up here and my original plan for the start may have been ambitious. So perhaps focusing on the positive a blessing.

So we booked in a nice hotel at Omapere and had a very comfortable room on the beach front and went back a few kms   to a bar that was right behind the Opinoni statue to Opou, the famous dolphin that frequented the bay 50 years ago I guess. Continued to eat huge meals and so for dinner downed  huge ribs and loads of wedges. No what I should eat ordinarily these days but need the calories 

Currently on the deck  I have my swims shorts on , over top rain pants and wet wether jacket to keep warm above decks , in the open air, it’s about 7:30 pm and we are stemming for Parakai currently . Had a lot of time at Poutu point on top of Kakapira harbour, so had time to swim 🏊‍♀️, and rest standing up. sea water normally helps cuts and stuff , so swimming and having the pads full of sea water 💦 for hours hoping will keep the abrasions clean.well is my theory and frankly don’t have too many other options.. Given a box of panadol and on my way from nurse Cathy .

One of my thoughts about the far north as I reflect on my journey is what a wide area it covers and I start to understand more the reality that means from a health perspective . The people are not wealthy on the whole and that is evident from the state of many rural houses and there cars are not at all new or newish. Put this remoteness , vast area and from what I have seen sparse medical facilities.  It a fact that goes with remote living and something that as a community from a health perspective we need to bear in mind from an access and equity perspective in my view. Not everyone lives in large city centres as we are fortunate to do in Gissy.

Applied some wonder cream inside pads designed for people with Bed sores that are about 100mm square to cover the abrasions and then had see the material that went about 50 all the way around that that stuck to the skin and held in place. Designed to stay on for 3 days. Rough Lyall has gone thru one set in each of the two days to date. I have my swims shorts on with rain pants and jacket to keep warm above decks currently so sea water normally helps cuts and stuff is my theory. Given a box of panadol and on my way from nurse Cathy .

One of my thoughts about the far north as I reflect on my journey is what a wide area it covers and I start to understand more the reality that means from a health perspective . The people are not wealthy on the whole and that is evident from the state of many rural houses and there cars are not at all new or newish. Put this remoteness , vast area and from what I have seen sparse medical facilities.  It a fact that goes with remote living and something that as a community from a health perspective we need to bear in mind from an access and equity perspective in my view. Not everyone lives in large city centres as we are fortunate to do in Gissy.