RobiNZ Personal Blog

Flying Solo or Missing Males?

What started as an article share has also revealed an interesting view of on-line (left) vs 'print' (right) media. I read the 'print', actually digital on-line magazine app view, of today's The Independent' (U.K.) on solo parenting. But when went to share the web version found it has a totally different headline. I presume either updated or wonder if they serve multiple versions based on reader profile. Does the site know I'm male, thus change the pitch for more 'reaction'? The article content is identical in both. As for the article, thought it was a balanced look at the decision... Read more →

The wrap up: 10 Months Cycling New Zealand | Time Out 2021-22

So, it ends: 10 months, 2 weeks (317 days) cycling or drive/cycling across most of New Zealand. Highlights? So many... there are 95+ blog posts... but a few highlights: Expected, but unexpected In many cases I knew what I was getting into, but sometimes it was the unexpected which added delight: Farewell Spit: I'd long wanted to visit but the combination of a small group, fantastic guide, and unusually calm, for the West Coast, weather made for an exceptional day in an incredibly special place. Loved my Takaka Rocks home too. Lake Dunstan: A fantastic trail, keep an eye on... Read more →

Buenos Aires North Cycling | Antarctic Mission Log 15

Another lovely morning, another BA Bikes tour. I could get used to this kind of 'Día de la marmota'*. It was a short, now familiar, walk back to BA Bikes. It was interesting to see city parking lot prices are relative to vehicle size. For comparison Peso $120 ~ 180 was about nz$3-5 at the time. Maybe Auckland should consider this for the behemoth SUVs & Utes clogging the CBD. Back on the bike The North Tour with Diego (guiding solo) was another delight. Scenic gentle riding on bike paths or quiet back streets with short breaks adding historic, current... Read more →

Ushuaian farewells, Hello Buenos Aires! | Antarctic Mission Log 13

The last meal, breakfast, was memorable. It was one of many farewells and the chance for all of us to thank the crew who've made this remarkable experience possible. It was great to see the 'behind the scenes' operational crew get as much recognition as the Hotel Crew and Expedition Guides who spent most time with us. They're all vital to making this expedition happen from cast-off to dock. Farewell Ortelius This vessel had been our safe haven in a wild and remote place. Our travels had not really tested her (so lucky with weather) but she had excelled. One... Read more →

Antarctic sounds and not sleeping on ice | Antarctic Mission Log 06

Sometimes procrastination is beneficial. Had I written this post closer to the time, November 2019, it would have been very different. As I wrote the initial draft, several months later, some sad news further increased the significance of this remarkable experience. It changed what I had to write, adding another storyline which strangely paralleled aspects of the first. I have abandoned and revisited this several times since then. Not the usual writers block of what to say, more not knowing how to express an experience which was the culmination of a near four-decade journey. That is why (although backdated to... Read more →

Cycling around Oahu, Hawaii 2 | Laie to Waikiki

Breakfast was just fruit and yoghurt at the Airbnb, packed up my overnight stuff and hit the road fairly early, for me, on a holiday, about nine... I'd planned to follow the coast to Waialua, then the more minor roads south and skirt Pearl Harbour on a cycle path seen on Google Maps. The last part would be a mix of cycle path and riding industrial/city roads back to Waikiki. This was as close as I got to the Laie Hawaii (Mormon) Temple, as passed by leaving town. Apparently it is a big tourist attraction, but not for me. I... Read more →

Around Oahu, Hawaii, by helicopter

When he heard I was going home, from Autodesk University, via Hawaii Shaan recommended a Blue Hawaiian Helicopter flight as a great way to see Oahu. Unfortunately, the pilot he knew (from some Autodesk related work) was not flying the only day I could do the flight, but the one I had was great anyway. They fly modern Airbus Eco-Star helicopters with great visibility for all passengers but I was lucky to be allocated a front seat beside the pilot. That was a matter of luck as is decided by weight loading as much as anything. The five other passengers... Read more →

White Island Adventure

Update 2020-12-04: On 9 December 2019 White Island erupted. Forty-seven people were visiting the island at the time, mostly tourists, and the eruption led to twenty-two deaths either on the island or after due to injuries sustained. This week ten organisations, including Mark Law (KAHU NZ) who I flew with, were charged in relation to operations at White Island. He was not on the island when the eruption happened and immediately flew out there to rescue survivors. Whakaari investigation: WorkSafe charges 10 organisations, three directors | RNZ News In the 2016 post (below) I didn't mention the safety briefing which... Read more →

“Comfortably Numb”, cycling and @noozeeland

A tweet from @noozeeland today inspired this post. He shared a phrase which commanded only one response. I know the lyrics to Comfortably Numb quite well as I love the song itself, but also for another rather odd reason. When I’m cycling and feeling really tired it’s one song that often gets stuck in my mental playlist. “Comfortably Numb” is an admirable compromise to aim for when all sorts of bits ache but you still haven’t finished the ride! I change the lyrics a bit to so here is my “PsychPod” version, adjusted for cycling, presented with due apologies to... Read more →

Pat Metheny creates a “live” solo “group” - ORCHESTRION

Ever thought a Solo performer, with a bit of automaton help, could sound this great? Pat Metheny’s latest project merges his performance with automated instruments to create a live solo live jazz group. Can’t wait to hear the CD, wish the concert was coming a bit closer. Pat is touring ORCHESTRION through Europe in Feb/March, US/Canada starting in April but the closest he’ll get to NZ (so far) is L.A. or San Francisco. What about a Aussie/New Zealand leg Pat!? Pat Metheny - ORCHESTRION This project represents a conceptual direction that merges an idea from the late 19th and early... Read more →