mental health strategies, self-check
tools, tips for men (and women) ex-
periencing symptoms as well as those
concerned about others, and first
hand stories detailing men’s experi-
ences recovering from depression.
They are a valuable resource that I
have used, that I trust and believe in.
Their material is clear and accessible,
providing men the tools and courage
to break through deep seeded socie-
tal stigmas about mental health and
reach out for help. Throughout my ad-
venture I’ll be encouraging discussion
and raising awareness about mental
health, promoting Heads Up Guys and
other mental health organizations,
and hopefully raising some money for
them as well.
Now, let’s dive into the first section
of my ride across the world: New Zea-
land!
It’s the start of March and I’ve been
staying at a family friends in Auckland
far longer than I feel comfortable. The
original February 15th pick-up date
for Robin is now long in the rear-view
mirror and all my attempts at sched-
uling for the trip have been tossed in
the bin before I can even begin. It’s
March 8th, 8:30 in the morning and
I’m laying in bed wondering what on
earth I can do with yet another day in
Auckland when the call finally comes
through: “You can come pick up your
bike this afternoon”. Like an eleven
TRAVERSE 18
year old being told it’s finally recess
after a tiresome morning of maths,
I’m positively giddy!
Despite a day of paperwork, an af-
ternoon of bike assembly and a night
of packing, and repacking, and re-
packing again while I ask over and
over again ‘how the H-E-double hock-
ey sticks do I have so much stuff?’. My
energy level hasn’t taken a hit; I’m
finally getting to ride New Zealand!
One short, restless sleep later and on
March 9th, what would have been my
mum’s 65th birthday, I’m off to explore
the country of her youth.
My first target in New Zealand was
straight North up to Cape Reinga
where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans
meet. But after five or six months
without being on two wheels, there
was absolutely no way I was going to
do 450km straight up a highway! In-
stead, I threw myself into some sug-
gested twisty bits and hopped off the
highway in Whangarei. I explored the
phenomenal Kiwi countryside along
the Ngunguru Rd and Matapouri Rd,
which eventually lead up to a ‘high-
way’ (a very generous use of the term)
to Paihia and the bay of Islands.
Stopping for a night in Paihia the
main attraction is the Bay of Islands,
and while the bays touristy but gor-
geous nature has its allure, the thing
I have to recommend everyone do is
visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and
Museum.
The exhibits here provide a phe-
nomenal glimpse into the history of
the relationship between European
settlers and the Maori people. The
genuine and entertaining cultural per-
formances, captivating written or told
stories, carefully displayed artifacts
including the awe-inspiring ceremo-
nial war canoes, exquisitely detailed
authentic Maori architecture and gor-
geous natural scenery with descrip-
tions of how each area of the horizon
was used over history gave me not
only a much greater understanding of
the Maori culture, but a considerably
inflated respect for them as a people.