For our first landing we stop at Enderby Island to admire the flora, the beautiful cliffs, and the abundant sea lions. It's a wet, windy day and I am almost blown off the boardwalk a number of times, but it's great to be off the ship and surrounded by lush vegetation.
The first day of our voyage was spent at sea.We were given parkas and boots, and our clothes were decontaminated. Briefings covered zodiac operations and an overview of our voyage. In the evening, I went to the bridge to look out at the sea before us, and had the good fortune to meet the officer on watch for the night.
I arrived in Dunedin a few days before embarking on my cruise to the Ross Sea and Antarctica; I didn't want to risk delayed flights. I spent the days exploring—visiting the train station, eating in local cafes and pizza places. I stayed in a pleasant hotel near the Octagon. It would be my last few nights sleeping on dry land for three weeks.
Before heading south to Dunedin I spent a few more days in Auckland, exploring the museums and parks around my hotel, and enjoying some fantastic meals, most notably at the Samoan restaurant Tala.
https://www.kuovad.is/blog/2025-01-11-a-few-days-in-auckland
From Bizerte I went back to Tunis to spend a few days in Africa to conclude this leg of my journey. I was sad to leave Bizerte, sadder still to leave Africa, though I'd be back again sooner than I had expected...
Woman Wakes Up to Find Her Hair Braided by Stranger on American Airlines Flight: ‘I’m Deeply Disturbed’ https://shinemycrown.com/woman-wakes-up-to-find-her-hair-braided-by-stranger-on-american-airlines-flight-im-deeply-disturbed/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #AmericanAirlines #AirlineNews #StrangerThings #TravelStories #HairBraiding
I spent a quiet first day of 2025 trying to lose myself in the medina of Tunis with hopes of discovering new corners and courtyards, updating the map in my mind, doing my best to stay in the moment . . .
Mazaron Coastline #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouring
Cosy Asakusa, Tokyo by night
People were nestled in their own little womb-like worlds of ramen and Izakaya meals, chugging on massive oversized beers in big jugs. Sheltered and obscured by plastic curtains and held up by plastic chairs. #Tokyo #TravelStories #shortstory #writing #travel
http://contentcatnip.com/2025/03/28/every-picture-tells-a-story-cosy-asakusa-tokyo-by-night/
It's the last day of the tour and we make our way from Djerba to El Jem (site of the largest amphitheater in North Africa) before returning to Tunis where I spend a quiet New Year's Eve.
I woke up before the dawn to drive out to a spot in the Sahara to watch the sunrise before continuing on to a day filled with Star Wars locations, Berber houses, historical mosques, and old cities.
The Sahara desert is next. We rode ATVs and camels and then drove to our camp in the middle of Jebil National Park for the sunset and delicious sand bread.
On the next day we drove into the mountains to visit the Chebika oasis and Mides canyon before heading off into a galaxy far far away to set foot in Mos Espa.
https://www.kuovad.is/tunisia-7-chebika-mides-tamerza-mos-espa
Goodbye Africa, we should be back one day. #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouring
It's been a busy month or so but I'm back to writing and posting about my travels! Picking up where I left off . . .
The third day of my tour of Tunisia starts in the holy city of Kairouan, where we visit the Great Mosque and I buy a carpet. In the afternoon I check out the wild Chak Wak Park to walk the floor of the Red Sea. https://www.kuovad.is/tunisia-6-kairouan-tozeur
last Tajin and one more broken spoke, some 10 km before Nador. we are happy we are almost back. #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouring
And back to Nador we go #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouringmike
After few days of calling, messaging, and reaching out to various shops in Morocco and Melilla, we realized that our best option was to return to Spain. Importing high-quality bicycle spokes would be both costly and time-consuming, with shipping times ranging from 4 to 7 weeks—and that’s if the package didn’t get lost en route. Additionally, import taxes could reach up to 60%.
Faced with these challenges, we made the tough decision to head back to Spain. Fortunately, we know a skilled wheel builder in Granada—the same expert who had previously rebuilt Mirko’s wheel. It felt strange to turn around, but we knew it was the right thing to do. We packed the bikes, bought some supplies, exchanged money to pay for our accommodation, and took the northern road out of Guercif, heading back toward Nador. #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouring
