RobiNZ Personal Blog

Capper Peak, Jenny Island, Antarctica!

I forget how many years ago Harry Capper and I connected, well over a decade and initially on LinkedIn, due to our shared (but no close relation) surname. We've kept in touch, over the years, and I was amazed to get this Facebook Message after he saw an Antarctic post I had shared: Harry's Facebook Messenger Message (shared with permission) Linda Capper and Capper Peak Although I had done lots of research (I thought!) for my 2019 Antarctic trip I didn't know of Linda or her long career with the British Antarctic Survey: Hi Robin, I know how much Antarctica... Read more →

Antarctic memories in QGIS

I was doing some QGIS training, testing, experimenting and the dataset provided was Antarctica. Had to spend a few minutes mapping where I've been! Initial dataset Our Antarctic 2019 Trip Landing Map | Credit Oceanwide Log Landings and activities plotted Location on Antarctic Continent Read more →

Commuting on my new 'free' Tern folding bike

A new job in the central city meant having to think about commuting. Bit of a novelty after ten months of not working and choosing when/where I travelled! Driving and Parkable App parking rental Parkable Shared Parking Application I drove for a couple of weeks, while settling in, and used a Kiwi parking share app to avoid making the likes of Wilsons Parking richer. Driving takes about 50-60 minutes and my route, following GPS traffic suggestions, does not use the motorway. Parkable makes parking easy and (more) affordable. While you can book long term, week or more, parking on Parkable... Read more →

Auckland flight to Christchurch, on to Queenstown | Time Out 2021-22 Fly Drive

After about a week at home it was time to fly South again. Was easier, and cheaper, to leave AHBART in long term parking at Auckland Airport than other options to get there. I always take a few car photos before leaving (proof OK in case of damage) and, much later, this would prove to be useful. The small bag was just some extra 'cold and wet' gear for the more alpine and autumnal aspects of the Otago/Queenstown leg. The airport was COVID quiet again, and not much open airside apart from one coffee/newsagent outlet. Still lots of COVID retired... Read more →

Hello Farewell Spit | Time Out 2021-22 Golden Bay Bus

Farewell Spit (Onetahua): the north-western feature of the South Island that resembles a Kiwi beak... * * Especially if you rotate the map a bit away from North like this! This massive sandspit is on the Auckland-Christchurch domestic flightpath and the only sight I'd had of it to date. I took this photo flying South for a ride in 2005. This shows Tōtaranui Beach (left), Wainui Bay, Tākaka to Farewell Spit from a flight North in 2012. Remember thinking then about going back to explore it. I booked a tour with Farewell Spit Tours because: "You can freely enjoy Puponga... Read more →

Auckland to Whanganui & Wellington | Time Out 2021-22 Driving

My ultimate destination was Nelson but to get there by road means Wellington and the Cook Strait Ferry. Had booked a return Bluebridge crossing back in September. Was glad of that as by January space on the ferries was at a premium thanks to post COVID demand and reduced capacity on their opposition, Interislander, who had a smaller boat substituting for one out of action. A morning sailing meant arriving the evening before in Wellington and, while can do the trip non-stop, decided to stop overnight on the way there. Having recently been to Taupo, I went via Whanganui. It's... Read more →

Planning Time Out 2021-22 NZ with MindManager

Thinking about how to plan a summer which would involve multiple trips, lots of dates, heaps of information references, dependencies, and costs—all of which will change until completed—the solution was obvious. A travel map! I turned to my favourite 'need to plan some stuff, but don't know what' application: MindManager! In a single map I could brain-dump ideas, contacts, gather references, track media (like this post), look at timing and forecast/track budget. The topic parent/child structure of a map is superb for capturing all aspects of a trip. Extended Information Topic notes, signified by a note icon, can hold any... Read more →

Everybody Draws a Penguin Day!

I saw Sam's '3rd Annual Everybody Draws a Penguin Day!' tweet on Sunday afternoon just before was heading out for a bike ride. Sunday evening fired up Sketchbook and made a quick entry based on my favourite photo from the 2019 trip. From Antarctic Mission Log 07 With Ortelius cruising along the Neumayer Channel at about 10-11 knots (~20 km/h) it was amazing to see penguins overtaking us. Gentoo penguin can hit max 36 km/h when sufficiently motivated; chasing, or avoiding being, prey. The water was so still, so clear, I spent ages just watching them doing this. Read more →

A reminder of Lockie's place

A few weeks ago, I joined the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust as "Friend of Antarctica". They've been hammered by COVID-19 as much of their income comes from Antarctic tourists visiting Port Lockroy, as I did last year, and of course now they aren't. In addition to the digital content they share with members I just received this neat welcome pack: A magazine, photo book about the base and its history, pencil, stickers, postcard, and metal/enamel badge. Because the international mail timeline between NZ & the U.K. is lengthy, COVID again, I had forgotten they were sending 'something' so it was... Read more →

Shooting into the light

Today's Bing picture, sunset at Big Sur, reminded me of one I took near Coffs Harbour back in 2018 when travel was a thing They say 'don't shoot into the light'... Read more →