Introducing Massimiliano!!

By now you have all probably heard about the newest addition to our household, but I cannot let this occasion pass without an official blog announcement.

So without further ado....We bought a Vespa!!!

Name: Massimiliano ("Massi") Powers
Make: 2006 LX150

I have wanted a Vespa longer than I have known Rob, and we have been working toward that goal for years. When we were trying to decide where we wanted to live after Chicago, one consideration was how scooter-friendly each location was. Once we arrived in Auckland, it became our main criteria for finding a neighborhood to live in.

Even before we left Chicago, we got motorcycle licenses in anticipation of purchasing a Vespa. Most places don't require a license for bikes with an engine smaller than 50ccs, but we knew we would want something big enough to carry both of us. It is also much easier to get a motorcycle license in Chicago than, well, just about anywhere - especially countries that have a publicly funded healthcare system. Our licenses won't be transferable until June 2015, but until then we can drive on our US licenses.

Massimiliano was the name of our Italian wedding planner. When I first emailed Massi, I told him I wanted to arrive at the wedding on a white Vespa, which he reserved months in advance - and he even requested photos from the dealer to ensure it was white. However, the week before our wedding was fashion week in Milan, and a model crashed my white Vespa! Instead of asking if another color would be okay (which it would have been because I am not crazy), Massi found a white Vespa a few towns away, and drove it 100km on the Italian motorway in the rain to get it to me before the wedding.

So far, being a Vespa owner has been everything I dreamed it would be. It's a little scary, but drivers here are very used to seeing them around, and respond accordingly. We always wear helmets and we never, ever drink and drive. We've driven in light sprinkles, but if the weather's too bad, we leave Massi at home.

Our current commute is Vespa-ing to the ferry and then taking the ferry to the city - not a bad way to start the day!  And I always take the long way home. Until this week I've been commuting alone (while Rob walks), but his helmet is finally here, so now we can start taking the long way home together.

Some pictures from our adventures thus far...

19 March 2014 - the day we bought Massi!  I saw the deal online and knew someone would snatch it up quickly, so Rob and I dashed over to the dealer during lunch. I didn't have my license with me, so Rob had to test drive Massi without me.

To the left: Our new commute - Vespa to ferry to city! To the right: our first tandem Vespa adventure.

The second best part about owning a Vespa (after riding it around all the time) is being able to buy all the Vespa merchandise I've wanted for years but couldn't buy without feeling like a poser.

Just around the riverbend!

Now that things have settled down at work, we wanted to jump right back into adventuring - so this past weekend Rob and I headed down to Raetihi with two friends, Katie S. and Kristen, for a 2-day, overnight canoe trip on the Whanganui River. We left straight from work Friday, stayed in a cabin Friday night, and got up before the sunrise Saturday morning to pack up our stuff and get on our way.

The company in charge supplied us with two canoes, six waterproof barrels, life vests and a map. They did a quick overview of some rowing strokes and told us how best to navigate rapids and then sent us on our way!

We began our journey at the Whakahoro campsite, and rowed down to spend the night in the John Coull hut.  It may not look very far on this map, but it was nearly 37.5km (23+ miles). It took us roughly 7 hours including our lunch break at Mangapapa.

On Sunday, we canoed a further 18.5km (11.5 miles) to Mangapurua, where we did a two-hour hike up to the Bridge of Nowhere and back.  From there, a jet boat picked us up and took us back to our car, and it was another five hours of driving to get back to Auckland and our beds. 

The hut warden told us that this was the slowest he'd seen the river in 40 years - lucky us! At points the wind was blowing so strong in the wrong direction that it felt like we were rowing against the current (I believe the nautical term for this is a headwind). This meant we had to row every last meter of those 56km - no lazily floating down the river as we expected.

It was one of the harder things I've ever done, but also one of the best. I think a small part of me is starting to understand why some people push themselves so hard physically - the sense of accomplishment can be a little heady. Plus, the complete and total immersion in nature is such a unique experience. Knowing the nearest call for help is a 7 hour canoe ride down river is a little terrifying, but it can also be both liberating and empowering.

View from the shuttle to Whakahoro

Starting out -  we're all smiles and Disney songs

From top left: spotting the first of many wild goats on the river bank; watching dozens of birds flitting around like falling leaves; a stunning reflection - at least that glassy water is good for something!

From top left: Lunch break, where Rob stabbed (and killed) a bee with his Swiss army knife; O Captain my Captain; finally making it to the hut around twilight

Our lovely hut - complete with "nice long-drop toilets"

Oh, misty eye of the mountain below...

Bridge to nowhere, hiking and jet boat!

What I love most about rivers is

You can't step in the same river twice

The water's always changing, always flowing

But people, I guess, can't live like that

We all must pay a price

To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing...