I'll always remember the police that day at Wreck Beach, Vancouver's buzzing and permanent party strip for nudists.
The
police aren't naked; strapped up in their full security uniforms, long
sleeves, visible handguns, hand-cuffs and tough shoes. But everyone
else is naked. The populous, numbering in the hundreds, go along for a
grand old naked pig out on sun, recreational drugs and alcohol—the sun,
of course, being the only thing legal about any of it.
But word
spreads fast in a super-friendly place and despite the excessive
illegal consumption, the contraband disappears when the police arrive
and becomes utterly un-detectable. Alas for them, Vancouver's finest
are limited to a wander up and down the sand, a note in their notepad
and the occasional short interview with a stark-nude civilian.
My
host at the time pointed it out to me: two sweaty cops with their
vests, gear and pens on display; talking to one proud and peaceful
twenty-something in naught more than a hat and his sunscreen. "Who do
you think in this picture is more powerful?", asked my host. And it was
obvious. The police, weighed down by their rules, expectations and the
pressures of social norms, could never succeed against the defiant and
cheeky audacity of determined individuals. Not a hope.
That's
what it's like when you're cycling SH1. I am the nudist: pure, free and
empowered. Traffic is the police; undelightedly going about their day.
I'm not actually naked, but with a tonne of steel and 80kph being the
difference between us, you can't help but make the comparison. I've got
better stories from my jaunt up to Whangarei than I'll ever get in a
car.
Craig Neilson
I'm cycling New Zealand between festivals, celebrations and
retreats. And there's so much going on here that I have every day in
December planned. Say what you like for my part-German heritage, this
month will be one to remember.
There's nothing like travel to
make you appreciate home. Well, that's if you live in Auckland, anyway!
I'm passing through as a visitor, for everything from the NZ Youth
Delegation (to the Copenhagen Climate Talks)'s fundraising farewell
dinner to the monthly Critical Mass, the Grey Lynn Festival, and a
blood donation sitting. I'm off again today for a ten day silent
meditation course (Vipassana) out in Kaukapakapa. Alas, I won't be
joining Su Yin at the sensational Ride Planet Earth rally, the SignOn march or the SignOn Planet A Concert all happening on the 5th of December (that's this Saturday!)—but you will, right?
As
well as Auckland, I really love Wellington, so on the 14th of December
I'm going to head there. You can't take a much longer train ride in New
Zealand, but my ticket to the capital is a tiny $60 including the bike.
The huge momentum and low friction inherent in trains makes them
super-efficient transporters and way ahead of other means for travel
over long distances. They're romantic, close to nature, fast moving and
of course, they're cool bits of engineering too.
In Wellington I'll attend the nation's first-ever Climate Camp—a
five day hui and sharing space for activists and citizenry who are
interested in, you know, a future. Then I'll ride my bike to Palmy,
Taihape (gumboot capital oh boy), Taupo and the organic-fantastic Tauhara Center
for Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations (tickets still going, I
think). From there, after Rotorua and Tauranga, I'll cap off December
with the renowned Prana Festival (which is on to last-minute tickets now).
My intention was to discover New Zealand as a big country. I've done that.
Now I'm just riding for joy.
From Good.net.nz