One of the things I didn’t manage to do was cross the 45th parallel south, when I was touring New Zealand. Most of my trip will be around the 45th parallel north, so it would have been nice to do both, so to speak.

The 45 is roughly half way between the equator and the pole, with the north or south suffix indicating which pole. (I say roughly as the earth isn’t a perfect sphere). I bet you didn’t think this was going to turn into a navigation lesson did you?

Anyway, I just crossed the 26th parallel. I know this because there was a sign. I’ve no idea why it was signposted, but I’m glad it was. It’s always nice to know where you are! It’s a little sad to be leaving the north west though, I was just starting to like it!!