Diary for Big World; Small Adventures


Bare back in the middle of nowhere

2006-02-25 to 2006-02-27

I really could have got used to the spa`s and beach at Lou and Jamie`s, not to mention their great hospitatiliy. It was also lovely to catch up with friends Tina, Robbie and Stef to see how they`re settling in over here. However, adventure called so I picked up some wheels and drove north up the coast. I passed some beautiful vistas and stopped more than once to take a few shots, including Pakiri where I took a stroll along a white sandy beach and stopped at the Crushed Pipi Restaurant for a delicious spicy falafel salad. Driving in NZ is a complete joy and the roads are wonderful. Plus my car has power steering and brakes that don`t need to be told twice (no offence to your car Tim!). Of course when you go off the beaten track a little it has a tendency to turn into a gravel track but heh, that`s part of the fun - driving 20km/hr for 30km to avoid too many gravel chips to the paintwork of your hire car!

I reached the Bay of Islands on Thurs night and am lucky enough to be staying in Jack`s Bay with a friend of a friend called Carl, and his daughter Ginelle and son Rob. They have a gorgeous wooden house perched on a hill in 20 acres of land with sheep and horses plus 2 fluffy cats and a huge poodle pup (3 ft tall!) called Ben. Yesterday I wandered around the picturesque town of Russell, which has a line of 19th century houses along the waterfront with a pier and a number of small bays. I ventured over the wooded hill to Long Beach where the wind was headed straight in off the sea so there was quite a chill. Luckily, having learned now to smother every inch of me in factor 25 I avoided burning. My forearms are still recovering from driving but so far I think I`ve avoided any serious sunburn. Of course there`ll be plenty of opportunity today as we going out for a horse ride. Me on a horse! I hear you say. Well yes, it`s going to be an experience. My last experience on a horse was actually more of an experience hitting the ground in a variety of catapaulted positions, but then again I was about 8yrs old and me and a friend did break into a paddock and tried to ride a horse bare back with no experience! Hopefully this time I`ll do a little better.