been there, done that
February 11, 2006Tokarau Beach, New Zealand
8:18pm
30 days today we get on a plane in Auckland and begin the long journey home. Feels odd writing that, 30 days, a month basically, before frost seeps under my skin and icy boney fingers wrap around my brain. I guess my goal here is to burn the hell out of my skin to ward off the cold back home, because I am getting nice colour brown, to at least look good when I am pawning for change at Queen and Spadina.
Today we were at a restaurant for lunch and Hud was immersed in the collection of toys the restaurant provides for toddlers and infants. We had finished our food and we going to go across the street to pick up some shampoo and body wash from the Four Square grocery store. To entice Hud away from the toys, I did what all good parents do; I bribed him with a promise of a Popsicle. To which he replied, very matter of factly I might add… “That’s ok Dad, you can go across the street to get me a Popsicle, I don’t need to go with you, and I will wait here.” He is three and a half going on 25. I was stumped. I almost jumped out of my seat to cross the street for the Popsicle. Needless to say he accompanied us with a scowl and a whine.
Two days ago we made the 100km trip to the very tip of New Zealand to a place called Cape Rienga. We did stop on the way to take a look at 90-mile beach, the western coastline that runs up to Cape Rienga. It was pretty awesome, the sheer magnitude and strength of the ocean crashing into shore for such a long stretch.
You can drive along the beach, but are warned that you can get stuck at any time due to sand depth and pliancy. I was game, but Steph was not, convinced by the roving band of locals and their trucks lingering about, waiting to yank the dumb tourists out of the sand in their 20-year old cars. Steph, as usual, won this argument. The only other problem with witnessing this expansive coast was arriving at the same time as all the tour buses, stealing the serenity and solitude of the moment. Hud did find a dead shark, so that was kind of cool.
Next up, giant sand dunes. Rolling, massive mountains of soft sand about 25km before the tip. We stopped and climbed, me making it to the top of one tall dune, almost dying of a heart attack before muscling to the summit.
People were sand surfing, something I really did not know exist before being there. We watched and sat in this huge desert before snacking on some sesame crackers and continuing up the to the top of New Zealand.
Cape Rienga, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea. The geographic northern tip of New Zealand. A place of Maori legend and a trap for tourists. It was beautiful, with a lighthouse and a MASH like sign, which demanded a picture.
Hud and I climbed a little mountain to look back down the coast; him being such a trooper when I want him to do something I know is just for me/
A couple of pictures later and we were back in the car, finding a hidden beach with a camp site right next to it, making me wish we actually camped on this trip, instead of some of the way too expensive places we stayed in.
Oh well. Next time.
Love to all,
J.
posted by Jason @ 12:07 AM
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