Doctor, doctor, give me the news
February 2, 2006Tokerau Beach, Doubtless Bay, New Zealand
8:06pm
We’re here. Our second last destination in New Zealand, not counting flying out of Auckland on March 14th. We are in Tokerau Beach, a tiny beachside community in Doubtless Bay, almost at the geographic tip of the North Island. The actual tip is called Cape Rienga, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, where swells can exceed 10 metres, where we will be making the 100km drive sometime in the next four weeks. For now its about chilling, getting to know the immediate area, and unpacking all our bags and cleaning out the car of all the popsicle sticks and Diet Coke bottles.
Oh, and how is this for sweet, I flip on the computer and it recognizes a wireless network. We are in the middle of nowhere with one neighbour never around, and the other a small family who moved here from Australia. A small family with a wireless internet server mere steps from where I sit. So we are connected for the month, unless they get mad and disconnect us. I did tell the wife we were able to catch her signal, she was not pleased, but what are you going to do. I did offer her money, she declined, but maybe she will change her mind once I start downloading all that porn.
The Hokinga Harbour experience was wonderful. It’s amazing how we just toss darts at a map and fret about where we are going to stay and it turns out to be this huge harbour, surrounded by even bigger sand dunes, and a wonderful little resort with a posh pool and cold beer and friendly staff.
We didn’t do much, other then visiting a Kauri forest to see a tree the size of a small apartment building.
It was cool, but brief and a coastal walk, which looked even sweeter was unavailable due to the tide being in. Not that we really had planned to do anything massive, and besides, I was in one of my bitchy moods, driving Steph crazy with my inane picks and prods, until finally she told me off. I sulked for about seven seconds before realizing how right she was and tried to jump back into funny, goofy husband role instead of the crusty old skate I was portraying at the moment. I did manage to get some nice shots of what looked like an old boat ramp and a cow cooling off area.
That night we bit the fleshy bullet and had dinner at the resort. It was a little costly, but to stare out over the harbour, cheersing fellow resortians, watching Hud play with Maori kids and a bunch of Jack Russell puppies, it was so worth it. It was also the place where able to witness a boat come out of the water and put a 220lbs blue marlin on a hook to be weighed. It was just under the size of the entire boat and took two and 1/2 hours to land. Pretty awesome stuff.
The drive yesterday was pretty tame, we were only about 200km away, including a small ferry ride over the harbour from Rawene to another town I can’t spell or pronounce.
It was one of those last minute decisions we were glad we made, even if it was $16 for a ten minute ferry ride. It did cut our trip about 40kms, and at $1.52 cents a litre for gas, it is almost a wash.
Our actual abode for the next four weeks is a two-bedroom cottage about three minutes from 18km of Tokerau Beach. The place is a good size, with some counter space, a nice size dining table and bunk beds for Hud again. It will be perfect for some really good reflective time and also serve as the place where I will finish the first draft of my manuscript. I would wax on a little more about my novel writing, but I am afraid a certain asshead solicitor will call me out via e-mail.
Anyhoo, not the most entertaining entry, but I am still keen on documenting every little crag and cranny of this journey.
I did manage to find a good little four-mile walk this morning. Food and exercise wise, the last two weeks were one half of the yo.
Now to find the other yo.
Love to all,
J.
posted by Jason @ 11:50 PM
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