IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!

It is Saturday the 17th of September and it is Election day in NZ. This past week we spent touring the Coromandel Peninsula. From Miranda we took a scenic highway up to Thames and headed north up to the very tip of the Peninsula. We spent the first night at a DOC campground in Port Jackson. Besides some cows that wandered through the camp,we were the only campers at a beautiful beach side camp ground. Again we slept like babies begin lulled to sleep by the pounding surf. Once again the stars where big and bright. Still trying to find the Southern Cross. The next morning we drove only 7 kilometers up to the next DOC campground, Fletcher Bay. We took a beautiful hike around the coastal walkway. We hiked over rolling hills of open pasture land surrounded by a beautiful coastline of bays and islands. The sheep were grazing with their lambs and everything about the day was so peaceful and tranquil. And then suddenly! The lovely experience turned into a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock's "THE BIRDS"! Out of nowhere, came an Australian magpie shooting down out of the sky and make an attempt for my head. The darn thing came after me several times. I was scared to death, and Johnny was trying hard to get an action shot with his camera! I was cowering down at his feet trying to make myself small while he bravely attemped to get the perfect shot! After that excitement we headed back to camp where we enjoyed a lazy afternoon relaxing at our beautiful camp site in the bay. The next day we headed down the east coast of the Coromandel. So far the roads have been very narrow with no shoulder, so Johnny has done all of the driving. Today I was behind the wheel! Did very well! Johnny only gained a few more grey hairs, hardly noticeable. We stopped at Hot Water Beach where I was hoping to dig a whole in the sand and enjoy a natural hot tub, but our timing was off by several hours. You can only enjoy the hot water 2 hours either side of low tide. We enjoyed a very inspiring art gallery and then headed off to Hahei, where we settled in for the night. The next morning we took a awesome hike through native bush, a fern forest, that wound down to the sea to Cathedral Cove. It was amazing! The sea has carved out a natural arch way on the beach! The hike back to the car park was up hill all the way, so we got a nice bit of exercise. When we go the to Camper Van a "cloud burst" opened up, and it started to pour! Good Timing! That afternoon we drove down to Waihi Beach and looked up Huon and Beverly Gray, some friends of my Father. Although we had never met them, they greeted us like we were old friends. We had a delightful afternoon sipping tea and eating toast and cookies. That evening they took us to dinner at the local RSA where Huon is a member. We had a delightful time. Such sweet and lovely people! The next day we drove to Rotorura, where we enjoyed the Polynesian Spa, soaked in the hot pools and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. Today we are heading down to Lake Taupo. I have not worked out how to post our photos to the site, but I am still working on it. Right now you will have to take our word for it, IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Until next time! Gud Dai Mai!