On the way to Cape Reinga I stopped for some fish’n’chips. Seeing this guy waiting I thought it had to be super-fresh, and I wasn’t disappointed….
The furthest I could possible get to overnight up in the north island was Spirits Bay. 27km of dirt road led down to the beach and I went for a quick stroll as the wind pick up!!! Gordon Bennet – all night long a severe northerly gale bucked the camper about, leaving me exhilarated but I can hardly see to drive back down – Conjunctivitis and lack of sleep are not the best travelling partners…… Anyway
Back down to Paihia with the rain still lashing down and passed a few interesting sights.
Against my friend Helen’s advice I decided to brave a tourist trap cruise and did an overnighter in the Bay of Islands. Never again after enduring ‘The Penguin Dance’ (there were more) before an icy snorkel to look for sea-urchins ???? WHY??? A good crowd and some fun card games saved me from insanity on the trip. The weather was nice!
Ups and Downs eh!
