Roadtrip part 3...

So straight on the second morning of the new year we packed up the tent took some goodbye pics and then split into the two cars, Jono, Matthew and I in the skyline and the others in Kerry's van.

We left around ten and drove back up then down the horrible gravel road we met up in the Corimandel and there was a Keltic fair, being Scottish since when did Celtic get spelt Keltic?

Anyway it was a beautiful sunny day and the town was packed. The others said goodbye but we stopped to have a look around.. It was really fun, I got candy floss and we had chips and wandered all the stalls. Listened to the pipe band and just had a laugh... Was really good.

After we drove on for a bit longer and stopped again at a hot pools beach... unfortunately the tide was in but it was so warm and sunny just paddling and walking along the sand was enough :]

We continued on driving down the east coast and then the boys told me when should go to Cathedral cove... Now they told me it would be like a ten minute walk, now I'm very much a city girl and unless there's shops at the end I see the walk slightly pointless... But the boys persueded me it was short and would be totally worth it. I reluctantly agreed and we got the bus to the path and then started walking... It took half an hour and it was uphill and really hot, there's a beach my mum and dad took me to when I was wee and I just remember walking for ages and ages to get there but when we got there it was totally worth it.

And just like when I was wee Cathedral Cove was amazing and totally worth it. We walked along the shore, went through the cave and then because it was so hot Jonno and I went swimming, I went in my dress :D The walk back seemed shorter but eughy because we were wet. Ok I hand it to the boys, it was totally worth it and I apologize for my gurning all the way there ;]

We heard this quote on the way there which was really weird...

'Is she still alive, ok right, just hit her over the head again then'

What????

It was late afternoon at this stage so we sped along to Whangamata to see my old boss and friend Wendy. We had dinner at an Indian and then went round to see her. It was really nice catching up on all the news from home and from work... We stayed for about an hour and I got to call my parents which is always nice :]

After being at Wendy's we drove on to Auckland for the beginning of my exciting week....

Hogmany...

The next morning was a bit slow... but busy at the same time.

We split into two groups, four of us went to the supermarket and got all the food in and stuff in and the others sorted out the tents.We had lunch at Friths house and now there was seven of us we split into two cars, Jono, Frith and I in one and the others in the other car.

On the way up we stopped at more random touristy things, like a town with loads of buildings made of corrugated iron, a massive l+P bottle, a big tomato and lots of pretty views...

We stopped off at Corimandel town and had a look around the shops. It was the last town before we left civilisation and entered the middle of no-where to camp for the next few days...

After leaving the town we drove round back roads and up crazy high, twisty, gravel roads, it was sometimes a bit scary but the chat and music made it seem more fun. The view was worth the horrible drive and so was Hogmany.

The campsite was beautiful but really muddy and we were in a very low skyline car and when we were going across the campsite we had to drive really fast down the hill then did an awesome slide at the bottom; such an adrenalin rush :]

We spent about an hour and a half setting up our tents in the rain, holding up tarps while the boys ran around underneath it being macho and setting up. My job was to look pretty, give them sweets and to bang in the pegs, which was actually quite enjoyable.

That night we ate and had some drinks and played questions in our tent. We toasted in the new years to the drumming of rain, we kissed and hugged then sang auld Lang sign. I appreciate my friends for doing the Scottish things with me, Ill always remember this new years. We went first footing to the tent next door and say hey :]

We chatted for another couple of hours and then fell asleep. The next morning we slept late until we woke then Jono and I cooked brunch, was the best new years brunch I have ever had...

scrambled eggs on toasted ciabatta bread with bacon and mushrooms; mmmmm.

That afternoon some went on walks and a few of us stayed, I read my book and wrote letters. Later we all went swimming, it was muggy and rainy but you cant beat a swim on the first of January 2012.

That night we had some more good chats and Jono and I cooked again, this time beef stir fry with egg noodles and we made two desserts, custard and cream rice. Frith made brandy snaps and cream which we had late at night.

It really was an amazing start to the year with some amazing people and I will never forget it, thanks guys <3

Roadtrip Part 2...

We woke up at Matthews Batch and had breakfast then carried on the roadtrip... :)

Things we did between Taupo and Thames:

Went to a really random bee hive place that sold honey and mead and was kinda cool.

Then we visited a really beautiful Maori church on the shore with very intricate carvings and a glass painting of the Maori Jesus walking on the water.

It rained the whole day we were travelling but it didn't stop us having fun. We played car games and chatted, it was really fun just spending times with friends. Taking lots of photos and just getting to know each other better.

We stopped off in Roterua for lunch, we all went to different places; some had roast, some had sandwiches, I had pizza. The whole time we were there it rained and the smell in Roterua is disgusting, its the sulphur from the ground or something but it smells like a mix of burning and rotten eggs. It's said after a while you get used to it... we didn't :[

While we were there we went to a hot pool and sat for a while dangling our feet in the hot water while the lake in front bubbled away with the heat. It was really fun because since it was pouring with rain and we had hot feet it was cool.

After that we just drove on till we arrived in Thames where we would be meeting Frith and staying at her house and also Jonathan would be meeting us there.

After we arrived in Thames it finally stopped raining. We hung out at Friths that night, we went for a walk as well, I discovered that somewhere along the way Id lost a jandel?? So we had to make an emergency stop at the Warehouse and get a new pair. I got a very pretty pink pair.

We bought stuff for dinner and then had a BBQ. It was fun when Jonathan arrived, nice to see him and catch up.

Friths family are so lovely, we camped in her living room that night and had fun chatting and hanging with her many brothers and sisters. We had a good old sing song with the guitars.

The next morning it was hogmany <3

Roadtrip part 1....

So way back at SLC a group of us decided to do a road trip at New Years up to Stony Bay in the Corimandel Peninsula and usually these plans don't actually come to happen however this one did :D

So on the 28th I left Napier and went on a bus to Danneverk and met my friend Kerry.
Kerry and I then drove down from Danneverk to Wellington.

Palmerston North: We stopped in Palmerston North for lunch, we went touristy shopping and had a look around the Uni area and a general wander. I really do love exploring new places, it's really fun just looking around cities seeing the hustle and bustle; especially when exploring with a friend because you get to see someones home city through their eyes which often tends to be more colourful...

We left Palmy and drove South towards Wellington and then onto Lower Hutt, my home.
I had one night in my house then I was off again. I did however sit for 3 hours and downsize my case... I did still take my big case it just had slightly less stuff in it and more camp stuff such as jackets and sleeping bag. There is an interesting story behind my sleeping bag; I don't have my sleeping bag with me in NZ because simply I didn't have enough space so for the road trip I asked the family that I live with if I could borrow theirs. The problem was however that they were going off on a family camping trip before I returned so they only sleeping bag they had was a kids one....
A Thomas the tank engine sleeping bag.

The next morning I was picked up at 9.30am well actually I wasn't that was the plan but Val took it as we had to get up at half 9 so I got picked up 10.30am. I didn't complain though, the longer I had to sleep the better.

So when I had negotiated my big case into the minivan the road trip began.....

Then came the great coke incident of 2011..

As Val passed me my can of coke and I went to receive it, it was that moment of in the relay race where somewhere in transaction it falls, well the coke fell and went wooooosh and flew all over the car in my automatic saving reactions I closed the laptop bag [genius] however everything got covered so we had to stop and dry everything. This was the reason for our first stop on the road :]

We stopped at an American style diner for lunch somewhere along the road and picked up Matthew...

After that we drove onto Wanganui and picked up Meredith, her house is so cool they had two lizards which we got to hold :D I love reptiles, they are my favourite animals...
We had cake and coffee there and then drove on stopping to admire views on the way.

We were staying that first night in Taupo so on the way up we stopped at the Lake. On the shore was a bench called "the seat of Knowledge" perfect photo opportunity :P

That night the 5 of us stayed in Matthews family batch. So on our first night of camping we stayed in warm beds and sat at a dining room table and were very civilised. In the evening we played card games until we went to bed...

Was a fun day... :)

Christmas Day...

Well Christmas Day was rather different...
It was hot...

So I woke up on Christmas Day to a stocking full of goodies :]
Then we had scrambled eggs on ciabatta bread, sooo tasty
Then we went to church, was the first time I hadn't been at home for Christmas.
Then we went to church which incidentally had the same colour scheme as Hilton church
[well done Dot, NZ's copying your ideas ;]

Then we went home and opened presents, btw still hot...

After we went to the beach, on Christmas day, I went body boarding and swimming in the sea on Christmas day...

It was amazing and the best way to spend Christmas day. After we got back we spent the afternoon getting ready for dinner, preparing it etc and laughing about the pigs and chatting.

For dinner we had prawns for starters, I had two portions it was sooo good, then we had steaks and dophinouis potatoes mmmm and for pudding chocolate eclairs and strawberries in an ice bowl. We sat outside in the surroundings of the beautiful gardens.

Was such an amazing Christmas day....

Boxing day was spent watching Top gear, we had a top gear marathon day, was fun.

Over the next few days we went to Napier, which is a lovely wee town and all the buildings are in fifties style, art deco, beautiful and also I went for a swim at the local spa.
It was a lovely few days in Napier.

x