NZ CONTINUED......

14.10.08....DAY 77...
9.15AM...NU ALREADY UP...WASHED AND DRESSED...SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST TOO EAGER!
9.30AM...CUPPA TEA.
10.05AM...SHOWER.
10.40AM...SCRAMBLED EGG ON TOAST/ANOTHER CUPPA.
11.30AM...OFF WE SET.
11.45AM...BANK.
12.10PM...'CRATERS OF THE MOON'...LARGE HOLES WITH STEAM RISING FROM THEM...JUST LIKE ON MARS?...CAN'T BE SURE...NEVER BEEN FURTHER THAN PLANET EARTH!
1.45PM...BACK IN CAR...RAINING/DRIZZLING...ITS TAKEN US 0NE AND THREE QUARTER HOURS TO WALK...WE WERE A BIT SLOW...WELL WORTH A LOOK.
2.00PM...OPENING OF FLOOD/WATER GATES...THIS CREATES ELECTRICITY...NZ GETS 22% OF ITS ELECTRICITY VIA THIS MEANS...NOT SURE HOW...THEY HARNESS IT SOMEHOW.
3.00PM...PRAWN FARM REASTAURANT...FRESH PRAWNS...QUID EACH!...AWESOME TASTE...ONLY HAD SIX!
4.00PM...SUPERMARKET...NU NEEDS BEER AND MALTESERS.
4.30PM...'WAREHOUSE'...A LARGE OUTLET SELLING CLOTHES TO BATTERIES TO ELECTRICAL GOOD TO ETC...NEED A NEW FLEECE...BUT THEY'VE SOLD OUT THERE WINTER STOCK...NU BOUGHT A WATCH...PLUS I GOT A STEVE HARLEY CD...WELL CHEAP.
5.20PM...BACK AT LODGE...HEAVENS HAVE OPENED.
5.40PM...SEARCHING FOR PLASTIC MUG I BOUGHT IN CHINA...I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE...THINK I LEFT IT ON BREAKFAST TABLE THIS MORNING...OUCH!
6.10PM...EXPLAINED ABOUT MY MISSING MUG TO CHAP ON RECEPTION...I THINK HE FELT SORRY FOR AND OFFERED ME A NEW PLASTIC MUG FROM THE STAFF QUARTERS...ITS NOT THE SAME THOUGH!
6.25PM...READING MY BOOK...BUT MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH MY LOST CUP.
7.50PM...CHEESE/CUCUMBER/LETTUCE SANDWICH...BEER...DON'T FEEL HUNGRY...BUT NU SAYS ITS BEST I EAT!
8.30PM...PHONED PAULINE.


15.10.08...DAY 78...
7.35AM...I WAS DREAMING...I WAS GONNA TELL NU ALL ABOUT MY DREAM...BUT AS I WOKE IT JUST FADED AND I FORGOT IT.
7.55AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA...IT DOESN'T TASTE THE SAME FROM THIS ALIEN CUP.
8.20AM...SHOWER.
8.50AM...WEETABIX/ANOTHER CUPPA...THE RIM FEELS DIFFERENT?
9.35AM...PACKING EVERYTHING INTO CAR...NO SIGN OF CUP.
9.50AM...OFF WE SET.
10.10AM...HUKA FALLS...FIERCE BLUE FOAMY WATER CREATING ELECTRICITY.
10.45AM...OFF WE SET AGAIN...ONLY ABOUT 50 MILES TO ROTORUA.
12.10PM...SLOW DRIVE...BENDY ROAD...WHAT ROAD IN NZ ISN'T BENDY!!...I LET EVERYONE PASS ME...BUT WE HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED IN ROTAORUA.
12.35PM...BOOKED ONE NIGHT AT CENTRAL CITY BACKPACKERS...NICE PRICE.
1.30PM...WE WANT TO GO TO A MAORI CULTURAL EVENING...THERE ARE TWO TO CHOOSE FROM...CAN'T MAKE UP OUR MINDS.
2.30PM...DECIDED TO DO THE 'HANGI' MAORI EVENING...HAVING SPOKEN WITH SOME FOLK WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN.
3.00PM...BOOKED 'MAORI EVENING'.
3.40PM...SUPERMARKET...COOKED ROAST CHICKEN/BREAD COBS/TOMATO/WINE.
4.30PM...WATCHING 'STEVE HARLEY' DVD...SCOFFING CHICKEN SALAD COB...TASTY.
4.50PM...NU DOING LAUNDRY.
5.30PM...SHAVE.
5.40PM...READING KEN FOLLETT NOVEL.
6.20PM...OFF WE TROT TO CATCH COACH FOR 'MAORI EVE'.
6.35PM...WATCHING SHORT FILM ABOUT MAORI'S.
7.00PM...ON COACH TO MAORI VILLAGE...OUR MAORI WOMAN GUIDE IS ENTERTAINING...THE MAORI'S ARE A WITTY BUNCH.
7.25PM...ARRIVE AT MAORI VILLAGE.
7.45PM...MAORI DANCING/SINGING...A LOTTA AGGRESION...A VERY WARM WELCOME!
8.15PM...SHOWN ROUND MAORI VILLAGE...FIRES BURNING...BUT ITS COLD...AN INTERESTING ARRAY OF HOW THEY MAKE THINGS/ITEMS...HOW THEY COOK.
8.40PM...A STAGE SHOW OF MAORI CHANTING/DANCING.
9.15PM...FOOD...AT LAST!...AND THERE IS PLENTY...LAMB/CHICKEN/VEGGIES/SWEET AND NORMAL SPUD...ALL COOKED IN THE MAORI WAY...IN UNDERGROUND OVEND IN VAST IRON POTS.
9.55PM...WONDERFUL MEAL...AN EXCEPTIONAL FEAST...WITH PAVLOVA FOR SWEET?
10.20PM...THE MAORI EVE FINISHED WITH THE 'HUKA' DANCE...NU AND I PREFER THE 'TWIST'!
10.45PM...BACK ON COACH FOR RETURN JOURNEY TO OUR ABODE.
11.10PM...GLASS OF WINE...TALKING ABOUT WHAT GREAT EVENING WE HAVE HAD...DO NOT COME TO NZ AND MISS IT...ONE OF THE HI-LIGHTS SO FAR!


16.10.08...DAY 79...
7.40AM...THIS IS GONNA BE A BORING DAY.
8.00AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA.
8.25AM...SHOWER...NOT A VERY GOOD SHOWER...HARD TO CONTROL THE HEAT...I'M NOT ONE TO MOAN THOUGH!
9.00AM...DON'T FEEL HUNGRY...CUPPA TEA...MADE UP SANDWICHES FOR NEXT JOURNEY TO AUCKLAND WITH YESTERDAYS LEFTOVER CHICKEN.
9.20AM...SPEAKING WITH ISRAELI CHAP...THEY'RE ALL A BIT BARMY FROM THERE...THE SOUND OF THERE OWN BOMBS BLOWING UP INNOCENT PALESTIANS AS TWIDDLED THERE BRAINS!
9.55AM...RAIN POURING...SAT IN CAR...DISCUSSING WHETHER TO DRIVE PASSED AUCKLAND OR STAY ONE NIGHT...ITS GOT A BAD REPUTATION...LOTTA GANG WARFARE.
10.20AM...OFF WE SET...STILL UNDECIDED.
10.45AM...ON THE ROAD TO HAMILTON...HALFWAY TO AUCKLAND...ANOTHER PLACE WITH A BAD REPUTATION.
11.35AM...PICKED UP HIGHWAY ONE TO AUCKLAND...200 ODD K TO GO.
1.00PM...STOPPED IN A PLACE WITH UNPROUNCEABLE NAME...CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH...ALSO BOUGHT ENGLISH NEWSPAPER.
2.20PM...LOST IN AUCKLAND CITY CENTRE...ITS AN ENIGMA...BIT LIKE ITALY OR RUSSIA!
3.00PM...DECIDED TO STAY ONE NIGHT IN AUCKLAND...FOUND A LODGE WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY AT...THE RECEPTION IS CLOSED TILL 4.00PM MIND.
4.00PM...ENQUIRING ABOUT A ROOM...THEY ARE FULL...OUCH!...THEY DIRECT US TO ANOTHE LODGE.
4.30PM...BOOKED ONE NIGHT AT 'THE AUCKLAND LODGE'.
5.15PM...STEAK UNDER GRILL...VEGGIES ON BOIL.
5.50PM...A TASTY MEAL.
6.20PM...ALL DONE...READING NEWSPAPER...BEER...IT WAS A BORING DAY SPENT DRIVING...BUT IT WAS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HOME!


17.10.08...DAY 80...
7.40AM...HAD A FIDGETY NIGHT...COULDN'T SETTLE...LOTS OF THOUGHTS ON MY MIND...NOTHING BAD...JUST THOUGHTS ABPOT OUR LAST DAYS...ARE WE GONNA GET IT ALL DONE?
8.05AM...SHOWER.
8.40AM...WEETABIX/CUPPA TEA....MADE CHEESE SALAD SANDWICHES FOR JOURNEY.
9.15AM...PACKING UP.
9.40AM...EVERYTHING IN CAR.
10.05AM...TRYING TO FIND ROAD/WAY OUT OF AUCKLAND...THIS PLACE IS A MESS...THE ONLY THING ON THIS PLANET THAT ISN'T A MESS...IS MY HEAD!?
10.30AM...I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT ROAD...WE GOING NORTH...SEEN A SIGN...THATS THE MAIN THING.
11.20AM...ON THE SCENIC ROUTE?/COASTAL ROUTE.
12.10PM...WAIWORA...TIME FOR CHEESE SALAD SANDWICH.
12.40PM...DRIVING ON.
1.30PM...GOAT ISLAND BAY...GOAT ISLAND IS ABOUT 100 YARDS OUT TO SEA...NO-ONE IS TO SURE WHY ITS CALLED GOAT ISLAND AS THERE WAS NEVER ANY GOATS THERE...SOMEONE DID PUT SOME PIGS ON THE ISLAND BUT THEY ESCAPED BY SWIMMING ASHORE...GO PIGGY GO!
2.45PM...WAIPU COVE...A SURFING PLACE/BEACH...STOPPED FOR A LEG STRETCHED.
3.20PM...WAIPU VILLAGE.
3.35PM...WAIPU WANDERERS LODGE...BOOKED TWO NIGHTS.
4.30PM...FRY UP TIME...EGGS/BACON/MUSHROOMS/TOMATOES/FRESH BREAD...CUPPA TEA.
6.00PM...TV NEWS....FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION GONE WONKY,FIVE KIDS INJURED IN GISBOURNE...WILD WINDS IN CAMBRIDGE,ELDERLY FOLK EVACUATED...BIG WAREHOUSE FIRE IN PERNELL,SUBURB OF AUCKLAND...THATS WHERE WE STAYED LAST NIGHT!
7.00PM...READING NEWSPAPER.
7.30PM...CORONATION STREET.
8.45PM...TIME FOR BED...WELL TIRED.


18.10.08...DAY 81...
9.40AM...LAZY IS ME.
9.55AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA.
10.20AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
11.00AM...BACON/TOMATO SANDWICH...STEVE AND ELAINE THE OWNERS OF THE LODGE HAVE JOINED US...SO I'M DOING A BACON SANDWICH FOR THEM AS WELL!
11.40AM...HAPPILY CHATTING...THEY'VE INVITED US ROUND FOR THE EVENING TO WATCH THE NZ VERSUS ENGLAND NETBALL MATCH...NETBALL IS BIG HERE!
1.00PM...WALKED INTO VILLAGE CENTRE...BUTCHERS...BOUGHT PORK STEAKS...SUPERMARKET...BOUGHT CABBAGE AND CARROTS.
2.05PM...MUSEUM...SMALL MUSEUM...NOT ALOT TO SAY...JUST HAPPY THAT IT WAS SMALL!
3.10PM...PUB.
4.25PM...BACK AT LODGE.
5.40PM...PORK/CABBAGE/CARROTS/SPUD...GREAT MEAL.
7.00PM...SITTING WITH STEVE AND ELAINE IN THERE LOUNGE...THEY ARE QUITE AN INTELLECTUAL COUPLE...I'M DOING MY BEST!
7.30PM...NZ/ENGLAND MATCH KICKS OFF.
8.15PM...THE NZ GIRLS ARE AN UGLY BUNCH...THEY ARE WINING BY A MARGIN AND A BIT!...I THINK THE REF IS NZish!
9.10PM...GAME OVER.
9.30PM...NU AND ELAINE IN SPA POOL...GLASSES OF WINE IN HAND.
11.00PM...WATCHING A VERY BRITISH FILM...'CHEERS AND TEARS'...A TOTALLY BRITISH A1 COMEDY.
1.00AM...TIME FOR BED...PHEW!


19.10.08...DAY 82....
8.00AM...MY EYELIDS ARE HEAVY.
8.15AM...SHOWER.
8.35AM...CUPPA TEA.
9.00AM...PACKING UP.
9.25AM...WEETABIX/ANOTHER CUPPA...MADE CHEESE SALAD SANDWICHES FOR JOURNEY.
10.10AM...CLIMBING TREE FOR GRAPEFRUITS!!
10.25AM...ON OUR WAY.
10.40AM...HEADING IN THE DIRECTION FOR WHANGAREI.
11.05AM...TOOK A DIVERSION...GOT LOST IN A PLACE CALLED 'ONE TREE POINT'.
12.10PM...HEADING FOR TUTUKAKA BEACH...SUPERMARKET...COOKED CHICKEN/PEAS.
12.40PM...MATAPOURI...TIME FOR A SANDWICH.
1.30PM...FOUND OUR WAY BACK TO MAIN ROAD.
2.20PM...KAWAKAWA...THIS PLACE IS FAMOUS FOR ITS PUBLIC TOILETS...TILES OF MANY COLOURS AND ODD BALL ITEMS CEMENTED INBETWEEN THEM...OK...I SUPPOSE?
3.10PM...BACK ON THE MAIN DRAG...NEXT STOP PAIHIA.
4.00PM...BOOKED TWO NIGHTS AT THE 'PICKLED PARROT LODGE'...TONIGHT[MONDAY[...AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...TUESDAY WE ARE ON A 'BAY OF ISLANDS TOUR CRUISE'...VERY POSH?
5.10PM...ROAST CHICKEN/PEAS/SPUD...OK.
6.00PM...TIRED.
7.30PM...PHONED PAULINE.
8.30PM...NOISY CROWD OF KIDS OUTSIDE OUR ROOM...NEED TO SLEEP!


20.10.08...DAT 83...
6.30AM...OH I DO LIKE TO BE UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN...HEAR THE THRILL OF TWITTY BIRDS...BREATHE THE EARLY MORNING AIR...GO TO THE LOO!
6.50AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA.
7.15AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
7.40AM...WEETABIX/ANOTHER CUPPA.
8.35AM...GETTING BAG READY FOR CRUISE TOUR...EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE.
9.10AM...MADE CHICKEN/LETTUCE SANDWICH FOR FOR PICNIC LUNCH.
9.40AM...WALKED TO TOWN CENTRE.
10.10AM...BOOKED CRIUSE TRIP...DEPARTS 5.00PM.
11.10AM...IN AND OUTA SHOPS.
11.40AM...FERRY TO 'RUSSELL ISLAND'...ONLY TAKES 10 MINS...10 DOLLARS RETURN.
12.10PM...ON A COACH/MINI BUS TOUR OF ISLAND...THE GUIDE IS ONLY INTERESTED IN TELLING US THE PRICE OF HOUSES!
1.20PM...SITTING ON BENCH IN BAY...SUN SHINING...CHICKEN SANDWICH/BEER.
2.10PM...BACK ON FERRY FOR RETURN TRIP TO PAIHIA...RUSSELL ISLAND?...NOT WORTH IT!
3.00PM...FISH[DORY] AND CHIPS...FISH SALTY...CHIPS UNCOOKED!
4.00PM...READING NEWSPAPER...BEER.
4.40PM...WALKING TO HARBOUR FOR START OF BOAT CRUISE.
5.10PM...BOARDING.
5.30PM...THE BOATS CAPTAIN TELLING US THE DO'S AND DON'TS.
5.50PM...IN OUR CABIN...HAD TO PAY AN EXTRA 40 DOLLARS FOR AN UPGRADE TO A PRIVATE CABIN!
6.20PM...NOTICED THE CURTAINS ON THE CABINS REAR SLIDING DOORS/WINDOWS DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY...ALSO THE LOCK DOES NOT WORK...I WANT TO GO AND COMPLAIN...NU SAYS NOT TOO.
7.30PM...FOOD...MINISCULE AMOUNTS OF MEAT/PASTA/SALAD...DRINKS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR.
8.30PM...EVERYBODY DRINKING/WAFFLING...MET SOME FOLK WHO WE HAD MET AT FRANZ JOSEF[HELIHIKE].
11.30PM...BED.


21.10.08...DAY 84...
8.15AM...SLEPT FAIRLY WELL...WINE PROBABLY HELPED!
8.35AM...NEED A SHOWER...NO WATER...HOT OR COLD!...THIS CRUISE IS POOR...GETTING POORER.
9.00AM...MENTIONED THE WATER SITUATION TO A FEW CREW MEMBERS...THEY JUST SHRUGGED THERE SHOULDERS.
9.25AM...BREAKFAST...RICE CRISPIES...NOT KELLOGGS...CHEAP ONES...THEY DON'T SNAP,CRACKLE AND POP CONSISTENTLY!...COFFEE AWFUL!
10.30AM...NU SNORKELING...I'M AGITATED.
12.05PM...STOPPED AT SMALL ISLAND...NU KAYAKING...I'M AGITATED.
1.15PM...BACK ON BOAT...HEADING BACK TO HARBOUR WHERE THIS CRAP CRUISE STARTED!
3.00PM...BACK IN PAIHIA...THANK GOD...THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT ON THAT TRIP WAS A WASTE...'ROCK THE BOAT TOURS'...FORGET IT!
3.40PM...BACK AT 'PICKLED PARROT LODGE'...BOOKED ANOTHER NIGHT...NEED A DAY OF REST TOMORROW.
4.00PM...SORTING WASHING.
4.20PM...SHOWER...WELL NEEDED!
4.45PM...WASHING IN MACHINE.
5.10PM...BACON/MUSHROOM/TOMATO/EGG/TOAST...A LATE LATE BREAKFAST.
5.30PM...WASHING ON LINE.
7.15PM...WASHING DRY AND FOLDED.
7.35PM...TV...CORONATION STREET!


BAY OF ISLANDS IS A LET DOWN...BUT IF I HAD NEVER COME...I WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN.

BYE FOR NOWZ.