Bay of Islands nr Opito bay
Opito Bay feast
Heather and Warren
George
George and Joy
I really stuffed up the last minute packing of my clothes back in Australia and ended up only bringing a black turtleneck and 2 tee shirts. I only had my boots to wear after chucking away my smelly slip ons so went to a Katmandu in Whangarei and lashed out on a good pair of sandals called Teva. Now I've got lots of blisters from trying to break them in, or is it, break my feet in!!!
There has been lots of hospitality up here in Northland. I've had my hire campervan a week and not even slept in it yet! I was doing the eastern beaches and called in on Joy and George at Parua Bay. Now these two are the ultimate in hospitality having all sorts visit, all the time and so happy to have them. So the next day there was a midday BBQ and I made another contact for America and had a few beers so stayed another night. I was able to give George a bit of help with his computer and had my own play up!!!! Well it was only the adapter giving up but that ground it to a halt. So had to go back to Whangarei and get a new one and then visited Mum Price at the hospital again before heading north to the Bay of Islands
Another cousin in law lives at Opito Bay, just past Keri Keri and I ended up staying with Heather and Warren for 2 nights as well. On the Sunday they were the hosts for the annual community 'get togeather for Xmas' and filled up their house with about 40 people. Lots of interesting people to talk to and amazing food and drink to enjoy
Yesterday I went for a swim in the bay that is full of yachts and launches and tried to headbutt one!!!! so I have a graze on my forehead from that !!! Did finish the swim right around the bay and checked out all these lovely craft so that was good. Then I drove across the island to Opononi and had a few hours break looking across the harbour to those massive sandhills across the other side. You can catch a boat across there and go sand surfing.There is a really nice walk at the southern headland where you can check out the waves breaking on both sides. I reckon the locals must have some good surf at these places. Then there was Tane Mahute, the massive kauri tree in the Waipoa Forest and the Kai Iwi lakes were last port of call before reaching Merv and Sue's place in Dargaville.Will stay a day and move on tomorrow back down to Auckland and beyond
