Lonely Bay

Have been in Whitianga for a wee while, with people flitting in and out of the place travelling their way around New Zealand and often the world. The German girl (after making Narg a few meals - result!) has continued her travelling. She was cool too - got on well.

There's a great beach about 100 yards away from where I'm staying. Clams sink into the sand just accessible at low tide, huge green-lipped mussels can be gotten to with a snorkel and crayfish (if you're lucky enough) can be grabbed from rock pools and with a bit of free diving. The other day, 4 of us went out and collected seafood for dinner. Just amazingly delicious clams in simple white wine and cream sauce with a bit of parsley. Entire meal for 10 people cost around 8 quid - you could easily multiply that number by 20 or 30 to get to London prices. Just incredible.

It's nice staying in one place for a bit, especially after running around New Zealand from funzone to funzone for the past few weeks. It's been great to basically wake up, check the tide times, check the surf conditions up and down the coast by talking to a few people staying here and random people in the street. I've managed to squeeze in riding slightly better than every other day and the Narg skill level is definitely improving. It's a pretty solid swell here every day, nothing massively spectacular but nothing too tiny either. Every 7th wave jacks up pretty nice and caught of one of these waves perfectly yesterday, popped onto the board and had the best ride of the holiday so far =)

There's a beautiful japanese girl who works here who I've spoken to a few times. Yesterday we caught the ferry across to the other side of the bay and did a hike for about an hour or so past Shakespeare's Cliff:


Shakespeare's Cliff

To Lonely Bay, a beautiful beach only accessible by foot:


Lonely Bay

There was only 4 people there, myself and Kizumi and on the other end of the beach another couple. The waves were crashing in with about 3' swells and it was just amazing. We stayed there for about 3 hours surfing and chatting and chilling out, then walked back a different way through the bush to the ferry. Had to cross a couple of shallow streams along the way so carried Kizumi over as she wasn't wearing flip-flops. Very romantic. Even plucked up the courage to ask her out for dinner. So we got changed out of board shorts and flip flops and Narg slipped on a shirt and had a fantastic night. Umi rocks - funny, pretty, slightly weird - perfect! Even did a little kissin' after the meal. We walked back home by the small marina with the sailboats - very romantic! I'm gonna be sad to leave to walk away from Umi and Whitianga. She's very cool and it's an amazing place.

Narg the Adventurer

So the peoples and peoplettes of the trip, both family and friends, decided before we came out that the last week be laid aside to spend as they wish. Some smaller groups and couples return back to previous places, others to see old friends living here, some are pondering the small oceanic jump to Fiji and others are choosing island hopping. Narg has decided to get back to his adventuristic roots by finding somewhere hot, beachy and rainforesty in order to while away the days surfing, reading books, and getting on the smokey treats.

After much deliberation and furrowing of brow, the flight back to north island has been booked as well as a place on the Magic Bus around the Coromandel Peninsula. I'm actually looking forward to spending a bit of quiet time by surfing and reading - just taking time to gather the thoughts before the move. Feeling big love for the future, people!

So mooching around Queenstown this morning, going to take a gondola up the mountain next to the town and watch people bungy from a platform built on the top. Who knows, I might even be persuaded to join in!


Queenstown urban bungy!

Mount Maunagnui

Backdated to New Years day

What a party. Barbeque at Mount Maunganui to celebrate the New Year looking up at the volcano with the surf crashing into a beautiful beach break in the background. What a way to smile into the face of the future.

Unfortunately some of the English contingent managed to get lost on the way up to the house after getting progressively more "uplifted" by a combination of the seemingly endless supply of cold beer and smokey treats. Amusing as they recounted about getting a speeding ticket 10km into their first journey in NZ (so they actually were going no-where fast!). Apparently Kiwi policemen don't react well to being chatted up by a 6' 3" englishman trying to talk his way out of a fine. As a side note, if they're not gay, why wear the Village People outfit? Yeah, they have no sense of fucking humour either. Still it's great to see the boys and girls around the place as we've known each other for some 16 years or more and it would definately not be the same without them.

Woke up on Jan 1st and celebrated by going body surfing with one of the extended family at his local break at the Mount under a clear blue sky. Beautiful.


The Mount at the top of the pic is the extinct volcano bit, the beach down the side is the main beach with the break moving up and down with the tide.