note: I've added photos to Day 14 (and some text about the photos and 90 mile beach)
Last night's sky was just brilliant -- it's amazing how crowded the sky is with stars (when there isn't a lot of light pollution) -- I could easily see the Milky Way --- and Jupiter moving through Gemini (Star Tracking App is great for these situations --- especially when in a different hemisphere -- star placement completely different). Last night was also very cool --- felt good because it had been quite muggy during the day --- actually pulled out a sweatshirt -- and slept with a blanket on (prior had just been sheets). It is almost the end of summer here -- so guess this trend will continue. Fortunately there is a huge thick duvet in the camper supplies (and a heater) -- so I don't think I'll be cold.
So I was going to drive down to Hamilton today -- but stopped at a gas station to fuel up the camper -- and the pumper person (northern NZ is full service!) told me that it was a perfect day to go to Cape Reinga (beautiful blue skies, crisp temp). On Sunday, I had thought about going -- but it's a long trip (1.5 hours each way) with not much to see along the way -- so I had decided not to go. Changed my mind though this morning after talking to the gas station person. Very happy that I did. It is a long drive (and if I had to do it over -- I would have taken a bus out there instead of driving myself) -- but so worth it. The views are just amazing -- and some really nice walking paths along the bluffs and down down to the beaches.
After visiting Cape Reinga -- started the drive down the island. It would have taken me 6+ hours to reach Hamilton -- knew that was going to happen -- so decided to stop at Whangarei for the night -- cute city -- and very nice camper park. Note: in Maori -- Wh (at least at the beginning of word is pronounced like an "F").
(reading wikipedia -- I did think Cape Reinga was the northernmost point of mainland NZ --- guess I was wrong!)
Weather: sunny, 70 - 73F
Miles Walked: 4
km Driven: 389.6
Oddest Sight: A guy skateboarding back from Cape Reinga -- only things he had with him -- a backpack and a Go-camera on his helmet --- the drive took me 90 minutes in a campervan -- can't imagine how long it's going to take him
Question of the day: Why do some tourists where such oddly inappropriate clothes (like high heels when they have to hike out to see an attraction)?
Book/s Read: 1 (The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson - weird book about witches in the 1600s in England -- I have absolutely no idea why I own this book (but I must have bought it based on some review I read somewhere! It was a very fast read -- and parts of it were really interesting -- and then parts of it were beyond bizarre. It also almost reads like a short-story instead of a novel)
pic notes: #3 -- it's where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide -- really cool; #9 -- stopped on a road under construction -- cows watching me, as I watched them; #10 -- bathroom in Kawakawa designed by an Austrian artist named Hundertwasser -- he said that he did his best thinking in the loo.
Last night's sky was just brilliant -- it's amazing how crowded the sky is with stars (when there isn't a lot of light pollution) -- I could easily see the Milky Way --- and Jupiter moving through Gemini (Star Tracking App is great for these situations --- especially when in a different hemisphere -- star placement completely different). Last night was also very cool --- felt good because it had been quite muggy during the day --- actually pulled out a sweatshirt -- and slept with a blanket on (prior had just been sheets). It is almost the end of summer here -- so guess this trend will continue. Fortunately there is a huge thick duvet in the camper supplies (and a heater) -- so I don't think I'll be cold.
So I was going to drive down to Hamilton today -- but stopped at a gas station to fuel up the camper -- and the pumper person (northern NZ is full service!) told me that it was a perfect day to go to Cape Reinga (beautiful blue skies, crisp temp). On Sunday, I had thought about going -- but it's a long trip (1.5 hours each way) with not much to see along the way -- so I had decided not to go. Changed my mind though this morning after talking to the gas station person. Very happy that I did. It is a long drive (and if I had to do it over -- I would have taken a bus out there instead of driving myself) -- but so worth it. The views are just amazing -- and some really nice walking paths along the bluffs and down down to the beaches.
After visiting Cape Reinga -- started the drive down the island. It would have taken me 6+ hours to reach Hamilton -- knew that was going to happen -- so decided to stop at Whangarei for the night -- cute city -- and very nice camper park. Note: in Maori -- Wh (at least at the beginning of word is pronounced like an "F").
(reading wikipedia -- I did think Cape Reinga was the northernmost point of mainland NZ --- guess I was wrong!)
Weather: sunny, 70 - 73F
Miles Walked: 4
km Driven: 389.6
Oddest Sight: A guy skateboarding back from Cape Reinga -- only things he had with him -- a backpack and a Go-camera on his helmet --- the drive took me 90 minutes in a campervan -- can't imagine how long it's going to take him
Question of the day: Why do some tourists where such oddly inappropriate clothes (like high heels when they have to hike out to see an attraction)?
Book/s Read: 1 (The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson - weird book about witches in the 1600s in England -- I have absolutely no idea why I own this book (but I must have bought it based on some review I read somewhere! It was a very fast read -- and parts of it were really interesting -- and then parts of it were beyond bizarre. It also almost reads like a short-story instead of a novel)
pic notes: #3 -- it's where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide -- really cool; #9 -- stopped on a road under construction -- cows watching me, as I watched them; #10 -- bathroom in Kawakawa designed by an Austrian artist named Hundertwasser -- he said that he did his best thinking in the loo.
Photos are fantastically gorgeous--all of them! How can a tree not flower? Or is it just this particular tree since it needs all of its wits to survive?
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