Temps 2-4 deg C higher than normal highs and very high humidity. Add to that the fact that the Coromandel hills are "off the scale" at 7-10% grades, according to the local cycle shop owner, and we now get the picture. Doesn't make me feel any less wimpy. Onward...
We roll flats outta town then 2 graded climbs, the second setting us atop Whiritoa Saddle (bet by now the reader thinks every other place name in NZ begins with the letter "W". More from the linguist a bit later). A dozen exciting hairpins thru ferns and cuts take us down into the Golden Valley and scenic, rolling cattle range. Ellen befriends cow #19 and thanks her for all the fine, rich dairy goods we are enjoying. Cow #19 looks at her, dressed in wraps of odd color and speaking in an unnatural accent, and contentedly turns back to munching the rich grass that covers half her known world.
At a fruit/vege stand en route to Waihi Beach, we meet Tom and Karen Wallace, who invite us to enjoy a Kiwi BBQ with them tonite in town at their house. Tom and Karen, recently retired and moved to Waihi Beach from the western city of Hamilton, are avid travellers who've come back from several months in Europe most recently. Installed in the perfect little room with the perfect bay view they put us onto, we are picked up by T and K on foot and walk the beach over to their house (complete with gorgeous and friendly Burmese cat named Suni, for those of you reading this blog primarily for the cat content.) A whole flight of NZ wines appears as dinner progresses, along with about the best steak we have ever tasted and several other courses. Tom and Gary sort out those of the world's problems involving NZ, the US, and the commonalities and differences between them. Ellen's overall conclusion -- the gap between rich and poor in NZ is less than in the US, and while social services are declining and costing NZ a great deal, it's nothing to what running a couple of wars and over-lending is doing to the US.
Notes of the day: NZ flavored yogurt comes with the fruit at the top and the yogurt underneath AND the NZ salt shaker has one hole, while it's mate the pepper has many.
Word of the day: verge=shoulder of the road. We find they widen and narrow unpredictably on our routes, requiring serious attention!
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