Blue skies without clouds foretell a warm one today. We take a 5 minute mini-ferry across the straits of Mercury Bay and skirt the bay, passing tidy beach bungalows and out into hilly pastures. A detour sends us to Hahai Beach, another "paradise found" setting: aquamarine waves breaking gently onto an endless light brown beach, highlighted by headlands of brilliant green chopped off by years of storms. More rolling hills of pastures thru Whenuakite before a long, very hot 700' climb and subsequent plunge back to another gorgeous beach setting in Tairua for lunch. Down a quart and half a day still left to go. The heat/humidity are crushing.
Around Hikuai harbor, some cold cokes, then another long climb, this up to double-humped Opoutere Saddle. First evidence of clearcut logging. Then down to sea level and 6 flat miles into Whangamata and the ultra-modern Pipinui Motel. Tonite's fare @$150 NZ$ is our priciest thus far; most good lodging has been costing us $90-120 per night for suites or rooms with limited kitchens. Barry, the owner, is a ringer for the actor that played Quint in the original Jaws, and gave us some good country road options for tomorrow.
The Ralfs finish out Valentine's day in the cool of Corvette's Cafe, with NZ beers in hand, serenaded by the sweet sound of the Beatles, sung in a Kiwi accent... We'ah Sagent Peepah's laonely hats club band.
Wouldn't $150 (even NZ!) paid for like 5 of your motel nights as you and Brindil crossed the US?? Ellen indeed has a very positive impact on the quality of your travels!!!
ReplyDelete