No fire engines to wake us today but we were awake early again. the minor problem facing us is how to get out of the camp site if nobody arrives at reception. All registered campers have a key card to open and close the camp site gates but sadly as late arrivals yesterday we have none!
We drove off towards the gates and the LLW was dispatched to see if there was any sign of life. In spite of no lights being visible a human being was there and upon payment of the 50% of the fee owed (50% being paid in advance) we were allowed to escape!
Diesel was needed and purchased only 2 miles away and we headed off towards Coromandel hoping to avoid the nightmare traffic of a week ago. Phew, very little traffic around Auckland and only the numerous lane changes to cope with. By coffee time we were at the southern end of the Coromandel Peninsular and sought out a coffee emporium to partake of two flat whites and a large piece of chocolate brownie (blame the LLW for the latter).
As a matter of historical interest, the Coromandel Peninsular was named after HMS Coromandel which stopped at Coromandel Harbour in 1820 to purchase Kauri spars! This ship was itself named after the Coromandel coast in India.
We were soon in Coromandel town and having wanted to stay two nights here we had only been able to book the one. Once again the LLW was dispatched to sort this out and emerged triumphantly with a second night secured.
Camper van parked we enjoyed one of the LLW's special a tuna fish salad and the cycles were then deployed. This is perfect LLW cycling territory; hardly a hill in sight around the harbour and very little traffic. We managed about 9 miles before picking upon some provisions and replenishing the kitty in the town.
Back to the camp site before dinner in town at the Pepper Tree restaurant where we had been before. It was excellent; bruschetta and rack of lamb for the LLW and oysters and crispy pork shank for Ray. All excellent and accompanied by Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc and a superb Central Otago Pinot Noir. It would have been churlish to leave without a pudding so rhubarb crumble with white chocolate and vanilla ice cream was shared; totally calorie free we were assured.
We drove off towards the gates and the LLW was dispatched to see if there was any sign of life. In spite of no lights being visible a human being was there and upon payment of the 50% of the fee owed (50% being paid in advance) we were allowed to escape!
Diesel was needed and purchased only 2 miles away and we headed off towards Coromandel hoping to avoid the nightmare traffic of a week ago. Phew, very little traffic around Auckland and only the numerous lane changes to cope with. By coffee time we were at the southern end of the Coromandel Peninsular and sought out a coffee emporium to partake of two flat whites and a large piece of chocolate brownie (blame the LLW for the latter).
As a matter of historical interest, the Coromandel Peninsular was named after HMS Coromandel which stopped at Coromandel Harbour in 1820 to purchase Kauri spars! This ship was itself named after the Coromandel coast in India.
We were soon in Coromandel town and having wanted to stay two nights here we had only been able to book the one. Once again the LLW was dispatched to sort this out and emerged triumphantly with a second night secured.
Camper van parked we enjoyed one of the LLW's special a tuna fish salad and the cycles were then deployed. This is perfect LLW cycling territory; hardly a hill in sight around the harbour and very little traffic. We managed about 9 miles before picking upon some provisions and replenishing the kitty in the town.
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