Yesterday we travelled up the east coast from Whangarei to Russell and stopped for a while at Oakura which was a most beautiful bay which we have not seen before.
The sights kept on coming with Whangaruru Harbour, Taupiri Bay and Parekura Bay before we approached Russell and our camp site 3 miles outside the town at Orongo Bay.
Now arrangements for this afternoon are complicated since our good friends, Mike and Caroline Illingworth are staying in Paihia just across the bay and the plan is for them to visit us for a BBQ.
This involves catching a passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell and then returning on the same ferry later in the evening. Mike & Caroline arrived about 17:30 and we sped back to get the BBQ fired up and crack open the excellent NZ bubbly that our guests had supplied. The evening went by in a flash and it was time to head back to Russell for the last ferry back to Paihia. At the end of the jetty was a board which displayed all ferry times and the last ferry had been blanked out! Caroline had spoken with the ferry operator earlier in the day and had been assured that it was running.
We spent 30 minutes at the end of the jetty peering into the distance, in the general direction of Paihia, hoping to see the tell tale red and white lights. Mike eventually spotted them when the ferry was half way across and it had been very late leaving Paihia. Alls well that ends well and they were soon on their way back to their apartment in Paihia. An excellent evening and we plan to meet up with them again tomorrow, New Year's Eve, this time it is our turn to visit them.
Monday, New Year's Eve, was yet another brilliantly sunny day and the LLW had to spend some time with her men having rediscovered the ability to work off line. More of that later!
Ray went off to tackle the very steep hills into Russell and beyond. The LLW was warned that getting there and back might be too much of an ask, it which case the demon LL camper van driver would be required to come to Ray's rescue. This was not too much of an issue because the end of the cycle ride was at Long Beach which is were we had planned to go for a swim.
The cycle ride was accomplished albeit with a small amount of walking and pushing the bike at the top of the steepest hill. After considerable scientific analysis, Ray has concluded that the answer to cycling up speed hills lies in two negative numbers 20 and 30. Losing 20 lb in weight might just be possible but 30 years in age may be somewhat trickier.
The LLW arrived at the designated beach spot on time to find Ray sitting in the shade, with a flat white in hand. No sooner had the bike been loaded than a car a few feet away from us moved off leaving us with the perfect parking space.
We had a lovely swim in the warm sea, which Ray has decided is the perfect end to a cycle ride.
Back to the camp site for a couple of hours before we headed off for the ferry at Russell. The major concern had been finding a parking space in the town but at that time it was not difficult and we were on the ferry tout suite!
We walked toward their apartment and they walked half way to meet us and guide us in. It was a glorious evening and we spent a lovely evening on their balcony looking out on the Bat of Islands as the sun set. A large cruise ship was moored in the bay and earlier Mike & Caroline had watched the hundreds of orange boats take the passengers to visit the Treaty grounds at Waitangi. We watched as the cruise liner weighed anchor and sailed off into the sunset for goodness knows where. As it turned left ( or to port, to be nautical) we thought it might be on its way to Sydney.
As we enjoyed a wonderful meal of barbecued prawns (and smoked salmon) and steak which was followed by ice cream with mangoes and strawberries. Reasonable quantities of wine were also consumed but Mike doesn't drink alcohol these days and the LLW had offered to drive the camper van back from Russell to the camp site so unfortunately Caroline and I had to bravely ensure that the wine was not left to go off.
Mike kindly drove us back to the ferry jetty and no drama this evening as it was clear that additional ferries were available for all the revellers.
The sights kept on coming with Whangaruru Harbour, Taupiri Bay and Parekura Bay before we approached Russell and our camp site 3 miles outside the town at Orongo Bay.
Now arrangements for this afternoon are complicated since our good friends, Mike and Caroline Illingworth are staying in Paihia just across the bay and the plan is for them to visit us for a BBQ.
This involves catching a passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell and then returning on the same ferry later in the evening. Mike & Caroline arrived about 17:30 and we sped back to get the BBQ fired up and crack open the excellent NZ bubbly that our guests had supplied. The evening went by in a flash and it was time to head back to Russell for the last ferry back to Paihia. At the end of the jetty was a board which displayed all ferry times and the last ferry had been blanked out! Caroline had spoken with the ferry operator earlier in the day and had been assured that it was running.
We spent 30 minutes at the end of the jetty peering into the distance, in the general direction of Paihia, hoping to see the tell tale red and white lights. Mike eventually spotted them when the ferry was half way across and it had been very late leaving Paihia. Alls well that ends well and they were soon on their way back to their apartment in Paihia. An excellent evening and we plan to meet up with them again tomorrow, New Year's Eve, this time it is our turn to visit them.
Monday, New Year's Eve, was yet another brilliantly sunny day and the LLW had to spend some time with her men having rediscovered the ability to work off line. More of that later!
Ray went off to tackle the very steep hills into Russell and beyond. The LLW was warned that getting there and back might be too much of an ask, it which case the demon LL camper van driver would be required to come to Ray's rescue. This was not too much of an issue because the end of the cycle ride was at Long Beach which is were we had planned to go for a swim.
The cycle ride was accomplished albeit with a small amount of walking and pushing the bike at the top of the steepest hill. After considerable scientific analysis, Ray has concluded that the answer to cycling up speed hills lies in two negative numbers 20 and 30. Losing 20 lb in weight might just be possible but 30 years in age may be somewhat trickier.
The LLW arrived at the designated beach spot on time to find Ray sitting in the shade, with a flat white in hand. No sooner had the bike been loaded than a car a few feet away from us moved off leaving us with the perfect parking space.
We had a lovely swim in the warm sea, which Ray has decided is the perfect end to a cycle ride.
Back to the camp site for a couple of hours before we headed off for the ferry at Russell. The major concern had been finding a parking space in the town but at that time it was not difficult and we were on the ferry tout suite!
We walked toward their apartment and they walked half way to meet us and guide us in. It was a glorious evening and we spent a lovely evening on their balcony looking out on the Bat of Islands as the sun set. A large cruise ship was moored in the bay and earlier Mike & Caroline had watched the hundreds of orange boats take the passengers to visit the Treaty grounds at Waitangi. We watched as the cruise liner weighed anchor and sailed off into the sunset for goodness knows where. As it turned left ( or to port, to be nautical) we thought it might be on its way to Sydney.
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