Wild Final Week: Part 2

Cover for our new album, Travelling Dirtbags, whaddya think?

So I mentioned in the previous post how are goal for the rest of my final week here in NZ was to hit up the beaches, I think we accomplished that. Lets go back to where we left off, Cambridge. We left Jess' house on Monday afternoon but not before taking advantage of all the awesome benefits of having contacts in another country, hot showers! Let me give a quick shout out to Mel and Liz who were the ones who let the 3 Canadian boys into their house while Jess was still down in Auckland, thanks a tonne gals, appreciated it greatly!

On the road north from Cambridge we had a goal to get to the Coromandel Peninsula and hit up some of the tourist attractions located there, Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. We spent the majority of Monday at Hot Water Beach because of the awesome underground natural hot springs that lie beneath the beach, thus the obvious name. We actually dug up a "tub" not far away from everyone else's and were totally disappointed when it was luke-warm water. I remember thinking this place was bs, until we discovered about 20 minutes later that if we moved over 10 feet the water was steaming hot, hotter than any hot tub we've ever been in by far. So we "tub pooched" the spa next to us, meeting a few more friends in the process. Although to be honest I think Trevor and Chris were more fancied by the gnarly crushing waves out in the ocean, while I got my spa on. Then when we had our fill of Hot Water Beach it was a short drive over to Cathedral Cove. But, just our luck the Cove was closed because of "slips" and "unstable ground" in the area, but we weren't to disappointed, we had enough enjoyment at H.W.B. for both places. It was a long drove around the tip of the peninsula to get some grub and watch the remaining tip of the sun fall over the ocean before lights out.

Trevor's new friend, Jeffery!

Tuesday was spent putting on some km's heading around the rest of the peninsula and over to Auckland, then a quick group decision had us heading in the direction of Piha Beach. Although the closer we got to Piha we realized this wasn't the same Piha that we had visited the second day here in NZ. And then as we got to the actual beach and saw the community there we realized that we certainly did not go here the first time. So, when I said a while back that we had a crazy road to Piha the second day in NZ, it was a lie, a total lie, sorry. But, it was a beach, and the weather was fading fast so we made the best of it. Then the rain came, which had us hurrying for a campsite, at a holiday park, before we were drenched. After meaning a travelling German (surprise, surprise) and going back to the beach for a swim/surf/photoshoot, it was off to bed and the last night I would ever spend in "ol' vannie" in NZ.

Last night in NZ, not to shabby eh?

Waking up Wednesday morning it really hit me, my last day in NZ, it felt uncomfortable. I was excited to be back in BC, but as the weather cleared and we were enjoying the rays on Piha, I really didn't want to leave. But all good things must come to an end as they say, and this trip was most defiantly a good thing. So, it was back to Auckland and over to the airport to say farewell to all things kiwi and the boys. We hung out in the parking lot for a few hours while I packed my gear and tried to soak up the remaining rays while tossing the pigskin around as Trevor and Chris strung there clothes out to dry. If you looked up "travelling dirtbags" in Webster's, you would have seen us 3 Canadians in that parking lot. It was just the way I wanted to end this trip, and after a short walk to the check in, it was the end of this trip. I said goodbye to the 2 guys who I spent every waking moment with for the past 3 months, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Unfortunately I had to leave this pretty face behind...

Lates, N8

PS. I got a few more posts kicking in me about this trip, so after I arrive back in BC and get things settled be sure to check the blog again. Thanks!