For the photos in previous post: top to bottom: M in our campsite in Coromandel, Tide Water campground...lovely eh? M swinging along the way from Thames to Coromandel, there were sheep everywhere on the green green hillsides...felt like we were in the "shire" all the time!, M biking...I think this was between Miranda and Thames, hot water beach.

Home Again

The trip home always seems more grueling somehow. Airline security was worse coming home...we seemed to glide through on the way there. Spent our last day in NZ kicking around Auckland...went up to the highest point in the tallest building in the southern hemisphere...pretty great view. Now I can download some photos without feeding coins in the machine. We had a great time, loved sharing with all of you loved ones along the way. Thank you for all the wonderful comments--we carry you in our hearts and minds always

Homeward Bound

We have about 10 hours left until we leave this lovely place. Got the bikes all packed up and all our gear as well. We'll kick around Auckland for the day until our plane leaves NZ time at 11 pm...then we arrive in LA before we left at 2 pm LA time :). I was going to post a bunch of pics right now but realized I left the connecting cord in a different bag which is locked up at the hotel for the day. Oh well. Pics soon. Yesterday we took a ferry over to Waiheke Island and toured a couple wineries, had lunch on the island, took a little bus tour. On the ferry coming back we saw the dorsal fins of a few orca whales. It was at quite a distance by the time we made our way over to the other side of the ferry...thrilling nonetheless. So, if ever you cannot find me either check the raspberry patch or the beaches of New Zealand, possibly floating around in one of those way cool kayaks we paddled at Hahei.

Driving Creek Railway

Had another great day today. Took the car back to Thames and returned it with no problems, then took a little bus back up here to Coromandel, timing was serendipitously perfect, and had lunch in town then rode our bikes up to the "Driving Creek Railway." We weren't sure what this would be, and it turned out to be the most charming and wonderful thing. A man whose name escapes me right now, built this narrow gauge train track straight up the mountain of a piece of land he purchased 30 years ago--he pretty much built it by hand. He is a potter and a glass blower as well...suffice it to say...the whole place was a work of art, the railway, the pottery everywhere, the designs in the cement he poured, the glass work, the tile art work on the hillsides, the glass bottle walls he built along the railway...we had no idea this would be so cool! Gotta run

Hot Water Beach and Beyond

We had a fantastic day today...filled with surprises. Started out by leaving, quite reluctantly, our lovely Hahei Beach for Hot Water Beach. Hot springs run under the the beach and at low tide, one can dig one's own little hot springs on the beach so to speak. I quickly decided it was not worth the labor of digging sand which was constantly falling back into your little hole with a very tiny shovel provided by the locals (the shovels are definitely a joke played on tourists by the locals). So we watched the scene....people of all ages, shapes, colors and sizes trying like crazy to dig a little hot springs on the beach! Michele painted a lovely water color and yours truly just kicked back and watched. Then we drove through Waihi and the Karangahake Gorge (most amazingly beautiful!) and into Paeroa where we found a couple of lovely Maori young women in a shop in town. We talked to them for some time and learned a tiny bit about their native tradition. From there we headed north again back up to Coromandel where we have our bikes and gear and will ride our bikes out from here after returning the Toyota Rav 4 we have been driving around the past few days. Our legs are grateful to us for sparing them the mountains...truth be told I am looking forward to climbing back into the saddle tomorrow. Well, that's it for now. Once we get back to Auckland, we'll post pics. The sun is setting--I'd better run!

Kayak to Cathedral Cove

Our little kayak trip to Cathedral Cove was lovely today. We're sleepy after a day on the water and in the wind and sun. Love to all