Week one is done.....

Wow! Time sure flies when you're having fun. I've had so many people tell me that my trip will be over before I know it, didn't believe them. Next Sunday is my half marathon day. I have not run since I landed, but am hoping all the hikes I've done will be suffice. Wish me luck!

I spent a full day in Tutukaka with a hike to the lighthouse. In order to get to the lighthouse, you had to do the hike when it's low tide. The view just took my breath away, it was absolutely stunning. I spent the rest of the day sluming on Matapouri Beach. Patrick and Daphen drove out to spend the afternoon with me.

Sunday was an early start. I was on the road by 7:30 am... a long travel day. I had originally planned on staying in Thames but I forged ahead and drove out to Coromandel instead. Coromanel Town is so picturesque. I strolled the shops and had tea at an open cafe. Set up Chateau Jucy across from the beach and watched another amazing sunset.

I woke up early Monday with a purpose... to find the giant Kauri tree. I tried a few times in Tutukaka but was not successful. I did find the Kauri tree but had to double back because I missed it the first time around. Kauri forests are among the most ancient in the world. In the 1970s, kauri dieback was discovered on Great Barrier Island. The disease, known as kauri collar rot, has begun spreading through kauri forests on the mainland. The disease causes yellowing leaves, dead branches, lesions that bleed resin and tree death. They believe the disease is spread on people's shoes or by mammals. To prevent the spread of the disease, everyone entering the kauri forest must keep to defined tracks, clean their footwear before and after entering kauri forest areas, and staying away from kauri roots.

After that great Kauri find, I headed to Hahei - a 4 hour drive. I arrived late afternoon and proceeded to hike to Catherdral Cove. The 2 hour (return) hike was so scenic. Every turn, every cliff took my breath away.

On Tuesday, I got up and into my bathing suit. The first order of the day was to go to Hot Water Beach. An underground river of hot water flows from the middle of the eart to the beach. You rent a shovel and during a window of 2 hours before and 2 hours after low tide you head out to the area and dig a hole and sit in it. If you dig your feet into the sand while standing in the water, you can feel the water and sand get warm, sometimes even burns your feet! Upon arriving, I headed to the coffee shop to get instructions and to rent a shovel. Low tide is at 11:50, so techinically we should be able to start digging around 10:00 am. I arrived at 9:30 am (a wee bit early) just in case there were lots of people... well there wasn't I had to opporturnity to meet two wonderful couples, one from Montreal and the other from Germany (they too thought they'd beat the rush). As 10 am approached, people started to stake their claim (shovel in the area). The tide was going out... very, very slowly... at 11:15 am we started digging our hole (the other 2 couples and I had formed a team). We'd be making headway making a wall, when a big wave would come and wash it away or someone would walk by and demolish it. I finally gave up at 12:15 pm (25 mins past low tide). I was defeated and full of sand EVERYWHERE!!! I realized one thing..... at 57 years old I had a ball playing in the sand with my new found friends.

My destination for Tuesday was Mt. Mauganui. The drive was nerve racking.... the twists and turns on a 2 lane motorway... maximum 100 km! I parked Chateau Jucy and headed off to the top of the mountain. It certainly was worth the hike as the view was breathtaking, white sand beach for miles and miles. When and sat in the thermal hot pools thinking it would help me get a good night sleep. NOT!

Before leaving Mt. Maungani I stopped in at the local McDonald's because I hear they sold pavlova. They don't anymore but had various types of cheesecakes, macaroons, and chocolate cake. Today, I have managed to drive with only one hour sleep. The drive was a difficult one, not the road or speed, I found that I missed Gerald today. I wanted to show him everything I saw today. I know he wouldn't have been excited but he'd listen while I was driving. Matthew said that he's probably happy he doesn't have to do this trip.

On the drive to Taupo, I kept smelling something like burning rubber. I thought that maybe it was the brakes on Chateau Jucy. I realized it was the smell of the thermal springs in the area. I ventured out to see the Craters of the Moon, bubbling mud craters and geysers, Huka Falls (raging waters), and also sat in hot pools.

I'm heading off to Wellington to spend a few days before my half marathon.