Coromandel Peninsula

I love my little campervan. Its like Doctor Who's Tardis. I nearly have everything arranged in her, so it doesnt take half an hour looking around in every nook and cranny wondering where the hell I put something.

breakfast at my place.

Back in Auckland I started to really feel at home, I found a running group at the park and went cycling on a couple of bike shop group rides. The local pool Newmarket was a 50 yard pool with some serious swimmers. So that was all working well to get me ready for the Xterra race in Rotorua.

It was hard to leave Auckland and I spent a few more days there than I should have, partly sorting out the van, partly waiting till Sunday so i could do another group bike ride and partly, not wanting to leave the comfort of Yaping house in Epsom. David a guy from Yorkshire runs a pretty tight ship, but with an easy style that makes everyone that visits not want to leave.

Yaping house was one of the first houses built in the area of Epsom, its at the base of Mt Epsom and the stone to build it was all quarried from Mt Epsom.

Finally after the Sunday group ride and getting a bike rack for the back of the van, it was time to spread my wings and explore the rest of the New Zealand.

First stop the Coromandel coast. This is a peninsula just south east of Auckland. Like most places in New Zealand theres only one small road that leads all the way around the coast line. On the west side the ocean is calm protected by the peninsular and the east side has the surfing waves and rugged coast. The road winds up and down the sides of volcanoes and your lucky if you can make an average of 50kph. The local delivery trucks make better time and you meet them hurtling down some mountain slope coming at you or they appear from nowhere on your bumper and then fly past.

The first night I slept in the van I drove a bit too far. I found a beach parking lot and just parked up there. Local girl told me that at this time of year no one would bother me about it. Second night around dusk I was searching for a camp site on the map and ran across Kat and James and English couple that were looking for the same campsite. they have sold up and moved out to NZ to live. The camp site was a farmers field and totally pitch black. This was the first night I really got to see the stars. Finally figured out where the Southern Cross is and the two pointers stars that point to it and make a line due south. Also got to see a shooting star.

In the morning we all went for a run on the beach and then a swim, it was such a perfect way to start the day.