Farwell Sweet Oz...Hello third cousin removed NZ

We have left Australia and let me tell you it is with very heavy hearts! Alex is making me remain positive about New Zealand and give it a chance, as keep coming out with some negative comments here and there such as...the weather is better in Australia and the birds are so much more colourful i Australia. I did give her my word, so I intend to remain ever the positive bunny and to be honest, it started off with a bang...after our first night from hell in the 'less than basic' NZ Jucy van, which pales in comparison to the Australia Jucy van, but I am not complaining...merely stating facts, which I tend to do...often. It always seems so much hotter and stuffier in a van with the doors closed...even when the temperature outside is cool so we thought it would be a grand idea to open the side door and let a chilled breeze through...n about 1,000,000 mosquitoes. Commence a total Mel Breakdown...I freaked out...just imagine being sweaty and covered with bites from head to toe and being unable to do anything bu cover your already overheated skin with blankets to prevent further annihilation of your flesh. So we closed the door and tried to remain calm and motionless to lure them into a false sense of security to land on the ceiling at which time w would smash their bloody guts out all over the roof. It became a revenge type game an by the end of it, our gray material covered ceiling in the van was transformed into a collage of bug guts and blood...muahh hhaaa hhaaa. Talk about satisfaction and after the kill-fest and watching Miss Congeniality we drifted into broken and uncomfortable sweaty sleep and dreams of fluffy beds and daily showers. We decided to spend the day in Russell, which is a bonnie little sea side town with so much charm it is coming out of its' pooper. We agreed on a nice uphill hike to the top of a hill that rewards your efforts with spectacular views of the Bay of Islands and the chance of meeting some really special people...which we did...enter Steve and Sandra. A lovely couple from Lancashire spending their Silver Anniversary travelling around Australia and New Zealand. They were just a barrel of laughs and provided us with endless travel stories and mishaps to which we compensated them greatly with all of ours...or should I say mine. We didn't even notice the cyclone whizzing over us with wind gusts and stormy rain pounding down, as we were engrossed in conversation and to top that all off, they treated us to a real coffee (well, apple juice for Al) and a piece of cake each. I cannot explain what a special treat that was for us...after months of having to pass up a cafe coffee for a freeze dried coffee flavoured crystal chemical special drink and long discussions about our favourite baked goods, we actually got the chance to indulge in these specialities. I had the carrot cake that came out warm with some sort of sugary smooth frosting lightly dusted with cinnamon and a dollop of real whipped cream and a splash of mapley juis (the French word for amazing sauce)! We continued our conversations about travel highs and lows and peaks and valleys until they had to leave to catch the water taxi back o the posh island. We said our goodbyes and made or way closer to Cape Reinga, where we visited today. I am always one for words, but this place just left me speechless. It is described as having an 'end of the world' feeling, but didn't really get that. You do drive for hours through windy roads passing endless sheep and cows resting and grazing on hilltops, but there is so much lush scenery to take in that before you start getting that Armageddon feeling, you reach your destination, which is the northern most tip of New Zealand set high atop some grassy cliffs where the malachite sea meets the sapphire ocean in a crash of salt water and foam. The colours intertwine for miles with specks of indigo and cobalt glimmering underneath the sunshine and bits of peacock coloured water hides around every lucky corner rock below. There is a tiny lighthouse at the tip of the rocky peninsula that you walk along to reach the end and then you just sit and breathe in that healing air and let it fill your lungs and purge out the impurities... and there are oh so many from months of living in a van
We made our way back to the car o the ride back down the coast stopping back in Auckland for the night...wow what a day. The weather held up and the night is cool so maybe we will have an evening in the van to match our day at the Cape...here's hoping.