It is cold early in the morning. I am in a sleeping bag and I think it is cold. Kyle must have had a rough night. I see him run off around 7 in the morning, presumably for the morning swim he mentioned the night before. We are slow to collect ourselves in the morning, and huddle around together for a cup of tea.
“Are there any good walks or hikes around here? Something around an hour or two?” I ask. We are at the Department of Conservation center in Kauaeranga Valley near midday. The valley is covered in mountainous terrain and forests. I am eager to see more than the small bit we have driven through so far.
“Oh, well, most of the trails are closed because of the storms a few weeks ago, but there is one open,” the woman says. She tells us about a short nature walk with a swimming hole at the end. “If you swim to the far side, you can even climb up the cliff and it’s a good spot to jump off.”
Hoffman’s pool is in a quiet inlet along the river. The water is fucking freezing though. I am not ashamed to admit it, there is definitely some shrinkage going on. We take turns jumping off the cliff. The swim, the cold water, and peaceful atmosphere are most refreshing. We fix up some lunch when we get back to the cars. Kyle mix’s a bit of peanut butter with coconut oil. I try some, but I am not a fan of coconut. Elvis likes it as well, but only has a small bit.
Driving north along the coast of the Coromandel peninsula is beautiful. The road that is our transport to the northern part of Coromandel twists and turns more than a rollercoaster. Right along the water for most of it, it is impossible for me to recall a more stunning drive.
“If you find a good place to stop, it might be a good idea,” Kyle says. He has been riding with me since we picked him up in Auckland.
“Need to stretch, or is it a call of nature?”
“No, actually that peanut butter and coconut concoction isn’t sitting well with me. Too fatty, I ate too much, I should’ve known better.”
I find a good place to stop, and lucky we do, for Elvis’ car is steaming when he pulls up behind us. It seems the nine-hundred-dollar purchase has finally paid its due. A leaky radiator that we hadn’t paid enough attention to is the culprit. We wait a bit for it to cool off and make our way slowly to Coromandel, the town shortly ahead.
The local mechanic can take the car next morning. We debate our options. and we end up at a local motor camp. It is less peaceful than our usual roosts and less enshrouded by nature. However, with the discomforts of society comes also the comforts of a full kitchen, so we are appeased some. Plus, this is a great morning view.
Bad news in the morning, the care will not be ready until Monday. We have four days to wait. Our previous plan now seems ill-considered, as we would have to double back for the car. We decide to spend the day visiting a Buddhist monastery within an easy drive for the day and reconsider later in the day.
These pics are stunning.