March 21, 2011

What!  It has been a few days since I did the last blog. 

After Napier, we headed to Gisborne, similar to Napier but the beach was much nicer, sand instead of rocks.  We then headed to the Pacific Coast Highway and drove around the East Cape.  Jean was getting seasick driving the twists, turns corners and winding ing highway that has not changed in 21 years, except they are paved now.

We stopped many times, took lots of pictures of the beaches, waves and surf.  I'll bore you with them again.

Stopped by Hicks Bay Hotel and stayed the night, a 1950's style motel, but clean charming and a GREAT view.  Swam at the Opototo Beach.

Next day headed off to Whangatane, stayed 2 nights, mostly because I wanted to take the White Island Cruise, a Six hour cruise and tour of an active volcano. I booked the tour and then spent 2-3 hours crashing in the surf, and loving it....

Next day, I went to on the cruise, Jean would have been seasick so I went by myself, and 76 other tourists. 

It is like Mt St Helens, in the water.  Again, tons more pics will be done when I get home.

Yesterday, we headed to the Coromandel Peninsula and drove up to Whitianga. Cloudy, and warm.  Headed up to Hot Water Beach, and dug my toes into the sand, and nearly burned them...

Too many tourists, so I could not dig a pit in the sand.  They left when the tide came up, and then tehre was no point.  Just imagine a hot spring bubbling up through the sand on the beach. 

Last night it started raining, so a perfect time to catch up on the blog, and let everyone know all is okay...

Headign over to the other side of the Coromandel Peninsula, on our way back to Auckland for our flight back home...

Hope all is well, there.

Happy First Day of Spring..

Ernie and Jean