Herekino, Kaitaia, Pukenui, NZ
Yvonne, the Maori woman I met in Miranda at the campground (also met her daughter Zara) who hosted me with her daughter, Nicola, in Papakura, south of Auckland...well, she and her daughter hooked me up with her ex-husband, Steve, and his wife, Erina when I got up north. That's where I am now. Getting her wasn't easy. The road I biked down yesterday was gravel and steep...and I knew there was no way I could pedal up it. Sure hope this is the right road and I haven't passed the house. Stopped a car. Nope. Next mailbox on the left. Pull in. Go to gate. STEVE! ERINA! No, I'm not him. They live up that driveway. You've got to be kidding! I can't bike up that! It's washed out and way too steep. I'll help you push it. Ok. And up we went.
What a warm and wonderful welcome. Steve, Erina, and grandson, Harlem.
Stayed 2 nights spending a day touring the area, a peak at Shipwreck Bay and up 90 Mile Beach, meeting family, touring the family's valley, and spring cleaning the marae. I felt so honored being able to connect with this Maori family and meet so many aunts and cousins! And now that I've left my energy in this marae, I belong!
Then Friday headed out:
with Blaze getting a royal treatment because she couldn't get herself up the steep gravel road. But I wasn't going far. Just up to the next town where Erina was going to help her cousin, Ruth with a garage sale. Another night with the family (Grady, Ruth, Erina, and William:).
Now it's Saturday, May 4th and I cycled out after the rain eased up. Met Ian mowing by the side if the road and he invited me home for tea and to meet the family. They moved up here in the Far North from the Bay of Plenty and have found it more temperate not even needing heat. They're busy growing edibles of all kinds! NZ's amazing for growing fruit trees and all kinds of veggies year round.
The rain really let loose later today and I opted for a backpackers for tonight. Sometimes ya just need to be cozy.
Saw this kauri museum with a 45,000 yr old tree dug from being buried and finished off with a staircase up the inside!
Cape Reinga in 2 days! (If the weather doesn't slow me up...)
BagLady
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