Whangapararoa (photo)

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Just about ready to leave my wonderful Servas Hosts Gunter and Janice. They have a wonderful place in Whangapararoa, pronounced Fanga-pa-roora. Gunter picked me up in Orewa which was a 1 hour bus trip from Auckland. He let me use one of his sea kayaks and although the weather was a bit cloudy it was great. After I got back, I wanted something else to do so I helped Gunter and mowed the lawn. He said I was the first Servas host he had to do that! I enjoyed it just the same. When his wife Janice arrived home from work I was lucky enough to enjoy some home-made brew of Gunter's. SZuuuper as Gunter would say. I know have a great understanding of New Zealand where Janice is from and Gunter; although I think I will have fome pronounciations wrong with Gunter's German accent. No matter.

The next day I logged on to check out my e-mail and was suddenly talking to Gunter's sister Karin in Australia. We had a great little on-line chat and I am now hoping to meet her and her family in Brisbane. After that, we took the sailboat out a bit to try and catch some fish. We only caught one Snapper of size, but it was neet to see 3 different pairs of America's Cup boats practicing in the Bay. Two years until the next race and they are out nearly every day here.

From here I will head north before going down to the south island. Sweet as bro!