In which we prove our physical prowess and become active men.

We drove all the way up to the bay of islands which is RIGHT AT THE TOP OF NZ!!! We got there about 9ish. Which is a shame because we were about to find out that all the hostels close at half 7. So we walked up and down in search of shelter. Eventually we found it in a full hotel where a lady who worked at a hostel down the road helped us out by getting the manager to let us in. To celebrate our finding a place to sleep we go for drinks down the road in a place called 'Saltys'. It is reminiscent of Vibe at the Hand and was also full of potentially underaged girls and chavs. Eventually after a not very heavy night at all we retired to bed. I remember us having a small chat and then quietly sleeping which is odd because the girls next door to us told us the day after that we were very loud, laughing and shouting?!?! For them to think this I assume they were very drunk.

We had decided to do a cruise of the bay of islands on a boat (obviously I suppose). But in the evening before we read in the lonely planet that the more 'athletic' of travellers could Kiyak the bays. As a group we are not particularly athletic, we are however optomistic and so we decided that this would be the best idea. We Kiyaked that day the same distance from Bristol to Cardiff in very cold weather and choppy, freezing sea. It took 4 hours. When we actually reached Russel (a place not a person) all we did was get a coffee to warm us up and then turned back to our kiyaks again for the journey home. This was actually very fun, we stopped at two beaches (one in Russel and the other just along a different coast). I started in my own Kiyak and then shared one with Pavey. By this time we were knackered and were fighting the current.

Kiyaks and being loud. (apparantly)

That night we found 2 HUGE bottles of Jim Bean (an investment for the journey, I'm a grown up now, making investments with my money!) and planned with a whiskey and a map our New Zealand experience. It felt very cool like we were victorian travellers planning an expidition, which I suppose we were if you take out the word 'victorian'.

The morning after we pile into Cueie and leave for Whitianga! A small stop which shall probably make for a small next blog! Heres to that!