I made peace with the sand for the day

Many of you may know of my extreme dislike for sand (I know its strange) but today I was OK with it.   The peacemaker?  Sandboarding!

Picture sledding on a boogie board down a giant sand dune.   It was awesome!  In the long tradition of me having issues controlling speed (skiing, snow tubing, zip-linging...) I did have a few issues.   At the bottom of the dunes, there was a creek.  In the middle of the creek was a small little area of reeds and grass that most people hit and stopped on if they were going too fast.  I blew right through the landing pad and hit the reeds on the opposite side of the bank.  They served the purpose of stopping me, but they didn't have a lot of give and I look like I've been attacked by an angry housecat.  Still a hell of a good time though!

The sandboarding was only part of the bus trip I took today up to the northernmost point of New Zealand, Cape Reinga.  This bus with giant tires and a lift kit picked me up before dawn and we heading up to 90-mile beach (which is really only 64 miles long)  We drove the beach and it was gorgeous.   Made a stop for the awesome sandboarding and kept heading north.

I must admit that Cape Reinga is one of the prettiest places I've ever been.   The Cape is up on a cliff, with the waves crashing into the rocks and beaches below on both sides.   Out in front is the point where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific meet and the waves seem to be moving in all directions as the bodies of water collide.   We were lucky to get a lovely sunny day and I really could have spent hours there.

It was a long day but I met a nice family from Tasmania and I already have my triip there figured out in my head....now just figuring out how to get it in the schedule.  Everyone says that the South Island has the prettiest landscape.   Either they aren't taking Northland into account or I'm in for quite a treat.

Ok Internet is expensive so I'm off for the evening.   Hope everyone is doing well!