Lake Taupo by way of Whakatani, Tokomaru Bay, and Napier

View from the road on the Coromandel Peninsula
see all photos »

As we are leaving Thames I met a Maori man in the gas station who suggested we drive around the east coast/along the Bay of Plenty.  We drove all day on very curvy roads, going past beautiful country, but it is very isolated.  This is all Maori land with "blink" towns, isolated homes in the middle of nowhere.  There is lumbering, sheep raising, and small fields of corn for the stock.  We drove for hours at a time and we're the only vehicle on the two lane highway.  We finally arrived at the Karibu Lodge in Whakatani.  This was located on a main street and was a house that was converted into a backpackers lodge.  Your basic necessities were all there but it didn't feel warm and inviting like we experienced at the Veranda in Auckland. We met some German and Israeli youth couples that shared a chocolate desert with us.  However, later in the night 2 guys arrived and proceeded to drink most of the night away.  We were happy to leave in the morning.

This country is so beautiful.
see all photos »

Continuing on the Pacific Coast Hwy we would enter and leave different Maori tribal land.  Whenever we entered a new tribal area we saw their sacred Marae building.  Another day of very meandering roads, slow speeds, isolation, when out in the middle of nowhere we come upon a very modern building, Te-Kaha Hotel/ Convention Center so we stop for a break and lunch.  The beauty of sitting and looking out at the Pacific which is a turquoise blue can't be described adequately.  The fish and chips were very good.  On the way out we saw a game room so of course we had to go in and play.  Yes Jason, we won again!!!  Plus we met a few Maori women that were born and raised in the area.  We exchanged greetings and they are always very friendly to us.  Maybe they know something about our journey that we aren't aware of yet. As we travelled through Maori territory we noticed very little commercial establishments, very simple houses, and very little disturbance of the land.  So different from the towns of non-Maori people.  We finally arrive at Tokomaru Bay--Brians Place--just before dark.  His lodge is situated on the side of a hill that overlooks the bay.   Just as he promised, we saw a wonderful sunrise the next morning from the deck of the house.  However we had to go outside to the compost loo and it is now cold at night.  We could have stayed there for days but it had no computer so the next morning we headed out.

If Ellen can't hook-up she checks out.

Wild dogs along the road.
see all photos »

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SON , JASON, WHO IS NOW 31 !!!!!!!!!!     4/19/08

Another full day of driving but this day we are driving with the ocean constantly at our side. We see it, hear it and smell it.  This is heaven....................... We pass many large corn fields and have entered wine country.  Many of the famous vinyards are in this area.  We finally arrive at Bay View Village [just outside Napier] and locate the Boozie Bay Cafe & Hotel.  This backpacker lodge is in an old hotel but our room has a small TV and the bathroom and showers are down the hall BUT NOT OUTSIDE!!!!!  Hurray Hurray!!!!  Unlike the other BBH places, this one had a cafe,pub, hotel and now has added back packers accommodations to it.  It was in a little village that was mostly empty due to the coming of winter.