R & R in Auckland

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We made it through our first wwoofing experience and set out early for Auckland to a backpacker lodge for some R & R.  We met people of all ages and nationalities traveling around the world, goin in different direction.  I'd say the majority were aged 22 to 28; a large percentage between 55 and 65; and a small percent in their thirties.  We share our funny stories and our horror stories; where the best hostels were; where the one with bedbugs were; who had the best wwoofer food; who tried to overwork wwoofers; who had the most fun jobs; and what towns were so boring, you just wanted to go home.

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We met Will and his wife Sherry from London, who were using an Around The World Ticket and told us on our next big trip, we HAD to go to Thailand.

The wwoofer who won't climb every mountain.

Because we'd been in Auckland before and seen many of the sites, we truly did just rest.  We did go to a comedy club, the Sky Tower, the Victoria Market, and of course, the Casino.  Our motto is, "Have Casino, We Visit".  (Yes, Jason, we won again)

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We left Auckland on a rainy overcast morning heading to the town of Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula.  Our plan was to meet our friend Maelenn in the evening after some sightseeing during the day.  NOT!  It rained and rained for 2 days so we stayed in town because of the washout warnings on the roads.  The town of Thames is about 9 blocks long with no stop lights or stop signs.  Everyone "gives way" at intersections.  All buildings are one storied.  The people are very friendly and helpful.

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On the third day the sun came out, so we drove north to Coromondel Town, 90 km away.  It was like driving up the Pacific Coast Highway in California, very scenic, but curvey.  Coromondel Town is a tourist town of about 3 blocks with a lot of little cafes and pottery shops.  Since we have a possible wwoofing job just north of town with someone who makes medicines from plants and trees, we decided to try to find her place. We found her road and started to drive up a mountain.  15 minutes passed, the road is still going up and not paved anymore.  Nothing in sight except trees,  Suddenly a car passes me going up and I ask my white knuckled passenger, "Where is he going?"  The surprise answer from Ellen was, "To Heaven, because nothing else could be up this high!  So turn around and get me off this mountain" And if this is where the wwoofing job is, she will never see me!!!.   (How in the heck am I to turn around on a narrow one lane mountain road with drop offs on either side?  Is she crazy?)

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After we left Thames, for the next 3 days we drove around the eastern part of the north island  known as the Bay of Plenty.  This is populated mostly  by Maori and as we entered each new territory we saw a different Marae, their sacred meeting place for that community.  The towns were all a "blink" and very isolated.

We  are headed to our next wwoofing job at Lake Taupo, the Tauhara Center.