Hahei Beach to Papamoa Beach

I have seen many beaches in my life.    But this was really a very nice beach.   It had to be 7-8 miles long, nice white sand, gentle waves that the locals were surfing on,  and lots of shells.   We have a bag full of shells to bring back to Rylee, Stella, and Frankie so they can add to their existing shell collection.....and you too Leo.

You have to love these New Zealanders.   They are a hardy group.   They love the outdoors and everywhere we go, they are out in numbers enjoying it.   The water is cold, but not to them.   They surf in it, they crawl around digging in the sand looking for Pipi's
(a small clam that they dig out of the sand at low tide) and when I am wearing a shirt, long pants, and a jacket, they are barefoot, in shorts and a muscle shirt.   Arrrg matey.

We have really enjoyed these Holiday Parks.   There are hundreds of them, and in great locations.   Look at the above picture.  That is where we are parked in this Holiday park in Papamoa Beach.   We are literally 10 yards from the walk down to the beach.   Next to us last night were three tents all from a family unit, who obviously have been doing this their entire lives.   Gramps had to be in his 80's and he helped set up the tents.   Then there were the 50 something parents, and then three sets of kids in their 20's/30's.   They were up at dawn this morning in their shorts and T-shirts, bare foot, and embracing the day.   Believe me it was cold out.  I put on all my clothes to take this photo.  It was worth it.   Beautiful sunrise.  The Kiwi's laughed at me.

Our impression of the New Zealand folks so far, is that they are a very warm, friendly, outgoing group of people, that would love to kick the shit out of you in a friendly rugby game.  I'm to old.   But they are very friendly.  

After 3 days at the beach we headed to the mountains in the center of the North Island to the NZ equivalent of Yellowstone park.   The small town of Rotorua is situated in the middle of a thermal zone with lots of mud pots,  steam vents, and even an "Old Faithful" type geyser.   It is clearly the stinkiest town in NZ...although Shelley thinks it is very medicinal.   I think it stinks.    But all very interesting.  Look at this mudpot.

Stinky!!

I have not been to Ireland, whom everyone who has been there,  characterizes it as "Very Green".   That is how I would describe New Zealand.   It is the end of summer, and they have had lots of rain, and it is just beautiful.   Everything is green.   Talk about cattle.   I thought we would see nothing but sheep.   There are pasture after pasture of cattle here.   Thousands of Angus, Herefords,  Charolais, Holstein's and Jersey cows.   4.2 million cattle, they tell us, which is more than the population of people.   Then there are sheep.   Lots of sheep.  For a couple that grew up on the plains of Kansas, this place is a farmer's paradise.  

Speaking of which, I keep saying to myself, I could live here.   It is just beautiful, and there are so many different types of climates and terrain.  You could live at the beach, which is as nice as any beach in Florida, but it is much cooler and less humid here.   You could live in the rolling hills, that are lush, and look like Hobbit Land.  Then there are mountains, where you can go skiing.   Not so much for me now, but it is there.  We have only been here for 5 days, but we are really impressed.

I am ready to start the campaign to all our four children, and their spouses that this is the place to which we need to immigrate our family.   I am sure there are rules that would keep our clan out, but what an adventure.   I would miss KU basketball however.   It is March Madness, and we can only get updates on our iPhone with play by play.   No live video!!   That might be a deal breaker.    But still this is a beautiful country.  But then there are these things called Earthquakes.   Lots of them here.  Yikes.   Worse than Oklahoma. 

We're having a few problems with our little camper.  The LPG gas system is not working. Your Mother is not happy when she tries to make dinner, and the three burner stove, has only one burner that works, and the one burner has a flame that is so tiny, that it can't heat up anything.   So boon docking (or what the Kiwi's call Freedom Camping) is not an option right now, because it is the gas that cooks our meals, and runs the refrigerator.   So we are having to stay at these Holiday Parks and plug in.   That is about $50/night.  

Freedom Camping on Lake Taupo.  

I need a sailboat for this lake.  

We had to leave this beautiful spot once we discovered that our refrigerator and stove would not work because they are not getting a gas supply.   So we have to move to a Park to plug in.  

We are headed further south down the North Island and into wine country before we get to Wellington and our ferry to the South Island on Thursday.  So hopefully we can get our gas problem fixed, and find some wineries to enjoy some New Zealand wines.  

Rock Chalk....Beat Michigan State.