We set the alarm for 07:30 and lazily got ready to leave. On the road at 09:15 to get just out of Opotiki to discover that Ian had left the beers in the fridge at the holiday park. Eventually, having reclaimed our beer, we left Opotiki for Gisborne via the pacific coast highway taking us around the east coast of the North Island.
I was driving today which made a nice alternative to being an idle passenger whose eyes unfortunately tire when looking at all of the stunning scenery.
The weather was pretty miserable with very low grey clouds as we drove along the coast road so there weren't many stops for photographs along the way although we did pause at Hicks Bay.
Our road atlas is brilliant and highlights tourist hotspots and scenic lookouts which, coupled with the excellent road signs makes for easy planning for stops. I noticed on the atlas that the east cape is home to the most easterly lighthouse in the world so naturally I had to go there. I drove us 21 kilometres alond a gravel road for the privilege and on the way back I scared a herd of cattle as I exited the car for a photograph of some wild yellow flowers. The cows ran across the road and far away from me!
A stop in Ruatoria allowed us to breathe again, realising we weren't going to have to walk 19 kilometres for some fuel, having run dangerously low since leaving Opotiki, the last small town with a petrol station. We also bought some more supplies for our boot in case we find ourselves in a hostel situated without local amenities, again. It is always good to know that you won't go hungry if you have bread and jam and pasta and sauce in your luggage!
Actually, we paused jsut beyond Ruatoria for a picnic in a forest car park, consisting of jam sandwiches, crisps and bananas.
For most of the journey the hills were thick with forest again. Sometimes the land goes quite flat and grass covered hills reign the land but that doesn't last for more than a couple of minutes and soon we are surrounded by forests again. It's so pleasing to the eye.
Just before reaching Tolaga Bay we had to come to a halt for a huge herd of sheep being shepherded down the road. The sheep were definately in control of the situation, the two shepherds didn't seem too interested and the six dogs they had between them weren't involved with the sheep at all! Still, I found it highly amusing!
A short while later I was warned to slow down for some goats in the road which was much more an efficient process, maybe made easier by having a much smaller herd. We passed another falcon while driving who, unlike the one seen yesterday, was quick to grasp his roadkill and fell from the centre of the road as we approached him.
We arrived at Gisborne at 17:00 which overlooks Poverty Bay, where Cook landed in 1769. My passenger had spent most of the day snoozing, 'though I'm not too sure what that says about my driving... He fails miserably as a navigator.
We strolled around Gisborne which seems pleasant. I chuckled at all of the boy racer types who seem to be in competition about who has the bassiest stereo in their car. It reminded me ot a place on the south coast of England, another fond memory of a holiday with my family...
We travelled 397 kilometres today from Opotiki to Gisborne.
We made an effort to visit all of the Cooks sites and memorials before dinner. Dinner, we decided, became our Christmas dinner as it was so expensive compared to our recent running costs! By Englands standards it was a reasonable price but it was five times the cost of our normal meals! It was extremely well prepared and presented mind you, it was delicious.
We retired to be as soon as we returned from the restaurant having set the alarm even later for tomorrow...
Copyright 2002 Helen Fuller. All rights reserved.