Sunrise off the coast of Orewa (still jetlagged a bit so getting up at 4am isn't a problem).
Trying to get around in the city, and paying for parking everywhere we went got a bit frustrating, so Taylor and I headed north to Orewa.
It's a lovely little coastal town near a place called Waiwera ("warm water") a natural hot spring. It's been storming since we got here - a freezing cold wetness that goes stright to your bones. Fortunately the kiwis here set up a water park using the hot spring water with water slides, a movie pool, and a number of pools of varying temperatures (from 30-45 degrees C); so we went there to warm up. It was amazing. I ended up falling asleep in one of the shallow pools for about 30 mins.
One of the reasons for my frozen bones was my shellfish hunting adventure at about 7 that morning. Apparently Orewa beach has a number of shellfish called pipis that are supposed to be excellent eating (according to the manager of the backpackers we stayed at). We went out in the freezing cold water - my feet went numb in about 4 secs – rummaging around in the sand for pipis.
We caught hundreds, so many that our bag started to break, I guess we were getting a bit greedy. Anyways, we were about ready to call it a day when a seal came up out of the water and grabbed the bag right out of my hands! Taylor reacted instantly and was able to seize the bag before the seal got away. His lightning reflexes gave me the time to dive under and start prying the thief's mouth open. Unfortunately, at that moment I saw an image that will be burned in my mind forever. In stark terror I jumped out of the water and started running for shore, shouting for Taylor to “Get out!”. I finally reached the water line and I turned back just in time to see a huge great white shark leap out of the water, blood dripping from its massive jaws. In the monsters wake, I spotted a familiar white plastic bag floating on the waves, torn apart and devoid of any pipis. I can only guess as to the fate of the seal, but whatever happened, I think the rotter deserved it.
All's well that ends well, we headed to McDonald's, I had a kiwiburger (a burger with beets and an egg on it); and we left to warm up at Waiwera hot springs.
Pictures from our random journeying north of auckland.
A number of those are pictures taken directly from the car as we sped along.
6 comments:
Its harder than I thought to keep up with someone who has to pay for their internet lol.. Great sunrise... I might print that one and keep it here. Really... a shark? I'm still on the fence about that one lol...
kev kev was that shark really real if it was that was prety cool i love you and the birds are doin fine they have a new sound the sound of my sewing machine hehehe love abby and the birds.:^ :)
nice...it sounds...fun! lol
get back soon....and that mcdonalds sounds icky!
Whoa.....this is your mother and aunt speaking!!! Please tell me that was NOT a great white shark drooling blood as he considered a 2nd course for lunch. I thank God for that little robber - the seal. An angel in disguise, perhaps, or you may have been the 1st course!!
Pictures are beautiful and I love those trees! Regards to Bilbo Baggins, or any other hobbit you may happen to run into in that lush forest!!
No, it's not true Abby. We didn't catch anything :(
I'll tell you right now, Hemmingway
has NOTHIN' over on you. Sure had
me hooked. Great pics!!! the ocean
and some of the areas remind me of
California. I've never seen such
unusual plants. Hey has anyone ever
told you guys that yer drivin' on the
wrong side of the road. Be careful
you could get hurt. It looked to
me that that truck, the blue car carrier chickened out just in time.
Lucky for you. I thought I saw a
sheep or two in one of those pastoral pics. Way to go, if so!
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