Paihia to Cape Reinga and return

13/3/23

Golly gosh another early morning wakeup call, I thought we were on holiday, retired and got up when we were ready.

No, a bus is picking us up at 7.10am in front of the motel. Oh well, I suppose it's not every day we are on tour. The driver is a hard case Māori fella. Full of cheek and lots of laughs. But he upset the mistress big time. He let her struggle up the stairs, and at the next stop he put the stool out for these people. She gave him a mouthful in a nice friendly way. He poured on the apologies and called her mama all day!!

We sat up the front again, but not a DoubleDecker today. He was in full control of the bus. But he never stopped talking, and then started singing. OMG what's this guy on because I would like some of whatever it is. 

Coming back from a morning tea stop the mistress plonked me on the driver's seat. Then as all the passengers boarded, they cracked up seeing me there. The driver is called 'whe....we' (unsure of Maori spelling). He was a stunned mallet seeing me there. When he heard my name, with me called Winkle and him 'We, the mind went to all sorts of places. Why does she do this to me?

I could hear the mistress enjoy the scenery, and the lovely sunny day but not too hot. Oh, it took so long to get to the 90-mile beach. But worth it the mistress says. The tide was right, so it was a good ride. Then you wouldn't believe he drove us up a river. It wasn't deep and its fresh water from a lake further up. Then Holey Moley we stop so the Travellers could go sandboarding.  She chooses a board for me, a pink one then finds a little hill for the little fella. How stupid is this. I would rather read a book. I don't think I will ever understand humans. They are such a strange species. But be assured I will try.

Then on to Cape Reinga, wooh, the views are amazing and seeing the 2 oceans collide was interesting. This is where the spirits go on to the next world. The light house was huge. We did enjoy the walk down but oh dear the mistress huffed and puffed all the way back. A nice lunch was ready on our return. A chicken salad, potato chips, water biscuit and she gave me the Lollie. I turned the lettuce down. I don't eat greens. 

On the way back the driver let us have some peace and only chirped occasionally, then, as we are getting back into Paihia he started singing again. The mistress did too. 

The mistress thanked him for a great day, and he said Goodbye Mama when he dropped us off at the motel.

The motel is ok, but the TV didn't work last night or tonight and the mistress got a bit annoyed again, so asked the lady to sort it. She sent us next door then got ours going. 

Still no pictures .........