East Coast Roady - Anzac Weekend 2008 - Hamish Roper
This is my debut blog entry, so I better make it a good one... It was a bright sunny Anzac day the beginning of a long weekend! So we loaded up the T.H.C. car and headed east to the beats of MC Tiki.
Leg 1. Ohope --> Opotiki --> Te Kaha. Highlights:
- The white stallion with the large equipment (which particularly fascinated Sarah).
- The freezing works, east coast styles. Fron end loading tractor hoisting a gutted and skinned beast, all the locals standing around salivating.
- The scenic bays.
- The secret waterfall.
- Yarning to some of the locals at the Te Kaha store whilst eating icecreams.
- Lowlight: Forgetting the cooker.
- Almost getting stuck in Lottin Point.
- Surfing at bay over from Hicks Bay.
- Salami and Cheese sandwiches for Lunch.
Leg 3. Hicks Bay --> Te Araroa --> East Cape Light House
- Preparing for a Party in Te Araroa!
- Gravel roads out to the light house.
- Weather rough out at sea, amazing colours...!
- Climbing all 760 steps up to the light house.
- Setting up camp at the Waipapa Camp ground. Slept in the bohemeath (The coulters humungous tent). 45 minute history lesson from the camp ground owner.
- Early night after beating SK at quiddler again...
- Early start, mint sun rise, first in the world to see the sun, I went for a quick dip in the sea.
- Rolled into Ruatoria, SK's home town! Almost got busted by a speed camera!
- Ruatoria is a different world, got a few stares from the locals in the local 4 square. Most of them were sporting full faced moko's!
- I must say Ruatoria had some pretty flash public toilets. Sarah went for wiz number 21 since the start of the trip.
- Drove inland to Ruatoria, wandering stock on the road, large rivers and lots of one-way bridges with humps.
- Started tramp 9 am. First part was 10 k's straight up over farmland, pretty boring. Got to the hut for lunch, talked to a father and son expedition. Carried onto summit, very steep, circled around mountain before clambering up rocks and boulders to a steep ridge which led directly to summit.
- Conditions were 'testing' on the ridge. Very windy and cold, with poor visibilty. Sarah and a freak out moment and almost didn't make it to the top. But in the end we pushed on to the top! woohoo 1780 m!
- Down by 5 pm, did a wee bit of jogging to speed it up.
- Wet, cold and tired we rolled into Te-Puia Springs looking forward to a hot soak and a beer at the local.
- Alas the pools were closed, so we carried onto Tokomaru bay. Stayed in cabins.
- "Big eats" went down a treat for dinner. Crashed early, exhausted.
Leg 6. Tokomaru Bay --> Tologa Bay --> Gisborne.
- Up early (much to Sarah's disgust!) and explored Tokomaru Bay, Old wool store / freezing works. Old wharf.
- Back to cabins for a bowl of Cremota, mmm yum.
- Gapped it to Tolaga Bay.
- Time for a coffee at the local in (good coffee). Saw a work mate (random). Explored the famous Tologa bay pier, took a few snappy's
- Cooks cove walk (very muddy and windy), Hole in the wall.
- Back to Tolaga bay for fish and chips, weather very dodgy.
- Shot over to Gisborne 2.30pm. Caught up with my grandparents, hung there and chatted / played quiddler most of afternoon.
- Fish pie and apple crumble for tea, awesome. Ate till we burst.
Leg 7. Gisborne --> Waiwoeka Gorge --> Ohope - Dodgy going through gorge, saw a car that went into the river.
- Sentence game was classic. Although Sarah's mind was filthy!
- Home by 9 p.m, exhausted. Back to work tomorrow for a REST!
- Top weekend, highly recommend the trip to anyone...
