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Published: March 11th 2011
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Hello all and welcome to my last blog! Can't believe it has been 9 weeks since I left the UK. In some respects it feels like a long time but it also feels like yesterday. So I arrived at Auckland airport and hadn't organised how I was going to get up to Paihia but I had realised that if I was going to make it back to Auckland in time for my flight on Saturday morning there was only one option - hire car! I booked it via the tourist information centre at the airport and requested a manual car which it turns out are cheaper - excellent news! The hire company aren't in the terminal but I only have to wait 5 minutes for them to come and pick me up. I know it was short notice for them but they couldn't have chosen a more suitable car for me - a light metallic pink Toyota Vitz - a small car but my bag fitted perfectly in the boot. Would have been more comfortable if the seat had gone back further but you can't have everything! Only one problem - it was an automatic. "I asked for a manual", "you'll
be lucky" came the reply. It looked like it was the pink mobile or nothing. "it's easy", he said "when you get in just tuck your left leg underneath you and you'll be fine". He suggested I drove round the side roads of the airport to get used to it which I did and it wasn't too bad but I gave up on tucking my leg under me - kept getting awful cramp! He had given me directions on how to get to State Highway 1 and assured me the motorway would be well signposted when I'd crossed a bridge. He was wrong - it isn't signposted AT ALL!!!!! It took me just under 2 hours to find state highway one and I had to ask someone else for directions. Luckily the hire car company had given me a map so I just decided to find my own way to SH1. The only other problem with the car was that the windscreen wipers and indicators had been put in the wrong way round so every time I wanted to indicate I turned the wipers on - (remind you of anyone little sis?). I eventually made it to SH1 and gave
a huge sigh of relief - I just needed to stay on this road heading north for about 3 hours and I'd make it to Paihia. After about 4 hours I arrived at my hotel. I have no idea what size engine I have but it liked to take it's time going up the hills and there were a few hills! I checked in, grabbed some food at the bar and went to bed - hopeful for a relaxing couple of days.
And I've certainly had a relaxing few days - I had hoped to spend most of it by the pool but it was a little bit chilly! So I just walked into town to see what was what. Quaint little place with a laid back vibe to it. Found somewhere to have breakfast looking out over the sea and looked through the brochures to decide what I wanted to do. I'd missed out on dolphins when I went whale watching but there was a dolphin cruise that took you round the Bay of Islands so I booked myself on one for the following afternoon. That left the morning free so I booked myself in for a massage
at the hotel. So at 9am I was waiting for the therapist - and in he walked at about 5 to 9. Now I wasn't expecting a fella so I hope my face didn't give too much away. It was a very relaxing 60 minutes but I have developed quite a nasty cough since the tour and had been suppressing the urge to cough for about 40 minutes but when I turned over onto my back I had a coughing fit. Now there is nothing elegant about coughing when you are flat on your back with just a towel covering your modesty but I think I handled the situation quite well. I asked for a glass of water - took a few sips and laid back down! The boat trip was excellent - more stunning scenery but alas no marine mammals. I was extremely disappointed for the second time this trip. However - all was not lost - because we didn't see anything we got a complimentary voucher to book another trip so as soon as I disembarked I went straight over to book the Swim with Dolphins cruise for the next day. This boat doesn't do sightseeing - it
just cruises around looking for dolphins - this was the best chance I was going to get to see them. I had some dinner in town before heading back to the hotel for a relaxing evening with a bottle of vino. Today - the weather has been perfect - beautiful sunshine and less windy than the last couple of days. I walked into town again and couldn't wait for my trip. I am sitting here typing with the biggest smile on my face - we saw lots of dolphins today and it was an amazing experience. I decided not to swim with them though because it's quite hard work and I knew that if I went swimming I was going to have a coughing fit - which would have been a nightmare wearing snorkel gear - I would probably have suffocated or drowned. Not to mention the fact that it would probably have confused the dolphins sonar radar and sent them swimming fast in the opposite direction which would have ruined it for the whole group. So I sat on the boat and watched these beautiful creatures playing around with the others.I'm still smiling and I have some amazing photos
Sunrise in Paihia
My last memory of my trip - beautiful sight and video footage. And so my time here had almost come to an end and I decided there was time for one more Hokey Pokey ice cream. Such a good idea putting honeycomb in vanilla ice cream!
So here I am in the hotel typing up my latest adventures before getting ready for dinner and I have the excitement of packing my bag later on tonight. I have had a truly amazing 9 weeks but I'll wait until I get home to post my highlights and lasting memories. So bye for now and the next post will be from home..........
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