Piha

It had taken a full day of travel but we were nearing the small surf town of Piha. As Morgan descended the valley I became hypnotised by the houses tucked into the jagged vertical reaching mountains that beautifully lined the Tasman Sea.

We found our campsite and checked in with the front desk lady.  She quickly informed us of the two Auckland boys who drowned four weeks before our arrival. We stood there in shock as the gave us the detailed report of the search and rescue, where bodies typically are found washed up, and finally where the two young men were found the next day.  She was an eccentric woman and I found myself nodding, refusing to add to the conversation, just waiting for the discussion to come to a close. Ha. It finally did.

Once we found our campsite we quickly went to the showers. For fifteen dollars a night we got warm showers and it had been three days since our last chance at a shower. I could have stood beneath the surging hot water for twenty minutes, but after six short minutes it cut off completely! I managed to properly shower but that left no room for the luxuries of lollygagging.

After the shower we went for the kitchen to make sandwiches. At this point our recording of our sandwich intake was at eleven! I absorbed the presence of some of the other travellers, listening to them plan their trips. Soon we retired to our comfortable abode. Shortly after reading our books and listening to music we drifted off to sleep.

I woke up around seven in a panic about the future, jobs, money, so I distracted myself with my book and once Morgan woke we went in search of a hot delicious coffee.

The rain moved in fierce and quick that day. We took our raincoats and headed for the black sandy beach.  The small beach was hauntingly beautiful.  The aggressive waves threw themselves onto black rock that hoisted themselves high into the air. We sat on the beach reading until I left Morgan to walk around a bit.

Back in the kitchen of the campsite I met a man no older then eighteen who had been traveling alone since he graduated highschool.  He was German but his English was impressive.  We spent the afternoon and most of the night building a puzzle together. He offered Tea, we offered Hot Chocolate. Once Morgan returned she remained reading and we enjoyed an afternoon of listening to the ran.

That night we made grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup. The storm had become so powerful that it took out all of the power and we had no choice but to head back to our van. I had much trouble sleeping that night as the whipping winds knocked our van from side to side. I kept imagining our van flipping right over, either that or a Tsunami was headed our way. Soon morning came and with the sun, the rain dissipated for a short time.

We drove back into the big city of Auckland to collect our bank cards and the few odds and ends that I, of course, left behind in the hostel.

Next stop, The Cormandel Peninsula.
Liz and Morgan