From the top to the bottom

Well where do I start!

I've been on a huge roadtrip from the deep south, Invercargill and somehow ended up doing the touristy thing in Cape Reinga. Travelling up included meeting the lovely Brown family, staying with Nic in Welly (& starting my trend of actually having breakfast every morning....I'm a shocker for not having breakie) and Roxy and I got let loose in Auckland, there are some amazingly expensive shops! After spending 3 days in a car and being on a ferry, I finally reached Kaitaia with Rach, Jo and Roxy. Spent 3 whole days in Kaitaia with 20+ of us squeezing in the Reeves house. What a mish! There were people sprawled everywhere, both inside and outside. Thanks to the Reeves for "lending" the house to us all. Time in Kaitaia included games of poker to 4am in the morning, swimming at amazing beaches, a trip to Cape Reinga, petanque with plums and lemons, sunbathing, delicious meals and great company. Least I not forget massive sand dunes and body boards! I managed a turn by myself, and caned myself by falling off and tumbling down the hill, not sure when I was going to stop. It hurt but I survived! Then I hauled myself up the hill again and with 3 boards and Jess, both Daves, Jared, Joe, and I, we pulled off what I have been told looked hilarious and spectacular, a tandem race. Achieved by 1 person lying down and the other sitting on their toosh haha. Hope I wasn't too heavy Joe! We all looked black afterwards apparently, and sand covering your teeth is really tasty ;). I must also say the weather in Kaitaia was beautiful and we had spectacular views from the holiday house in Taipa. Also spent New Years in Taipa, followed by more poker and a big cooked breakie, thanks to the cooks! So at this point Roxy and I had no idea how we were getting down to Wellington, but Dave Pom and little red Betsy came to the rescue!

So Dave Pom, Dave Hawkes, Roxy and I left Kaitaia on the 3rd, and travelled down to Dan Joes in Matamata for the night. Another game of 500 was played (I don't think I've ever played so many card games in my life!) and then more goodbyes to Joe, Jacq and Dan. Then we headed down to Hastings. On the way down we stopped in Taupo for lunch, and when the boys went to the loo, Roxy and I boosted to this cute shop I'd spotted. Hehe the only time I had a chance to shop because Dave P blocked me from shops every other time. In 5 mins I'd spent $170 and the boys thought we'd got lost and had gone looking for us lol. Woops, sorry boys! Then Roxy and Dave P bungy jumped! Backwards too, I'm so proud of both of you! Then we carried on down to Hastings. I was pleasantly surprised at both the size and how pretty Napier was. So after staying at Dave Poms family home we woke up on the 5th to wish Roxy a fantastic 21st! It started with the boys singing in harmony Happy Birthday, then straight out of bed and off to Napier for spas and saunas. Mmm yes it was as good as it sounds! Pancakes and icecream were up next, then a 5 hour drive down to Wellington. Again the weather was gorgeous in Napier/Hastings. Stopped in Palmy on the way down, then said goodbye to the boys in Wellington. Little Betsy you did so well, even if we were totally packed, had no leg space, and creeped up the hills, we still love you!

So now in Wellington I still had 4 days til I left! Stayed at Marys house for the night, then us 3 girls decided we'd do yet another roady. We hadn't been to the West Coast really so thought we'd jump in the car and see where we ended up for the night and eventually reach New Plymouth the day after. Well we got to Wanganui and were like no way we're staying here! Whoever told me it was a hole......I agree. So we just kept driving and ended up in New Plymouth. (Now I must say here, Roxy and I were ready to absolutely rip into Joe about New Plymouth but we were shocked, it's actually gorgeous there so we had to bite our tongues) We had nowhere to stay the night and wanted to pamper ourselves so after looking at some average motel, we drove past again the flashest hotel we could find and Roxy said jokingly that's where she wanted to stay. So we sent her in for a laugh to ask prices. Turns out for $68 each we could get a room with a super King bed, balcony with mountain and seas views, a spa, heated flooring etc etc. So we treated ourselves! It was fantastic! Joe came over and the 4 of us spent the evening playing poker with matchsticks in the white bath robes we got via room service. The end of the night resulted in me being thrown fully clothed into a hot spa with bubbles galore. Roxy and Joe........there will be pay back someday, somehow :P So we checked out in the morning and went to church, got a tour of New Plymouth, then met Joes family. All lots of fun! We spent the afternoon at the beach with the Morris family after requesting surfing lessons from Mr Naki himself. Roxy, then Mary went out and I was last up (thinking to myself this is going to be a laugh). Now this may come as a shock but it was my first time surfing AND I stood up on my 3rd wave! Then it turned out not to be a once off either and I caught quite a few more waves, and even got to the point where the I couldn't go any further on the wave. I was so stoked :) Thanks heaps Joe for the lesson! I may have found a hidden talent lol. Then we had a bbq and went to the festival of lights at the park. They were amazing and I'm gutted I forgot to take my camera :( Stayed the night at the Morris's then I woke up on the 8th to Roxy saying Happy Birthday and pulling me off the bed. I'm now 22 eeek! Had pancakes and strawberries, so yummy. Then it was time to head to Wellington again. Chris came over for food and a dvd that night and Chris I know you loved that pink halo :P.

Then the next day I had to pack, and say goodbye to Roxy and the North Island :(. It was an amazing trip, with such awesome company the whole trip, fantastic weather (apart from Wellington unfortunately!), great food and a good chance for me to try things I'd never done before. I'm so thankful for everyone, especially Roxy, for convincing me to come up. I feel like I've got to know so many people a whole lot better and I've found a love for the north island. Can't believe I just said that, I'll always be a southland girl and fan at heart though! To sum it up, I managed to get a tan, I've never played so much poker before, I laughed endlessly for hours, made new friends, have never spent so many hours in a car, and am starting to be able to pronounce Maori place names (yes I took a Maori paper last semester, but I sucked at place names lol) and I'd never seen black sand before this trip.

Now this is one long post and if you've made it this far down the post and reading this sentence, well done (you're either a true friend or really bored haha)! I probably would have given up by now.

It's 1.30am...zzzzz...Nuh night

Brooke