Sweet Jacque at the front desk came upstairs at 7 to tell us Salt Air was trying to reach us. Somehow my phone was on silent, maybe because we were listening to the game on the iPad and watching the game on the Discord App on my phone. I call Salt Air back and talk to Michael (its pronounced Mikhile in South Afrikaans). He tells me he is not flying this morning but the weather was supposed to turn around and his boss would be happy to check with Fullers Hole in the Rock Cruise to see if we could take their morning cruise on the bigger boat. So that is what we did. The boat actually picked us up in Russell so we didn’t have to rush and catch the ferry to Paihia. The boat would then drop us off in Paihia so we could meet our pilot to take us up to Cape Reinga. We did not get to the Hole in the Rock. We did not get dripped on; we did get a tour of the Bay of Islands and as you can see from the video below, it was a very blustery day. Not as bad as the ferry ride from Inis Oírr to Doolin, but still a bit humpety bumpety.
Of course we had our standard selfies, before during and after. The weather did clear and we spent an hour at Otehei Bay, where Zane Grey spent much time, while the crew had their mandatory break. Much to our surprise… or at least mine, their were free range sheep gamboling around. They wouldn’t come close enough for a true selfie, but Dotty and I did manage to get a couple of pictures with and of them. The view down over the bay was breathtaking.
So as you can see, the weather was much nicer. We took the boat back to Paihia and there waiting for us was Michael from Salt Air. We hopped in his van where he took us to the KeriKeri airport to pick up 2 more passengers, Chris and Pam from Christchurch and then around the back to the private airplanes. I will tell you that these private airplanes do not need paved runways to take off or land. And yes, there were cows on the landing strip when we landed up near the Cape. I have been on little planes before but this one was smaller than the one in Connemara and Saranac Lake. Michael gave us the security briefing, life jackets to wear the entire plane ride, and directed us to which seat we were to sit. Jim was copilot~do not push the pedals or touch that red switch! I sat behind Jim, with Chris in the seat next to me. Pam was behind me and Gammy and Dotty were in the way back. Everyone had a window.
Although the sun came out, it was a little humpety bumpety going over the mountains. Michael kept checking on us. We did have bags in the seat pocket in front of us, but they were not the Easy Queasy ones on Jet Star🤣. I think my tummy was the only one to get a bit rumbly, but I soldiered on. The view from the plane was worth it. Once we landed (and the cows nicely scurried to the other side of the fence), we piled into another van to drive to Cape Reinga and the Lighthouse.
So funny story, we got down to the lighthouse and I noticed all the stickers on the sign post. I did not take my stickers down to the lighthouse as I left my purse…not in the van, nope not me. I left my purse in the plane on the grassy knoll with the cows! Are you freaking kidding me? So how did our trail marker get on the signpost you ask? Great question. Our wonderful pilot/guide/van driving Michael was doing another tour on Tuesday and he took an extra (we gave one to him as well!) sticker and placed it on the signpost for me!
And now back to our adventures.
There is a legend that when the Maori die, their spirits come up to the Northernmost point of the Northland. The spirits go into a cave. There is a Pohutukawa tree growing near the cave that has never bloomed. Then the spirits leave and fly over to the 3 Kings Island. Alas we could not see the 3 Kings island in the distance as it was still hazy/foggy. But we saw where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.
We then drove to the Te Paki Sand Dunes. The pictures will not do them justice, and I will include a picture taken from the air as well.
The party is over. It is time to head home, so back in the van and to the grassy knoll to fly back to KeriKeri… where we also landed on grass, right next to paved runway. Oh, and in case you were wondering, my purse was safe and sound in the plane.
Quick van trip back to Paihia to catch the ferry… which doesn’t leave for 45 minutes and that will be 7:15 at night. NO biggie, except we are all tired and hungry and the last ferry leaves at 9 and dinner places everywhere close at 8:30 or 9. So we have a drink to discuss it and come to the decision we should take the 7:15 ferry, or is it 7:30? Matters not, and go straight to a restaurant and order.
We end up at Butterfish. Jim and Gammy both order 2 oysters each… The waiter comes back to say all the fresh oysters have been sold and they have no others. I had ordered a split of a Marlborough bubbly, which they had no more of… So I got a replacement. No worries. We really just want to eat and go to bed…
Definitely no Rummikub tonight. We are done. Tomorrow Tatsio picks us up at 10 to drive to Auckland!
#HowFortunateWeAre #WeMadeOurOwnSunshine #AdventuresOfALifetime #TripOfALifetime
Beautiful aerial views. Did it remind you of Ireland?