Vemka's travels

mooi he, wel blut now

Hi everybody,
Leaving Kohukohu, haha, on the ferry! We're going to go across the easy way. This is only 4k(m) and the other way around is over a 100 k! Lots more winding roads, no thanks. I think I'm going to drive all the way (not really far actually) to the Kauri Forest... This is where the huge trees live. They've got a doc campsite there and this time I'm prepared. I've got 20 litres of fresh bug-free water and lots of food.
How are you doing in cold winter wonderland? Don't get me wrong, it;s pretty chilly here too. Well, in the mornings and the evenings, mid-day it's still about 26 degrees or something, but the sun it really intense so you still can't stay in the sun too long.

I got news today... my friend has had her baby :) sooooo happy for you guys! Will ring you as soon as I find a town big enough to sell these phonecards.

Well, you know how I told you about the odd jobs that I was doing here? The first day I dug out a nature trail, nature had taken over and had to be trimmed down. And cut lots of flowerheads off, beautiful purple exotic flowers. Yesterday my job was to build a bonfire! Out of bamboo, that's going to be soooo loud. Bamboo has got air in it and if you burn it.... cheap fireworks!
Couldnt help but being creative with it, made a penholder and a candle holder with it. Such a shame to burn it.
Well, whatever they've got too much off, we havent got any of which makes it really expensive in holland. It's just not fair. I'd love to build my own bamboo bed, and I'd take orders too... Well, might try them in a greenhouse.

Lots of wells, I just realised.

bye die bye, tot snel

Hi all,
We're on the road all right, the highway we assumed. Not so much highway as we know it though. Oh my god... Poor Thomas gave it his all, and we made it. But he's taking a break now. We have arrived at the Treehouse in Kohukohu (I need someone to read the bloody map tooooo, how can you remember all these strange names and guide Thomas though the experience of his lifetime all at the same time). I stayed at a 'campsite' on the beach last night. They literally had no facilities, only ghardiha-or whatever the bugs called-water. But it was all right.
Today however, I'm have treated myself to a hostel bed. They probably have a website where you can have a look at this place. And you know what? I told them I was looking for a job of some kind and they will give me accomodation for free if I put in 2 hours of gardening. Well, that sounds good.
We're surrounded by giant rabbits, very free range chickens (oh no, chickens again..), ducks and others. Lots of macademia (yum!) trees too.
What has happened since I left Whangarei... I stayed at Akkes (raku pottery) in Ngunguru for a while, wwoofed my way around her garden and fixed up Thomas. I got to meet lots of her very arty and really interesting friends. It was a great experience and I love Ngunguru!
Nearly ate my first fish (well shell fish-pipi) but couldnt. Silly me.
After leaving Akke I was on my own again. Took all the interesting roads (and the only ones) to Matauri bay, up North. BEAUTIFUL! And I somehow took the right turn because I ended up at this beautiful campsite right on the beach. I stayed a couple of nights and met some nice people there. I found my first Pauwa shell! I'll show you later on... when I get back or in a picture, it;s a really special shell.
We were on the road again and it's funny how decisions are being made where there is just you. I was pretty sure I didn't want to go up the peninsula because of many reasons, but moments later I find myself taking that turn anyway. So I drove up the peninsula anyway. Aparently I wanted to...
There was a DOC campsite there. (cheap bush camping in amazing spots)
And there were some other people there. So stayed there and met Annie, a scottish american who works in Antartica. It was a good spot with a gorgeous beach.
From there, drove to that funny beach campsite and now I'm here. Kohukohu is one of the oldest town in New Zealand and has a population of 150 haha.
Will stay here a couple of days and then I'm off to Eddy's again, to paint his house and pay off Thomas.
Bye bye for now, I want to go and explore... and read my emails,
lots of love,
fem
Nice to have so many nice comments! Dank jullie voor de leuke berichtjes! Jammer dat ik bijna nooit tijd heb om te antwoorden, maar ik waardeer het heel erg en good on you mam, dat je het door hebt!