My old high school friend, John, picked me up from the airport at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. Faithful soul that he is. I had requested a stop at one of Auckland's famous weekend markets before we landed anywhere else.
We rolled into the Mangere Market just as the sun was coming up, and the place was humming with activity. We wandered around and I picked up some fresh fruit and veggies to take to my sister, because she and John love them so much!
About two thirds of the market was like a giant garage sale, with all kinds of used clothes, household and garden items for sale. It was not, quite honestly, inspiring. I had been hoping for some quality souvenirs to take home, but no such luck.
We headed back to John's abode for a little rest before our lunch date with my flatmate of almost forty years ago. John wasn't up for anything in the way of exertion (probably remembering the very long hike I led him on last time I visited) so while he went out to place a bet (he's bad like that) I took a little jaunt across the Orakei Basin. First, I had to do a steep climb up and down the hill, which left me breathless after a day and night with little sleep.
It's a beautiful area, a tidal lagoon in what is left of a volcano. The banks are covered in bush and the air is filled with the song of native birds. There are trails all around it and a walkway that connects them.
Last time I was in town, the walkway's completion had been delayed over some kind of land-use argument.
I just realised that I never posted any photos of our walk around the basin in 2011. They are too good to ignore. At least, I think so.
Some of the trail goes through neighbourhoods. John liked the look of this bench in someone's front garden and parked himself on it for a rest. And yes, he really did walk the whole thing in his flip-flops!
The trail down to the walkway was blocked off in 2011, but we ignored it and climbed the fence and down the hill, only to be thwarted by The Gap.
Yes, I did think about leaping over it, but doubted my leaping skills.
Me, at the bottom, looking up at John, who didn't brave the steps.
Looking at the other side of the basin. We walked all the way around it. I don't think John has ever walked that far in his life!
The sluice gates, which are opened periodically to regulate water levels in the basin.
There are some rather gorgeous photos of the basin on this blog, if you want to see more.
Anyway, back to 2013.
We went to Derek and Leah's for lunch. You can see my last visit with them here. Leah and I flatted together in 1976 and for some obscure reason, she still likes me. I stayed the night at their house, and spent several hours reminiscing with my friend. John picked me up the next morning and we drove down to Paeroa to meet Anne and John at church.
Side note: they drive for an hour, over horribly winding roads, every Sunday to get to church. I'm afraid that that would test my faithfulness. Yes it would.
On the way, John insisted that we stop at this little cafe. It is strangely named, and looks like a bit of a dive from the road, but it recently won "Cafe of the Year". Inside, it is packed with British royalty paraphernalia and their date scones are heavenly.
The motorbike you see on the left is a BSA bike, the same make my dad owned in his early twenties.
I didn't think about photos until the scone was just a sweet memory. Sad.
My ice-cold water was served in this lovely bottle, which I wanted to steal but didn't.
So, John handed me off to Anne and Big John, and we went our separate ways.
Driving on the Coromandel Peninsula is one unrelenting, unbelievable vista.
After a stomach-churning drive, we arrived at the Love Shack on the beach. It was built almost entirely with their two pairs of hands.
The house.
Not the beach.
Imagine that feat of engineering.
It boggles my brain every time I think of it.
Stay tuned for Hobbity adventures on the Coromandel Peninsula.
What a gorgeous place! Good for us that you like to walk and take picture while you do it!
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