Day 6 The Mount – Surfing and Auckland

I was up at 5:30 this morning – internet connection was so nice – able to work – talked to Mick.

We cooked some eggs and had cereal we purchased last night – checked out right at 10 – I had just finished charging everything and downloading pictures.

Off to find a surf spot. We drove around for a while – eventually returned to the Main beach – walked to a surf shop and rented a wet suit and board for Aria. We walked back to the beach and waited for a surf school to show up for Allysha in the meantime Aria surfed. The conditions are not great but there are lots waves. Aria is fearless and paddles out – she has some trouble making it to the lineup – a local comes up and tells me where the channel is – right up against the rocks – I walk out and tell Aria and she finally makes it to the lineup.

Allysha is hungry and wants Burger King – I am resistant but eventually drive here there - perhaps it will help her feel more comfortable – less homesick. Back to the beach just in time to add her to a lesson.

As I write this Ally is in a surf lesson on a 7'7 Surftech soft-top and Aria is o the other side of the rock surfing her 6'7 board.

Later we will leave for Auckland – Pam made arrangements at the information center this morning. It is 255km from here – the hotel is 4 km from the airport where we need to be by 7am – and that will be the end of our NZ adventure.

We made the drive to Auckland checked into the room – an old beat-up motor Inn with the smell of mold in the bathroom – we will make do. We headed into the city, ended up at Sky Tower and had a very expensive but pleasant seafood buffet at the top of the tower.

I remembered to validate the ticket only when I went to pay at the automated kiosk it was not validated nd the parking charges were 24 – my visa requires signature so it did not work – which is a good thing – having spent a pretty penny on dinner I walked all the way back to the validation machine and this time inserted the parking correctly – took the toll from 24 to 5 – still had to pay with cash.

We made the drive back to the hotel – I was exhausted – we packed and retired for the night –actually I fell asleep laying cross ways on the bed – so did Pam – eventually she woke me up and had me change direction.


 

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