It's the final countdown... da da daaaa da

Hey Hey!

Here we are! Slow again on the update front but with good reason. We have been living it up in the van chasing the sun north up through the Coramandel and Northland. We've hit some beautiful beaches and reserves, met lots of lovely folk, developed a slight (British) tan and being eaten alive (again) by our natural predators (those sandy buggers...)

For those following our trail:

We've run from Rotorua to Opotiki, from Port Ohope to Whakatane, Mount Manganui to the Coramandel, Cathedral Cove to Whitianga and finally up to the idylic Port Jackson where we stopped for a few nights avec some new found hitch-hiker buddies and enjoyed open fires and big waves (plus Kay got bit' by a crab).

Bongo went slightly nuts for a minute and so we took him to a nice man with a box of cable ties and the determination to fix anything and everything with them (yeah! Cable ties and Gaffer eh boys). Kay carved up some bones in Whitianga and then we whizzed round the coast to Northland picking up a couple of snorkle sets and some mini bodyboards as the waves were looking tidy.

Matapouri Bay, Matia Bay, Shipwreck Cove, Piha Beach, Fletchers Bay, Bay of Islands
- please go to these lovely spots and enjoy the coast as words just can't do them justice.
Also check out the 'night walk' past the Kauri coast in Trousen Kauri Park... it's a cool little stroll that you take at night with red cellophane over your torch to give an eerie effect... we spotted tons of glow-worms and heard tons of birds but we didn't go on a tour so we can't tell you what birds they were..... fun though!

After that little slice of nature another little slice moved into our van with us. A lovely little field mouse... Kay fed him some crisps and Ashley tried to catch him.... No luck there.

Now for the big news:

The mouse and the van have now been handed over to their new owner, Cody. Bongo will soon be off again to the South Island and we are left to spend the last of our travels back on foot.

We hope you are all well!

Loads of love,

Kay 'n' Ash

xxx

Back to the North Island

Hey there,

Once again we must apologise for our lack of updates recently. Since we last wrote we have abandoned the search for work in the South Island and headed back to the North.

The ferry ride back over was amidst a force 3 gale which, unfortunately, reduced Kay and Ash to quivering wrecks. All fun and games though.

Once we returned to the North we headed straight up to Palmerstone North to catch up with Gary, Leigh and Jo (from India). We spent 3 days up there staying with Gary and Leigh in their stunning house and had a crackin' night in with them and the gang and also a chance to explore Palmy. Ash went to see Gary's football team play and we both had a fast lesson in windfarms.

We had decided to start work on the east coast (Hawkes Bay region) but before we set off we had the pleasure of seeing Maura and Basil once again on their 50th Wedding anniversary. Thanks again to them for inviting us to their little gathering.

So onto Hawkes Bay, Napier and Hastings where after a few days of searching we were able to find work at a local Orchard. We spent the following week working at the Orchard from 7 til half four for silly money. We spent the nights staying on the beach at a rest stop (for free) thus managing to save up enough to pay for the next few weeks petrol. The work itself was ok, working outside (weather dependant) picking apples for 9 hours a day. Ash got very sunburnt through his refusal to wear suncream and enjoyed moaning about his hayfever. Even so we picked approx. 55,000 apples (it gets that boring that you start to count) and made a few friends along the way.

From Hawkes Bay we travelled north to Taupo where Kay threw herself from a plane much to the envy of Ash. However the excitement and hurtling movement caused Kay to feel less adrenelin and more motion sickness.... you shall all see the DVD when we get back.

Then we headed over to Tongariro National park for a stroll around some waterfalls and a trip up 'Mount Doom' to indulge in a bit of L.o.t.R set spotting. Recently we have been getting back into little walks here and there and we have explored a few tracks to keep us busy.

Since then we have also been through Rotorua, a site of much thermal activity. We have had the pleasure of visiting many mud pools, hot springs, steam emitting things, strange coloured lakes and other thermal wonders. We even managed to find a little secluded thermal pool to take a dip in, although Maori tradition suggests that this is very good for you it neglects to mention that you spend the rest of the day smelling like rotten eggs.... Still, all fun and games.

We are now up in the Bay of Plenty again on the hunt for another weeks work here or there. The weather has turned rainy and miserable of late but Bongo is still keeping us warm and dry.

We hope you are all well and send our love,

We will write again when we do something exciting.

Lots of love,

Ash'n'Kay

xxx