Pukekohe to Penrose, New Zealand
Irene sent us all off around 8:30 in the morning after a hardy breakfast in Pukekohe. We drove the rental car to the motorcycle shop in Penrose where Jay dropped us off and returned the rental car to Auckland. He then took an Uber back to Penrose to meet us and pick up his motorcycle. We three motorcycles were off on our NZ adventure by 11:00.
Penrose to Waihi, New Zealand
We spotted a few sheep and cattle along the way
Coromandel Peninsula across the water.
First signs of fall in the southern hemisphere....while back in Virginia it was spring.
Low tide
We stopped to get gas, decided to back track to an oyster restaurant for lunch.
This was an oyster packing company.
The restaurant portion was closed on Tuesdays, but they did have oyster fritters that they warmed up for us. YUM!
I think the guys had oysters on the half shell in mind, but we made do with the fritters.
These folks actually farm the oysters.
After lunch we rode for a while, then stopped for a break along the waterfront. The tide was going out.
On this stop, this sign was posted. It made me hope that the oysters in our lunch fritters weren't from here.
We spotted the Coromandel Peninsula across the waterfront
The view just got better and better as we rode on.
The water color in New Zealand is incredible.
We took another break along this fast flowing river.
Butt Break!😀!
We finally arrived at Wendy's wonderful home. She was away on a trip to Nepal, but she left us a fine bottle of vino and a traditional New Zealand pastry for breakfast.
Her next door next door neighbor heard us pull in. She shouted over the fence, that she was going bowling at 6:00 and would take us to the RSA or the Royal Retired Service Association for dinner if we would like to go with her.
We jumped on her offer. After riding all day, it sounded nice to not have to get back on the bikes.
Wendy had a lemon and lime tree growing in her yard. There are mild winters the North Island.
Waihi to Pauanui, New Zealand
"Blue skies smiling at me,
Nothing but blue skies do I see."
Willie Nelson
I love the color contrast in this NZ building.
What unusual mountain peaks!
More cattle....where are the NZ sheep?
Irene's Beach Home
Jay and Kim decided to head further up the coast to the Hot Water Beach. While they were gone it rained, making this colorful rainbow.
Larry and I walked to the beach and enjoyed the waterfront homes that dotted the hillside.
I imagine this is a very peaceful beach to visit in the summer. It certainly was this evening.
What a magical night with a full moon.
Coromandel to Penrose
The next morning Larry and I rode to Thames to meet Jay and Kim at....
The Wharf Cafe.
It was a scenic spot on an inlet.
Before we ordered breakfast, we had to take a look at the boats docked along the cafe.
We saw dark clouds in the sky so we took off, in an effort to beat the rain.
We passed rolling hillsides,
cattle farms, and
quaint towns.
The dark clouds just seemed to follow us.
The traffic really picked up as we headed back to Penrose to return the bikes.
We managed to get back to the Motorcycle Rental Shop with just a few spots of rain.
From Penrose we ubered to our hotel back in Auckland, grabbed a late lunch and slept soundly, dreaming about our next adventure on the Great Northern Explorer Train on the following morning.
Pauanui to Coromandel, New Zealand
Coromandel to Penrose
Waihi to Pauanui, New Zealand
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