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Monday 29th April 2013
I woke up after a good nights sleep, although I was worried about falling out of bed. I got up after my alarm went off and ungracefully got out of bed. I grabbed my shower stuff and waited outside the shower as it was already occupied. There was a few people out and about. I made myself a cup of tea whilst I waited and ate my banana. It wasn't long before the shower was free and I jumped in. I had a quick shower, and got dressed. It was a small shower room. Once dressed I packed up my stuff and got ready. I then made another cup of tea and had 2 crumpets with peanut butter.
Once I was done and washed up my stuff I grabbed my bags and loaded them on the bus. After a couple of final checks of the room I jumped on the bus, and we set off at 7.30am. We had a long drive to Raglan today and would be they by 1.30pm. We drove through some stunning scenery, weaving in and out of the roads. Early in the journey I tried to write in my diary, which I manger for about 20mind before feeling a bit ill. We stopped off not far from camp to see some trees Kauri. These were massive original trees that the maori believed if you touched would give you powers. We stopped for photos and all touched or hugged the trees, then back on the bus we jumped. Although watching the scenery fly past was amazing, the windy roads had their effect, so I closed my eyes for most of the journey, occasionally drifting off.
We drove then to Paeroa, where the make the famous New Zealand drink of L&P (Lemon and Paeroa). The bus filled up with fuel and we had the chance for a toilet stop and a cup of tea at McDonalds. It made my morning that McDonald did earl grey tea. Trish brought some L&P, so I tried some, it was just like sparkling water with lemon.
Back on the bus we got for another 2 hours to Raglan. Again I spent the major part of the trip snoozing. The scenery had turned from costal by the coast to farm land and rolling hills. We drove through the diary town of Hamilton. There were plenty of fields full of cows, with the majority bring Frisians with some Jerseys thrown in. There were parlours dotted in fields, there were simply sheds with roofs on and no sides and you could see all the units. We continued to drive onto Raglan. We arrived in the township around 12.40pm. We were again back by the sea, we had travelled from the east coast to the west. We were given just over an hour in the town. I grabbed some stamps for cards and postcards, then got some postcards. I only wrote one to Kath, to say thank you and happy birthday (as it was her birthday on Wednesday 1st May), I was hoping it would get there in time. I walked around the few shops for potential presents, but there wasn't anything suitable. I looked at some cider for the evening, but decided to save my pennies.
Back on the bus we got at 1pm and drove 20mins to our camp. In this time I had my lunch, rice crackers, apple, peanuts and a cereal bar (I had a carrot for a snack earlier). On arriving at the hostel, although it was more like a retreat. It was a collection of rooms (4 to a room) with a massive kitchen/common room.
We checked in and I booked into renting a body board and wet suit ($15). I didn't want to pay for a surf lesson but wanted to give body boarding ago, and I thought it would be good to get out and about (the only other option was walking). I was given my room and I took my bags through. I had 40mins before we were meeting to go to the beach. I got myself ready and sorted out a few things for tomorrow (as we were going caving). I also made myself a cup of tea and had a slice of the cake I was given the other day. At 2.30pm we meet to go to the beach, there was 5 renting boards (including Miss P), 2 having a lesson and then myself. Indie ask if anyone else wanted to body board, as I didn't really want to go by myself but no one wanted to, so I thought sod it and go.
We got to the beach (Ngoiuira??) and we were given our wetsuits and then boards. I was still clueless about what I was meant to be doing, but I just waddled out into the sea and then tried to catch and ride some waves back. The sea had some bugs waves and at times it was a struggle to get out into the water. I'd asked on the walk to the beach what a rip current was and the surf teacher explained it, and in the water you could really feel it pull. We were in the water for about 90mins. I think I caught about 5 or 6 proper waves, the rest of it was either small waves or the battle to get to the water and out the rip. My wetsuit zip was broken so the cold water was able to get through the back and I was soon a little chilly. At times in the water my mind would wonder and I would day dream only to be snapped back to reality by being hit by a massive wave. I enjoyed my body boarding, although I'm still not sure what I was doing. When the surf lesson was over I was more the happy to get out the water. Then started the mission of getting out the wetsuit (even more difficult with a nomen zip), after a battle it was off and I was soon wrapped in my non warming travel towel. Some of those who rented a board complained they didn't get their full 3 hours and went back to the water. Luckily one of the surfing school men offered to drop them back after they'd finished, so we didn't have to wait for them.
Once back at the resort we jumped into the sauna. I was lovely and warm. We sat in there and chatted for a bit. Soon it was time to get out and have a shower, after having warmed up in the sauna this wasn't nice. I grabbed my shower stuff and headed to the shower block. There was 3 showers, one which didn't drain away, one that was cold and one that was fine. I jumped in the shower (the good one) and had a quick shower as Claire was waiting. I go changed and put a jumper and my neck buff on, to keep warm with wet hair.
I headed to the common room to make a tea and I had the apple I found on the bus. Trish had already cooked dinner, just the rice and bread needed to be done. I sat and chatted to our newbie for tomorrow whilst the second Harry Potter finished. I then went to help with the last of the food preparation, although I really just stood there talking to Miss P and Trish.
Soon dinner was ready, the chilli con carne was yummy, the rice nice and sticky and the garlic bread finished it off perfectly. I had a big portion and a little extra meat when eating, as I was hungry after being in the water and tomorrow would be a busy day. I may have also smuggled a few extra pieces o garlic bread in the kitchen. The atmosphere around the table was good and fun. Soon a few girls took our plates and washed up. After letting our food settle and chatting, a group of us decided to go and see the glow worms down the track (we were in a forest setting). The little worms were difficult to spot at first, as they were small luminous spots low down in the hedges, but soon we could see a good collection on them. They looked like a small set of fairy lights in the hedge, almost looking magical and mystical.
Once back up in the common room I made myself and a few others a cup of tea (I used the camp tea, although I'm still not convinced of what tea it actually was, we concluded a mixture). A few girls had started watching the second Bridget Jones films, so I joined them and wrote my diary. It was a good laugh watching the film, as I hadn't seen it for a while. After the film I decided to head to bed, a few had already left and other were staying up. I got changed and settled down. I wrote a little more of my diary and read a little before trying to sleep at 10.30pm.
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