Our Xmas hols

We treked off through Rotarua, Auckland and up north. The biking in Rotarua isn't as good as Makara, but its still a laugh, like Thetford but with hills. Auckland is big. Northland is pretty. We both got some nasty bug and spent lots of the time lying in the sun trying not to vomit, but aside from that, it was gorgeous. Here's some pics.
Obligatory driving picture, somewhere alongside Omaha. Skanky white hire van with back seat moved us, Andrea's sis, Walter and Marlon, two bikes, ten kites, wetsuits, skates, boards and assorted random crap the length of the North Island. Hurrah for skanky white vans!

Currently we've a Honda Civic. Oh dear... But Omaha is a classic kitesurfing spot, shallow flat water across the estuary and steady winds. So we're told, we had 25 knots there and then and I was hanging onto Andrea's harness coz she had the van keys so I didn't want to lose her.

Goat Island marine reserve. As tourist trap as it gets in the north, meaning there were other people there. Wow! It was heaving, there was almost a queue for the ice cream.

Anyway, lots of scenic snorkelling, or so I'm told, I was lying down at the time.
Beaches, beaches, beaches. This was somewhere between Langs Beach and Mangawhai Heads. Four foot swell for Andrea to play in, steady sea breeze for my ancient Flexifoil Scorpion.
This was somewhere in the big empty near Aranga Beach. Yes, that's a Landie, Series IIB with the back full of dead fish. This would have been a classic spot for kitesurfing, except for the horrific rips, mushy waves and lack of anything resembling a rescue service. Still, its got potential...
More West Coast, somewhere near Bayleys Beach. The beach goes on forever. If you get the chance, go to the Funky Fish cafe. You'll probably have to book, despite it being in the middle of nowhere. Amazing decor and mad Swedes. The food's pretty good too.
Not holiday. Here's Spencer, on my STS, over to Wellington from Sydney on a 'business trip', to see if anyone on Wrights Hill wanted to buy some search software. Strangely, we couldn't find anyone so instead he had his first Deliverance experience. Deliverance is heaven. Vertigo is steeper, the Karapoti is longer, Red Rocks is, umm, rockier, but Deliverance is perfection in singletrack form. Then again, I haven't ridden Slackboy's Happy Time Sunshine Trail yet.

Mmm... ooo... aaa... Makara. All you Pommie bikers, just move to Wellington and stop complaining.
Me being a silly bugger by the cliff on Missing Link at Makara. (Pic by Jonathan Kennett). Yup, the carbon Muni is still rocking and the Muni scene in Welly is kicking. Well, there's three of us and I'm the worst by far. Ken did the Creek-to-Peak race on his. That's gotta hurt, but much respect due.

Anyway, Missing Link just flows.