Of angry gods

In Ahipara, one of THE surfing hotspots, we hope for a bit of sun, but unfortunately we only get fog and rain. Anyone can have a beach with a blue sky, but we think that a beach with fog is pretty cool and by far even better than muddy Berlin. We do some much needed cleaning and take a very long walk on the beach where we find a huge dead stingray. Unfortunately, we have to skip a trip to the northernmost point of New Zealand (Cape Reinga) and sand surfing at 90 Mile Beach. The tour provider no longer exists since Covid.

The next morning, after the best pancake breakfast ever, we want to look at huge sand dunes directly in Ahipara as we continue our journey. We prepare for the walk and Maren asks if I think we need a rain jacket. I look at the sky and say; “Well, that’s great!”. We get a bag from the parking lady to collect rubbish so we don't have to pay a parking fee. So we set off and the route over sand and rocks is actually very well traveled. Jeeps and a quad are constantly whizzing past us. Near an artfully carved Maori wooden pillar figure, no cars are finally coming and I look for a place to pee, protected from view. Afterwards, just for fun, I'll say; "Now I've probably pissed off some gods by peeing here." It seems I was right. Because shortly afterwards it starts to drizzle, we walk a little further and can see the sand dunes from afar. When it starts to thunder, we turn around and it immediately starts to rain really hard. By the time we get back to the bus we are completely soaking wet. Completely unprotected, we take off our clothes in front of the door and leave all of our wet clothes outside. Maren comes to her clothes boxes and I put on my pajamas. Our cell phones are in the driver's cab and we're trapped in the back because no one wants to get wet anymore. We snuggle up in bed and spend the early afternoon with a film and a hearty snack. Of course we have to pee again and I sacrifice myself. I walk around the bus and drive us, Maren lying in bed, to the nearest toilet. We finish watching the film in the parking lot and then drive on to the Waipoua Kauri Forest late in the afternoon.