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| When we arrived at the Aladdin Holiday Park on Tuesday, Helen, who is the owner of the park, greeted us. She runs the site with her husband Bob Scott and they are about 10 years older than us. Helen has a lovely, bubbly personality and we had coffee first. We got our table and chairs out and settled down to an impromptu chat. We have stayed here two years ago but did not get to know Helen then. We have decided that we will stay here until we have sorted out all the little jobs that would make life so much easier in the long run. | |
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The big change to our life is having bicycles. It presents a whole new independence and we are getting much needed exercise. It also means we can ride into town and park anywhere without having to worry about where to go with Turbo Snail. She just sits on our site looking after our belongings. |
| A big part of this week has been taken up by working on the web site and putting pictures to the travelogue. Then in the afternoon, when it is not so hot anymore, we are off on our bikes exploring. Yesterday was Friday and we went to Cooks Beach. We took our bicycles on the ferry across to the Whitianga harbour to the other side and then we started our first real biking outing. It started with a hill and I had to learn fast how the gears work, or risk having to dismount and walk up the hill. Having ridden for a few days I had some idea and the previous experience definitely helped getting up the hill. Well I just made it and I was very proud of it. The easy bit is riding down the other side of the hill and it was a log one. The wind was lovely and cooling and we came across a lovely bit of beach. So we stopped, looked and stared, enjoying the view. Then someone took our photo as we posed with our bikes. |  |
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Then we travelled on to Cooks Beach. What a lovely place! A big wide sandy beach with hardly anybody on it! We parked our bikes and then strolled along the beach. We came across two people in sand yachts, who were exploring a new sport. It was fun to watch them as we walked passed. |
| At the other end of the beach we came across a creek. It led inland and as it looked full of promises, we followed it. Fergus took some lovely photos and we had great fun just exploring the area. We returned back to the beach and just then Fergus spotted a little blue penguin. It was only 30 cm tall and wobbled along the beach towards the sea. It’s only companions were the small seagulls and they seemed friendly towards the penguin. It all happened very quickly and the penguin was back in the waves and we lost sight of him. Our first spotting of a little blue penguin and it was very special. |  |
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It was time to return along the beach and start our return trip. The first hill was ok but the last hill was too much for me and I had to get off and walk. My legs felt tired after that and my quads needed to be stretched out. However I felt great and enjoyed the trip and the exercise. In time we can make bigger excursions but we have to bring the fitness level up to scratch. | |
| <------ Mangrove shoots in the foreground |
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Swimming too has been possible again but we do it after 5pm so that the sun does not burn so much. Then after our swim we walk along the beach for a while and then return home to start the evening ritual of "Happy Hour" and cooking of the evening meal. Work continues on the web site and we are currently working on the changes that have to be made. We also had a new windscreen fitted, as just before Christmas, a passing vehicle through up a stone onto the windscreen and cracked it nicely without actually breaking it. Luckily the windscreen was insured and so we got it replaced free of charge. |
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Fergus in the water |
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