Country Roads

We had a good day today. I knew it was going to be a good day right from when I went out at 6.30 AM to get the paper. You see, as I walked up the drive, the frost was making that delicious crunchy squeaky noise underfoot that only fresh frost can make. Mind you , it has been doing that every morning this week. I love that sound. It reminds me of being a 5 year old playing in frozen puddles at the trout hatchery. This morning was special though. You see, Sherman was snuggled up nice & warm in the garage ready & raring to go after his rejuvenation.

So we went. First of all, down to the mall to buy a couple of things that we needed, then a nice leisurely drive up the coast. By the time we got as far as Coromandel, it was lunchtime, so we had lunch. We ate at the Peppertree restaurant. It wasn't especially cheap, but it was very nice. Herself had 2 lovely pieces of Gurnard with chips & I had the seafood chowder. They were both delicious. Mine came with the nicest garlic bread that I have tasted for a long time. Its nice to dine in pleasant surrounds, knowing that you don't have to rush because of work pressures. We also found something that Herself can not only drink, but actually enjoy as well without gagging, gasping or spluttering. Tomato juice. needless to say, we have added a supply to our pantry.

From there , we went up to Colville, past the Buddhist centre, with its beautiful roadside shrine as far as the Port Charles turnoff, where we hit the metal roads. There is something rather delightful & satisfying in driving a loose metal road in a 4wd that hugs a road like that as well as Sherman does. We went right to the end of the road. Through Port Charles, through Sandy Bay, where the council road maintanence ends, another 7 kilometers to Rocky Bay. The road was pretty grim, with a lot of washouts & washboarding, but we took our time. it was worth it. Just to sit there looking out across beautiful deep green sea with Great Barrier Island looking so close you could almost wade out to it. I dont think I have ever been to a place so quiet & tranquil. The only sounds that you could hear was the gentle wash of the waves on the beach & the call of the Tui from the bush behind us. It has to be as close to Paradise as it gets. Summer time would be vastly different though I think.

We returned to Coromandel via the other road. Down though Tuateawa & Kennedy's Bay. that road is loose metal all the way, but the scenery is absolutely worth it. There is an incredible view of the Mercury Islands from the top of the hill at Tuateawa. The coast road back along the Thames Coast was an easy task after this. Just cruising & admiring the sunset. Starting off at the top with the palest of pale blue sky that somehow transformed itself into the most delicate shade of pink that you can imagine. Then a thin dark line so straight it might have been drawn with a ruler, then the sea. The palest of butter yellows. God it was pretty. All this with no freight to deliver & no deadlines to keep. Best of all Herself got to forget about The hurt thats happening to her at the moment. That makes it al worth while. Yeah, we had a good day.