I was planning to explore more of Auckland city today but when I woke, another day looking at buildings didn’t seem so appealing somehow. So; a change of plan, a spur of the moment decision and I was on a ferry to Waiheke, the biggest of the many islands just off the coast.
The disadvantage of such impetuous decision making was that I had no idea what I was going to do once there. However, I felt confident that all would become clear at the landing place where I could probably buy a map or at least seek some guidance as to where to go, the best places to see etc etc. Wrong. The landing was in the middle of nowhere with just one road in sight. So, a choice: go left or right? Tossing a mental coin, I went right and then followed the sign
as I felt a bit of tramping would do me the world of good.
Uphill tramping in warm weather is quite tiring so I stopped for a while and was immediately aware of the stillness around me. I was absolutely and totally alone. No traffic noise, no people noise. Nothing at all except the occasional rustle from the undergrowth and birdsong plus the extraordinary and powerful aroma of wild honeysuckle.
It was almost overwhelming to the point of paranoia. I have no idea where I am. I have no idea where I am going. Nobody knows I am here. What if….? etc etc. It was a very surreal moment.
Rational thinking won the day. So instead of climbing ever higher to who knows where, I tramped back to the road where I had gone ‘off piste’ and continued to follow this safe haven until eventually coming upon the delightful seaside village of Oneroa.
This is clearly the village of ‘much sought after’ as, peering through an Estate Agent’s window (as you do), I saw a one bedroom house for sale at around £430,ooo!! I settled for an ice cream which I enjoyed by the beach
whilst contemplating how different this bit of sand was from that which I had just left in Brazil!
In addition to the world’s finest ice cream shop, Oneroa also has an interesting butchers which, as it’s Friday, was selling fish today!
What a tranquil spot
where, clearly, things are done at a very slow pace.
Only a 45 minute boat ride away and I was back to the reality of the big city although we had to do the marine equivalent of circling prior to landing to allow the yacht race to pass.
POETS day is clearly taken very seriously in Auckland because it was already party time when we finally docked.
The bars and many restaurants were heaving
and it was only 5.00 pm although some people still had to work.
I’ll do some city sightseeing tomorrow, perhaps, maybe.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 