T'aint so grim up north

Been a while since our last update, it’s pretty up north but once you leave Auckland facilities (particularly internet) get a bit sparse on the ground.

We arrived in Auckland aiming to catch the US election results roll in, but after a few hours of searching could find nowhere that would show it on tele. Only sports...typical.

The information center offered to call the US embassy and at that point we figured that the small island mentality must kick in regarding world affairs. A little island at the bottom of the world where even in the largest city of over 1.2 million no one could give a monkeys about what happens anywhere else. Perhaps its endearing, but for us very very frustrating. Eventually fell across an Irish bar aptly named Father Teds who I managed to talk into watching the results. Sure enough there was an American lady from Wisconsin in there watching it on her phones who over a bit to eat kindly filled us in on how their political system works. Fundamentally all you need to know is that you can get more votes than the other guy and still loose. WTF? Pretty democratic right? :-/ Anyway Obama wins and that’s good for everyone.

 

Auckland is nice. Big city feel that seems to punch well above its weight. Took a ferry across to the wealthy suburb of Devonport (not to be confused with a not so wealthy, and much more dirty, Devonport back home...). 

Standard 3 bedroom single level houses here = over $1 Million as banker boys snap them up in favor of the 20 minute ferry commute to the city.

Played around in the SkyCity casino and broke even all thanks to 28 black. Hopped up to the top of the mahoosive sky tower for some twilight views of the city.

We left Auckland and headed further north towards Whangerai (pronounced FANG-ER-AY), passing a marine reserve with a perfectly placed photo posing tree – most likely really old with loads of historical significance that shouldn’t be sat on...so we sat on it.

Up from Whangerai we came across Sandy Bay just short of the bay of islands – a premier surf spot. We were delighted to spot Boris Johnson below stretching his awkward limbs into a skimpy wetsuit humming the beach boys as he prepared for a wipe-out. 

Once past the monster white surf he managed clamber his clumsy ass up onto the board and ride her home...then he flapped about in true Boris style as he couldn’t make it back out past the currents. Just kept approaching waves then panicking as they hit and turning upside down like a duck.

GO BORIS GO!!!!