It's like a bad joke that goes like this:
“Knock knock”
“Who’s there?”
“Enforcement Officer”
“Enforcement Officer who”
“Enforcement Officer, again”……..
Having told us we could park at the reserve in Kuaotunu, Coromandel, NZ, we moved our vehicles down there, parked considerately ensuring there was plenty of room for turning vehicles, and really enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding beach. Meanwhile, apparently the locals were talking. We met a local craftsman, a very skilled one at that, who kindly gave us some citrus fruit to enjoy from his property. We mentioned we had met the council’s law Enforcement Officer, oh that’d be Victor says he… (when he first got the job he locally got the nickname “the e-Victor”). Yup that was him we say - we quite like Victor, he treated us respectfully enough. So we were now on first name basis when (e-)Victor came a-knocking…..again.
Although he had suggested we park where we were, apparently the locals were complaining, (or was it the mayor in his house just up there we asked)…he mentioned something about the local schoolbuses feeling like we were “obstructing” their turning bay…..(we all laughed)!! Anyways, given we come in peace and it is not our objective to upset the locals, we chatted about possible locations we could park, then agreed we would be moving on today and headed up and over yet another epic hill toward Otama.
Upon embarking, we met a logging truck rolling down the hill on the first insane corner…..he pulls up beside me and with a wry smile says, “So where ya reckon ya taking that big load there lu’ttle lady”, to which, with a wink and a grin I reply, “Up and over that hill there.” Pausing and obviously deciding whether I was crazy or capable, he gave me the benefit of the doubt and suggested that he would radio the other truck rolling down the hill shortly and let him know I was coming. Then he advised I drive on the other side of the road around that first corner…yup got it! Meeting that other truck on the other side of the hill (at the bottom), I could see they’d had a good ole yarn….his smile was one of great amusement!!
So we rolled into Otama and parked at the public reserve. Giddy with the beauty of the incredible landscape the kids had a ball ‘surfing’ while some of the big kids actually surfed. We basked in the sun, hid in huge Pohutukawa tree root caves from rainstorms, basked in more sun, and felt as if our country was once again a shared space. Then much to our total delight, a local chap that we had briefly met that morning at our previous park, rocked up with a huge bag of veges for both of us and a beautiful flower from the garden. Wow! Fantastic; an inspired moment of grace that showed up the stagnant, sad sense of tiredness with "outsiders" that was starting to taint our stay. We happily tucked into some super fabulous greens for dinner and voted that guy for mayor.
We are discovering this area is a ready made amusement park for kids. Pohutukawa tree root caves, natural clay slides, beaches with the ultimate child friendly surf waves, rock pools, rocks to climb, the list goes on. We are putting very tired kids to bed each night, zonked out with fresh air flowing through their lungs. The best part for us right now is we are getting to share it with fabulous friends who have delved into the lifestyle of 'bus-ing it' with us for a weeks holiday in their own bus. It is a true pleasure to share in this country's exquisiteness.
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