Mt Maunganui - Surf's Up

Coming through all the bustle and industry of Tauranga, we arrived at "The Mount." This smaller beachy town of Mt Maunganui is known for its 232 meter high ancient volcanic cone perched on the very end of the peninsula. 

    Its Maori name Mauao means "caught by the dawn." 

It took a moment to figure out which flat was Liana's (Corey's cousin) and Matt's place, but finally figured out it was the unassuming garden steps leading up to a cozy place with a view. The giveaway was the couple surfboards stacked out the back ;) 

They weren't home from work yet, so we unloaded the truck one last time, bringing our things inside, and got ready to head to the beach.  Matt got home just as we were about to leave, so we had a brief chat and then he took the truck to get it cleaned, as the new buyers would be coming in just a couple hours! 

Beside their flat, an easy walk a couple blocks up the alleyway led to the beachy paradise. 

It was a truly glorious place. Unbelievably soft sand underfoot, picture-perfect shells littered the beach, endless rolling waves, the perfect breeze, islands up the shore and the famous "Mount" bold and conspicuous towering above the shoreline. The water temp was perfect. Kids were in a heaven of delight finding clam shells and twisty shells each of their own perfection and glory. 

There's always a certain kind of joy when coming to the water's edge.  And we realized this joy was punctuated all the more by the unexpected relief of getting the truck back to Matt in one piece and handing it off! We hadn't known we'd been carrying that weight until it had been lifted, and the discovery was an added treat at arriving to this beautiful place! 

Sure enough, the new owners came just a couple hours after we arrived, and purchased the truck and just like that, it was gone and out of all our hands. We shared that mutual joy and relief, and had a feast of BBQ bean tacos & drinks and chatted late into the night.  It was wonderful to hear Corey and Liana reminisce about family memories during their summer reunions when they were kids.  And to learn of the coming adventures on the horizon for Liana and Matt. 

The next morning after breakfast, I gathered up surf gear and headed to the beach.  Jitters bounced in my belly as I neared the beach and heard the sound of crashing waves. You see, growing up on Lake Huron, the only time I ever got to properly attempt surfing was during storms and strong winds, and on rare occasions when the waves tower above the head and have the power to really shake ya up.  

Kind of like how the ocean is all the time. 

Seeing other surfers out in the waves gave some reassurance.  I stood at the edge for a bit and then finally took the plunge. 

The salty surf crashed into my face, towering waves threw themselves down on my body.  I paddled hard, and finally, breathing heavily, made it out and beyond the break into the beautiful quiet of the rollers. 

Then it began. I paddled like mad and missed, or was smashed and flipped by waves if I was too far forward.  Tossed around like a rag doll.  The waves show no mercy to the amateur.  It's an odd thing, being out there getting absolutely beat up by waves. A form of suffering that somehow brings with it such a thrill.  It's its own kind of contorted "fun", I think primarily fueled by the obsession to catch that moment of glory that it is to stand upon a board and feel the power of rolling water underfoot. 

But I wasn't getting that, I was just getting beat up.  So I finally resorted to surfing the break at the sandbar instead, and immediately caught one and rode it all the way to shore.  I was so intent on turning right around, and doing it again, doing it better...I nearly forgot to relish how long that ride had been (especially compared to Lake Huron's storm surf). I stopped in my tracks and cracked into a big grin with a laugh out loud, to take a moment to appreciate where in the world I was, and what I was actually doing.  This is a dream come true! 

So it continued. Rains drizzled. Waves slammed me.  I crushed my left foot super hard and cut my toe on a shell. My arms were toast. I caught a few more breakers and finally headed in. Of course just as I came up onto the beach, I see the blue bobbing jacket of Danforth running on the beach towards me.

Despite being utterly wiped out, the family was now at the beach and I couldn't just suddenly be done! So back out into the waves, after a few more waves and beatings, we all headed back to the flat.  

After lunch, I lounged with Mel; watercolor painting & watching "The Sea Beast" while Corey and Danforth headed out on foot for groceries. They made it back laden with groceries despite getting caught in a downpour.  When the sun came back out, I left to explore the nearby thrift shops and juice shop under the humid heat of the afternoon sun.  

We said bye to Liana & Matt as they departed on a trip. 

Later, after a quick pass through town, we had dinner and headed back up the alleyway to the beach at dusk.  

We were immersed in a glorious painting; of stunning colors displayed across cloud dense skies with sun beams bursting through.  The water reflecting the perfect compositions of light & color above. 

We collected shells, watched wave patterns colliding upon one another, and a few remnant surfers catching the last waves before dark. We felt deep peace, and a happy contentment settled over us at the couple days ahead to just live and just be.  

In the morning we headed straight to the beach for more surf.  The waves were quite "dumpy" - meaning they slowly rise, and then suddenly break all at once- which is not an ideal wave for beginners - as you don't have much time to transition from paddling to surfing the wave & surfing the chop requires much more control.  Corey and I took turns with the board, paddling like mad, trial and error, getting sloshed around, until we both ended up settling for surfing after the break again (once the wave has already crashed but still has power to take you to shore).  

After some hours we headed back to the flat to shower; feeling happy but worn out and ready for lunch. We packed up and headed into town to eat and to check out a different beach for surf round two. 

This popular beach in town had a massive rock outcropping with nooks and crannies full of shallow pools (and no harmful creatures hiding under the surface either!)  The kids were in paradise to explore these nooks for hours while Corey and I took turns with the surfboard again. 

These waves were perfect.  It was definitely more crowded, but a whole spectrum of surfers and range of abilities were present - including a whole troop of folks who left their wheelchairs on the beach and headed out to surf with partners.  It was such a joy to watch! 

We each caught more waves than we could count.  Despite some interceptions from the crowds & having to bail from the best wave of the day I caught cos of a lady in my path, I had such fun chatting with people enjoying this paradise together and  cheering each other on. 

We left thoroughly sun soaked, body-tired and happy. It had truly been a perfect beach day.  Corey loaded us all up with starch upon starch for dinner and then we headed back into town to check out Moturiki Island (Leisure Island).

Prompted by Mel, we had to take the path least traveled to the other end, and enjoyed winding our way through the little trails. Danforth ran on ahead leaping off of stones and running with a spring in his step. Up to the grand vista at the point.  

We took some time to explore the rocky beaches below.  To watch fishermen off both sides of the peninsula, and even witnessed someone getting a catch! The warm evening wind whipped, and the sun hung ultra low in the sky, covering everything in its romantic golden hue. (See if you can spot the kids in each of the pics below!)

The kids were bent on getting ice cream. The realization suddenly occurred to me that this was our last evening - thus last sunset! - at the Mount. The very Mount we had not even begun to explore yet! Shoot!

I then became restless to check out the famous volcanic cone, and try to catch the sunset which was setting directly behind it. There was no time to loose! 

Aggravation caught up with me then, at the family-traveling scenario we'd been navigating for weeks now of the constant juggle between the kids desires and the our own insatiable need to see as much as possible of locations we'll likely never see again.  

Corey was more gracious than I, and took himself and the little humans for ice cream while I took off in a face paced flurry bent on seeing a new trail, new place, and the last remnants of the beautiful hour of dusk. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my rigorous walk around the base of the Mount, making it to the other side of the island just as the sun dipped below and out of sight!  

We then circled back together and headed to the flat for a flurry of packing and laundry and cleaning.

The morning came and was more relaxed than expected, (maybe due to getting the hang of doing the night before preparations!).  We had a bit of time yet before needing to leave to catch our bus, so we headed to The Mount to properly experience this volcanic cone once and for all together!  

The heat hung dense and heavy as we set out for the summit, and Melody immediately put on the breaks. She could not be swayed, no way, no how, to persist uphill in these conditions. Maybe, just maybe if we hadn't been traveling for weeks now she would have had the thrill of seeing "new sights", but that (and snacks) held absolutely no leverage here. She was done going uphill.

Corey willingly turned back with her, and Danforth and I were released to take off towards the summit.  We set a time to meet back at the base, in order to make it to our bus in time! Realizing it wasn't very much time to try to make it to the summit & back, we set off running! 

Fast spurts up many stairs & zipping around winding paths, we hucked it as fast as our lungs and legs could handle. We were both dripping sweat, breathing hard, and loving the challenge. 

We'd slow to a brisk walk, check the time, and take off running again. 

Finally, grinning and glistening, we made it to the top!

Expansive views of endless sea, green glowing grass, and the city packed to shoreline below were absolutely stunning.  Breathing heavily we grinned at each other and this accomplishment!  

Checking the time, we had only 10 MINUTES to spare to get back down!  Oh my goodness, this was going to be a close call! 

We took off in a full sprint.  Leaping down stairs, launching off rocks, slipping down gravely paths.  Some close calls (of almost falling) but catching ourselves. I was super impressed at Danforth's agility, and the stamina he still had in his legs after the hefty climb with barely a pause at the top time to even catch our breath. 

We were cruising downhill and loving the thrill. 

And, we made it down precisely at our appointed time!!  Corey and Mel had just gotten back to the car from the molasses slow walk back down, and were just around the corner. In the meantime, Danforth and I bought mango gelatos to celebrate our victory.  

We headed back to the flat and hauled all our stuff outside in a mad dash with just minutes to change from sweaty clothes as the Uber was just around the corner. 

We caught our breath in the car ride over to Tauranga, and made it to bus stop with plenty of time to spare.  

We ate our wraps made the night before, and Corey & the kids checked out a car festival nearby. The bus for Auckland pulled in, and soon enough we were off, headed back towards basecamp of Steve & Therese's home.   

We had about one more week of this New Zealand journey and no idea yet on how we'd spend it. 

-M