NZ: Gisborne and the East Cape

Raglan was getting flatter everyday and the reports were calling for a short period windswell to nail the East coast so I made the mission and scored the best waves of the trip so far... what would I do without the internet???

Robby and Paula decided to hop in "The Van" (Not smelly anymore, the new Astroturf dries in a flash!), Dropped Robby off in Hamilton but not before we went straight to Hell, Hell Pizza that is. You can order any of the seven deadly sins in a delicious pizza version along with several other devilish options. Why can't more restaurants have a sense of humor? I sold my soul when I found out the pizza boxes have a tear-out-and-fold-yourself coffin that can house any left over slices. Pure marketing genius!

Here's Robby digging his own grave

Paula needed to catch bus to Wellington in Lake Taupo. The area is loaded with hot springs and thermal pools. Erin (Who I met up with when I got to Gisborne) had shown her a place between Rotorua and Taupo where a hot creek runs into a cold stream and where they mix is a nice big pool to lounge in. The place was pretty sweet. No pics sorry.

So after nearly missing Paula's bus the next morning I headed on my way to the East Cape... when I got there it didn't look too promising, 25-30 knot onshore winds and just pissing rain. So I got me some steak, corn and taters and had a feast back at camp. When I woke up the next morning it was blue bird and offshores and I got to surf this all day long... just silly...
This place reminded me of The Base back home. At low tide the sets would just come in, take a turn up the beach, wedge up, and set up some good long hollow lefts and a speedy right complete with a perfect launch ramp on the end. I think I boosted the biggest air of my life this day... definitely didn't land it. And I got a couple decent tubes. The Gizzy kids rip this place to shit!

The next day was a bit smaller but still fun. I was chatting with a local in the parking lot and he mentioned a spot about 45 mins up the cape and down a dirt road a few miles... my kind of spot. He said it would be better and uncrowded (Why wasn't he there?) So I went. It paid off...

Chest high, clean peaks all to myself? Yes Please! And keep them coming.
I think I'm falling in love with this country!

Beach front Accommodation, complete with free light show.
And you should have seen the stars this night... I could literally see satellites it was so clear.

Beautiful drive up to the spot. (Hard to find a drive around here that isn't) Came around a corner and started drooling when I saw this set up. Parked one of the auto industries finest right on the beach, hopped in my trunks, lathered myself in sunscreen and surfed the above empty line-up until I couldn't paddle anymore. What did I do to deserve this?

That evening I broke out the stove on the sand and made one mean breakfast scramble for dinner; Mushrooms, onions, zucchini, chopped Italian salami, garlic, eggs and Colby cheese with buttery toast and a glass fine red wine. I should've got the shot of my plate... damn it. Could've got the cover of Camping Magazine or something. Life is grand indeed!

I was chilled back in my chair digesting dinner and watching the stars come out when I got humbled... not a single person in the world knew my whereabouts. How often does that happen? Not enough. I was truly lost and it was a good feeling.

So it was flat the next morning, and so wind swells go. right now I'm on my way back to Raglan(different route) for a good swell coming this weekend. I'll end this post off with a shot that sums up my recent photographic style... sloppily taken from the window of my car. As I'm writing this, I'm camping at a spot just ashore from that active marine volcano(White Island) to the right.

"On the road again. Going places that I've never been. Seeing things that I may never see again... I can't wait to get on the road again - Willy Nelson

Slideshow...

NZ: Raglan - Solscape

Manu Bay, Raglan - A view from the perch at Solscape

If you cut off just a thin slice of heaven, toasted it to get those nice crisp edges and smothered it in world class left point breaks you might have a place called Solscape (Soul Escape? Quite possibly). Met some folks in Piha that let me in on this little secret(Brenda got stuck here for 8 months of her year long trip, it's that good.). Located on the hill overlooking Manu Bay, there are old cabooses turned into backpacker rooms a nice community kitchen and lounge area, a camping/van area with a badass open air camp kitchen. And the cherry on the top is there is the option to work around the property for 1-2 hours a day in trade for free lodging... or if that's too much work for you, you can always just pay $15 ($7.50 US) per night to camp there. I've met quite a few people that have called this place home for the last several months and I can see why...

Camp Kitchen - pics by Dan

The waves were pretty small when I got there but still had some fun ones at Manu and the beachbreak. Plenty of time for Dominos, eating, drinking wine, checking out the local waterfall and having a good laugh with folks from all over the world.

Ruth-less Dominating Dominos

Paula, Dan(The Man), Ruth, Me, Robby

Here's some more pics...