The East coast

We have now left the Mount and have driven around the top part of the East coast and are now in Gisborne (the most Easterly place in the world) and the place where the sun rises first. Captain Cook discovered this place and there is a big statue of him here and lots of roads named after him... driving through NZ is a bit like driving through tellytubby land or a lego land. The landscape is made up of green hills and valleys covered in even greener trees, with the occasional lake or river shimmering at the side and sheep dotted around. Every so often you will come across a farm house along the windy road and perhaps a farmer herding sheep along the road and everyone gives a little wave as you pass. It's very unpopulated and the towns that you come across have a few houses, a village shop and not much else! It looks like England but with palm trees but it's a bit strange because there is just no-one here!

We of course drove in search of waves but didn't find any until we got to Gisborne, where we are now going to stay a few nights. It's raining here and very dreary (we miss the Mount) but perhaps the sun will come out tomorrow. That said, we are all in good spirits and have found a nice place to camp tonight. The site is on the sea front and has a building with a nice kitchen and a games room so we don't have to stay in the van to cook and get everything damp. Sam has been reading gossip mags on the drive over (well, he said he was reading but he could have been looking at all the boobs)!! He is now clued up on who is marrying who and who is divorcing who in the celeb world - very educational. The van has proved to be a success and Will laughs at me (and gets cross with me) because everything has it's place and I am super organised... still he was grateful when I could quickly lay my hands on the sowing kit to remove the urchin spine from his foot!

Right now Will is cooking a butter chicken curry, Sam is doing science homework and I am updating this. I think we will stay in Gisbourn for a while and see what delights it holds for us. Love and miss you all.