photo - Maria VK5BMT & Dave ZLlAMN

On arrival at the Motel, I found my missing luggage and indulged in a complete shower, shampoo and change immediately. At the bottom of my bag was a huge birthday card for Dave ZLlAMW and I retrieved that and collected the first of some 143 signatures with callsigns on it. The next day we had a bus trip that started at 7 am and finished at 6.30 pm. We travelled a total of 780 kms including 77 kms of that on the beautiful beach. The weather produced a very stiff breeze but plenty of sunshine.

Our morning tea stop was at the ancient kauri shop and workplace. Lunch we had at a secluded beach to escape the wind for a while, while at the same time we completed addressing our postcards for posting in the special box at Cape Reinga. My special postmark card arrived home after me and unfortunately it was badly smudged.

The scenery continued to be magnificent and we all enjoyed the drive on the beach. Before coming home we visited the Puketi Kauri Forest and purchased some fresh fruit from a roadside stall which was still open at that late hour.

Wednesday we all decided to do our own thing. Some of us went on a half day bus tour to a chocolate factory and winery near KeriKeri. Others opted for washing and resting. Noriko and I washed first and then walked into Paihia, purchased postcards and addressed them on the foreshore in the sunshine. We then went to the post office did some window shopping and finally made a heap of purchases in a local shop. I found some lovely calendars too, and have decided that my overseas relations and friends will be getting New Zealand calendars this year. We had an icecream for lunch, took some photos and trudged back up the hill with our purchases.

That night the whole group dined in a local restaurant which had the irresistable offer
of collecting and returning its diners in a free taxi! We enjoyed our night out and the next morning we returned on the bus up and down the hills and around the bends to the Auckland bus exchange. There we met up with Elizabeth VE7YL and Dot VK2DB and John VK2ZOI from Sydney.

After a hasty lunch we boarded the bus to Hamilton to begin our YL2000 official adventure. The Novotel Tainui was a wonderful place to stay and excellent service was provided.

Do Sook HL2KDW On behalf of the YL Korean team I take this opportunity to expresss many thanks to you, ZL organising committee. Congratulations on your wonderful success. You did best job of YL2000. We really enjoyed and made good memories of NZ YL 2000 gave us the chance to meet friends from all over the world and to understand NZ well. I never forget NZ. Now I am loving NZ.