Last trip to Waihi (for now)

Today I drove down from Red Beach to Waihi to stay with George, Cassie and Amy for a couple of nights.  I woke up at 5 a.m. ready to roll but thought it inappropriate to do so, largely because I wanted to collect my camera from Nonie and suspected a knock on her door at 5:30 would not win me any friends.  So, having confirmed my suspicions that a large amount of bacon cooked in a pan with a criss-cross pattern in the bottom would stick, I packed some food in one bag and some clothes in another and watched the sun come up.  Finally convinced that the north Auckland rush-hour was over (wrong!), I set out to her place of work in Albany only to find she had yet to arrive. So I treated myself to a cup of coffee from the kiosk and waited 10 minutes for her to roll up, with camera.
OK - time to hit the road, Jack.  Bit of logic involved - first, find the motorway.  Pretty easy.  Then drive south to a major exit and get off to buy gas.  Wrong!  Not even major exits have gas stations because the city was built before the motorway.  And so I drove around the labyrinth of streets for half an hour in search of a gas station while my fuel gauge plunged further into the red.  Relief was finally at hand but, of course, the pump wouldn't accept my debit card.  No problem - I had $20 cash with me, enough for a touch over 2 gallons.  But I was finally on my way with nearly a quarter of a tankful.
I do not miss Auckland traffic - nothing crazy or dangerous, just thick.  And I am not fond of their entry ramps with "1 car per green" lights (which make a lot of sense in terms of congestion but aren't much fun when you are car number 9).  A few miles on I found a gas station right by the motorway - I doubt if I would have made it without that $20 dribble - and eagerly put another $75 worth in.  It didn't fill the tank but I really couldn't take the idea of putting $100 of gas in a car.
My cellphone by this time was running low on battery and brilliantly turned itself off at just about the point on the Hauraki plains where I am not sure which way to go.  Still, the drive past herds of cows was very pretty after the sardined buildings of Auckland's North Shore.  Sorry, Auckland but I really do think you could pull the plug out of everything from Symonds St to Whangaparaoa and I wouldn't shed a tear.
I finally reached the sanity of Waihi and George was ready with chicken rolls followed by bundling the greyhounds in the car for the short drive to Waihi Beach.  The water was decidedly cool after Orewa and my dip was brief.  The dogs were even less keen.
This evening, George and I went to the RSA for what turned out to be a Lions' planning meeting with a meal thrown in.  Very convivial, even more so because there was absolutely nothing I could volunteer for.