Sometimes you have to give way

After last nights celebration with our first Kiwi beer our third day began a bit later than the previous. The morning light illuminated three options. I decided in my sleep last night any action with enough conviction would make our third day a success. Today's probable courses were as follows:
1. Amend yesterdays failure in reaching Woodhill mountain bike park, which is approx fifty kilometers from our spot in Auckland (a little beyond riding range considering knobby tires, one gear and a return trip). We made a contact at a local bike shop with a true blue Kiwi rider named KB. He agreed to take us up there near where he lives as long as it coincides with his schedule. We also considered renting a car for a to-be-determined rate.
2. Make a B line for Rotorua, The mtb capital of New Zealand, less than two weeks out from sswc10 becoming familiar with the trails would be clutch. The train from Auckland is cheap, however final stop would only deliver us about two thirds of the way there to a town called Hamilton. Hitching a ride the rest of the way would be unlikely with all of our bike gear. The prospect of taking the bus was also a crap shoot (bikes tolerated at drivers discretion).
3. We made a Facebook contact once we arrived in Auckland with an old friend from Green Cove. Actually she was Tim's friend, Hannah VanLaanen and I managed to work together for the summers of 2007-08 in the Mondo-Green Cove microcosm and never make acquaintances. I am perplexed as to how this is possible but glad to now have made the acquaintance as I sit in her living room, drinking coffee and enjoying the view of the bay . Hannah met us at our Starbucks Internet port at nine am offering a brief tour around the city and welcomed us a place to stay at she and her partners* Bach out on Waiheke Island*.

Bottom line Waiheke Island is wonderful, About a forty minute ferry ride from Auckland it is bushier than the mainlands with large rolling hills, grassy slopes and panoramic views. Also the home of a bohemian art community we were greeted by an array of sculpture as we walked with Hannah to her place. With good directions were so fortunate to find Whihake islands local mtb trail network, short but a burst of elevation with some very unique rollers and berms. The conclusion of our ride session was followed by homemade chicken soup, several bottles of wine and the most engaging late night conversation. Tomorrow waits promising and undiscovered.

*partner in NZ simply means an adult relationship, unlike the PC same sex connotation in the states.
*Whihake is Maori for falling water.
*Mike Harrington if you read this I just saw my first NZ rainbow.