Top pointy bit

Am still in the bay of islands and am getting a bit to used to this lazy beach life so spiced it up a bit. Yesterday I went on one of the bus tours up the 90 mile beach (it is only 64 miles though) and up to Cape Reiga - the top most bit of the country. (that you can drive to, there is a point further east but involves a 2 day walk so doesn't count)

The beach is something like no other beach. The first signs that this is no ordinarily beach is as you drive onto it (yes drive onto it) in stead of the usual "do not drive on this beach" signs you are greeted by a 100km per hour sign. The beach is treated just like any other road, you can get a speeding ticket, although there are no markings of any kind so if you wish to drive on the right you can do - as long as the oncoming driver also agrees to drive on the right.

Although getting onto the beach was pretty easy 64mils north things aren't so. To get back to any form of civerlization at the top of the beach requires a 1km drive up a river which also has quick sand, nice. Apparently if the bus was to stand still for 7 seconds they would have to dig it out. This they found out a few years back where a drive got stuck and before he had every one out of the front door it was below the sand so had to use the hatches in the roof. When they came back the next day to dig the bus out there was just a bit of the roof at the back showing above the ground

so a normal road apart from you could loose your car on it.

At the top there are some monstrous sand dunes which after a everlasting walk up we were let loose to 'surf' then back down on boogie boards. Now for those of you who have had the pleasure of having a sand plaster pointed in your direction would be able to imagine what it felt like hurtling down this thing on your belly with just a small piece of foam between you and the removal of skin. The words death were suggested a few times in our briefings. This aside it was great fun although very tiring and I am still trying to get the sand out.

Death cheated we headed up to the top to stand at the light house and look out over where the tasmin sea and the pacific meet. You can see the two waters and a big mess in the middle where the two currents meet. Not a place to be in a small boat. This point has some of the most spitacular beaches an views I have seen so far and was well worth the treck up the 10km of gravel track. This was a thought we all had - considering that around 20 busses and a fair few more cars go up to this point whey they don't but a two lane tar sealed road in?

Any how, now back and resting the body on the beach before heading off for something else.