Two days off after a long week working in agriculture – great! My career improved – on Thursday I packed pears all day and on Friday I weeded a big field of vegetables in an organic farm. It wasn’t too hard plus I got paid on hours which worked out better than picking has been. Getting 15 minute paid breaks in the morning and afternoon didn’t hurt either.
C.’s little son J. had his 4th birthday today and instead of a birthday party he got a fishing trip to Mahia. I was also invited and luckily didn’t have to work.
N., C’s man, took the truck with the quad and the fishing gear on the back and had no room left for luggage. We packed Harry up to the roof – with all the stuff of C. and J. we looked like we were prepared for a four week trip and not only a weekend. In addition to the real luggage there was a healthy collection of „things a little little boy might want on his holiday“ filling up all the spare corners.
We had intended to leave early enough to get to Mahia in time to catch the low tide. N., however, was almost an hour late and so we got underway behind schedule. N. still seemed determined to make it in time though and sped his way through the winding mountains. I managed to keep up with him and even earned a little respect, along with the nickname „Schuhmacher“.
We moved into the motor camp, got all the things out of the cars and found our way to the beach. The point of arriving before low tide was to collect some Pipi, a kind of shellfish similar to cockles. By then the tide was on its way back in and we got only a few, but it was enough for bait.
The woman at the motor camp desk recommended several good places for fishing. We checked several of the spots and decided for a longer beach, just because N. wanted to use the quad. We loaded everything and everyone onto the quad and headed off to the beach. You wouldn’t believe how much space is on a quad – there is space for 4 people, fishing rods and gear, and even folding chairs for all!
Fishing was rather disappointing. I caught a herring, which was also used for bait, and nothing else. In the evening young J. went to bed and it was drinking time for the adults. We talked and laughed about everything and nothing until after midnight.
After breakfast we went straight to the „Pipi“ beach. This time it was low tide but even so we still had to go into shoulder deep water to find them. We dug them out of the sand with our feet and then picked them up with our toes – all while I tried not to get my hair wet – not the easiest task. Normally they can be found just at the water’s edge just under the sand. It might have taken us a little longer than normal, but nevertheless we got a good pile of them together after a little hard work.
Fishing again wasn’t successful, so we drove home. Despite a lack of fish, I still got to enjoy a big dish of spaghetti with Pipi – yummy!
