Dream Jobs and Ninety-Mile Beach
During the seventh Christmas season of my life, my mother took me to see The Nutcracker—an experience which revealed to me my first ever idea of a dream job: ballerina, of course! When I reflect on the various phases of my life, my notions of dream jobs cycle—dancer, writer, artist, sailor, dancer, artist, teacher, writer, teacher (could you guess that my favorite subjects in high school were English and art?) . . . and I feel exceedingly blessed that in reality I do have the chance to engage in the labor of a dream job. Even now, though, when people ask me what kind of job I would like to do besides teaching, I still feel drawn towards career paths involving art and writing. Set designer for the stage, cinematographer, film editor, . . . or writer! Yet, while in New Zealand one day in April, I had a fleeting dalliance with the possibility of another sort of dream career: bus driver on 90-Mile Beach!
Robin, our guide and bus driver for our tour “Cape Reinga via 90-Mile Beach,” informed us that the tour companies were looking to hire more “local lads” as driver/guides for this tour route. Obviously, “lad” and “local” would totally negate any application I might put forward, but, as we traveled away a morning along this national highway—90 Mile Beach—I couldn’t help but be seduced by such caprice. How would it be to drive along this achingly beautiful stretch of beach (more accurately speaking, about 65 miles long) every day, 364 days a year—no tours on Christmas Day—whatever the weather. I was enthralled from the instant we surrendered pavement for sand.
Okay, whether the tour starts with the journey along 90-Mile Beach or ends with it depends on the tide; low tide presents the preferred highway conditions. And Robin did admit that in certain weather conditions his most favorite moment of the tour is when he finally reaches the turn off to exit 90-Mile Beach! And, too, a proper driver must become acquainted with what portions of the beach look like when quicksand-ish properties are operational. Driving over such places works, but parking there for any length of time can quickly result in catastrophe. (We did view the rusting appendages of a few vehicles where a parking moment evolved into a more permanent relationship with the beach!)
Nevertheless, I suspect I could be rather easily convinced to learn how to drive a bus if my assigned route could be 90-Mile Beach!
Beth waits to reboard the bus after one of the photo ops on 90-Mile Beach
Other travelers...not in a rental vehicle and not on a tour
Robin locating pipis for us to sample, Robin opening the shell of a pipi to show us how its done, Beth with a pipi in hand, and me ready to consume one
I really liked pipis. A squirt of lemon--and Robin had fresh ones on hand--and they were even more delish!
The island with a hole in it--different views along 90-Mile Beach
At the northern end of 90-Mile Beach, we turn off and head toward the sand dunes to go sand boarding.
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