Anyway, I was very very sad, and my first night in Whitianga was spent watching movies and relaxing to try to psych myself up to be back on the road.
The second day I decided to remind myself that while this new-found joy for being with other people is excellent, I do all right by myself too. I decided to take advantage of my new freedom by just seeing where the day took me from moment to moment, and making no plans. I stayed in bed until nearly 11 (yay!) and then I got on the road and zigzagged back and forth around the area of Shakespeare Cliff, Cathedral Cove, and Hot Water Beach. The day turned out to be EXCELLENT.