We started by hiring motor scooters, they were hardly hired more than 30 minutes and we were off for a trip right around the island. Now free to go where we like when we like, what a wonderful easy thing to do. Chris had never ridden before and it had been 40 years since riding a bike properly, you can’t count hooning around the houtons in Beijing riding really. First coffee, then order two birthday cakes and salads for next week, when the rest of the party arrive from New Zealand . Hiring bikes is really very easy, there are two hire places within 50 yards of our complex. We hired for six days and it was 20 dollars a day to hire and get a one day temporary licence, we then had to go to the main Police station and get a real licence, this consisted of filling out a form, the longest part, having your photo taken and paying the money. Nice shiny new plastic year-long licence with your photo on. Chris and I figured we could handle the extra person on the bike so that was it, we put the girls on the back and headed around the island, clockwise the long way round for us, wind in the hair, missus clinging on, bike wobbling as you try to start, then off woosh maximum speed without helmet 40 KPH. Highest traffic speed on Rarotonga is 50 KPM, every now again the odd car would have to wait behind you for one of the rare straits to get the extra 10 KPH allowed.
In town we picked up groceries and headed back home again. Once back, we had lunch and then Chris and I headed back out on our bikes to get the real licence. With our printed plastic licence’s pride of place in our wallets we were on our way to the liquor store to get two cases of beer for the crowd next week. A benefit of a step through motor scooter is the flat space in front of the driver that handles a case or two of beer at your feet, with room in the seat under your bum for six bottles of wine, and a small glove box in front of you for your now empty wallet, there is heaps of space.
Once home we got the girls to come with us to the basketball court by the sports club where we had them drive around and get familiar, both did very well and are keen to have their own bikes. Tomorrow Chris and I go fishing and Al and Barb are heading to town to shop and do “Whatever”, more about that later.
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