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Published: February 20th 2014
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Karekare Beach
This is the beach featured in the movie 'The Piano'. Kai Ora, vicarious travel partners! My wandering feet are taking me this time to New Zealand for my dear friend Heidi's wedding and to do some adventuring!
I left a cold, rainy San Francisco on Feb 8th, crossing the international date line and equator arriving in sunny Aukland on Feb 10th, a day and two seasons ahead! New Zealand Air prepared me for the journey with a fun, Lord of the Rings inspired safety briefing (google it - it is clever and at times a little suggestive), unlimited movies and wine! After a quick 12 hour flight, Janice, the fiancé of my friend Heidi, met me at the airport and drove me to their beautiful Autara Gardens estate located in the New Zealand bush, which is like a temperate rain forest with cicadas that sound like chainsaws. I met their fur baby, Ryka, who quickly befriended me and over the next several days we became good buddies!
The next two days were spent hanging out and getting to know Janice who gamely shuttled me to several lovely beaches and bush tramps (hikes) in nearby Waiatarua while madly preparing for their upcoming wedding. She even joined
Carved Pou at Karekare
Symbolizes the spiritual guardian me on my first international geocache find! On Wednesday, we were joined by Janice's mates from England, Charles and Diedre, Diedre's Irish friend, Tom, and my friend Carolyn. Let's get the party started! We drank wonderful NZ sauvignon blanc and ate yummy food, told tall tales of times past with Janice and Heidi and played 'name that tune' as Janice and Charles worked endlessly to finalize the wedding playlist consisting mainly of danceable disco music (is there any other kind?)
Finally, Saturday, arrived. The big day for Janice and Heidi! They had a lovely leather and lace themed ceremony in the gardens of Waitakere Estate. It was definitely a unique experience that I'm sure everyone will remember as Heidi rode her Harley bike down the isle and Janice and Heidi exchanged vows in their biking leathers resided by a celebrant impersonating the Vicar of Dibley (from a popular British sitcom). The vows were a mixture of humor and touching sincerity. The crowd applauded when Janice and Heidi roared off on their motorbikes, which was especially moving as Janice was in a bike accident less than a year ago that almost left her paralyzed. The wedding was followed
Heidi at the Barbie
Carrying a big plate of meat by a fun reception filled with speeches and well wishes from friends and family which were bawdy, humorous and touchingly heartfelt. When the dancing started, EVERYONE took to the dance floor, something I have never seen happen before. A true testament to Heidi and Janice's choice of friends. Carolyn and I both drank and danced until late in the evening. We must have been quite a spectacle because the next day Janice confirmed we 'Yanks' had one the dance competition! I didn't even know there was one!
On Sunday, Carolyn left the party to return to the States leaving me with her South Island guidebook and some ideas on what to do, as I still hadn't done any real planning for the rest of the trip. That evening, the rest of us went to Janice's sister's house for a barbie. They have a beautiful home in the country, complete with horses, chickens, dogs. We sat outside and enjoyed the sunset drinking more sauvignon blanc while her sister, Karen, put out a gorgeous spread of farm to fork food that I couldn't stop eating!
Because of the number of people we had to haul, I
Farm to Fork
This is how they do Farm to Fork in New Zealand! ended up riding in the boot (trunk) of the car where I curled up fat and happy for the drive back to the Heidi and Janice's bush house.
With the wedding over, it was now time for me to really start thinking about the rest of the trip and what I would do. It started the next day with Heidi and I taking off for Waitomo Caves Black Water Rafting Company's famous Black Abyss Glow Worm Cave tour. Sounds ominous - stay tuned ......
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