last thoughts on whangarei

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today is my last day in whangarei. i spent the late morning recovering from my early run sprawled out in the sun writing and enjoying my coffee, birds busy and chatting with each other all around me. yesterday was the best day i've spent here. rhondda and john invited me to accompany them to the morning markets and took me on a tour of kerikeri where i met john's mother and sister. we were out the door by 8am on the way to the whangarei farmer's market. fresh produce all around and friendly people greeting us along the way. after we finished there we went to the artist's market set along the paths of the wooded park. all local artists displaying and selling their work. on the way to kerikeri rhondda and i were treated to ice cream and chocolate....(which rhondda says she wouldn't have been allowed if i wasn't there). we visited with john's family which was nice. we had coffee and tea on the patio overlooking about an acre of unbelievable gardens.

the highlight of the day though was planting my tree in their growing orchard. a red tamarillo tree (and an orange one for michelle). truthfully, planting that tree, was the most meaningful thing i've done in a long time. rhondda and john allowed me that. they allowed me to leave a part of myself in their home.

my parting thoughts. i am grateful to have had this time with rhondda and john. they are wonderful, compassionate people....so so warm. they afforded me many more smiles and fits of laughter than i deserve.

peace.

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Photos

planting my tree
a red tamarillo

rhondda and john planting theirs
an orange tamarillo