About 8:00AM the crunch of a taxi's tires woke me. When I peeked through the window blinds I saw Paul enter the front door. He had a beard that I didn't recall from the last reunion. He had arrived from Los Angeles. By the time I got out of bed, I remembered I didn't have a power converter. That translates to no hot rollers, so my hair was destined for a bad hair day…3 days in a row! I dressed and joined Judy in the kitchen.
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Paul was already out on his 4-wheeler inspecting the vineyard. I ate a bowl of oatmeal before Lesley arrived in the kitchen to share fresh fruit and coffee.
After breakfast, Paul was generous enough to drive Lesley and I into Auckland to explore the Kelly Tarlton Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World while he wrapped up a few business details. In addition to providing information, the museum portion showed equipment used in early Antarctic exploration. There was a large aquarium that had a tube with a moving sidewalk running through it. We saw sharks, rays, sea turtles, and various other fish swimming right over our heads.
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Then Paul drove us around the city a bit and to the pier where our ship was to dock. The ship had not arrived yet, but we stopped to explore the America's Cup Village while the race was taking place. We stopped in a store to buy some souvenirs and then ate lunch. A television at the restaurant revealed that the mast on the Kiwi sail boat had broken, thus forfeiting the race. We returned to Clevedon to continue recovery from our jet lag.
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Later in the evening, Paul grilled steaks that were eaten with a salad. Yummy!
After sunset when we were visiting in the living room, the cloudy skies cleared. We stepped outside to view the Southern Cross and the breathtaking Milky Way through unpolluted, dark night skies. Hundreds of very bright stars were scattered across the sky.
We visited a while longer before the power went out and encased us in near-total darkness.Candles were lit and when no power returned after several minutes, we retired for the evening.
In the morning, when everyone was awake, Judy fixed pancakes for breakfast. Paul went outside to mow and work on some chores while Judy took Lesley and I souvenir shopping, stopped at a nearby beach, and to see the view from One Tree Mountain, one of many volcanoes.
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The day was a little cloudy and a few showers fell occasionally so we did not go to the spindle tower for a view from there. We could see the whole city.
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Following our descent, we found a small French restaurant for lunch. It turned out that Judy and Lesley did not like the looks of the meals they ordered after they were delivered, but were interested in each other's. So, they traded and both were completely satisfied! I had only ordered dessert as a main course! On our return to the car we stopped at a bakery so Lesley and I could purchase cream puffs to be eaten for breakfast the following morning. We all returned to Clevedon and Puriri Hills to rest a while.
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When Paul mentioned a small chore he needed to do, Lesley and I volunteered to provide moral support and get a view of the entire property. Lesley sat in the back of the cart while Paul drove and I rode shotgun. We headed downhill, around part of the vineyard, then uphill toward some pasture.
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Jamie (the dog) ran as fast as she could on those four short little white legs. Paul thought she would return to the house, but after a good quarter to half a mile, he stopped the cart and let her in the back with Lesley. This pleased both Lesley and the dog!
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We continued uphill as we took photos of the changing viewÉfirst of the farm, then of the Douglas fir forest that they had planted several years before, followed by a lush fern valley.
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We stopped twice while Paul put some signs on the gates to let the people leasing part of the pasture know that cattle were not allowed beyond.
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Then Paul took us to his special peaceful place where he, someday, planned to build a platform for meditation. It was quite lovely. The ride down the steep hill was less laborious and swift.
Next we dressed for dinner at a local cafe.
The cafe was open-air and served delicious food. This cafe is also one that serves Paul's wine. Paul and Judy brought a bottle of a different wine to eat with their meal. Too full for dessert, we returned to Puriri Hills. After a while there, Paul and I decided coconut ice cream would be good. Judy and Lesley were too full and ready to retire. Paul and I took our ice cream outside and visited a while before surrendering.
On Sunday morning when we were preparing to leave Clevedon…Paul and Judy's Puriri Hills…we had a nice breakfast. Paul and Judy had noticed a bird that had found a way under the netting in the vineyard. They asked me and Lesley to help flush them out so they wouldn't ruin the grapes. Now, although Lesley loves reading murder mystery books, she isn't real big on guns in real lifeÉor killing birds. And since Lesley is very shy, she didn't say anything.
Paul and Judy took guns on the outside rows while Lesley and I walked down the two inner rows. The four of us walked parallel from one end to the other, making noise to get the birds isolated at one end.
When the bird flew to Paul or Judy's row, they would try to shoot it. We discovered four birds. One was shot on the first pass. Another tangled in the net and was set free (I think!). Two more escaped past everyone to fly back to the starting point. We all walked back and another bird was shot. The fourth thrush passed the flushers and the trek to the end started over. This is where I realize how out of shape I am!
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There was a slight incline going down the rows. Downhill was easy, but coming back a second time had me breathing heavy. At last the forth bird was killed when Paul shot it and a hole in the net!
While we were at the opposite end from the starting point, I noticed at least one bird, maybe two in the next set of nets. After Lesley and I returned to the house to pack and prepare to board the ship, that afternoon Judy and Paul went to the second area to flush out the birds. They got two.
Right before we left, I bought four bottles of Puriri Hills wine and Paul gave me two additional bottles. Now, since Lesley nor I drink, that is a lot. One was for my brother John, one was for my daughter Brandi, and I planned to keep a bottle for several years until it escalates in price enough to make me a rich woman! Before we left on the trip, I had exchanged e-mail with several people in a Cruise Critic group who would be on the same ship. I thought I might share a bottle of the wine with some of them since several expressed interest in New Zealand wine.
Paul and Judy drove us back to Auckland to the Americas Cup racing village and the docks where our ship, Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas, was anchored. Hugs and kisses later, we said good-bye. It was an excellent visit with them. I would love to return any time.
The story continues…Cruising