No Regrets

Dave & Lori's motto for their whirlwind NZ holiday was "no regrets". They were determined to leave this country satisfied with the knowledge that they would see/do anything that they may have regretted missing.

I think they successfully kept to their motto, and now have plenty of pictures and stories to share with their daughters Carmen and Charlotte (who have graced our wall with their presence since Christmas).

I wasn't present for any adventuring done outside of our home, but Lowell had the pleasure of joining them for a handful of activities (while I was busy being a sugar mama). Dave & Lori rented our neighbour's car and explored the vast beauty of this land on their own.

We had naturally assumed that Dave's transition to right-hand-drive-on-the-left-side-of-the-road would be smooth as silk because he drives a Japanese import in Canada. HOWEVER, as Dave will testify, it was not as effortless as assumed. In fact, it was far more difficult. In Canada, he was forced to train himself to be comfortable driving a right-hand-drive on the right side of the road. He had to unlearn all the learning that was learned in order to become comfortable with kiwi driving (and not kill anyone).

Lori even tried her luck at the wheel...

Before they left Auckland, Lowell got to join them for a plane ride above the City. Dave is soooo into planes (he does, after all, have his pilot license!). We witnessed his passion any time a plane would fly overhead (day or night) and Dave's feet suddenly developed little motors that sped him outside to point his eyes heavenward. Our proximity to the air field lent itself well to Dave's devotion.

Aw, brother and sister all eager and rarin to fly!

This is a great shot of the downtown Auckland with the Sky Tower on the left.

This is Rangitoto's crater from above. We've hiked there before!

Okay, now for Dave & Lori's kiwi adventuring (without a trace of us!)...

Obligatory stop at the giant L&P bottle...

Wait... this is a different giant L&P bottle than the one WE stopped. THERE ARE TWO OF THEM?!

Anyhoo, back to Dave & Lori.

They climbed Mt Maunganui...

Devoured a meal in a McDonald's airplane...

Toured a kiwi milking parlour...

Hiked the Tongariro Crossing...

Smelled the egg-farty geisers in Rotorua...

Were captivated by a waterfall before the dams were opened...

And after....

They piddled in a fancy shmancy bathroom...

Perused the Hamilton Gardens...

Black water rafted through the "Waitomo caves"...

Boogy boarded at Muriwai...

Explored White Island (NZ's only active marine volcano where they used to mine sulfur)...

The boiling, acidic lake has apparently consumed it's share of bodies etc. Ew.

Spent an evening laughing and chatting with Marc & Kylie...

Snacked on ridiculous chicken flavoured chips (that Marc & Kylie introduced us to)...

Dave: "It tastes like Thanksgiving... I like Thanksgiving!"

Inhaled our favourite Thai food...

And slammed Tim Tams...

Warning: Tim Tam Slams can be dangerous. My Milo was running low, so I tipped the mug into order to suck optimal amounts of the hot chocolate through my cookie. This resulted in chin and hip burns. Nothing that a few frozen bananas couldn't soothe...

Before they left, I packed up most of our belongings to send home with them...

We then bid them farewell at the Auckland airport on Friday evening *sniff sniff*...


We were very sad to see them go, as we thoroughly appreciate them and relished their company. However, we had little time to sulk as Mom & Dad's plane landed early Saturday morning. With goofs like these two around, I'm sure dull moments will be few and far between...