New Boat, New Beach

Sam's tour of New Zealand ended.  Cheryl, infused with another surge of youthful splendor, found a ticket to the Lorde Concert in Auckland.  This occurred immediately after Lorde's Grammy performance.

      She returned to Thames with a little too much exuberance.   Tom informed Cheryl that she may 'do better with a millionaire who owns a big boat'.

Off she goes to Auckland the next weekend as a volunteer for the "Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2014" at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club with Thames friend, Jennie.  They spend the day generating good-will at the Sailability class for para-Olympic sailors.  Meeting new people continuously for two days, Cheryl and Jennie became part of the sailing community.  She chatted with people associated with the NZ Olympic sailing program and the NZ America's Cup team.  For their volunteer efforts they were invited on the sponsors' yacht for the day. 

And, of course, the millionaire waited for them in the galley to offer them a beer.

      Back in Thames, Tom felt a sense of foreboding loss when Cheryl postponed her return date home.  She and Jennie were happier than the butcher's dog while maintaining their places at the regatta.  He went to his knees and pleaded for her return….she consented, but tied the bloke in bowlines and demanded him to write the wedding vows on the blackboard 100 times.  Too many NZ millionaires with big boats.

Phil, Nigel,  Lucy, Kate, Hannah, Tom, and Cheryl

Another weekend.  What to do?  To the bush?  To the Scottish tattoo in Hamilton?  To the open farmer's markets?  

      A phone call…..Nigel.  Met him once while he and wife, Kate traveled through Sioux Falls from Australia.  Now, another gracious Kiwi invitation to an opportunity at  Cook's Beach and new locale.  Cook's Beach stretches south of Whitianga and its harbor in northwest Coromandel.  Nigel and Kate have joined friends Phil and Sue for several weeks of summertime family fun since their medical school days.  This year, practicing the Kiwi traditions, they offered a place at their table and beach to Tom and Cheryl.  The offer was quickly accepted.

      Tom and Cheryl ate and laughed, fished and laughed, listened to stories and laughed, kayaked, walked the beach, gazed at the stars, viewed the terrain from Shakespeare's point, learned the history, stayed in a camper caravan, and laughed.  Then home to Thames with more of the riches of friendship.

Cook's Beach Quarters

Huge bounty of the sea

Cook's Bay from Shakespeare's Point