Sunday December 21st, 2008

After flying all night, grandma and I met up with Lilly and Orion in the Auckland airport early Sunday morning. The reason it took them so long to get thru customs was that my derelict brother was caught and fined for trying to sneak three football sized avocados, grown on their land in Hawaii, into the country. Not only was he so excited about the size and flavor of these fruits that he conveniently ‘forgot’ to claim them, but after paying a $200 ticket, he was asked to reenact the whole incident for a New Zealand television show about immigration and customs. Harmless, entertaining, and typical. Eventually we found our way to Al and Cindy Pagel’s house in the bay of islands with Kauhale Kai anchored in the bay directly in front of the house between the towns of Russell and Paihia. That night was the most spectacular sunset of the trip so far. The girls went hiking along the coast on Monday while the boys went lobster diving and came back with 4 giant lobsters that made for delicious dinner. We all went for another hike that afternoon to a nearby homestead. The quality of the hiking trails in New Zealand is impressive with clearly marked trails, sturdy bridges, and lush green ferns and giant trees. Tuesday was a rainy day of last minute Christmas shopping and another surf mission for the boys.