We aim to stop at a vineyard in Bethelem, NZ but surprisingly (or not given it's name) it is closed on Sunday. Onwards we push.
Marguerite and Peter are arguably the nicest people in the world. We met them outside the New World grocery store in Whangarie a week or so ago. Since we are driving the Cruzy and are larger than we are accustomed to, we always park on the periphery of the lots. We pulled up alongside this makeshift trailer only to jump out and realize that it was a dog trailer. Peter and Marguerite were on their way back from a dog show. They are the ones that raise Borzoi dogs. After meeting them in the parking lot they invited us to come and visit them in Te Puke (pronounced "Tay Poo-kay") when we were "down that way". Well, today we were "down that way". Did we visit them? You bet!
If I were in Canada and some random person that I'd met in a parking lot invited me to their home in another city I would most likely not go. Here though, we had no problem pulling up to the gate, waving, and driving on in.
"We were just wondering if you'd be popping by last night! Weren't sure where you'd got to" said Peter when we hopped out of the van. Really, I think they would have been surprised if we HADN'T come. They live outside of Te Puke in the hills surrounded by kiwi farms. There is a lovely view of the ocean (even the actively volcanic White Island!) if you walk a bit further down their drive.
The first thing Marguerite wants to know is if we've put our sunscreen on. When we admit that we haven't yet as we've been in the car driving she runs inside to get her spray bottle. "You simply must when here in New Zealand" she says, "We are very close to the Ozone hole". "Now, then, what about hats?", she also wants to know. I feel like we have an adoptive NZ mom looking out for us already!
Peter and Marguerite take us first to have a pat and play with the dogs. We say hello to all of them Duchess, Cesar, and Venus are the Borzoi's that they show. The whippet and the mix bull terrier are also there and we give them pats as well. They are all inside their specially made kennels that Peter constructed for them. There is room for 14 dogs out there (which they did have at one point!). We take Duchess and Cesar out for a run out back. I've never seen a Borzoi run or play and am surprised to find out just how agile they are. "Just don't move if you have one of them running at you" says Peter, "You don't want all that dog crashing into you!"
They name all the indigenous trees that line their yard for us and identify the bird calls as well. The play area for the dogs overlooks their neighbours kiwi orchard so we take a wander down there. I had no idea that kiwis grow on vine-like trees. When we first see the orchard of them we think it is vineyards - they look that similar. Up close however you see the hoards (and I mean hoards) of kiwis hanging. They will not be ripe for another month and a half or so. "If you run out of money you can come back here in time for picking season" Peter suggests. Oooh! Another job offer? Apparently it is back breaking work - though it does pay well if you can stick it out!
We stop at the avocado trees on their property as well. Before we know it Marguerite has gone to get a back a bag and Peter the homemade hook. He bounds up into the one of the trees and soon he is hauling down Hass avocados for us. "These will keep you going for awhile" Marguerite says. The bag keeps getting more and more full. She advises that we keep a few in the fridge so they don't all ripen at once. Peter hops out to the shed to get a few of the Fuerte avocados for us as well. They are rounder, have a very smooth bright green skin and are difficult to tell when ripe. "They won't change colour like the Hass," he cautions, "give them a gentle squeeze every day just to check".
We check out the view, meet their cat Little Puss and then get the grand tour of the house. There are grapes growing outside their bedroom window in a small enclosed outdoor space. Marguerite brings us ginger beer to sip while we chat. Peter loves to talk and has many great stories, of the dogs, of New Zealand, of his father. Marguerite patiently interjects now and then to add something to a story, to clarify or to correct. We see their collection of Borzoi china figurines and the photos on the wall of all the dogs they've ever owned. They are so very passionate about what they do that you can't help but become immersed while there.
Before we leave we walk down their road with the binoculars to take a look out over the bay. They identify all the islands for us and insist that, should we be back this way, that we stop in. They won't let us leave without a stack of pamphlets for places to visit as we head south ("I just pick them up here and there" says Marguerite) and ice cream cones - honeycomb - "the best in all of New Zealand!" they say. Seriously. We leave licking ice cream cones.
We are so overwhelmed at their generousity towards us. We hug and dare I say that I even feel a bit teary at the goodbye. These kind, generous, and genuine folks inviting us into their home. We do get their email address and you can be sure that if I see a Borzoi figurine anywhere on our travels I WILL be mailing it back to them.
-J
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