Mar 2007

I can't say exactly when this running joke began in the valley, but somehow I have become Anna Nicole reincarnated. Anyone and everyone from Kevin the 72 year old, motorcycle riding, uncomfortably fringed jean shorts wearing local to Paul the 'hunky' retired organic farmer who has the best damn peaches and makes me look like a complete amatuer when it comes to whippersnippering...all seem to be on the valley's list of potential blokes to set me up with. Apparently, the guest list for my birthday (july 1st) is already well underway with Kevin, Paul, Carla (the crazy badmitton maori lady who thinks spandex can be dressed up or down and should be worn with everything) the old man at the ferry pier (with the cute little beret, tube socks, suspenders and a rather endearing habit of muttering to himself,) I would say Rosie my badmitton partner (but her and I seemed to have had a falling out when I let out all of my pent up rage on the shuttlecock only to hit her in the head and lose the point in the process,) oh and of course there is Cody and Maya the twin 6 year olds who spent the weekend at the valley and I somehow convinced them that there were robots in the rainforest who only came out if they were quiet, didn't move and didn't talk to me...and I am happy to report for a good 10 min. I was able to get the pesky buggers to stop throwing pingpong balls in my direction and doing ungodly things with playdoh. But enough about my love life anyways...

Cathedral Cove...for the longest time I couldn't quite place where I had seen pictures of this infamous tourist destination. Alas, it hit me...the toilet. Apparently, the poster on the door of the lieu picturing this giant white guitar-pic like shaped rock, crystal clear aquamarine water and a beautiful sandy beach was no longer going to be what bathroom daydreams were made of, but rather a leisurely Friday trip with the group.
The drive to the Cove took us along the coromandel peninsula coastline with switchbacks that caused your stomach to shoot right straight up into your throat, but the views of the water hitting the cliffs, tall kaori trees leaning over cobbled roads and what can only be described as rolling golden pastureland set the tone for the trip. My only complaint being that I got stuck with the 'bitch seat' the seat between the passenger and the driver where your bum is lodged up against the stickshift and your legs are cramped into an uncomfortable position against the dashboard...oh well, it was still worth it.
We had a picnic lunch before heading off on the 40 min. walk to the Cove. With our boogie boards in tow, my sunkissed skin and our surfer look well perfected...I felt like a real local or at least one of those chicks from 'Blue Crush."
The poster hadn't done the place enough justice--although it happened to be more touristy than many of the other destinations we have visisted to date, it was still nice to just feel normal for a bit and not so much like a dirty farmhand.
Between basking in the sun, attempts to boogie board on a waveless sea, I could not be any more content listening to the waves crash against the rocky shoreline. My reality--a hot day, gentle breeze, sun casting shadows on white/gray boulders, sun refracting off the water creating a blinding sparkle effect, cicadas and crickets breaking up the stillness of it all and me lying on the beach, fully taking in my surroundings and beaming at the notion of just how present I feel in my life for the first time in a long time.