This morning Marge and I went to the nearby school gala – rummage and fun fair all rolled into one with a schmear of performances as well. We spent most of the time looking through books and I had to restrain myself – you know – bulging suitcase and weight limit. But I did get handed and go home with a copy of Red Shoes by Elizabeth Smither the 2001 NZ Poet Laureate.
Then it was time to sit on the suitcase and get it into the car (what’s IN there? Not Gingernuts!) and off to see the American Memorial at Queen Elizabeth Park near Paraparaumu. There were a few groups of people enjoying some nearby shade as we looked at the memorial stone and the simple, striking memorial to the US marines and soldiers who were sent there during WWII.
Nearby there are paddocks that were used for close up filming of downed Nazgûl and mûmakil during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Then finally it was off to the Kapiti Airport in Paraparaumu. We waited in the car until the plane actually arrived before going in but we couldn’t delay it anymore – it was time for me to start my journey back home. There and back again as some wise hobbit wrote. It was hard saying goodbye after such a wonderful time spent with my long-time friend but she saw me off and took a few final photos as I went.
Arrived in Auckland in under an hour, figured out where to get the bus to the hotel and here I am thinking about the past three weeks and being so glad to have come.
Just keep me posted on when you get into the States and Albany. Time around Auckland today?