A Smashing Good Time?

So I have to confess, I hate idle travel. I am not cut out to be a nomad. I love traveling but by god I need an itinerary or at least some pretty solid plans in my head. I was going out of my comfort zone leaving this trip so loose and now I need to tighten it up.

But let’s rewind… I made it! As I stepped off the airplane this morning and felt the warm humid air hit me I had a realization that my passion to see the world is festering deep. New Zealand saw this as a challenge to wear me back down. My plan while here is an 8-day road trip of the North Island. I booked AirBnB accommodations for each night (though I’ve now changed the last 2 nights 3 times but that’s neither here nor there) and rented a car. And compiled no other itinerary. I knew that rain was on the forecast but I greatly underestimated it. The last hour of my flight I bought some wifi to figure out what the heck to do once I landed. I did this trip so loose I literally did not even know where I was going to go when I left the airport (couldn’t check into my AirBnB for 6 more hours). I found that a little artisan street fair was happening about 45 minutes north of the airport in Auckland; that felt perfect. It was on the water, a small town, and would be a great point to start exploring that coast line. I eagerly piled my stuff into my little Mazda 6 rental car and got ready to hit the road. It was drizzling when I walked out of the airport and to the rental car lot.

By the time I was situated in the car, the rain was coming down harder and harder. I was right away a little concerned by the fact that the driver side is on the WRONG SIDE OF THE CAR here (yes, I know that’s a very American-centric way to look at it but it’s how I feel). Driving on the opposite side of the road doesn’t bother me that much but the driver’s actual seat, that’s another story. I pull up my trusty waze and start my trek. As I drove to Orewa the rain was picking up even more. As I got within a block of the artisan fair, torrential downpours descended upon me. Like crazy torrential. Probably the hardest rain I’ve ever driven in. I knew there would be no meandering around any outside artisan fair at this point so I decided to drive a few blocks to the bay to wait it out a bit while taking in my first sights of the beautiful New Zealand coastline. After a bit of waiting I was over the whole waiting thing and decided to try the next town in search of oysters. As I drove out of town the rain was relentless. The car in front of me went through a giant puddle of standing water so I thought that was a good caution to avoid. But alas, as I tried to steer Sally (yes, I had already named my Mazda traveling companion) she disapproved and instead decided to hydroplane. Not thinking of the fact that I was on the opposite side of the car as normal I under-corrected the wheel and BAM there goes the side-view mirror – straight into a light pole on the shoulder. Motherfucker. That’s right, I said it. I immediately pulled over and wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or scream or get on a plane and head right back home or what!!! One-hour into my voyage and I had already crashed a car. Miraculously I kept my calm and very scarily drove the 45 minutes back to the airport, in still torrential downpours, with no mirror on the passenger side, to mea culpa and swap out the car. About 30 minutes at the airport and about $2500 later (they’ll supposedly refund me any overage from the damage) I was back on the road.

But I sure as hell didn’t want to be. At this point I felt so over this trip. The whole thing is based on driving town-to-town, being a nomad, and now I’m scared shitless and neurotic on the roads. Great. I just wanted to be home at that moment. I would have given anything to be headed back home to cuddle my pups in the safe familiarity of my own space. Thankfully, upon reaching out to my AirBnB hosts I was granted permission to “check in” early. As I started the half hour trek south from the airport there was a little turn-off with a herd of cows. At that moment, something about the wet cows and the green grass was so gorgeous and what I needed to remind me of what I have to look forward to on this trip. I pulled over and spent a couple minutes centering myself among the cows and then got my ass back on the road and headed to Pukekohe.

Though weather has continued to be uncooperative (it’s 9:30pm here and just recently stopped pouring) my AirBnB is gorgeous and wonderful and the views are breathtaking. Sure, I wish I’d been able to sit on the patio and sip a glass of wine but there’s also something breathtaking sometimes about hearing the pounding of the rain and watching the water playing on the windows. I kept the rest of the day low-key here. Saw what little landmarks this town has, bought an umbrella and yoga mat, and stopped at the grocery store to stock up on water and essentials for the week. Best part of the day, after my initial couple minutes walking off the plane in awe of myself for really doing this trip alone, was the grocery store. You guys, they sell the Cadbury OREO bars!!! And all sorts of others! I usually have to order the Cadbury Oreos from the UK! Maybe this trip is looking up after all…

Another thing I can’t leave out that I LOVED about their grocery store, they had free fruit for kids to eat while you shop AND candy-free check-out lanes as options to stave temptations!

And is it just me, or do their police cars look like they’re Ghostbusters?!?!

Leaving PukeKohe first thing in the morning and heading to Matamata to see Hobbiton and then on to Rotorua. Hopefully the rain gets calmer and the driving gets easier.