Today I had my first Rinkworks-related meeting; I didn't meet any Rinkies but I met some people who are related to one.

Wolfspirit's in-laws and another couple are visiting NZ and they came around to our place on arrival from the airport. They were adamant that the 26-hour trip hadn't left them tired at all, so we took a drive up to Goat Island Marine Reserve with the aim of going snorkelling. The snorkelling didn't happen, according to the universal law of bad weather which starts the day you arrive. (Also according to this law, I said several times throughout the day, "I don't BELIEVE this! The weather has been AMAZING all week up until today!")

However, the rain wasn't bad enough to make the scenery disappear, and they seemed to enjoy it all. We stopped in Warkworth for lunch and fed a one-legged duck down by the river in a cool green haze of misty rain and tree-ferns. After taking a look at Goat Island, we looked at the fishing boats in Leigh harbour, and stopped at Tawharanui Regional Park on the way back. They picked up a bagful of free maps and guidebooks from the AA in Orewa, and I filled in all the spaces on the map with "must-see" things along the routes they were taking.

If it's supposed to be scary meeting people you only know online, it ought to be much worse meeting their unknown relatives! I'm happy to say this was not the case.

Wolfspirit, you have lovely in-laws, and thank you soooooooo much for the picture of Franconia Notch. It's beautiful! I've got something for them to take back to you, too, but you'll just have to wait in suspense. :-)

Brunnen-"and they turned out to be wrong about not being tired ;-)"G