Road Trip part 3…

A trip to Kerikeri wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Stone Store, Mission House & St James Church. The Stone Store is the oldest stone building in NZ, Mission House the oldest wooden building still standing. I won’t go into detail as not everyone is into history of buildings but they were fascinating in their own way. The graveyard around the church was, by far, the most interesting. As morbid as it sounds, graveyards have always been fascinating to me. Walking around (NEVER on them, that I am aware of that is!) the headstones, & wondering what each person’s story was, is something I have been known to spend ages doing when we have been to visit cathedrals, churches etc I don’t find them spooky or off putting at all, although I can’t say I’ve wondered around one alone in the dark as yet. But sometimes something will happen that makes me think…this time, while wondering casually between graves, Master 3 headed off a little way in front of us. I called to him to stop & wait for us & when we caught up to him he was leaning over a small plaque headstone. When I saw the surname on it I couldn’t believe it, “Paterson”, my maiden name! Even spelled the way we do, with one “t” (unusual unless you are in Scotland!) Sometimes things just make you wonder….

Stone Store

Mission House

St James Church

Next up, 90 mile Beach & Cape Reinga. I managed to find us a bach about 50m from the main road entrance onto the beach. It’s not actually 90 miles long but you can drive on it like a road. A little unnerving while playing on the beach with littlies, having to watch out for cars! But we all lived to tell the tale. We managed to take the boys sandboarding at Te Paki sand dunes as well as giving Master 3 his first boogy boarding experience.