The year kicked off with pure adventure. On 2 January, I tackled the Tongariro Crossing with good friends Bonnie, Mitch, Maree, Rhys, and hubby. And of course, I couldn’t resist line dancing in the outdoors – up at the Emerald Lakes, Maree and I broke into 3 Tequilas. My mum just shook her head when she heard, saying, “Lucky you didn’t fall off!”
Back home, training began with Bex for the four-day Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk we were to conquer in February, so January was a blur of hiking boots and dancing boots – swapping mountain trails for dance floors, always with laughter in the mix.
Our next big trip was the Wairarapa Country Music Festival, where Bex, Ryan, Sahmara and I camped out at the Featherston Racecourse for three days in the caravan. By day and night, it was all about country music and line dancing. The highlight? Hearing The Warratahs play on the final evening - I hadn’t heard them live since I was a kid, and it was magic.
And if that wasn’t enough, the crew also headed to Auckland for the Luke Combs concert. Johnny and Vedette, Maree and Rhys, Boydy and I, plus bonus – our (adult) kids Corban and Ella joined in too. We rocked matching t-shirts, got in some line dancing, and even made the news with a cheeky mention about “a couple of random people trying to line dance in the crowd.” With Jordan Davis and Mitchell Tenpenny also on stage, it was simply the best night.
Reflection:
Line dancing doesn’t just belong inside – joy travels with you, whether it’s the top of a volcano, a live country music concert, or a racecourse campsite.
🎶 Song of the Month:
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off – Helen Born & Nita Lindley
