In Which I Rely on the Kindness of Strangers - New Zealand, February 2017
This wasn’t the first story I had planned to tell you about my trip to New Zealand. I had planned to write about my 11-hour layover in South Korea, about magical glowworm caves, steaming thermal pools, and embracing my inner Hobbit. And I will tell you those stories, later. First, though, I will tell you about some bad luck and some good people. Because this is an adventure too.
Today I was in a car accident. In a rental car. In rural New Zealand.
First, before you ask, I’m fine. I was not hurt in any way, beyond being frightened and shaken up by the incident. No one else was hurt either, as this was a solo situation. The car was less fortunate, but we’ll get to that.
What happened? I’m honestly not sure I know. I had just left the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour (I promise that story – and plenty of photos – later). I was driving along a curvy road when suddenly I lost control of the car as it swerved back and forth. Maybe the tire blew, maybe I hit the edge of the verge wrong, I really couldn’t tell you. What I do know is that I was very scared, I couldn’t get the steering wheel to react, and I ended up in a ditch.
However, this really isn’t the story of that accident. Beyond the fact that I’m EXTREMELY pleased that I sprung for the full coverage insurance from the rental company, and therefore paid nothing out-of-pocket, the most dramatic part of the rest of the story is that I had to return to Auckland in a tow truck (2+ hours) to get a new car and fill out paperwork, before driving BACK to Rotorua (3+ hours), where I’m currently staying.
What this story is really about is the amazing people I encountered along the way.
As soon as I got out of my car (in the ditch), shaking a little from the fear, three cars had pulled over to make sure I was okay. One woman gave me a drink before moving on. Other cars paused to check in. Jules and Peter, and their minivan full of family stayed with me for at least 40 minutes (until they had to leave to get to work), loaned me a cell phone for the entire time to contact the rental/insurance company and begin the process, and made sure I was really okay before leaving. They made me smile and feel not so alone in a difficult moment.
It turns out the ditch was next to the fence of Hayden’s farm. When he came out to see why the cows were acting strangely (they were quite the audience to the accident – every one staring at me curiously), he also saw what had happened. He pulled out his tractor to tow me out of the ditch, both of us hoping that the car was drivable, and when we saw the extent of the damage (front passenger wheel unusable), brought me to his home, let me use the phone to set up a tow, and got me a drink of water. His wonderful wife, Kate, invited me in for lunch with them and her visiting parents, and everyone made me feel looked after.
If this had happened to me as a stranger/tourist in Los Angeles, I don’t know what the results would be. Would anyone stop for me? Stay with me once they were assured I wasn’t injured? Invited me into their home for support? I don’t know. I doubt it, though.
As I tried again and again to thank Hayden and Kate, they reminded me that they, too, are travelers. They have also relied on the kindness of strangers and this is their way of paying it forward.
Someday I hope to do the same.
Hayden and Kate's sweet farm dog, Walter, who waited for the tow truck with me.