On our last day in Nelson, Friday, March 7, 2014, Jody and I went kayaking with a guided tour guide, Nick, on Cable Bay. What a treat. As usual with New Zealand weather, the early morning started out overcast and then became brilliantly blue and clear as the morning progressed into afternoon. Jody and I paddled a two-seater kayack while Nick narrated our tour around the bay. Just the two of us - what a personal treat. We had a great mid-morning break with Nick on the shore where we discussed politics and many things New Zealand. Nick was a world traveler with the oil industry, but had very strong ecological views. Setting out. A fur seal in the distance. Nick. A large fur seal staring down on us. I just love these guys. Mid-morning break. Jody is thrilled that blue skies have returned. Land in sight.
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On Sunday, March 2, 2014 the first of our 6 weeks of house guests arrived in Wellington, Kat and Bryan. They are here for 12 days and plan to visit both islands on their own, as well as share some activities with us. Between March 2 and March 7, Kat and Bryan had fun visiting the Wellington Zoo and the WETA Cave and touring the South Island which included the ferry ride over from Wellington; visiting fur seals up-close; and swimming with the dolphins. Visiting the Shire set where LOTR was filmed is a major priority soon. We're looking forward to seeing pictures from that trip as we plan to do it later. The Shire set is close to 6 hours away by vehicle. Visiting the Wellington Zoo. Hanging with trolls at the WETA Cave. Touring the South Island. Visiting with fur seals. And finally, swimming with Dolphins.
On Thursday, March 6, 2014, Jody got off of work in the early afternoon and we went on a hike in Nelson. I had spent the previous day relaxing in our room and was ready for some exertion. We hiked up to the top of a mountain where there is a monument describing that point as "The Center of New Zealand." We then went hiking further along the ridge line until returning to the base of the mountains. We were so tired that we took a cab back to our hotel where I cooked a dinner of cheeseburgers and wine. From the summit of "The Center." Along the way I was having fun making sheep noises to get their attention. Jody thought that this sheep might have designs on me. I immediately desisted and moved along as I was not in any way a lonely sheep herder :-). I just love Jody's panoramas. Hiking down from the mountains was beautiful and serene. As we planned, at the bottom we visited the beautiful and serene Miyazu Japanese garden presented in the mid-90's to New Zealand in recognition of its sister city relationship with Japan.
On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Jody and I flew from Wellington to Nelson on the South Island, the "Center of New Zealand," so that Jody could continue her refugee research by meeting with local educators and students in Nelson. Kat and Bryan took the ferry from Wellington at 2:30 am to the South Island and landed at Picton. They then drove to Nelson (about 1 1/2 hour drive) and linked up with us at our hotel. The flight over for us was in a two-engine prop that was so powerful it sounded like a jet and also reached rather high altitudes as the beautiful pictures that follow attest. The total trip by plane for Jody and me between the two islands was only 25 minutes. Following our arrival in the early morning, we walked around the city of Nelson for awhile before we could check into our hotel, Later in the afternoon, we linked up with Kat and Bryan,. They were so pooped from their early morning trip over that they chose to go to a local fast food restaurant and turn in early in preparation for their big drive the next day to Kaikoura to swim with the dolphins. Jody and I went to the really nice Harbor Light Bistro on Wakefield Quay for a gourmet dinner of Lamb Shank that was superb, followed by a great sunset. The Moveable Feast continues. Our plane. I was amazed that we didn't even have to go through Airport Security, a first for me in a long time. Two views from the plane. Jody fell in love with this sculpture outside the airport, although we don't know its significance. Dinner time at the Harbor Light Bistro. A great sunset to end a great day.
What a surprise after our bike ride. Mark took us to the site where several of the scenes in LOTR were filmed depicting the Elvish village of Rivendell. NZ is just packed with filming locations for these movies. I can't wait to get to the Shire. All in good time. I'm still stalking Peter Jackson. Thought I had him a few weeks ago, but a false alarm. The search continues. One piece of the set was still left standing. Trees around here are just incredible. A really fun swinging bridge enhanced by Jody. Closing out this great morning and afternoon was a trip to this quaint restaurant where we had terrific scones, coffee, and tea. Charming! But, the day was still not over for us. That evening we went into downtown Wellington to see a play, BLACK FAGGOT, about the LGBT experience. Quite good, enjoyable, and moving. It seems like every day is a holiday and adventure here. Here is the link: http://festival.co.nz/black-faggot/
No sooner did we get back from Auckland, then Jody and I were able to finally get on bikes and cycle this past Saturday. Jody's excellent workmate, Suzanne, and her biker husband, Mark, picked us up at the train station after a brief ride to the upper Hutt (which is North of Wellington) and we drove to a beautiful mountainous region, Pakuratahi Forest and Rimutaka Forest Park, where we got on dirt bikes and biked up the mountain for a picnic lunch. They provided a great lunch with wine, cheeses, salami, crackers, etc. What a wonderful treat. Going down the mountain was even better as it was downhill most of the way. Following are pictures. Suzanne, Jody and Mark on the trail. Finally on a bike after over two months. Mark is such a great guy. A South African lving with his wife, Suzanne, in the Wellington area. Very entertaining man. Mr. Harley Davidson and Friend.
On Wednesday, February 25 I took the ferry over to Rangitoto Island while Jody worked. Upon landing, I then hiked up to the summit. The guidebook said it would take one hour. After docking, I asked one of the tour guides which way to go and that I understood that the summit hike would take one hour. He looked at me and said, "No, for you - 45 minutes." I'm so glad I lost 80 lbs. I would have been dead after 30 minutes on this moderately strenuous hike. The island is incredible in that it came out of the sea only 600 years ago as an erupting volcano. Lava fields are everywhere. There is a crater at the summit that is spectacular and covered in vegetation. You can see vast expanses of Auckland Central and the surrounding islands and land masses. Leaving on the ferry from Auckland's dock, complete with one of the local cruise ships. Views from the summit looking directly down into the crater. Top of the world (actually, closer to the bottom). My fellow hikers. Our ferry dock from the summit. Vast fields of lava rock undisturbed for 600 years. The summit from the dock. Hard to believe I was just at the top. Leaving the island for the trip home. On our way to and from the ferry stopped at Devonport, the island with two volcanoes that Jody and I visited when we first arrived. Just to illustrate how fast the weather changes, compare this afternoon return weather to this morning's weather.
In my continuing exploration of New Zealand cinemas, today I had a great trip to the Rialto Theater in New Market (real close to Auckland). I saw INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, the new movie from the Coen Brothers (RAISING ARIZONA, FARGO, A SERIOUS MAN, etc.). I enjoyed it immensely. I wonder if it has made it to Sarasota yet? New Zealanders are really into film. The theater was a delight.
We traveled to Auckland this week, NZ's largest city, so that Jody could meet with local Ministry of Education staff as part of her refugee resettlement research. As it was Sunday, we filled an awful lot of activity into our first day. After dropping off our bags at the hotel in the very early morning we wondered down to the harbor and had a wonderful brunch at a local restaurant. On the way we encountered this incredible tree and had to stop to admire it. We then went to Auckland's Sky Tower which is the highest structure in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Comparable to Seattle's Space Needle. We had fun at the top as the pictures demonstrate. The vertical line in the middle is actually the line descending downward for the sky divers (see below) You could skydive off the building for $249.00. We would have done it, but not at this price. We preferred to sip Pinot Gris and watch them plummet from the window. This was as daring as we got, standing on the glass floor looking straight down. Yeah, I know - it's a rough life. Jody took this great telephoto of a tall ship in the harbor from the Sky Tower. Without color correcting, it looks very moody with the tint from the glass. After our trip to the Sky Tower, we walked back down to the harbor, jumped on a ferry, and cruised on the ferry to Devonport Island, home ot two extinct volcanoes. We took a bus tour around the islland and went to its highest point where we took the above and following pictures. Beautiful views on a beautiful day. Rangtito Island which I plan to hike to the summit later in the week while Jody works. Downtown Auckland. At the trun of the century, NZ was fearful of a Russian invasion by sea. Thus, they erected huge gun in placements on the island. This gun was actually hidden in the ground on the top of the island and was elevated by compressed air. It was only fired once, breaking windows around the town. It was never fired again. Pretty funny. After an exhausting first day, Jody treated me to an excellent dinner in the hotel. She was thrilled that they had her favorite soup, potato leek, an Irish favorite. Great end to a great day. Isn't she cute?
On Sunday, February 16, Jody and I took the train from Wellington for the hour long trip to Pparaparauma on the Kapiti Coast. This is area is known for its lovely beaches and serene surroundings. We had an enjoyable afternoon shopping, walking the beach, and eating lunch. Just had to get out of the city for a change. And for you Harry Potter fans, there was a Platform 9 3/4 in the Wellington train station.
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