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Published: April 11th 2009
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A what?
Some of you may remember being able to go outside, most often on the roof of an airport concourse to view the planes as they went about their business. They still have one at the Christchurch Airport, and I am always amazed. Don't they have any bad guys here? First, my apologies to you all for the large number of photos on this edition. Actually, I have spared you, as between the three cameras that were working at times on this trip, we took nearly 1800 photos. Some I am saving for subsequent editions...some have been erased, some will not see the light of day again...
So the Hotchkiss boys come to Noo Zilland again...They arrived on the 23rd and left on the 29th, after seven days and six nights spend seeing stuff and on the road (well, except for being on the fiord).The boys landed in the morning in Christchurch after flying through the night and changing planes in Auckland. We proceeded to wander on down to Cathedral Square to see (you guessed it) the Cathedral and surroundings we had seen together 12 years ago when we were here in NZ on a family vacy. You can imagine how old the guys were at the time. John was also in NZ for four months or so after he graduated from high school at the tender age of 17. In Cathedral Square, we saw the chess board on the ground, as well as the aquarium which also housed a
Here they come!!!
Our three young'uns coming out of the secure area on arrival at CHCH. couple of kiwis (only one of them was awake and wandering about in the red light...the male had been separated from the female as he was hassling her...sounds like a case of domestic violence).
After CS, we hopped into the trusty Toyota Ipsum and headed down Highway 1 to Cookie Time where we bought a couple bags of seconds of the chocolate chip persuasion, and on to Timaru. We wandered around town a bit (not a long term tour) and dinner followed by a get-together at the Speights Ale House.
The next day, we got off to a leisurely start and headed to Waimate to the knitwear outlet store (they have some Merino and possum fur mixes that are incredible, and for incredible prices), then on to Moreki, where we scaled the boulders and visited Fleur's for loonch. We next raced to the Moreki Lighthouse (our desert kept us at Fleur's too late, and dusk was dusking) and raced out to the point to see the penguins and fur seals. Unfortunately, the lighthouse keeper saw us go in, and chased us out as no one is supposed to be there whilst the lighthouse is in operation...apparently, seals and
The Cathedral...
of Cathedral Square. penguins are excluded. We did see about five penguins, though. So, then it was back down Highway 1 and Dunedin. Spent the night at the Kiwis Nest Hostel. I received a parking ticket for parking in a "residents only" spot (I thought I might qualify, as I was residing in the "Nest"...I have written to the City Council about my concerns about the labeling of the spot) and we went off to the rental mopeds. There were only three available, so the boys got them, we led the way and drove out to the Otago Peninsula. At the tip is the only mainland albatross colony in the world at Taiaroa Head...we didn't see any but did see a bunch of seals snoozing in the sun.
After that, we moved on west. We stopped in the wee town of Gore (actually not wee by NZ standards), for something to eat and to pick up some supplies. I, of course, went to my beloved Subway, while the boys searched for some other form of sustenance. They walked into a bakery which happened to be closing for some meat pies...they were closed, and couldn't sell them any...the girl behind the counter went
Cathedral Sanctuary
at Cathedral Square. into the back and came out with three that she GAVE them...I bet she wouldn't have done that for an old guy like me... Then it was back in the car, and on to Te Anau and a night at the Barnyard Backpackers, a lovely place...highly recommended. It was located on a deer farm (they grow deer as domestic animals here) and the sound of the bulls trumpeting serenaded us throughout the night. We could see the Southern Alps from outside our cabins.
Next day, we went to Manapouri for our trip across Lake Manapouri on the Fiordland Flyer for the bus trip over the pass to Doubtful Sound where we boarded the Navigator for our overnight cruise. The weather, which had been "fine" until our trip over the pass became cloudy, misty and ultimately very rainy for our time on the Sound, which cut the visibility, but kept the sandflies down, and brought out hundreds of waterfalls. It was beautiful, mysterious and very enjoyable. Not the least of the activities was discussions with shipmates from around the world. It is so interesting to listen to other people's stories. Among the activities available were a float in kayaks or
Guards???
Matthew adopting his best beefeater expression (slthough the other guy doesn't look like a proper beefeater) in Cathedral Square. a motorized launch, as well as a swim in the Sound. Interesting about the Sound, the top six feet or so was "brown water," the result of the runoff through the vegetation on the steep sides of the fiord. Beneath this layer, there is life normally found only at much deeper depths. Blocking the sun "fools" the forms into thinking they are in the deeper water they normally inhabit.
After we left the ship, we moved on to Queenstown. It was in this process that we encountered the only real disappointment of our trip. We had been communicating with "Big Jer," and had intended to meet him at the I-Center in Te Anau after our cruise. Unfortunately, due to communications difficulties on our part, we fumbled the ball and neglected to meet him there. He was there, tried to call my hospital cell phone, but it didn't ring until hours later when we were on the road to Queenstown...I checked the phone for messages, and, sure enough, there was one from Jer...Matthew spoke to him and they hung up before we could take account of the situation and make other arrangements. We tried to call the I-Center back, but
Punting on the Avon...
River in downtown CHCH. he had left. I am very sorry, Jer.
John was keen to go to Queenstown. He had been there years ago when he was here with YWAM, and we had stayed there when we were here on our tour. We ate at a local burger joint that made these mega burgers, took the tram up the mountain, wandered around town, and, of course took multiple photos. After staying at the Alpine, I believe it was, and talking to some folk from Wales, we moved on.
We had wanted to stay in Tekapo by the Lake, but there were no accomodations. Weekend, you know. So, instead, we drove to about 20 miles of Mt. Cook, went to Mt. John where the Starlight Reserve is, visited the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheepdog Statue, and lit out for Christchurch for their last night.
We spent the night at the Old Country house, a place we had been before. The evening we got in, we went to Sumner and met John's best while here, and went to a pub for something to eat. We also went out to Sumner the next day to stroll the beach, and so
Requisite visit to Cookie Time
Stopped at the factory store, and bought some seconds (broken) very average chocolate chip cookies, which we ate during our extended drives... we could meet John's friend again, as well as his wife and daughter. After a nice day at the beach, we wandered back to the airport for a sad goodbye, ending a trip that seemed too short, but which was so much fun...after having them here, we are getting ready to be closer to them...to be home...we will miss this place...more on that another time.
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Matthew R Lewis
non-member comment
Hi Jack and Nahid, thanks for sharing your adventures. What a blessing to have the boys there. We miss you. Matt and Krista