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April 19-May 6
Back home...
And now the rest of the story... or at least the next phase... the fun didn't end when we left the North Island!
Christchurch - Sunday April 19th - We had a city day and I took Sydney shopping at a mall and Gregg took Graham food shopping while Howard and Jean hooked up for brunch with some friends they had met in NZ 13 years ago (John and Miriam Nash)! Around 2pm we met up with The Timaru Boys High Yachting Team at Ranga Taitai School where they were going to be boarding for the week. We then drove to Lyttelton to check out the sailing site so that Howard and Jean would know where to meet Graham on Wed when they came back up with Avery. In typical Shivers fashion we got back to Timaru later than expected. Howard and Jean checked into their gorgeous bay front bed and breakfast, Pleasant View, before coming over for a light dinner and to see our house.
Okay, this is where my memory gets sketchy... I should have kept a journal the whole time that Howard and Jean were here, or at least
should have tried to write the travel blog a few weeks earlier...
Sydney and Avery were out of school for another week, Gregg went back to work and on Wed Howard and Jean took Avery and went to Lyttelton a day before Gregg, Syd and I. They visited friends, watched sailing and went to the zoo with Avery. We arrived on Thurs evening - again much later than expected...and our friends, Julian and Yvonne, whom we'd invited to join us for a few days, were busy in the kitchen cooking a delicious curry for us!
Friday - We lounged around before heading down to the harbor to check out the sailing schedule. We had chartered hrough Lyttelton Sailing School a 28ft. sailboat with Captain Peter Marshall to watch the high school regatta and sail in the Lyttelton Harbor area. It was a fun day for us - 4 hours of sailing on a chilly day was more than we had done for awhile and it was very nice to have a captain who had lots of stories to share. In addition to watching the yachtees we saw Earthrace, the first motorboat to circumnavigate the world on Biodiesel fuel. There
were people water skiing behind the monsterish looking boat. Timaru Boys High School ended up not doing as well as hoped in the regatta, but did make it to the Silver finals. Friday night we watched a bit of the prize giving with all the yachting teams in full dress uniform from their schools.
On Saturday we cleared out of the house in Lyttelton, said goodbye to Julian and Yvonne, and headed for Akaroa. We stopped to visit the pumpkin festival in Little River - see giant pumpkin photo. We rented a house in Akaroa that was called "Granddad's Bach". It was darling -nicely furnished, good location. We stopped and took a tour onboard Earthrace that was docked for the night in Akaroa. Funky boat - great sound system, but very tight quarters. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around showing Howard and Jean the cute little French community. After dinner, Gregg, I and the kids went into town to listen to Captain Peter Bethune tell stories about his travels with Earthrace. We all found it really interesting - Ironically, Earthrace's next stop was Timaru and Captain Peter came to Gleniti School where Avery got to hear
Lyttelton Harbor
The Lighthouse, our weekend rental his stories again and to TBHS as well.
Sunday - Gregg finally got to put his windsurfing equiptment to use and spent the afternoon windsurfing. The rest of us shopped, had lunch by the water, Howard did some sketching... at 4pm we left Akaroa via the scenic route. As usual we were awed by the beautiful scenery...and the cow in the middle of the road! At sunset we stopped at Birdling Flats to watch the sunset on the beach. We got takeaway pizza from Hells Pizza for the late ride home. End of school holidays and back to the routine...
While the kids went back to school, Howard, Jean and I got to explore Timaru and area. On Monday we joined Avery's class at the South Canterbury Museaum to explore Timaru's history and learn about the English ship - The Strathallen that arrived in Timaru in 1856. Saturday was ANZAC Day and TBHS had a Memorial Service for the fallen soldiers from the World Wars. This was another interesting visit for Howard and Jean - me too! It was a solemn service with all boys in formal uniform and a processional to the chapel for a wreath laying.
Yvonne and Julian
Cooking a yummy curry... Monday was also Table Tennis club for Avery. Howard and Sydney had a pretty active game - proving that Howard's still got it! On Tuesday, Howard and Jean took a road trip to Twizel, Mt. Cook, Lake Tekapo. They brought back fresh salmon for dinner on Wed. I think during their time here we hit every lunch spot. We all talked about the need to diet once the visit was over...
On Friday, Gregg took the day off and the adults went to Oamaru. We stopped at, what might be my new favorite restaurant, Riverstone which also has a lovely gift shop. In Oamaru we wandered around the old town and took a short walk near the penguin colony. We accepted a last minute invitation to the Elsen's for an International Club get together. This was a great opportunity for me to meet some other Germans and fun for Howard and Jean to meet some of the locals. Even the kids had fun hanging around with the Elsen boys and meeting people. Saturday the boys had sports - Rugby in Geraldine for Avery and Soccer in Timaru for Graham. It was a stellar day! After the games, which sent
us all in different directions, we met up at Opihi Vineyard for some lunch and wine and a relaxing afternoon. Fanastic spot! The fall colors were in full swing so Gregg, Howard, Jean, Syd and Avery took a sceninc drive home through Fairly. The road from Geraldine to Fairly has got to be one of the prettiest in the South island.
Sunday was a funny day. I made a big breakfast for everyone. Jean, Sydney and I joined Kate Elsen at St. Mary's for the re-dedication service. We embarrased ourselves by sitting in the front row and making spectacules of ourselves by doing everything at the wrong time. Gregg took his dad and the boys to a horse and tractor plouging competition, while we girls went to lunch after church. Jean and I went to Syd's school for "Open Day", basically an open house and a good opportunity to view the school while in session. Sydney had hockey so she wasn't able to join us. We all met up to watch her play hockey at 4pm and then to Pleasant View, Howard and Jean's Bed and Breakfast for wonderful lamb Sunday dinner compliments of the hosts, Rosemarie and Ian.
Sadly, May 6th came very quickly and we had to say goodbye. Gregg and I had breakfast at Pleasant View Wednesday morning before Howard and Jean took off back to Christchurch. It was a really lovely visit. Our visits together at home usually only last 3-5 days, so to have had over 3 weeks together was really special.
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Judy Dunker
non-member comment
Shivers Visit !
Wonderful to read about all your adventures with Howand and Jean. The photos are great, and your journal superb ! I felt like I was right there with you.