Lunch with Beth Robinson's Family

Today we met Beth Robinson's family at Stonyridge Winery.  The winery restaurant is surrounded by colorful vines and picturesque views.  The style of the main building is reminiscent of the south of France.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch---------snapper, tuna, portabello mushrooms and more. 

Great company, food, and wine!!!

Below you see us with Beth's daughter Heather, Beth's sister Ruth along with Ruth's daughter Robin and her children.

Daughter Peggy on Waiheke

Peggy has spent the last two weeks with us on the island.  It has been a joy to have her with us, keeping me active and busy as Will works at the clinic.

We have been busy exploring the island taking a variety of treks.  The island is 12 miles long, but has over 56 miles of coastline, 25 miles of which are white sand beaches.  It is impressive how many well kept tracks are available in beautiful areas.

Will and Peggy have been swimming several times.  I prefer walking on the beach.

The island features over 40 wineries, so we've indulged in a couple wine tasting excursions.  You can see Peggy and I posing by the grapes that scatter the hillsides of Waiheke. 

Scientific Correction

Dear Friends and Family,

When Will and I wrote about the dolphin experience, we included inaccurate information.  Thinking back, our guide must have been talking about the Orcas which are often referred to as killer whales.  Orcas are the largest of the dolphin family.  Although our grandson was smart enough to know this bit of info, we (the wise elders) managed to mix it up on our blog post.  Sorry for the confusion!

Swimming with the Dophins

A highlight for Will while we were staying at Kaikoura(east coast of south island) was swimming with the dolphins.  We were told that if we signed up for the 5:15 departure on the boat we would have the best chance to see the most dolphins.  I went along as an observer and photographer of Will in the water.  Note the sunrise.  The second picture features Will----wet suit and snorkeling gear.

The swimmers were told to make high pitched noises to attract the dolphins.   Will claims that the dolphins were within a foot of him.  He was even able to make eye contact.  Will said that he would circle around the dolphins and then they would do the same.

We don't know the exact number of dolphins, but Will would guess that there were about 50 swimming close to the adventurers.  Will and the other swimmers went into the water twice.  Will liked the fact that the dolphins were in their natural setting and it was up to the human eye to spot them.

After the swim, we observed lots of dolphins leaping into the air close to the boat.  Will was able to get better pictures with his new camera and so when we download his pics we can include those.

We learned  from the guide that dolphins belong to the whale family.  When Will talked to Kai about this, he exclaimed, "Of course grandpa, everyone knows that!"

We were told that dolphins generally come up for air every 30 seconds but can stay under 8 minutes.   There are a lot of permanent sperm whales and dolphins that stay here because of a deep canyon in the ocean with lots of marine life and food. 

 Most of the time while the swimmers were observing the dolphins through their goggles attached to their snorkeling equipment, the dolphins were under water as well.  It was a challenge for me to get a photo when they "popped up".  (NZ word)


We were 30 minutes out to sea and on the way home spotted a whale, water shooting out of the blow hole.

 

Kayaking at Abel Tasman

The Larsons have gone kayaking on numerous occasions, but for me this was another first.  My main concern after our tipover in the one man canoe was that it might happen again.  But no problem. We spent an enjoyable time on a guided tour.  The beaches of Abel Tasman are golden.  In the first picture there is a waterproof bag for our cameras.  We stopped on the beach for hot chocolate and muffins.   We wore those rubber skirts.  Will enjoyed taking photos of the seals as we were able to get up close.

Fox Glacier

Attaching crampons to our boots and spending time on Fox Glacier was another interesting experience for us.  Enroute we stopped to get whitebait sandwiches and then spent time on the glacier in the afternoon.  The highlight is seeing the blue ice formations.   We were constantly putting on layers of clothing and and then taking them off.

Milford Sound

After the Routeburn Trek we went to Milford Sound.  We have had several good laughs over our accomodations--------- a container filled with sandflies.  We cancelled our second night.

I am including several pictures taken on the boat tour in the sound-----overall view, seals, penguins, waterfalls and the CONTAINER.

The Routeburn Track

When it was all said and done, the Routeburn Track was a highlight for the four of us.  It was 36 kilometers long.  We spent two nights in huts along the way, sleeping in dorm rooms with lots of others.  Snoring in different keys was like an orchestral symphony.

The trek was especially challenging for me as I have not backpacked, only taken day trips.  Caroline and Ron are experienced adventurers and as you know Will is as well.   There were some pretty steep stretches and we did get rained on a couple times.

Preparing for the Routeburn required more work than we anticipated-----purchasing the food, buying cheap sleeping bags and dishes, and renting a large pack for Will.  Caroline and Ron had backpacks which they brought from the states. 

Note Caroline and Will checking out the tramp and the four of us enjoying the big breakfast before the trek. Swinging bridges brought us from one side of the trek to the other.  You can tell by the pic of Will and I how well constructed the trails are.   There were waterfalls galore.  We were glad that we had our walking sticks!

Waiheke Island

Just a quick note to say that we arrived Tuesday in Waiheke Island via ferry from Aukland.  It is a beautiful island.  Weather is unpredictable------spells of rain, spells of wind, and spells of fine weather.  A person has to wear layers and be adaptable.  We have been taking a hike (walk) and exploring a little each day.

We have been staying at Punga Lodge for 5 days and will be glad to get settled in our house tomorrow.  Living out of a suitcase gets old after awhile.  Since we have a kitchenette, Will and I have been cooking most meals.  The owner of the lodge treats us with tea and homemade goodies each afternoon.

Will started work at the Ostend Medical Center on the island.  He is learning the computer system and how things operate.  I am trying to learn my way around.  It is a bit difficult driving up and down the hills and around the twists and turns.   I can get disoriented.

Next week I will tackle the job of sorting through pictures taken on our trip with Will's cousin, Ron and his wife Caroline.  They were great traveling partners.

 

Dear Friends and Family,

We have been having difficulty getting on our blog.  If you need us email us or call the Ostend Medical Center-----------09 372 5005
From the states or Thailand that would be 0064 9 372 5005     To reach our mobile phone call 0064 21 213 2098

0064 is the NZ country code.

I will try to update the blog, but be sure to send emails as we can check them.

Kath and Will     

No Blogs, No Computer-------heading to south island

Dear Friends and Family,

Just a quick note to let you know that we will be heading to the South Island with Will's cousin, Ron and his wife, Caroline.  We will be hiking the Routeburn Trek for three days and doing some shorter hikes.

It has been great to get emails from many of you.  We love keeping in touch and hearing about your lives.  We will not take the computer, but will try to check emails at internet cafes or wifi stops.  No blogs for three weeks.

We will have a cell phone with us which you may try if you need to get a hold of us-----021 213 2098

We will be on Waiheke Island the month of March and then at Balclutha on the south island for the month of April.

Looking forward to your emails.

Love, Kath

Moving the Sheep

These pictures were taken near the top of the hills.  Dave, with the assistance of his dogs, moved 1,300 sheep from one paddock (fenced field) to another paddock closer to their farm.  The second picture shows the sheep gathering together in one corner.  From here as seen in picture #3, they raced through the gate.  The last picture shows the sheep that got separated from the main group.  Dave and Will circled back to get these sheep as no sheep are left behind.  This reminds us of how Jesus looks after us.

As the sheep were running into the second paddock, the battery on my camera went dead.  As son Nate has often told me, "Mom, quit taking so many pictures------just put that scene in your head!"

When we got back to the farm, they described the shearing process.  We could feel the softness of lamb's wool compared to the sheep's wool.  We learned that the price of wool is currently quite high.

Pip showed us her stunning gardens, followed by a meal of lamb, roasted vegetables, and rhubarb/blueberry/almond crunch.  It was an evening to treasure.

Sheep Herding

Last evening Will and I had a wonderful experience.  Will's nurse, Pip, invited us for dinner.  She lives on a 1,200 acre sheep/cattle farm.  When we arrived, they asked if we would like to ride out with them to move the sheep from one paddock (enclosed field) to another closer to their farm.  We put on gum boots and headed out.  Will and I both agreed that at times it was scary as we held on for dear life.  The hills are extremely steep, and with my camera it was difficult to show the depth.

The first picture was taken near the top of the grazing land and shows the farm in the valley way below.   Note Will and Dave climbing up the hills as they got closer to the sheep.

I wanted to feature the dogs as they are very well trained and it was interesting to see how Dave instructed them to move the sheep.  They would get behind the sheep, barking and running to gather the sheep together. 

Weekend------Part 5

The most interesting stop was at Kawakawa to see the public toilets designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser from Austria.  When visiting Kristin in Vienna (after she did a semester abroad) we toured apartments that he designed.  Hundertwasser called New Zealand his adopted country and lived in Kawakawa because it had "soul".  One of the reasons I was drawn to his work is that he incorporates glass bottles for design and light, reminding me of some of Peggy and Jo's adobe homes where they have done the same.  Also, I was fascinated with the grasses and plants growing on the roof, reminding me of Nate's most recent structure------a coffee house with a grass roof at Pun Pun.

Weekend----Part 4

On the way to Paihia, we stopped at a canopy bridge built through a forest of kauri trees and tree ferns.  The top photo is my favorite.  I leaned over the bridge and snapped a photo of a tree fern growing below me.

Weekend-------Part 3

This weekend was a New Zealand holiday, commemorating the signing of the Waitangi Treaty in 1840 between the British and the Maori.  The Maori people pack the town of Paihia and celebrate with waka (canoe) races and a variety of songs and dances, including the haka (war dance). 

Will and I enjoyed this celebration as it was not a paid performance, but a time for the Maori locals to preserve their culture with numerous activities.  In the third picture, find the young man with his head raised and tongue stuck out.  We had been told that this was a part of the haka.  Note the young girl with the bulging eyes in the fourth picture.  This is a typical action by the dancing women.  The pictures show the different kinds of canoes--------single, double, and very large.  We were told that the largest canoe can hold up to 120 men.

We met the Maori man talking with Will and spent at least a half hour learning about their history and current situation in NZ.  He told us that the Maori did not understand the terms of the treaty as many of the words were unfamiliar to them.  The land had been unfairly taken from them.  Sounds like the plight of the American Indian-----  This man's son is one of the boys in the picture with me.  He had been taught the haka and other dances when he was only 5 years old.