Who Says You Shouldn't Wear Shorts in Europe?: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 "Kiwi Adventure"

We spent most of the day getting ready for our trip to the south island tomorrow. Dinner at Larraine’s and Mikes.

Monday, February 28, 2011 "Kiwi Adventure"

It was golf again on Monday, and we played 18 holes. Reg beat me by one stroke and Mike beat us by many. We played at Lakeview Golf Club. Reg was a member there for years but it has had its troubles in recent years. The course layout is absolutely beautiful but also needs some tender loving care. We met the two full time caretakers on one of the wholes. They have two part-time helpers and maintain a tremendous amount of property.

I played a lot better today, but not well enough to beat Reg. He was very happy about that today!

We spent Monday afternoon planning our ten day adventure to the south island. At one point, after listening to the news coming out of the south island about the earthquake, we became concerned that maybe we should postpone the trip to later in my stay here. We got online and found that we could still find accommodations so we planned our route around the island.

I cooked dinner Monday night.

Sunday, February 27, 2011 "Kiwi Adventure"

Reg and I went to mass at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. The priest was of Maori decent. The Maori’s originated from Hawaii and were the first to settle in New Zealand. Reg told me I would learn a lot more about the Maori’s as my trip progresses.

On Sunday afternoon, we went to Hamurana Park near where we had played golf on Friday. There are California redwood trees that were imported over 100 years ago. The trees are over 150 feet high and huge in diameter. They only get to about half the size as the ones in Northern California.

The park is beautiful and we walked to where the spring that feeds the creek that winds its way through the park originates. People through coins into the “black hole” where the spring originates and once a year divers go into the “hole” and clear out all of the coins and donate them to charity.

150 foot redwood trees

The source of the stream

The base of this redwood tree was at least 8' in diameter

Reg's son Steven and his partner Karen stopped by on Sunday afternoon for a visit.

On Sunday night, we were invited over to some long time friends of Regs’ and we had a very enjoyable dinner.

Dinner on Sunday night

Saturday, February 26, 2011 "Kiwi Adventure"

We were up early and visited Reg's son Steven and his partner Karen at their house and then headed out to Waikite Valley. It was about a 40 minute drive and absolutely beautiful. Rolling hills and mountains and lots of rock formations. Our destination was the mineral springs at Waikite Valley. The hot springs are natural and have been a destination for families for many years. We were going to have lunch there, but hamburgers were $17.50 so we split a large order of chips with sour cream and salsa.

The pools were of various temperatures and very relaxing. I drove for the first time on our way back to Rotorua. The steering wheel is on the right and you drive on the left. I kept telling myself “on the left, on the left” all the way home. The trickiest part of the driving is turning, as you automatically want to go into the wrong lane and round-a-bouts.

For centuries 100% pure natural geothermal waters of Waikite Valley have brought comfort and relief to man and beast alike. First the people of Ngati Kahu Upoko and Tuhorangi valued the curative properties of these waters and surrounding areas and was known then as Paparata (earth doctor).

One of the first Europeans to have visited the Waikite Valley was Ferdinand Von Hochstester a famous Austrian geologist and botanist. He came to New Zealand on the Novarus expedition in 1859 and commented on the vast quantites of crystal clear boiling water. Also a book written in the 1870's called "The Natural Wonders of New Zealand and Maori Land" made mention of Waikite Valley as "A spot that one of these days will be selected by some members of the lost tribes as a central sanatorium for restoring health and reinvigorating jaded mortals from all parts of the world"

In 1969 the local community put a proposal to the then County Council of Rotorua to build a Thermal pool. permission was subsequently granted and after a lot of various fund raising efforts and approximately 4000 hours of volunteer labour the pools were officially opened in July 1972.

Te Manaroa spring has the largest discharge of boiling water in New Zealand, whereby boiling water is discharged at a rate of between 40 - 50 litres per second at a temperature of 98 degrees Celsius. The depth of the spring is unknown but it is generally thought by geologists that the Waikite Valley system is hydro logically connected to the near-by Wai-o-tapu geothermal field by way of an underground cold water river that then combines with the main column of deeper bicarbonate laden, higher temperature geothermal fluids before discharging itself here in the Waikite Valley. It is also thought the springs are barometrically controlled hence when there is low air pressure Te Manaroa is more active and when there is high air pressure Te Manaroa is less active

Ahhhhh... this feels good!

I think Reg has been hanging around me too much!

On Saturday afternoon we went back into town to check out church times for Sunday. When we got down town, I kept noticing this awful smell, sort of like rotten eggs. I finally said to Reg “What the heck did you eat that is fouling up the air?” He laughed and told me about the hot sulfur springs that are located all over downtown Rotorua. Weather conditions including wind determine whether you smell the sulfur or not. Some businesses use the hot springs to heat their buildings during the winter.

We had cook out at Larraine and Mikes on Saturday night and were joined by Jane and Andy. Jane manages the Rotorua library. We had very strong thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon and even some hail.

View from the top of "Thorne Hill" looking down into Rotorua and Lake Rotorua

Friday, February 25, 2011 "Kiwi Adventure"

I slept for about six hours, got up and unpacked my suitcases, and got things organized, and then went back to bed for about two hours.

Reg, Mike and I played golf at Hamurana Golf Course on Friday morning. It is a nine whole course where you pay the same for either 9 or 18. It was very low budget, a tin can at the clubhouse to put your green fees in. I am sure that there is only one guy maintaining this course. It was pretty, but very rough. The grass had just been cut and it had been very long. I started out with two nines, and then settled down. We had a good time.

Reg, Joel and Mike at Hurana Golf Course

On Friday afternoon, we went down to the town center of Rotorua and walked around. Very few buildings over two stories. The town of Rotorua sits on Lake Rotorua, the second largest lake on the north island. Just above the town is Mountain Ngongataha. You can see it clearly from Reg’s patio. Debbie and Don Thorne have renamed it “Thorne Hill” as they are co-owners of Reg’s house and since it is in clear site, they claimed it as their own!

Reg's House in Rotorua

Reg's patio in Rotorua

"Thorne" hill as seen from Reg's patio

Paddle Cruise Ship in Rotorua

Tour planes and helicopters in Rotorua

We had dinner at Larraine’s and Mike’s on Friday night. They live about half way up on “Thorne Hill” and have a beautiful view of the city and lake.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 "Kiwi Adventure"

The Great "Kiwi: Adventure

Click on any of the pictures to make them larger!

My first flight was at noon. My daughter-in-law Betsy picked me up at my house around 9:30 and after a stop at the Post Office and the bank, we were off to the airport. We had heard that President Obama was flying into Cleveland today to talk up his outrageous budget plan (sorry about the political commentary! Ha-ha). Usually when this happens all air traffic and vehicle traffic stops anywhere near where he will be.

I got checked in and headed to the gate. At some point I could see several helicopters flying around the air space near the runways. I soon saw Airforce One in its landing pattern. It looked to be flying so slow that it might fall out of the sky.

Airforce One taxied its way back to near the IX center and parked. It was a little too far away to see anything clearly, but I did count 22 vehicles in the caravan to take the President to Cleveland State University.

I was using a Southwest Voucher I had earned to fly to Los Angeles. The first leg of the trip was a change-over in Chicago. Then on to Los Angeles. I had a three hour layover in LA before my flight to Melbourne, Australia. Chicago had suffered an ice storm earlier that day and all flights were delayed so I go to LA about an hour late, which was ok, because of the layover.

I met an interesting guy on the flight from Chicago to LA. “Javiar” worked in the Chicago Catholic Diocese as a youth minister for Hispanic youths. We talked the entire trip. He was very interested in my desire to join the Peace Corps and mission work.

All I can say about the flight to Melbourne was that it was “long”. 15 hours of flight time. I have trouble sleeping on planes and this flight was no exception. I thought it would never end. I did watch three movies and read some of the book that Alicia had given me before my trip. We were fed two meals and I got up as much as I could and did some laps around the inside of the plane.

I had a two hour layover in Melbourne before the final leg of my journey to Auckland, New Zealand.

Reg met me at the airport in Auckland. Reg’s daughter Larraine‘s partner Mike, helped Reg drive to Auckland and was also there to greet me.

Me arriving at the Auckland, NZ airport!

My host "Reg Thorne" picking me up at airport.

At this point I had been going about 40 hours and was very tired. I was able to keep awake the two hour trip to Rotorua where Reg lives. It was a beautiful drive with rolling hills and mountains in the background. Larraine had dinner for us when we got to Reg’s house. I was soon off to bed! But…. Before I went to bed I said “Let’s play golf tomorrow”!

Monday, February 21, 2011

I spent Monday packing and getting the house ready. On Monday afternoon, Ray Kelly called me and asked me if I had heard about the earthquakes in New Zealand. At first I thought he was joking with me, but I soon found that he was serious. I immediately called Reg; he had been out shopping and had not heard or felt anything about earthquakes. He thought I was pranking him! As the day went on, I learned that the earthquakes were centered on the south island and had caused considerable damage and death in the city of Christchurch. Christchurch had suffered a similar earthquake last September, but this one caused much more damage and lives. I checked with the airlines and all flights to the north island were on.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

I invited Mindy’s family over for dinner on the Sunday before my great Kiwi adventure. Mia came and brought her five week old baby – Camryn. It was the first chance for most of the family to see the baby, as someone always seemed to have a cold and didn’t want to infect the baby. Ann, Jon, Matt and Sean were there. Teta and Mary were there. Jim, Jayne, Ray, Clare, Will and Tim were there. Chris. Marion and Mary Allison were also there. Chris and Betsy came early and helped me finish up dinner. I had a recipe for sweet potato focacia bread, and Betsy put that together for me when she arrived.

Camryn is a beautiful baby with lots of dark hair and very well behaved. Everyone took their turn holding her.