Here is a short listing what we did on this Friendship Force
Holiday - details in all the following entries.
Friday – October 26 – left early to get to LA to catch a
late plane – 8 hour layover where we worried if everyone would make the
connection. Wonderful flight to Auckland
on a new 777 – good food, good leg room, 50 movies
Saturday – Oct 27 - where did that go? We landed on Sunday –
it must have something to do with the International time line.
Sunday – Oct 28 - Customs was a breeze in New Zealand,
hardly any security getting on internal flight to Christchurch, no security
getting on the flight to Dunedin. Warm welcome from the whole Dunedin club with
sandwiches, soups, sweets, wine. Then the afternoon with our host and their
family – home for dinner.
Monday – Oct 29 - Breakfast with Ian and Joan – oatmeal and
toast. Olvestin House tour, lunch at the University of Otago, Museum tour. Big
Bar-b-que prepared by the Men-In-Kitchen at Jane’s house for everyone.
Tuesday – Oct 30 - Nature day – Albatross colony and
red-bill gull colony, lunch at Rona’s beach house, then the buggy ride to see
Penguins – this was cool. Went to Jan’s for dinner with the Knights and Crosses
and their hosts.
Wednesday – Oct 31 - Tree planting ceremony at the Orokonui
Ecosanctuary and then down to Port Chalmers for a short small town tour and
then High Tea at Carey’s Bay historial Hotel, drop by the Botanical gardens for
Birds and Rhododendrons, then a short nap before we went to the Mosgiel train
station where our Ambassadors took their
hosts to dinner.
Thursday – Nov 1 - drive up to the gold country that made
Dunedin large and wealthy. The gold digging were covered over but we toured the
area, had lunch at the antique farm implement and car club, and went to Black’s
Brewery to be entertained by Lusty Busty Dusty telling and singing about the old
days. Dinner was large helping of fish and chips.
Friday – Nov 2 - Today our hosts had the day off and we took
the Taieri Gorge train. It was a great day on the train going up to this very
small dusty town that was really happy we came. The ride was very scenic. When
we returned we hit the thrift shops for unique souvenirs. Then the big farewell
dinner where we had the Tribute to the Haggus.
We gathered in a big circle and sang Auld Lang Syne.
Saturday – Nov 3 - We stopped by the farmers market on the
way to the train station where we all got on the transport to the airport. No
security as we boarded the plane to Wellington, the capital. Toured Wellington in drizzly weather and had a
bar-b-que at a woman’s house who had visited one of our club members years ago
in Austin.
Sunday – Nov 4 - we had contacted the Unitarian Church and
met with them that morning. There were only five of them but they made us feel
at home. Then off to Lunch on the harbor
with the Wellington Friendship Force who decided to have their monthly meeting
there to honor us. We went to the
Zealandia Wildlife preserve at dusk to see the night creatures including the
Kiwis and Glowworms in the wild.
Monday – Nov 5 - took the bus to a 150 year old botanical
garden where the fern forest was right out of the movies. Lunch in town and
then a boat ride to Mateu Island, an island cut off from all invasive plants
and animals. Back for dinner a lovely Italian Restaurant and the fireworks for Guy
Fawkes day.
Tuesday – Nov 6 - All aboard for the scenic train to
Hamilton. Reception by our hosts and dinner at our new homestay.
Wednesday – Nov 7 – Breakfast with Richard and Sue, then a
bus into the city to explore and visit the Op shops (thrift stores). The afternoon
we went to the Dairy Milking shed. The
evening we spent following the US presidential election results at home.
Thursday – Nov 8 – Bus to Rotorua, a volcanic lake hot
tourist area – we went to the nature area/Kiwi experience. Had lunch in the
park, and off to the Agrodome performance, shopping on the way home and dinner
at home,
Friday – Nov 9 – Breakfast by Richard, tour beautiful
Hamilton Gardens and judge the roses, then off to the Cadet Training Facility
(Profession Pilot Training). Group
dinner of Lamb Roast.
Saturday – Nov 10 – Off to the Coast with Day Hosts – Bridal
Falls and Raglan beach and harbor where we took a boat ride. Back for dinner
with our day host.
Sunday - Nov 11 –
Antique Car show, farmers market, local park and goodbye luncheon with all
hosts and ambassadors. Then taking our host out to dinner.
Monday – Nov 12 – Goodbyes to hosts, bus to Auckland and tour the city.
Tuesday – Nov 13 – City touring, shopping, Art Museum, Maori
performance, Sky Tower, Auckland Museum, off to airport.
Tuesday- Nov 13 – (13th again?) land in Los
Angeles and a stayover at La Quinta to rest up rather than push for eight more
hours.
Wednesday – Nov 14 – Home again – Home sweet home.
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