We had a wonderful Saturday this weekend. After a bit of a lazy morning we headed out to drive part of the Southern Scenic Route along the East Coast of the South Island. (There is a slide show at the bottom - to see full size pics, just click on the slide show.)
We headed for Kaka Point to start our trip. We stopped at a dairy and bought some chicken & fries and headed to the beach for lunch. We had some birds joing us for lunch, they enjoyed a few french fries. We walked on the beach and Sam went in. Abby started a new shell collection here too.
From there we headed down to Nugget Point. Nugget Point is on a nature reserve. We walked to a place called Roaring Bay, named after the winds that whip into the bay off of the ocean. Roaring Bay is home to yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions and seals. We didn't see any, we where there the wrong time of the day. We did stand in a blind that they have built for people to see the penguins in the dusk as they are coming in from the ocean and climbing the cliffs to their nesting grounds. From here we went further into the reserve, as far as we could drive and then walked out to Nugget Point's light house. It was quite a walk along the edge of the ocean. Abby was not very comfortable with the steepness of the cliffs along the path. It was quite windy when we made it to the light house. Windy enough that Sam & I could lean into the wind and be supported. The bay and point were named after the rock "nuggets" that are in the ocean along the shoreline.
From here we headed back on the road and drove along the coast. We stopped and walked through some a beautiful forest to see the Parakanui Waterfalls. Just an amazing forest, smelled like nothing we smelled before. Giant ferns were scattered along the walkway and the creek meandered back and forth through the rock. The falls were spectacular, not sure our pictures do it justice.
Some more driving and then we stopped at the beach again. This time it was at Te Tuku Beach. Lots of sand, waves and more shells. By this time it was getting later and we needed to head straight for Curio Bay - we heard that there were penguins there.
Just about 6pm we arrived at Curio Bay and found out that there were penguins there. One was hanging out on a rock which the penguin protection guy, he reminded us of Dwight from The Office, said was unusual. We found out that there were 10 adult penguins that nested there and they would be coming in around 7:30. We headed into a public campground nearby to use the toilets and look for some food. There was a small snack shop but the most particular of our family gave it a thumbs down. We bought a couple of bags of chips and went back to wait for the little tuxedo wearing birds. It was a long wait but in the end we saw six of the ten penguins. The pictures of the penguins are not great, we hope to have a camera with a larger zoom in the next week or so. It won't be the last time that we go see the lovely little birds.
After we left Curio Bay we realized that we had not very much gas and quite a distance to go. Samantha was fairly sure that we would be spending the night in the car but before long we stumbled upon some gas pumps open late. We got filled up and on the way again. We had a late bite to eat in Invercargill before we headed home.
The things we are seeing are truly amazing. They are awe-inspiring and breath-taking. We are all loving this adventure.
24 February 2008
22 February 2008
A night with some Canadian Girls
Tonight we had the good fortune of having two fine young Canadians from Kamloops, BC over for dinner. They are both here in Gore through the YouLead program doing a "gap year". They have finished high school and taking a year off before higher education. They are here on the Working Holiday scheme. Amanda Aldrich lives in the hostel at Gore High School and works in the school as a teacher's assistant. Samantha was very pleased to find out that there was another Canadian in the school with her! Amanda's friend is Darcy Stanley who is living and working in the hostel at St. Peter's Catholic School. Because of the very rural and spread out nature of the region we are living in, some students live up to an hour away from the closest high school and board in the hostel during the week.
We had a great time tonight. We enjoyed a some wonderful barbecued hamburgers, some potato wedges(Sammy's specialty) and some pasta salad. It was delicious. One of the things that we miss is the taste of Canadian meat. The hamburgers are the closest to home that meat has tasted. Then Samantha put some baked apples in the oven and we went over to the Flying Fox for some fun and adventure. Check out the pictures.
It was great fun. Watch for a video in the next day or two of me on the Flying Fox. I held the video camera on the way down. The ending is not so pretty.There is something nice about spending an evening with fellow Canadians. We are definitely going to have them out a few more times before they head home in August.
We are off in search of yellow-eyed penguins this weekend. More pictures should be up by Sunday.
We had a great time tonight. We enjoyed a some wonderful barbecued hamburgers, some potato wedges(Sammy's specialty) and some pasta salad. It was delicious. One of the things that we miss is the taste of Canadian meat. The hamburgers are the closest to home that meat has tasted. Then Samantha put some baked apples in the oven and we went over to the Flying Fox for some fun and adventure. Check out the pictures.
It was great fun. Watch for a video in the next day or two of me on the Flying Fox. I held the video camera on the way down. The ending is not so pretty.There is something nice about spending an evening with fellow Canadians. We are definitely going to have them out a few more times before they head home in August.
We are off in search of yellow-eyed penguins this weekend. More pictures should be up by Sunday.
19 February 2008
Dunedin Day Trip
We went to Dunedin this past Saturday. It was a nice day trip and we got to see and do a few interesting things. We left Pukerau (where we live) and drove towards the ocean along the west coast. There is a Scenic Southern Route that we ended up taking. The skies were full of dark clouds and the winds were high. It was a drizzly rainy day, but the pictures will show that from time to time the sun did come out. Once in Dunedin we found the Octagon that is the centre of the city. There was a bagpiper thing going on so the streets around the Ocagon were closed. We parked and walked. We found a Beading store and Abby made a necklace. The boys went exploring while Abby was busy beading and they found an information booth that told us how to get to the Albatross Colony. It was out a long penninsula that twisted and turned and was not nearly wide enough for 2 vehicles. On one side of the road there was a hill/bluff and on the other side there was water!!!! I had a cold sweat going by the time we got out to our destination.
We got to see sea lions sunning themselves, they are not attractive animals and we saw albatross. The scenery was beautiful.
On the way home we found a little Pub outside of Dunedin and had a tasty fish and chip meal. Driving on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road on unfamiliar roads is one thing...but add complete darkness to the drive.....YIKES! That was our first night time drive.
I am trying to make the posts shorter as SOMEONE has sweetly mentioned that I they are too wordy!
Till next time...
We got to see sea lions sunning themselves, they are not attractive animals and we saw albatross. The scenery was beautiful.
On the way home we found a little Pub outside of Dunedin and had a tasty fish and chip meal. Driving on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road on unfamiliar roads is one thing...but add complete darkness to the drive.....YIKES! That was our first night time drive.
I am trying to make the posts shorter as SOMEONE has sweetly mentioned that I they are too wordy!
Till next time...
13 February 2008
Schneiders hotdogs and bedding...
Valentine's Day
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and New Zealanders do not celebrate this holiday. We have seen a few cards and paraphernalia but there is not the hype and no one does anything special on February 14th. We too have decided that it will not be a celebrated day in our lives this year. Instead I will think about my Grandma Grace who passed away on Valentine's Day. The picture of her holding me as a toddler made the trip and sits in the window ledge in our living room. Tomorrow I will think of her and wish that I had more time with her.
Me emotional??? No way!
I had an emotional last weekend. I was a little homesick, missing certain things. I was missing Schnieders hotdogs, Doritos, my parents, my seester, my Jane, Wayne, some staff friends at GBPS, my angelic students from GBPS, my bedding that are in a closet in Chatham, Mom and Dad's hot tub and bacon. (not in any particular order) I think that I was just anxious about a couple of classes at school here. Now that I have persevered, I feel better. Sam and Abby have had a few nights of sadness. They are so cute when they come out of their rooms and tell us that they feel funny. Mostly they miss their soft blankets and comforters that they used to have. It will be a real treat if we can get our bedding here. They have adjusted very well into their school, they get to pack their "togs" each day as when it gets hot outside they can play water games. That is pretty cool! Also when they go out for recess there are no teachers outside with them. The teachers open their doors and the kids just play and hangout. That is very different from Ontario.
Television in NZ
We got to see the season premier of LOST tonight. We did not have a TV until just the other day. A guy that Dan works with gave us a 14 inch TV and it sits on a box in the corner of the living room. It is nice because the kids watch a show then they go outside or to their rooms. Just this afternoon, Abby watched Hannah Montana then shut the tube off and was reading in her room. That is very different from Ontario.
This weekend
We plan to venture to Dunedin this weekend. Maybe catch a rugby game, go to the ocean, see some dolphins, penguins, seals and try some more NZ food. We have bought a second car, a Honda Accord, 1988 that has only 180000 kms. It will be good on gas which has gone down to $1.66/litre. I will drive it to work and back.
Thank you to everyone who comments on the blog and emails us. I check my email daily, several times, hoping to see new emails and comments. It helps us not to feel homesick and like we are still in the loop.
Till next time, Samantha
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and New Zealanders do not celebrate this holiday. We have seen a few cards and paraphernalia but there is not the hype and no one does anything special on February 14th. We too have decided that it will not be a celebrated day in our lives this year. Instead I will think about my Grandma Grace who passed away on Valentine's Day. The picture of her holding me as a toddler made the trip and sits in the window ledge in our living room. Tomorrow I will think of her and wish that I had more time with her.
Me emotional??? No way!
I had an emotional last weekend. I was a little homesick, missing certain things. I was missing Schnieders hotdogs, Doritos, my parents, my seester, my Jane, Wayne, some staff friends at GBPS, my angelic students from GBPS, my bedding that are in a closet in Chatham, Mom and Dad's hot tub and bacon. (not in any particular order) I think that I was just anxious about a couple of classes at school here. Now that I have persevered, I feel better. Sam and Abby have had a few nights of sadness. They are so cute when they come out of their rooms and tell us that they feel funny. Mostly they miss their soft blankets and comforters that they used to have. It will be a real treat if we can get our bedding here. They have adjusted very well into their school, they get to pack their "togs" each day as when it gets hot outside they can play water games. That is pretty cool! Also when they go out for recess there are no teachers outside with them. The teachers open their doors and the kids just play and hangout. That is very different from Ontario.
Television in NZ
We got to see the season premier of LOST tonight. We did not have a TV until just the other day. A guy that Dan works with gave us a 14 inch TV and it sits on a box in the corner of the living room. It is nice because the kids watch a show then they go outside or to their rooms. Just this afternoon, Abby watched Hannah Montana then shut the tube off and was reading in her room. That is very different from Ontario.
This weekend
We plan to venture to Dunedin this weekend. Maybe catch a rugby game, go to the ocean, see some dolphins, penguins, seals and try some more NZ food. We have bought a second car, a Honda Accord, 1988 that has only 180000 kms. It will be good on gas which has gone down to $1.66/litre. I will drive it to work and back.
Thank you to everyone who comments on the blog and emails us. I check my email daily, several times, hoping to see new emails and comments. It helps us not to feel homesick and like we are still in the loop.
Till next time, Samantha
06 February 2008
Waitangi Day and Cheese Rolling
It was Waitangi Day today, our first public holiday. We had a nice relaxing morning, a bit of a sleep in and then we got prepared to go to the Whitestone Cheese Rolling event. It's a local event that raises money for autism. They charge an admission, $10 for everyone 16 & up, have some booths set up selling food, cheese and souvenirs and then they run some races. You pay $5, go to the top of a very steep hill, a local celebrity rolls a round cheese block down the hill and about 10 seconds later the starter yells go. The first one to get the cheese wins, the first two to touch the winner get prizes as well. The top 3 from each heat go on to try for the title of NZ Champion. I thought I might as well give it a go. This was decided before we left the house. Had I seen the course before hand, I'm not so sure I would have agreed. The slide show below tells the story pretty well. If you click on the slide show, it'll take you to a web album of my race. The pictures will be bigger and I'll be easier to pick out. It was a fun day and I came home in one piece with no injuries. A pretty good way to spend out first public holiday.
03 February 2008
Some pictures from our second weekend
We had an excellent second weekend. We went to the Gore A&P Show, a country fair, bought a car and made some new friends. Here are some pictures to enjoy.
Two Weeks in New Zealand
Sam and Abby going to school...
Well it has been two weeks since we arrived in Pukerau. Things are going well and life is about to pick up speed. Until now the kids and I have been home, enjoying the summer here in NZ but tomorrow we will begin school. Sam and Abby are very excited to meet new Kiwi kids and make friends. They have met their teacher Mrs. Watt and they like her. She is also the principal of their small school. Dan will walk them to school in the morning and then they will take the bus home in the afternoon. They will probably walk to and from school until we get them bikes. Bikes are very pricey here so they will have to wait until we can find a "boot sale" (yard sale) with bikes. The walk to their school is beautiful. Dan will take pictures and we will post them tomorrow.
Samantha going to school...
I begin school tomorrow too. It is only year 9s tomorrow. The day begins with a Powhiri (pronounced po-free), that is a Maori welcome ceremony. The staff are singing this Maori song that begins with the translation "speak to me with the language of love". It is a very gentle song that sounds Hawaiian to me. The staff sing the song loudly and very beautifully. I have met with all the departments in which I will be teaching. I am spread over 4 departments now. Just this morning my principal approached me at church, and told me that I am now full time. He gave me another class. That is nice for us as now I will get a full time salary. More to come on the school days here in NZ.
We bought a car yesterday...
It was one of those moments that happen and you just feel good about it. While I was grocery shopping Dan and the kids were playing at a playground in Gore. Along the side of the playground there is street parking and people leave their cars parked with a sign in the window For Sale. Earlier that day we saw this Mazda sitting in a spot and drove right past it as it was obviously not in the "jalopy price range". Dan strolls over to the car to see how much they owner was asking for the car and he was surprised to see it was in our range. We called the number right away and the man and his family came right over. After we were invited in to his house and met his family, chatted it up, now we are owners of a 1993 Mazda 626 (for a great price!).
We are really enjoying the comments and emails, keep them coming! It does not feel like we are on the other side of the world.
Well it has been two weeks since we arrived in Pukerau. Things are going well and life is about to pick up speed. Until now the kids and I have been home, enjoying the summer here in NZ but tomorrow we will begin school. Sam and Abby are very excited to meet new Kiwi kids and make friends. They have met their teacher Mrs. Watt and they like her. She is also the principal of their small school. Dan will walk them to school in the morning and then they will take the bus home in the afternoon. They will probably walk to and from school until we get them bikes. Bikes are very pricey here so they will have to wait until we can find a "boot sale" (yard sale) with bikes. The walk to their school is beautiful. Dan will take pictures and we will post them tomorrow.
Samantha going to school...
I begin school tomorrow too. It is only year 9s tomorrow. The day begins with a Powhiri (pronounced po-free), that is a Maori welcome ceremony. The staff are singing this Maori song that begins with the translation "speak to me with the language of love". It is a very gentle song that sounds Hawaiian to me. The staff sing the song loudly and very beautifully. I have met with all the departments in which I will be teaching. I am spread over 4 departments now. Just this morning my principal approached me at church, and told me that I am now full time. He gave me another class. That is nice for us as now I will get a full time salary. More to come on the school days here in NZ.
We bought a car yesterday...
It was one of those moments that happen and you just feel good about it. While I was grocery shopping Dan and the kids were playing at a playground in Gore. Along the side of the playground there is street parking and people leave their cars parked with a sign in the window For Sale. Earlier that day we saw this Mazda sitting in a spot and drove right past it as it was obviously not in the "jalopy price range". Dan strolls over to the car to see how much they owner was asking for the car and he was surprised to see it was in our range. We called the number right away and the man and his family came right over. After we were invited in to his house and met his family, chatted it up, now we are owners of a 1993 Mazda 626 (for a great price!).
We are really enjoying the comments and emails, keep them coming! It does not feel like we are on the other side of the world.
Back online
We've been without internet here for the last 2 days. A power outage on Friday erased some important information on a wireless router and I needed to get some technical support from our ISP to get it up and running again. We are working on some posts from the weekend and will have them up in the next few hours. Keep the emails and comments coming, it helps us feel connected to home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)