The porcupine tree stage view

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IMG00140.jpg

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IMG00137.jpg

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Air show today

I'm at the canadian international air show today, perfect weather I hope I get a good spot by the lake. I'm at Ontario place. Sky is blue, not even by transparency issues today. Temp is in the low 20s. Its ideal!

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Cicada part 2 - warning, there is a creep factor here avoid if you are squeamish..

Still here?

I know the eclipse drama ended but are ya still with me?
I'm sure enjoying myself.
I just want to remind you...

Facebook is blocked.
Blogger is blocked.
You tube is blocked.

And yet here you are reading my blog on Blogger and watching my movies on You tube.

LOL



Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

another movie, Cicada's?

Eclipse Day Part 2

Eclipse Day Part 1

Eclipse Day Satellite of Asia

Clearly...if anyone saw the sun/moon they were fortunate.
This image was captured from a live streaming-weather-satellite display at the Science and Technology Museum on eclipse day, in the afternoon post-eclipse.


Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

while at the Science and Technology Museum

A place like the science centre. But big.
They let you compete in archery against a robot.
But the point is, I left my umbrella at the entrance.
In New York it would be gone, Paris...possibly.
Here in Shanghai, I walked up to the visitors booth on the way out (about 2 hours later), just to see what would happen.
I explained, slowly, that I had lost my umbrella. After a little back and forth she grasped my situation, and directed me to the security office.
Across the hall, I walked into the office, repeating my story. I had left the umbrella hanging on the counter when I bought my ticket.
After a little back and forth, she grasps my meaning, and goes to a locked locker in a locked closet. Pulls out 3 umbrellas, and asks if one is mine. And there it is. (I had borrowed it from the hotel).
THEN
She sits down at a computer, and opens a binder. This was a thick binder. There were a lot of pages in that binder. Presumably this is her lost and found log book.
She pulls out a form in Chinese, presumably some lost and found report. She asks me for ID, I don't know if she could read it, but she dutifully fills out the form, then sits me down at the desk to sign it and voila! I have my umbrella back.
And I was happy :)

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

would have been nice if...

It would have been a dramatic image, with the eclipse over the city.
This image was about 40 minutes before totality, I was on to something here...too bad!
Ah...what might have been...

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

better than nothing...

it was cool, in a weird better than nothing sort of way.
I totally loved the immersion into darkness. It felt great to have attempted this. No regrets. I knew this was possible.
I did get some fun video shots of it, and adapting to the conditions is what I love to do, and I was controlling 4 camera's.
1) D3 on tripod taking wide angle until it rained
2) D200 on ED80 doing not much, but used for the shot I posted here.
3) CANON SD780is point and shoot - I used it during totality to shoot the downtown core.
That way I could hold the umbrella with one hand the the small Canon with the other. The D3 was tucked away out of the rain by then.
4) And the Canon Vixia HF20 was on the Monstergrip tripod shooting the video under the umbrella.
I may have some material for Starfest here, I think I will contribute to the Eclipse Roundtable.
just for laughs :)

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

Well...

I guess you are wondering.

Rain.

But it got dark.

And it was a gentle rain.

M


--------------------------
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Radar

the break in the weather is not far away
the clear area to the north is drifting south.
The question is, will it be here fast enough.

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

the picture says it all.

unlike the other images I have taken this early in the morning this week, this one says it all...prospects are indeed grim!

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

still grey...

4 hours to go, no change in weather

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

great cities

I've always said to myself that one of the qualities that makes a city GREAT, is walkability.
A city is walkable to me, if it is possible to literally walk forever, and not be bored, not run out of interesting sights, and to continually wonder what is around the corner. And the cities infrastructure must include a public transportation scheme combined with a taxi fleet that allows me the options to move about as I require. That way I know that I can return once I have run out of gas!
By this criteria, I would say Shanghai is a GREAT city. I will have but scratched the surface of seeing it. Expo 2010 is coming here next year (clearly others agree that this city is great too), and I think that would be a good reason to come back. There is so much construction around right now (its a good sign that it doesn't turn me off either) as they are clearly doing for this event in 2010 what they did for the Olympic Games in Beijing. The Bund is getting a major face lift.
Shanghai is right up there with some of the other great cities I have seen, and has some common traits with London, Paris, New York, and Hong Kong. A great subway being one. Massive taxi fleet. Major river through it's heart. And I think that's one reason Toronto can not be in the same league. No major river. The rivers made these cities viable in the first place, they weren't just a random meeting place. Sorry Toronto, just be happy being nice :)
Shanghai has some similarities with Lima and Cairo in terms of population and pollution but unlike them, as far as feeling safe, Shanghai is fine.


Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

eclipse day

I've done what I can, and I'm ready.
Gone over the plan in my head, considered alternatives, done the pros and cons.
I've decided to stay the course.
Which means, rooftop of the Hyatt, setting up the ED80, trying to get a diamond ring shot and also getting cityscape shots.
HOWEVER, the view this morning is the muggiest I have seen it.
Grey from horizon to zenith where there is mottled cloud, so it isn't "overcast" but it isnt anything like it was earlier on Monday and Tuesday.
There are 5 hours until eclipse totality, and according to the weather radar, crap is coming.
Right now it feels like I'm just going through the motions. All I know is it will get dark, seeing the sun/moon is another thing all together.

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

absolutely true...

Eating at the Hyatt and I swear I'm listening to the theme from the dini petty show...

Words on a tshirt...load work ahead. Check my gallery on Smugmug...

http://malcol.smugmug.com/

I saw a girl unpacking a box today. That wasn't such a big deal. But she was taking all the stuffing that was newspaper, unfolding the crumpled pages and flattening the pages out as if to put the newspaper back together.

Mmmmm dragon fruit smoothie...

Most of the folks here are aware that there will be an eclipse. They even know its rare, and how its been 300 years since the last one in Shanghai, but they also have no idea about the weather forecast. I have heard them all thinking it will be fine.
We shall see...

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

weather ETC...

wow...right on cue...I figured I should be back at the room by 6 because...well...I had a feeling. And looking up I could see the sky getting darker, clouds getting stormier. So I headed for the hotel, and that took me a good hour and a half of walking, I have been in the room about 5 minutes, I looked out the window...buckets...cats and dogs...a veritable MONSOON.
ok, maybe I exaggerate...a tad, but visibility is LOW and its pelting the window :(
There are plenty of indoor attractions here to keep me happy.
I may be done for the day as far as going out is concerned. Its almost 6pm anyway
L8R

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

The Others, and a bit on me...

Andreas is not far from me, he may be an hours drive south in Jiaxing.
Steve probably has the best chance of seeing it, he is on a cruise ship in the Pacific, heading for either the location of the longest eclipse, or the location that is clear.
That may be the same spot.
Les is on the shore south east of Shanghai.
The paper today indicates that all is in deed doom and gloom for tomorrow.
It also indicates that the system is widespread and not local to Shanghai.
So I'm not going to bother chasing this one because I would have to go quite a long way although the one place that may have the best chance is where Les is, on the seashore.
As for the rest of my time, I have a good list of things that I want to see, and weather be damned, I'm loving it here...despite...I'm experiencing 40 degree temperatures, NOT INCLUDING THE HUMIDITY values. I am walking a lot, long distances between attractions.
I walked through the heat and smog to the Science and Technology Museum yesterday but it was CLOSED ON MONDAYS! The smog is thick, thank God I have Whitby air to return to.

Each attraction I have seen has had its charms though, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower reminding me of a tired, cheesey but larger Skylon tower...but the view is what you pay for and that is worth it. The World Financial Center is where I'm going tonight and it is taller, and is an office/hotel/condo 101 storeys.
The forecast is rain the rest of the week.




Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

Maglev Experience - July 20 2009

forecast

Wednesday

http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/rain.gif alt="">Rain. High: 30 °C . Wind NE 18 km/h . Chance of precipitation 100% (water equivalent of 16.44 mm). Heat Index: 33 °C .

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

the human body is stubborn - and the weather

I had a good day yesterday. Except it ended too soon...
I was out and about, did some touristy things like went up their tower.
Strange, Canada doesn't seem to exist in China.
They have a radio tower called the Oriental Pearl.
There is a display on the walls of an upper level of the great towers around the world.
CN tower is not mentioned.
Anyway, I basically got up at about 5am, watched the sunrise from the room, did some stuff on the computer, went for breakfast, and then walked to the subway around 8am
Rode the Maglev, I have video of that.
430km/hr, 30km in around 7 minutes. But its the technology.
There are no wires, cables or "electric" attachments.
Its sleek, low profile is futuristic. Amazing...video to come...
Anyway, I went tot he Pearl and then grabbed a cab to the hotel.
Its 3pm by now, and I'm thinking how well I'm adjusting to the time change.
I do some work on the copmuter, then think...hm...maybe a short nap.
ZONK! I wake up at 1am!
I've tried and tried and cant get back to sleep. Stupid body keeps trying to pull me back to my regular time clock...gotta fight it off...
So tomorrow is going to be a long day :(
Weather prospects for Wednesday are now for 100% chance of precipitation, and thunderstorms.
No worries, I do know one thing, it will get dark at 10:30am

Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

this morning.

This does not bode well for eclipse day. The chances of having weather like this on Wednesday go down if we are having the weather we want 2 days early.

Weather Prospects

I'm pleaseed with the location I have chosen to view the eclipse.
It's now up to the weather gods.
Wednesday doesn't look good right now. The website I just looked at is calling for a 90% chance of rain :(
Today is beautiful though!

Good to run into friends unexpectedly

Allanah and Les Nagy. Allanah is Les' daughter
I met Les on the Chile trip in March. Small world...we run into each other on a flight to Shanghai..

flight day, and its 7pm in Shanghai

 
 
The 777 powered down the runway. Takeoff was smooth but breathtaking. I'm sitting at one of the bulkheads, I have a two seat row, window seat, tons of room. 3 windows.
I'm right behind first class.
I look out at the leading edge of the massive wing. What took my breath away on take off is the flexure in the wing. It flexes and curves up to the wingtip. The technology of this aircraft is beautiful and elegant and breathtaking.
So smooth...and quiet.
 
We also in addition to having to get a visa, in addition to the regular customs forms, have to complete a health questionnaire which has a very stern warning that deception will be dealt with according to the law.
 
The 14 hours melted away...seemed like 5 minutes. At the end when the stewardess said we would be landing in 2 hours...I couldnt beleive that 12 had already gone by...
 
Landing...sky looks like grey soup.
 
39c plus humidity hits you like a blast furnace coming out of the terminal.
 
Driving in to hotel...
Maglev trains just flew by me in both directions. It just sounds like air wooshing by at some ridiculous velocity. I have to ride that thing!
 
Hotel is exactly what I needed. Right where I wanted to be.
Time to snooze soon...


Malcolm Park
Whitby Ontario.
http://www.cygnusx1.ca
http://www.nyaa.ca

Fkight day July 18/19

ok look at this image. I took it from the roof of the Hyatt on the Bund where I am staying.
The fist thing I di when I arrived was check out the eclipse observing location. This is the view from the roof. Now...Scroll down to the google earth-starry night composite I did in photoshop...and compare the expected view with the actual...

Slightly disappointed

No sign of airbus a380 at Pearson.

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

I knew this would happen!

Standing in line to board, I hear the unexpected. Someone calls my name!
I turn and there's Les, who I met on the Chile trip.
He's sitting in coach too.
So I'm going to go chat with him later and see what his plans are.
Last post now for at least 14 hours and probably 24.

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At Pearson airport

Haven't even left the ground, not even on the plane...there are people in line to board wearing medical masks.
There also is a weird line forming to board. The announcement hasn't even been made to board and all the passengers are lining up.
Stupid aircanada
One thing that they are brutal at us loading a plane.

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Boeing 777

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Flight status

AC 087 to Shanghai leaving at 13:00 is on time.

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Shanghai Eclipse 2009

Well, I'm blogging again.
This time it's a trip to China to hopefully witness the ultimate natural phenomenon...a total eclipse of the sun.
I leave on Saturday the 18th of July, my mum's birthday, and arrive in the afternoon of the 19th.
The flight is 14 hours, and I cross 12 time zones so when you add it up its 26 hours worth of time and I effectively lose a day of my life on the Airbus A340.
However all is not lost, when I return home, the 14 hours in flight is the same, but I subtract 12 hours for crossing the time zones the other way. result is it technically only takes 2 hours to return! Really, all that happens is I get my lost day back.
The eclipse will be almost as long in duration as is possible. 5 minutes in the shadow of the moon is a long time from eclipse standards.
I intend to blog about my trip, somehow, some way.
I don't know what I will have access to in terms of internet websites being blocked by the communist government.
I have already heard that facebook is blocked. Who knows if blogger is. We'll see.
It will be an experience.
The eclipse image below is from the Egypt eclipse in 2006. That was a life altering experience and it's because of that eclipse experience that I am driven to do this.
My objective is to image the eclipse at both high magnification, and urban landscape.
Having seen many pictures of Shanghai's modern city centre, I visualize the eclipse with those impressive buildings in the foreground. And I want to photograph it that way.
I have arranged for a hotel room with that view in mind, and it even has rooftop access. The image here shows an overlay of Google Earth and Starry Night screen shots from almost the exact location of where I am going to be to witness the eclipse and it gives you a sense of the dramatic view I expect to have (if it isn't cloudy).

2 days to go...

Eta Carina - Unprocessed.

Eta Carina - Nikon D3, TAK FSQ102 f/8.0, TAK EM200 mount, 3 minutes unguided, auto white balance, 1600iso, NO PROCESSING displayed as shot.

sqm 21.54 3deg C @ 1:52AM

orion overhead

good trip so far

Finally, time for a post.
I'm not using the blackberry. but I am on a high speed wireless connection at tHe Lodge.
My D3 is mounted on a Takahashi EM200 mount and on a FSQ102 refractor - scope.
It is imaging the Tarantula and region 3 minutes unguided. The polar alignment on this mount is terrific.
ISO 1600 and the scope is f/8
I'm sitting outside, its about 8 degrees. its 11:00pm
Scorpius is rising, orion is settomg, the big dipper is upside down with the pointers pointing at the horizon and the handle off to the right along the horizon.
today was a shopping day, but we stopped in at the Valley of the Moon on the way. Spectacular landscape...dry and barren, yet geologically fascinating.
tonights the first all nighter...giving the Tak a thorough work out.
No chance of cloud or anything in the foreseeable future.

Milky Way 5:30am

Day 1 - Departure

sitting at Pearson...plane is 1 hour late...they had to replace a winshield wiper, so instead they found another plane!
Flight to Calama from Santiago is delayed as well...looks like a long day ahead.
everyone is here, all 14 of us. we are all wound up and raring to go!
Lots of equipment on this trip...camera's and scopes galore. I'll see what everyone brought when we get there.
1/2 aqn hour to go and probably boarding soon...next post possibly from Santiago tomorrow at 11:00am or later, arrival time is at least 11:00am...

Its over

Just landed at yyz


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Yesterday, I mean tomorrow

We got to the airport for the 7:15 departure at 6:30
Dropped the keys to the rental car off, and arrived to check in.
Checking in for our flight was closed, but I made my case regarding the accident holding us up, and having a connection in LA,  and they let us check in.
So returning the rental, checking our bags, entered security through premier class, cleared security all in a total of 15 minutes. Love them small airports!
Boarding was underway as we got to the gate, in fact they were boarding our rows.
I managed to pick up a couple of burgers in the airport along the way. We hadn't eaten much all day and were starving.
In LAX now, its the morning of the evening that we left.
We will get home about half an hour after the time we left tomorrow, er today...I give up

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Made it

Checked in through premier class too!
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Was an accident

The traffic we were sitting in for over an hour, that delayed us for three, was caused by an accident about a kilometer ahead of us. Ugh. Currently racing against time to get to the airport, hand in our car, and get on the plane. Didn't know our trip was gonna be such an action flick.
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On the way

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Still sitting

In the same spot now for 20 minutes
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IMG00083-20090103-1656.jpg

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Post from amy in traffic

I am stressin' a bit. But only 'cause if we're going to miss our flight, dad will be grumpy. Actually, he's kinda grumpy now. And I need to go to the bathroom... Greeeaaaaattt. Inching along, it's raining and muggy. Uggghh.
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Traffic

This is the worst traffic situation I have ever experienced.
I was 2 hours ahead of schedule and that was to get me to the airport 3 hours before departure for a 5 hour cushion.
That has evaporated.
Engine is off.
Low on gas, afraid of running out.
Brutal.
Nobody is moving!!!!except northbound...maybe I should turn around

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Did I mention the monsoon?

Yes its 18 and raining
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Just turned engine off

Running low on gas!

Omg this is insane
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Stopped again

This time before waiwera
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Warkworth

Red light
65km to go
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Clear for now

Looks like it was wellsford
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Air new zealand

They said not to worry they would rebook me for 50 nz dollars if I missed, including the air canada bit.
I don't see how they can just rebook.
Its assuming a lot at this time of year that there will be seats.
We shall see
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Progress?

Wellsford
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Re: Hmmmmmm

And stopped


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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:56:16 2009
Subject: Re: Hmmmmmm

Crawling at 40kmh

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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:55:31 2009
Subject: Re: Hmmmmmm

It must be a roundabout
Ahead I hope

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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:49:32 2009
Subject: Re: Hmmmmmm

I mean its 2:40

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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:48:53 2009
Subject: Hmmmmmm

On 1 southbound to auckland
Just north of wellsford.
We are not moving.
Its a traffic jam.
I don't know why or how far ahead it is.
Its 3:40 and the flight leaves at 7:30
I'm going to call air nz

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Re: Hmmmmmm

Crawling at 40kmh

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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:55:31 2009
Subject: Re: Hmmmmmm

It must be a roundabout
Ahead I hope

--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry


----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:49:32 2009
Subject: Re: Hmmmmmm

I mean its 2:40

--------------------------
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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:48:53 2009
Subject: Hmmmmmm

On 1 southbound to auckland
Just north of wellsford.
We are not moving.
Its a traffic jam.
I don't know why or how far ahead it is.
Its 3:40 and the flight leaves at 7:30
I'm going to call air nz

--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry

Re: Hmmmmmm

It must be a roundabout
Ahead I hope

--------------------------
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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:49:32 2009
Subject: Re: Hmmmmmm

I mean its 2:40

--------------------------
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----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:48:53 2009
Subject: Hmmmmmm

On 1 southbound to auckland
Just north of wellsford.
We are not moving.
Its a traffic jam.
I don't know why or how far ahead it is.
Its 3:40 and the flight leaves at 7:30
I'm going to call air nz

--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry

Re: Hmmmmmm

I mean its 2:40

--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry


----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Park (Scotia Capital)
To: 'malcol.malcol@blogger.com' <malcol.malcol@blogger.com>
Sent: Fri Jan 02 20:48:53 2009
Subject: Hmmmmmm

On 1 southbound to auckland
Just north of wellsford.
We are not moving.
Its a traffic jam.
I don't know why or how far ahead it is.
Its 3:40 and the flight leaves at 7:30
I'm going to call air nz

--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry

Hmmmmmm

On 1 southbound to auckland
Just north of wellsford.
We are not moving.
Its a traffic jam.
I don't know why or how far ahead it is.
Its 3:40 and the flight leaves at 7:30
I'm going to call air nz

--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry

Last day

Checkout of paihia at 10:30 and hit the road.
Went west to head down the other coast instead of direct to auckland as we have about 9 hours
It was 26 and muggy this morning, seemed like it was going to be a hot humid day.
Right now we are at a roadside parking slash rest stop, sitting at a picnic bench having lunch.
Pb and j sandwiches on the shore at opinoni beach.
Ocean breeze, view if the sea and they bay from here.
Seems like another typical little hidden gem.
We head south through waipous forest next.

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Winter in nz

I can't help wondering what its like here in the winter.
I'm thinking of sauble beach, hectic summer and desolate winters.
Does it get that slow here in paihia?

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IMG00081-20090102-1521.jpg

Front hall of duke hotel

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IMG00080-20090102-1451.jpg

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IMG00078-20090102-1407.jpg

Live on the ferry to russell


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Hey

Tony did you skydive here lol
Were flying saltair to cape reinda now.

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Kerikeri

Driving by cottle hill vineyards, kerimore orchards, bay outboards, a kiwi farm, hideaway lodge, marsden estate, heading to okaihu airport.

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Kerikeri

I'm in kerikeri right now
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Rant

Hey tony, its seems that in new zealand not only do they drive on the wrong side of the road but they built all their bridges thinking that traffic only moves in one direction!
May I introduce the concept of the 2 lane bridge?
Or might that be offensive?!

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Phone service

I couldn't make any calls at 12:15pm so I went out on the balcony and there was a kiwi from the next room on the (shared) balcony. I asked him if he was having trouble with his phone too. Here I am imagining that the world is coming to and end, like there is some diabolical plot and it begins at midnight by bringing down the global cellphone network. Fortunately, the experienced kiwi knew the scoop. Everyone in NZ was phoning overseas at once. Welcome to the club! The circuits were jammed up!
Sigh, small country with small pipe I guess. So much for calling my sister at 7am and waking her up
(See, there was a diabolical plot!)

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IMG00075-20081231-1904.jpg

Sitting in the room, this is my view.
Listening to the waves, the birds, and feeling the breeze as the sea air flows through the room, windows open.
And next door on their cd player, they are playing Stairway to Heaven.
How RIGHT that is!

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The View from Kingfish

Bay of islands

Hi,
Pics from the air are on the smugmug site.
I didn't edit them because the reflections and glare made it not worth it on most of them so I just posted them all in case you were interested. Tomorrows cruise should be awesome, weather continues to be F I N E fine.

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kingfish lodge

http://www.kingfishlodge.co.nz/default.aspx

Golf course

I flew right over that course.
Twice.
Looks marvelous.
Will have to play it some day.

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Ok ok. I consider myself prodded. (Post by amy)

So. Right now, I'd have to say, travel by helicopter is the best mode of transport there is. Oh, you want to go over there? Sure! Zoooooom. Hmm, time to head back? Twirl! Swish! Zoooooom. Felt a little motion sick but, nothing unmanagable. This place is awesome. Forgive me a moment of total princessness when I say we're not really beach motel people. Lodges are more our thing. More secluded, less gimmicky, better scenery. Of course... Dad would argue that you could get that at a campsite......... Good thing I waited til he booked a room to say that!

When we arrived here we took a short walk up a hill. The view overlooked the water, with the entrance to the bay. The pilot sat on the grass in front of this weird slab of concrete thing. He told me it was a world war two turret cannon thing. What!! That's so cool. Apparently around here was an american naval base or something, when the japanese were trying to invade australia. Wow. I took some pictures before my camera died (argh) so I could get some clarification on the type of turret or bunker or whatever. I've got a friend who's into WW2 stuff so should be easy to find out.

We're on the way back now, I've gotta hop in my helicopter (HAHA!!) and fly off across the bay of islands...!
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Kingfish Lodge

Ok NOW I get it. I trusted you. I drove through rain and cloud and the middle of the north island, enduring endless traffic and boring pastures, wondering if there was a payoff. But I hit the jackpot with a flight from paihia by helicopter out over the bay of islands, destination kingfisher lodge. Purpose? Lunch. Then fly back by chopper to paihia. Amy's first helicopter ride. She seems to be enjoying the day.
If I had a million dollars, I would spend a long time here. I would have a boat or helicopter on call. Explore the outer islands, beaches and coves.
If I had a million.
The weather here is not fine, its DEVINE.
The view I have from our dining table is of a beautiful land locked cove. A volcanic crater, the sea broke through ages ago and now its heaven! Guests arrive here either by boat or by helecopter.
There are a few guests here, we are here for a bit just to explore and have lunch.
But the temptation was too great, and I had to inquire about rates.
Incedibly, cheaper than the motel.
She called it a recession buster price.
I think they are getting slammed here, its a great location in good times, but not so much at the moment.
So we are going to spend the night here on friday, last blast before we go to auckland and fly home saturday night.
Oh...fyi 300 nz$ per night. Plus water taxi fare. Google the place, I imagine they have a web site.
Tomorrow we do the all day dolphin and hole in the rock tour then friday we fly around the whole northland, land near the cape and spend about 3 hours at the top (some lighthouse) then fly back down over 90 mile beach. THEN we come back here for the night before flying home saturday.
Thanks for the trip advice everyone :)
There more to come and I'm prodding amy for another post.
M
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View from the room
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Lilac colour, trees are in full bloom everywhere.
New zealand has to be (rotorua notwithstanding) the most pleasantly aromatic scented place in the world, if its not the ocean breeze its the valleys carpeted with lupins. Summer is so nice here!
Even rainy days are pleasant.
Nothing to complain about on this trip, every speed bump just led us on in another direction to find something new.
Like paihia. Nice little tourist spot. Warm breeze off the ocean. Somewhat carribbean.
Ok so here's my grand summation of new zealand.
If you took all of north america and include the carribbean islands, from antigua to alaska, and compressed it all into a postage stamp sized little island the size of england you would have it.
Everything is here, only concentrated.
Glaciers flowing into rain forests?
Driving through so many landscapes we lost count?, all in one day. I'd have stopped to image them and compare them but I never would have moved on, I'd still be in the south island.
So the conclusion dejour is, (since this is my last "destination" I can draw conclusions) this little island rocks, and imagine the whole thing flips around and has a winter, and the sky changes, the mountains get snowed on...hey is that what Snowden means? and you get a whole new playground to explore.
Going to knights point tomorrow, then doing a full day cruise on new years eve. Includes time out at the rock with the hole, dolphin chasing and swimming with them...then fireworks on new years eve in paihia, apparently they fire them off a boat that floats off shore, sounds perfect.
All for now.

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I tried calling nancy but...

The phones here don't make sounds that I recognize. I thought it rang then maybe after a few rings it got bounced or forwarded because then it made some scratchy screamy noise, but it wasn't a fax, I don't think.
The cell number just didn't work period.
For some reason overseas phone numbers are not formatted like ours. Maybe a zero is required or maybe not. Arg.

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From the anchorage motel, marsden road paihia.
Looking north north east.
Weather has improved all day and as you can see is fine!
Going to figure out how to best utilize our time, all the parasailing, jetboating, bus touring seems so stressful now what with schedules and places to be at certain times, pick up points, rules, etc.
Time to go pick up some food, then go for a walk I think.

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Weather

Arriving in northland
22 deg
Sunny with partial fluffy white cloud
Fine!
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The Pit of Infinite Stench

Yesterday

ok so yesterday, Dec 29, we went to the geo thermal place, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
it was on the way to rotorua, and just a short drive from where we stayed overnight by taopo lake.
by the way i have given up on the spelling thing, i just cant go back and look up every maori word to see if i got it right i would be on here forever.
it was raining cats and dogs all day, letting up a bit once in a while, but we were soaked to the bone after walking the geo wonderland for almost 2 hours. but spirits were still high. The geyser was a bit hokey. They add soap to make it go off! Ok they explained it, and it was open and not deceptive. But thats not what I expected. I didn't expect that it was a geyser with a SWITCH.
And the explanation, that it would go off every 2 or 3 days if they didn't do this...ok so its about the tourist dollars and the whole machinery around the tourist economy then? otherwise we couldnt have a proper tourist business with the thing going off when it wants?
Reminds me of the bloke who drove the bus to Milford. He kept complaining about the human intervention in the ecosystem AS HE DROVE A GAS POWERED BUS THROUGH THE HEART OF IT.
He was most upset by all the WEEDS. Lupins, flowers of any colour (white are ok they are native) and even the guys on the cruise got into it, but I had to say something at one point.
The guide was telling a story about how hunters can shoot deer anytime they like.
There's no season, they are considered pests, like rats and rabbits and possom.
So out of curiosity, I asked then if you can fish for free since Brown trout are not native either.
Introduced like the possom, but PRIZED for its tourist dollars, trout fishing requires a license! And the fisheries are protected! ok, ok...its all good. I liked seeing the trout in the blue pools, and I love to fish. It just seemd like they wanted it both ways.
At the end of it, it makes me realize that there is likely not much left on earth that is truly untouched by man. But whatever iot is, it will eventually be touched by man and there's no point trying to stop it. A simple stupid act like releasing a possom into the wild is all it takes and we can't control stupidity.
So next stop Rotorua, and I'm not sure what to expect. Not even sure why I'm going to Rotorua, except that everyone and their immediate family told me I ought to!
The first thing I noticed was the traffic.
The congestion was unbelevable. Hungry after a long walk, as we are driving down town, Amy sees Mcdonalds, I say fine, so we move to pull into the parking lot.
Ever seen a Tim Horotons line up at the drive through with 20 cars in line?
The parking lot is full, so we go through the drive through.
It takes a while, then we pull out and there's nowhere to park to eat. So we drive into some residantial area, and find it winds back up to a parking lot. Ahhh....solitude!
Rotorua reminded me of Lake Louise. I really wanted to stop in at Lake Louise this past June, but when I saw the parking lot there full of buses, and cars, and the congestion on the road, it made me just want to get OUT. I was getting that feeling in Rotorua...
My hope for the day is a day or half day trip to White Island, to see an active volcano.
The best and fastest way out there is by helicopter, and the only chopper trip thqt lands on the island originates in Rotorua. And the visbility is zero today due to the weather.
I go into the local I-SITE tourism office, and speak to a service rep.
She calls around, but there are no flights to White Island today.
We go through some options as to what else we can do, caving sounded really cool, Waitomo I think, but the one (Lost World Tour - 7 hours hours) I want to do is sold out.
The rain may continuw the next day, so I look for alternatives...
Hey rain won't stop surfers! So we head for Raglan.
Arriving there was half the fun, we found the most amazing water fall along the way, completely by fluke. I saw a sign for Bridal Veil Falls, 16km away turn left.
So I turned off, and it was spectacular. The drive on to Raglan took us through back country roads, and I let the gps navigate me through farm roads that seemed to be designed by transplanted Welsh roadworks crews. We wound our way through hedgerow lined pastures, with cows and sheep everywhere, and along one stretch saw a rainbow over the meadows and a lake in the distance.
Then we got to Raglan, and headed for the surf. Hoping to see some big wave action, and surfer dudes wiping out (hehe) when we got there the tide was out and there were only a couple of surfers in the water :(
So here it was a gain, a situation where I could wait or the tide to change or move on, and as was my wont, I moved on...we headed up to Auckland.
I will say that one thing I have noticed, is that despite the warnings that the island is bigger than it seems, to me its as small as it seemed. Distances seem shorter than advertised, 2 hour drives seem to go by in minutes. The next thing we were in Auckland, still clouded over, cloud so low the space needle is alomst completely hidden. And it was dark now. The downtown cast an eerie glow up against the low hanging cloud deck.
I have missed a fair bit of scenery as I drove through rainy weather.
Iguess that will be an excuse to come back.
Its the morning of the 30th, and we are about 15 minutes north of Auckland at a Motel.
We are heading to the Bay of Islands shortly, and we will stay there for the next 4 days.
We want to end on a period of relaxation, doing nothing, maybe spending time on the beach.
I wouldnt mind going fishing deep sea style...maybe visiting BW's friend, and heading back to Auckland to fly home on the 3rd.
Weather is supposed to improve over the next day or so.
Is there a better weather forecast word than FINE?
the weather will be FINE?
It says it all though doesnt it? it says it will be clear, it will be warm, it will not rain, it will be just right, don't worry it will be FINE. Thats all you need to know.
I wonder if they say it will be gloomy, or it will be downright miserable, or anything like that.
Anyway, we are expecting FINE weather soon!

You remind me of the babe. (obscure blog update from amy.)

We fell into the bog of eternal stench today (A.K.A Wai-O-Tapu Geothermic Vents). This man was spotted not far from the scene.

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Visit messengerbuddies.ca to find out how you could win. Enter today.

Geothermal vents

Wai-o-tapu
No flights to white island sue to weather.
Another big disappointment.
Decided to go to raglan.
On the way found bridal veil falls, waireinga.
Random find, but spectacular and so isolated. Good to be back in nature.
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Pics

l guess ill be back, the best landscape pics I have seen are of the southern alps. And I never saw them due to cloud.

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Last night

Stayed at a motel in taupo
Went to huka falls. Better name would be huka chute.
Nice white water chute
On the way we stopped to watch some sky divers.
Amy didn't sky dive.
Heading to the 10:15 geyser next.
I'm so lost with the names of things now all the letters seem to run together.
Weather has been good. 24deg yesyerday. Sunny all day. Above average sunset over lake taupo.
Very busy roads.
The south island driving was a luxury. Holiday traffic, families and even 18 wheelers jamming the roads. None of that near queenstown.
Ok, off to wake amy from her beauty sleep.



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SmugMug

I'm using SmugMug as a host for my pictures,, please follow this link.

http://malcol.smugmug.com/Vacation

Plerase follow this link to my New Zealand pics

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Next up...

Went trhough marlbro country, hugged the coast all the way. I wanted to camp on the ocean shore but her highness would have none of it.
Made it to picton for the 5am ( I did get her up for that) ferry to wellington and have been driving north most of the day.
Heading to rotorua and then maybe white island area.
Will go west after that.
Weather is amazing
24 degrees, light breezy and perfect on the beaches we have explored.
If it rains tomorrow I may do the cave thing instaed of white island.
Whatevr!

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Surf

If a travelling blogger was looking for big wave action where might it be found?

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Whitby

Apparently even in new zealand, whitby is still a suburb.
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Found it :)

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Its become a quest


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Yep I'm going


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This ones for tony and janet

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Drove up the coast today

In kaikoura now.
I'm having fish and chips and amy is having a cheeseburger and fries.
Not sure about the whale watching.
3 hours on a boat
Drove throuch christchurch on the way.
I thought it was a really nice little town.
River running through it, vibrant city centre.
One thing I have noticed, there are fewer rules here.
Want to go parasailing? Pay and go, no waivers to sign.
Want to park on the river bed? Go park on the river bed.
Its like they just defer everything to common sense! Imagine that!

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Live from waikuku beach

Go figure that we fly ten thousand miles, to the chin of the face of the earth, about as far away as we can possibly go... And the first thing we see on the beach is a leafs beach chair. the beach was a bit breezy, but very nice to walk on and in. My feet feel wonderful. I'm thinking I wouldn't mind burning a little if I get a bit of a tan in the end. Oh by the way, this is Amy writing this. Doubt dad cares much about showing off a tan to his winterbound friends haha. Although... Maybe I should ask him, just in case I'm wrong. Hehe.

 Every day we say 'wow' about 60 percent more than usual. We love it here. I was about to say something about how great the air smells, but we just passed a bunch of cows and now it smells like manure.

... We still love it here.

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Amy blog entry #2

First traffic light: christchurch.
No traffic anywhere until we got to christchurch.
Enjoying the sun on the road, so much different than yesterday on the west coat. It rained all day, and its raining there now.
But here, it's 21 degrees out, clear blue sky... Wonderful.
New Zealand makes the best pies ever. Meat pies. Delicious.
Dad thinks this would be a cool place to retire. If the weather isn't clear, drive across the mountain range and bam! Blue skies.
I'd like to be in a convertible right about now.
We stayed in a "rustic ski lodge" last night. I tried to like it.
Why don't they have roundabouts in canada? They seem pretty handy.
So, we're on montreal street and saw people kayaking through the river. In the middle of the city. Wow.
I want to look out the window now instead of blog, so this is the end of this post.
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Houston, ahem...Whitby we have a problem

I have just finished a fascinating conversation with the proprietor of this fine hostel/motel in springfield, and Colin nearly has me convinced that I should go to mt john.
That's south, I'm heading north.
Thus the problem.
However, as its december, and the views would be best in other months, I will head north and save the astronomy for later. March 09.


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Springfield
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Selwyn?

Nice name, I just passed the selwyn river...


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Last night was the payoff

Driving into Springfield I could see that it would be clear and took note of a spot along the highway that would be useful to do some light observing from.
Around 10:30, after offereing Amy the chance to join me and leave her internet/facebook thingy begind (obviously she declined) I headed off into the black new moonish unknown.
It was dark.
Absolutely dark, the stars were bright, and the air clear.
The milky way stretched from South to North, horizon to horizon.
Looking up, almost overhead, 2 Magellanic Clouds.
Low near the southern horizon, the Southern Cross.
I got out the Canon 15x50is bino's and started scanning the milky way, and there was this giant fuzzball just above the horizon, Omega Centauri.
This is just a tease until Chile.
Much of the good stuff (so to speak) is hidden.
Upside down Orion and Sirius almost overhead, Taurus and Gemini, Pleiades, I was surprised how much of the northern sky remains visible.
Some more interesting clusters and fuzzies arounf the SMC, and in the milky way then I took some pics. I was out about an hour, then called it quits. Temp was about 14deg.
Awesome.

South Eastern horizon

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Suspicious omission

Tony we are going to have to have a word when I get back.
Astonishingly, there is nary a word in the marketing materials about the sand fly.
This evil twin of the black fly we know so well is absolutely diabolical.


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Fox Glacier

One thing I neglected to mention...
Yeah I get it now... Its not just a glacier, its a glacier that flows into a tropical rain forest! How weird is that? And yet there it is. A 10 minute drive from the village of Fox Glacier, which can't be 100 feet above sea level...nothing at all Athabasca-like.

another day in New Zealand

Well, I would have said paradise, but it was paradise lost!
RAIN. CLOUDS DOWN TO THE GROUND!
Ok, I'm over it, that was so long ago now...
We left Fox Glacier around 3:00pm
It took me about 2 hours to make up my mind.
I didn't abandon the alps lightly.
But knowing that there is more likely certainty on the other side of the island, I chose certainty.
Waiting and doing nothing for even half a day would have been a waste.
As it was, I went through Arthurs Pass in the evening, and it was beautiful.
It was cloudy, but the weather gave it atmosphere...LOTR-ish atmosphere...coming down the other side, Amy and I coudln't help commenting on how LOTR-ish it was...hey there's Rohan!!!!
And so on...
Until we get to Springfield.
Springfield has a monument.
It's a donut.
With a bite taken out of it.
Now Amy's thinking thats kinda cool.
And I'm looking up seeing clear skies, and Venus is shining brightly.
So it was a no brainer when I saw the motel sign, and we are staying here tonight.
It will be dark soon, and I'm going out with my gear to take some pics, and lo9ok at some radical stars.
Churchill tomorrow, and then on up the East coast toward Picton.
I am going to the North Island directly, heading to the Bay of Islands.
Not sure if it will happen, but thats the new plan.
I couple of days up there wont be enough but it wont hurt!

Blog post from amy

Christmas eve in QUeenstown. We woke up that day on a boat out in milford sound, hoping for nice weather. Clouds and rain would force us back on the bus we took to the sound, for seven long hours.

 However, as we held our breath at the info counter back on land, we got great news. We'd be flying out of milford in style. Snickering gleefully, we took our time walking past the hurried bus terminal. Sayanora, suckahs.

The view from the plane was incredible... I was surprised to see clear blue pools of water at the tops of the mountains. Although, makes sense that you wouldn't know they were there until you saw it from above :p

So anyways. We got back to Queenstown and decided to spend the rest of that day wandering around locally. I picked up an excellent souvenir for a friend, ate some yummy mcdonalds, and got nifty sunglasses.

Dad, at this point, wants to go up the gondola we spotted when we first arrived. Sure, okay. I'm down for some gondola-riding.

Perhaps he would have reconsidered, knowing then what would ensue. Perhaps I would have as well. Muahahahaha...

On the way up the gondola, I see bright coloured parachute things floating down. One of them does flips and twists before it lands in a schoolyard. Cool. But not my cup of tea. I've never been much of a thrillseeker. I could do without jumping off a mountain.

When we got to the top, the strangest thing happened.

I wanted to jump off the mountain.

So twenty minutes later I'm strapped to some guy named Dino, soaring through the air over the mountains of Queenstown. In my massive shoes of course! We take pictures at 800 metres over the bay, and he let's me control the chute. Wow. This wasn't terrifying like I thought it'd be, it was simply brilliant.

I doubt I'll ever be a thrillseeker, but this christmas I've experienced a thrill unlike any other. I flew off a mountain with Dino, and I loved every second of it.
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Heading to greymouth

No choice, maybe visibility improves up there.
No point sitting here for 2 days.

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I'm stuck

I Can't decide.
Weather is socked in here at fox glacier and the whole point of being on the west coast is to see it.
But I'm not seeing anything.
I could stay until tomorrow, but nothing is happening here. And of course there's no guarantee that tomorrow will be clear.
If I leave and head north I wil have driven right past the alps without seeing them
Its a major disappointment. This was the one destination I really wanted, and an air tour of the peaks and glaciers would have been great.
Ill upload a view from the ground.

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Milford Sound hanging valley

Dec 25th

Wow.
What a drive.
We drove from queenstown to lake paringa on the west coast.
Along the way, we went from lowlands through seemingly welsh countryside around arrowton, then up through a pass to mount aspiring national park.
Holy crap what stunning scenery, narrow mountain passes always a one lane bridge, wayerfalls and rivers everywhere. Driving into clouds, dripping with moisture. Rain falling into the forest, so lush and green.
Amy has been writing down the names of some of the creeks. That list is quite funny as the names are ridiculous.
Stopped at knights point just before sunset, hopes it would be clear but clouds started moving in. Camping available 20 minutes away and light fading, so we moved on. Got there just in time to set up in daylight and dry.
Spent the night on the shores of lake paringa. Rained most of the night, it stopped long enough to pack up mostly dry in the morning. Bed at 9:30 and up at 6:30 (yes amy too) see what happens when there's no computer? We revert to natural rhythms.
Drive to fox glacier. Cute little town, all about the heli-tours here.
Too cloudy and rainy to fly today I expect, the drive to the base of the glacier apparently is only 15 minutes.
Ok so this is weird then.
The athabasca terminus is at like 6k feet, and this one is near sea level??
I will have to look that up.
Amy is having a good experience, nothing seems to upset her. She is patient with me when I'm impatient!
Hehe
Filled up with gas, good for a few hundred kms, having a tea and amy a hot chocolate, then off we go to the glacier.

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Blackberry does it again

Watching my gas, arriving t the glacier view road, at the bridge over the fox river.
Gauge says I have gas to last another 160km
I need to know where there is a gas station.
I haven't had a signal in a long time, but I try any way.
The blackberry picks up a 1 bar gpms signal on nz vodaphone. Google takes me to
http://www.foxguides.co.nz/contact.asp
I navigate to contact us, click on the phone number, it rings, we talk,  and voila!
Bp station in town just up the road.
:)
I wonder if iphone would have done that?


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Wanaku
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Queenstown to wanaku

70 km of hilly, winding roads.
Stopping along the way to take pics.
Reminded us both of wales.
Lupins everywhere, strangely they were mostly purple on the queenstown side and yellow on the wanaku side.

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Christmas day

The only think remotely associated with christmas that we could share this morning, found in the minibar refrigerator...a toblerone!
Merry christmas.

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Christmas morning, from queenstown.
Off to the wonder of the westcoast today.
My next hotel booking is picton on dec 31st.
I have a tent, 2 sleeping bags and an air mattress for the next few days, all I have to do is convince amy to camp out.
There is so much to see up the coast I'm sure I will not see it all.
I also do not know what the cell coverage will be like. G3 has been good in queenstown though.
I kinda warmed to queenstown over the days. Sure its touristy, but its calm, cool, and doesn't have the attitude of banff.
Its focus is not so much on the rich executive that's looking for a weekend ski get away or golf package. (Yet...the cranes suggest the future is otherwise)
Thinking about their prime market, its clearly the aussies for whom mountains and moisture seem not to exist.
Oh how the kiwis love to taunt their aussie cousins.
Especially behind their backs!
But they need the aussie tourist money, better not bite the hand that feeds them too often ;)
Milford sound was ok, and yes spectacular. I think the geology of it was amazing, but the dearth of wildlife disappointed. We missed the nesting penguins by about a month, no sign of dolphins, and the birds (while they could be heard) were too far away to be seen.
We did see a fur seal colony and that was satisfying.
The drive to milford sound was the hilight. The eglinton river valley is now on my list of favorite river-drives in the world. And then crossing the divide by tunnel, coming out the otherside into a tolkeinesque grey, granite glacial cut, with wispy waterfalls cascading around on all sides. The distinct personalities of each side of the divide were quite palpable.
Even little kingston, not far from queenston, evoked memories of bala ontario for me, with its lake shore, and small cottages. And there is a small guage steam powered tourist train that just seems like its frozen in time.
So much more to see as we head north.
I'm hoping to get amy to make a post on the blog sometime.

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