6May06

This morning started out pretty quiet with everyone taking care of personal things.  Joan did some wash and in general we just relaxed.  At about 11 AM we had devotions and then headed down to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Dunedin train station for a trip on the Taieri Gorge railroad.  It was a beautiful clear day, the rail trip started out Southwest from Dunedin through horse farms and sheep ranches and then turned Northwest and up into the hills.  The country got steeper with deeper valleys eventually meeting up with the Taieri River and gorge.  We passed through twelve tunnels and numerous elevated trestles.  The railroad was started in 1879 and first section opened in 1889.  The viaducts are fine examples of Victorian engineering with lattice girders of wrought iron and piers made of cut rock.  The largest viaduct is 197 meters long and 47 meters above the river below.  We ended up at Pukerangi which was basically a sheep raising station as they call them here.  After a brief rest stop we headed back down to Dunedin.  The trip took about 4 hours round trip and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  The line is now 60km long and is New Zealand’s longest private railway.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

Twelve of our group stayed in Dunedin and went to the Dunedin Casino for dinner.  The Casino is in a beautiful old Victorian hotel with elaborate gilded staircases and ceilings.  After dinner the Casino provided transportation back to the campground for eight of the group and Joan and I and Dick and Anne stayed and tried out the slot machines.  I ended up out about four NZ dollars which were left in the 2 cent slots.