May 2, 2008

May 2, 2008- First Day of Travel

Weather:  Varied, started out sunny, became cloudy, 2 kms of driving in rain in route, thunder, and freezing rain, then partly sunny but then rain in evening. 

 

Shirley and Jack had decided that they wanted to see the International Antarctica Center at the Christchurch airport and since we had never been there either decided to also stop before leaving town.  Roy and Marjory had decided to follow us today so the six of us stopped there.

 

They have nice displays of the activities that have gone on over the years in Antarctica.  They also have some blue penguins there with some close up viewing of them.  We enjoyed talking with one of the caretakers about the penguins.  They also have a widescreen projection of beautiful photography from Antarctica.  At the gift shop we got talking with one of the salesladies there about traveling in NZ and about Habitat.  She was very interested and at the end of the conversation Joan and I both got hugs from her and wishes for safe travels.  You meet very nice people here and it’s great to have conversations with them.  It was a good short visit and we departed there about 11:30AM for Oamaru. 

 

We had a commitment to meet the Penguin Express at the campground in Oamaru at 4:45PM so only took time to stop for lunch at the Berry Barn in Geraldine. It was the third time that we have stopped there and even though it’s a little off the main route the scenery and small town atmosphere is worth it.  Also the meat pies and pastries at the Berry Barn are excellent.  As Joan, Marjory, Roy and I were having some good things to eat in came Jay and Joyce.  It can be a small world here in NZ.

 

Along the way it started to rain and then about 4-5km of kind of a wet freezing rain snow mix.  Along with it was some lightning and thunder.  After that it brightened up some.

 

We pulled into the campground about 4:30PM put on some warmer clothes and met the Penguin Express driver at 4:45PM.  It turned into a tightly scheduled day.  On the way to the penguin viewing at Bushy Point he gave us a nice tour of Old Oamaru and the docks area where a lot of grain was shipped out years ago.  Now it is pretty much a historic district with a lot of the old buildings made of whitestone that was quarried in the area.

 

It started raining and by the time we were at Bushy Point to see the yellow-eyed penguins it was raining, cold, and very windy.  We made a mad dash for the viewing blind but along the way there were two yellow eyed penguins nesting about 5 meters off the path.  This was a great close up encounter with them.  According to the guide there are only about 5,000 in the world and about 1,000 of which are in or around NZ.  From Bushy Point the guide took us down to the blue penguin viewing area.  It has a small amphitheater with roof which allows some protection for us penguinites (must not be a word, Word keeps underlining it).  The blues come into shore in a group called a raft.  Since the blues are one of the smallest of the penguins (about 45cm tall) they think that by swimming in a group it looks like a larger fish to the seals and other predators.  In all we got to see about 35-40 of the blues come to shore and make their way up the bank to the nesting area off to the side of the viewing area.  Two of the penguins became very romantic - nature is wonderful.

 

On the penguin tour I got talking with an Asia couple that was seated next to me and found out that they were from Japan and on their honeymoon.  They were a nice young couple and lots of congratulations went to them.  One of the great things about traveling are the people you meet.

 

On the way back to the campground it was raining and then all night it was raining off and on.  The stream at the rear of the campers plus the rain on the roof of the camper was very pleasant to hear when you would wake up at night.

 

Another good day – life is good.

April 29, 2008

April 29, 2008 – Departure from LAX

Weather – 101F in Indio and 96F in Phoenix and 74F in LA with clear blue over all. 

We had a nice flight from Phoenix over to Los Angeles on Southwest.  The weather was very nice and could see all the geographic references on the ground all the way into LAX.  We got in about 2:45PM but then had to wait for the 10:30PM flight to NZ.  Just hung around the airport and eventually met up with the rest of the team.  We left about on time at around 10:45PM.  Air NZ flew a 777 on this flight which we don’t like as well as the 747 as the seats are really packed in.  It’s not at all comfortable for a 13 hour flight.

 

One good thing about the Air NZ flight is that they feed you well.  About an hour after takeoff they provide a very nice evening meal and then before landing I had an omelet, sausage, yoghurt, fresh fruit cup, coffee, etc.  In between the meals I tried to sleep, watched two movies, read, and kept readjusting my position to distribute the numbness in the part touching the seat cushion.

 

In route someplace over the South Pacific we got into some turbulence that bounced the plane around a bit but other than that it was a good flight.

 

It was a good day and night overall.  The numbness should go away soon.

 

April 30, 2008 – Lost Day at International Dateline Crossing

 

May 1, 2008 – First Day in NZ

 

Weather:  Raining in Auckland, but nice sun with broken clouds in Christchurch, 11C.

 

After meeting Dawn at the Golden Arches at the airport in Auckland and picking up our packets of information we departed in heavy rain but as we flew south to Christchurch the sky became mostly sunny and most of the day was very nice.

 

The first place that we usually stop when we leave the KEA depot is a grocery store to stock up for at least the first few days.  By the time that we went about 3 or 4 kilometers and stopped at the New World grocery store Roy was having problems with the clutch on his motor home.  We couldn’t even get it out of gear and the odor was terrible coming from under the hood.  We called KEA and they dispatched a mechanic who came and agreed that the clutch was gone.  He took Roy back to the depot with all their luggage and refitted him with a different KEA.  After that we caught up with the others at the campground.  After that it was pretty much getting clothes and food stashed away, hot showers, a little reading and then to bed.

 

It was a really long day but life is good.

 

Our KEA's in Christchurch campground.

 

 

 

Getting Started on 2008 Trip to New Zealand

Posted 4/27/08

On our way to New Zealand with a stop in Phoenix.

 

On Thursday 4/24 Joan and I dropped Inky (the cat) at Jill and David’s house in Cleveland’s University Heights and Jill then took us to the airport for our flight to Phoenix for a few days with our other daughter and husband (Tracey and Anjan).  It was a great day and smooth flight all the way with visibility of the ground.

 

Some day I have to figure out what part of the country you’re flying over to get there.  You see a lot of center pivot irrigation which must be in the area of maybe Oklahoma but then you fly over a lot of mostly uninhabited areas with just an occasional small road and large washes or canyons with vertical sides like mini-Grand Canyons.  I sit there and ponder what it would be like to be down there exploring the countryside.

 

4/25/08 – Low 90’s and blue skies

Tracey worked Friday and we picked her up for lunch and went to one of her favorite places the “Kiss The Cook”.  I didn’t kiss the cook and don’t think that I would want to but did get a kiss from the waitress.  We dropped her back at work then drove over to “Old Glendale” and checked out a number of the antique stores there.  I felt that it was safe to do this as we don’t have room for any purchases.  From there we decided to drive out to Luke Air Force base just to see what the area was like. 

 

On the way to Luke we saw the University of Phoenix domed stadium (Super Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, etc location) and decided to check and see if they had any tours.  We had seen it on Discovery Channel and knew it was an incredible structure and place that has movable roof sections and also where they move the real grass turf outside in the sun to grow and maintain.  They weren’t having any tours at the moment but they were having a radio control electric model aircraft exposition in the dome.  The floor of the stadium had been divided up to provide two flying areas and then all the manufacturers had their booths on about half of the floor.  You could buy about anything that you wanted that had to do with electric powered models.  Too bad no room.

 

 

 

 

4/26/08 – 90’s and blue skies

Today we went to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens.  We got there in time for a tour by the docents and learned a lot about Saguaro cactus and other desert plants.  Bet you didn’t know that a Saguaro can suck in over two hundred gallons of water after a rain and store it.  They need to because in the Sonora Desert they only get an average of around 7 inches of rain per year.  The guide advised not to do what John Wayne did in a movie and drink or suck on the moisture in the cactus as it will make you never to want to do that again.

 

 

 

Yea, I know the picture is sideways - do you know what the verticle pleats are for on the Saguaro?  Ans. below.

 

 

The cactus are in their spring bloom phase.  Beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

A desert lizard.

 

In the evening we went to the Phoenix Symphony.  The guest conductor (Pietari Inkinen) was Finnish but is currently serving as music director of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.  The first section of the program was En Saga by Jean Sibelius.  The second section was a Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn.  The violin soloist was a young female violinist Nicola Benedetti.  She was excellent.  The last section of the program was Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 of which the last movement was really memorable.  When we came out it was still in the 80’s and a very comfortable evening.

4/27/08 – 90’s and blue skies

Today we went to church with Tracey at the United Church of Christ, Church of the Beatitudes.  She has been attending there and participating in the hand bell choir and other activities.  The minister had a wonderful sermon and received a standing ovation.  That was the first time we had seen that happen at any service that we have ever been to and Tracey said that it was the first time that she had seen it happen at that church.  Another memorable occasion for us.

After reading the article about the United Church of Christ in Saturday's Beacon Journal (online) we are very glad to be members of it.

 

This afternoon we met up with Joan’s cousin Pam and her husband Randy for lunch in Scottsdale.  The Claimjumbers Restaurant served large meals and after a stop at Manju’s (Anjan’s mother) new apartment it was pretty much back home for a nap.

 

ANS. - The saguaro has verticle pleats so that the plant can expand when it takes in water so that it doesn't split open.

Oshkosh Airventure '07

July 24-29, 2007

This year I had hoped to go to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention once again.  It had been three years since going and I wanted to try out our new 5th wheel camper and thought that would be a good place to test it out.  It certainly gave me some towing practice going through Chicago plus all the Interstate driving.  A few times I wondered how worthwhile it was to tow the trailer that far for just a few days but considering that: we stayed dry in all the rain, we didn't have to use the showers there (with the reported 40,000 campers onsite), and didn't have to use the Port-a-Johns (at night and while in campsite), yea it was worth it.  My next door neighbor Jack went along after Joan decided that she could better use her time at home (when you've seen one plane what's a few thousand more afterall?)

The show was tremendous as usual with the stats being:

-over 560,000 visitors during the week

-an estimated 40,000 campers (it's a large campground)

-over 10,000 airplanes including around 250 WWII aircraft

Jack and I drove up Tuesday 7/24 and returned Sunday 7/29 and spent three days at the show.  It is truly a "world" event and defies description to someone who's never been there.  Even if you spent all week there on the flightline and tried to visit all the exhibits you would never see everything.  Three days of walking and looking is enough for me.  I really like to see the classic planes, the home builts, and then the military probably in that order.  The time and effort that people put into rebuilding the classics and also building the homebuilt experimental aircraft is incredible and the results are also incredible.

Following are a few of the sights we saw captured in photos.

Our campsite

World's busiest control tower during the week of Oshkosh, even busier than O'Hare.  Note new tower in background under construction.

Eclipse prototype 4 place personal jet. It sure was purtty in the air.  Could use this to get to Phoenix and back quickly.

Rear of the Eclipse where the noise and fumes come out.

 

June 10,2007 Wedding Day 2

June 10, 2007 Wedding Day 2

 

On Sunday, June 10th Tracey and Anjan were joined in marriage in a Hindu ceremony in honor of Anjan’s heritage.  Anjan’s mother did the planning and also ordered the wedding clothes for both Tracey and Anjan from India through other family members there.  The ceremony was held at a Hindu temple in Phoenix and was performed by a priest from there.  It was another beautiful wedding.

 

 

 

Tracey and Joan

 

 

Anjan, Tracey, and Manju

 

 

 

Tracey and Dad

 

During Ceremony

 

 

 

Tracey and Anjan

 

During my trips to India for work I had seen parts of weddings there but never imagined that we would be participating in one.  It was a nice ceremony and the priest took time to explain the various parts and meanings of the ceremony.  The ceremony was a “short version” lasting about 2 hours.  In India the celebration and wedding may take as long as 4 or 5 days.  Tracey and Anjan’s ceremony was followed by an Indian meal at the temple which again was enjoyed by all.

 

This evening we went to Joan’s cousin’s home who also lives in Phoenix for ice cream and cake bringing to a close a very busy weekend of activities.

June 9, 2007 Wedding Day 1

June 9, 2007 Wedding Day 1 for Tracey and Anjan

 

June 9th was Tracey and Anjan’s wedding day and as we came to find out in Phoenix it was another beautiful day but somewhat warm.  Tracey and Anjan had planned their wedding at the location where Anjan had proposed to her.  It was held on the Different Pointe of View Terrace at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort which is on a hill in a central area of Phoenix with a great view of the surrounding area.

 

 

It was a busy day for me with dropping Joan at the hairdresser, picking up flowers and delivering them to the hotel, etc.  Joan and I and most of the invitees all stayed at the hotel Saturday night.  It was one of the nicest hotels that we have ever stayed at and we enjoyed it very much as did everyone else.  The wedding was private with about 30 people in attendance.  Relatives, high school and college friends made up most of the attendees.

 

The minister from the church where Tracey has been attending (Church of the Beatitudes, a United Church of Christ) performed the ceremony.  Tracey had planned the time so that it would be just before sunset.  The wedding ceremony was very nice and went well.  The view was great especially as the sun set and the lights came on in Phoenix.

Tracey and Jill

 

 

Tracey and Anjan

 

 

Wayland and Tracey down the aisle.

 

 

 

Tracey, Anjan, and mothers.

 

 

 

After the wedding and picture taking we adjourned to the restaurant inside for a wonderful meal and a time of celebration.

June 8, 2007 Los Angeles to Phoenix

I am writing this on July 3, 2007 and Joan and I are back home in Mogadore.  I did want to catch up on the blog and get it up to date to the present. 

 

On June 3rd we drove from LA over to Phoenix with a stop in Indio to visit Joan’s uncle Charlie there and meet his new bride Pat.  We had a very nice lunch with them and got to see their wedding pictures, then it was on to Phoenix.  It’s an interesting drive through the desert between Indio and Blythe but a little on the warm side.

 

Between the time that we left Phoenix for New Zealand and when we got back Tracey and Anjan had moved to their home from the apartment that they were in for the last year.  The home is beautiful in a planned neighborhood with nice restaurants and shopping nearby.

 

 

Front Entrance

 

 

 

Backyard with real grass.

 

Being there the week before the wedding was nice to help out with some of the pre-wedding activities. 

Anjan and I checked out two of the local general aviation airports for activities.  Falcon Field in Mesa has a wing of the Commemorative Air Force (previously named Confederate Air Force, you have to be politically correct nowadays) that was interesting.  Deer Valley airport closer to them has become quite a training field for Chinese pilots.  They have about 300 Chinese there training to become commercial pilots. 

 

 

B-25, my favorite WWII plane.

 

 

Mig

 

 

 

Got that Mig with my trusty 50 cal.

 

 

 

The weather was beautiful but somewhat boring.  Blue skies and warm everyday, starting to hit close to 100, but dry.