Winter walks

Charles, Christopher and I have done two more Sunday walks lately. We completed the Gum Tree walk along the Wainuiomata River. We had tried to do this a few weeks ago but began walking from home and found Hine Road rather long before we got to the the walk. This time we took the car to the carpark and then walked. We forgot to take the camera so have no photos but we all enjoyed the swing bridge and having our snack where an old cottage had been. Last Sunday we went up to the cellphone tower. I wondered if I could do it with Christopher mostly on my back ( 20kg all up) . I wondered this even more as we started up the track proper but we made it. Christopher enjoyed himself and only fell asleep as we were reaching the bottom.

We had hoped to see many red toadstools at a point where there are usually a lot but only saw two in another part of the track. Maybe it has been too dry or maybe we were too late in the season.

Talking to the bridge troll

Christopher did walk

A well earned rest and snack

Nearly there

Home again!

Holiday adventures

Liam summed it up really just before he returned to the USA "We've had so many outings I can't remember the first one." We decided that the first one was going to Petone to ride on the model trains one Sunday afternoon. We had three rides and played on the playground in between.

We also all went to the river at the end of our street- that is Liam , Charles, Madeline Christopher and I - I had the stroller and backpack to make the getting there easier. The older boys were pleased because they were able to use stones to get across the Wainui River - this shows how dry it has been and how low the river is. Fortunately Madeline and Christopher didn't want to follow them being content to throw stones into the river. To add to the interest a digger was working on the Hair Street Creek which joins the main river near where we were.

Liam and Charles and I went into the Zoo. We enjoyed the one- legged Kiwi as well as seeing the chimpanzees being fed and the new baby Sun Bear cub. Another day Liam Charles and I went into Wellington. The intention was to go to Te Papa and then have a ride on the cable car which we did but we went passed the vertical bungee and stopped to have a jump. Charles was keen but Liam preferred the playground. Then he decided he would like a jump so Charles had a second jump. This got us a frequent user card with only one jump to go and then a free jump. We completed these jumps the following week. Of course I forgot my camera both times.

During the first week of the holidays Liam Charles and I caught the train to Wellington from Waterloo and then took the Johnsonville train to Johnsonville. The goal was to visit Mack's Tracks. Only a couple of the layouts he has were working but he got Thomas going while we were there which of course was much more interesting. After refueling the boys at McDonald's and them enjoying a play on the playground we retraced out journey by train to Wellington and back out the Waterloo. Fortunately an incident where rocks fell on the Johnsonville line didn't occur the day we travelled.

We enjoyed three walks up the Wainuiomata River. The first was a duck feeding exercise with Madeline and Christopher. The second Liam, Madeline , Christopher and I ( Charles was unwell) did a circuit up the river (Including feeding the ducks) and then home along Hine Road. Today (ANZAC Day) Charles and Christopher and I took our lunch and walked along Hine Road and into the bush area to eat out lunch by Nikau Stream. I hasten to add that I had the backpack for Christopher and the stroller for Madeline on these "walks".

Liam, Charles and I also went for some bike rides and to various play grounds to try out the play equipment. Christopher also got to go for a ride on the back of the bike to the cafe.

Madeline, Christopher and I went for a walk one late afternoon ( so tea could be cooked) As they were walking we made the half block returning home through Cornel's place.

On Monday we had to say goodbye to Liam and Madeline as they returned to the USA - with many adventures not completed but on our list for next time. It was all in all a great 5 weeks and an especially good two weeks school holidays - not much work done but it felt like a real break. The work was still there waiting for me but the boys and girl are growing fast and childhood doesn't wait.

I have not been doing nothing since last posted. I have photos to add but need to change the batteries to down them. Charles and I have had a number of outings. We went to Te Papa and saw the Egyptian exhibition. One Saturday we took Grand-dad's camp stove and cooked our lunch up near the cellphone tower. We have been for several swims at the local pool during March when the weather has continued to be hot.
With Liam home for a few weeks we have been to Petone and had some train rides and to the zoo.

Flying kites

Yesterday on Waitangi Day it was fairly breezy and Charle suggested it would be a good day to fly the kites. This was done successfully.

Outing

Had our first outing since Xmas today. Note the blue sky -second fine day in a row and even warm - needed sunhat and sunglasses.

Picture shows us "packed" up for the outing. There is a trailer under there!

Local adventures

Having had our travel in the middle of the year we are having more local adventures this January. I have put up our calendars purchased at the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley so while others in the family travel we can remember our travel. Our current adventures consist of discovering the sections and it looks as if our next trip will be to the local rubbish dump! I haven't been out of the valley since the 23 Dec.

I am pleased with the result of the effort so far. The strawberry and blueberry patch at Ruth's is much improved with weed cloth - why didn't I think of that sooner. It should reduce the weed problem. No problem with sunburn - have been gardening in the rain with a warm jersey on. "summer days" - yeah right!

Xmas 2006

On Tuesday we had a family meal with Ruth, Pierre, Charles and Christopher before they flew to Santa Fe. The Xmas tree in the photo was decorated by Charles - Like his mother tradition needs to be properly observed. On Wednesday morning I took them to the airport.

For those of us remaining we planned a picnic lunch for Christmas Day in the Rimutaka forest park - something different so that it wouldn't seem too strange. So about mid-day Megan, Murray and I walked up Grace Stream to a nice spot by the stream.
The weather was humid and patchy sun. It was very pleasant and then we completed the circular track before returning home. We also did a public service by removing two broken bottles out of the track. In the evening we had Pierre's parents, Pop and JJ and his sister, Cornel and her son Tiaan over for drinks and cake. A very pleasant day - quiet and lots of thoughts especially from the two grandmas for family far away - in the USA but also for Pop in South Africa.

Outings

Charles and I attended several productions. The year 7 and 8 production at Chilton was Ebenezer. This was very well done and Charles was familar with the story. We sat at tables and there were soft drinks and nibbles - Charles approved of this as well.




The Tales of Beatrice Potter also had some familiar stories. This was a ballet performance by the Chilton Dance School. The costuming and staging were excellent as was the dancing - though Charles was less keen on some of the dance he enjoyed the story and costumes.


Our next production was at Circa - Roger Hall's pantomime verion of Aladdin. Charles is still talking about Twanky, Hanky and Panky. He enjoyed joining in and made a special effort to thank the stage manager. We rounded off the evening by buying pizza on the way home. Fortunately this was the last day of school so parental rules about bed time could be over looked. Anyway he stayed over with Grand-ma so it didn't matter. The final show we went to was at Capital E. Stu Duval is a writer and story teller and we listened to "Captain Black Custard and the Christmas Pud". We managed lunch at Burger King, a visit to Kirkcaldie's Christmas shop and a look at their Christmas story ( in fact we read it three times as we managed to walk by three times - twice from beginning to end and once from end to beginning) in their windows and a ride on the Cable car before returning home to cook a Bon Voyage/Christmas meal for Ruth, Pierre, Charles and Christopher before they left for Santa Fe.

Term end

We have just finished the round of prize giving and farewells. Heard lots of very good statements about the journey being more important than the destination - which I guess is true but there does seem to be something a bit wrong with the idea of striving all the time and never getting any where - sounds like a wheel in a mouse cage.

I know I will be pleased to be able to vary my journeys slightly much a I like the trip over the Wainuiomata hill to school each day. However first of all marking must be finished. This is a painful process that reinforces the meaning of masochism and reminds one that everything in life ( ie trips to the USA) have a price.

But the exciting news is that I am going to Europe for three weeks in July as part of the school Seraphim Choir tour to two music festivals one in the Czech Republic (The Martinu Festival in Parduice) and one in England(at Wells Cathedral Somerset) . We also have sightseeing days that include Prague, Vienna, London and Stonehenge. Another reason to keep on with the marking!

Half way through the term

While the travels are more restricted at present I do think I am very lucky that my journey to school is a very scenic one. The view of Wellington harbour from the Wainuiomata Hill road is a fantastic one -as another friend who travelled a lot once said to me when we travelled together to the Hutt by bus - " you pay a lot to go a see all sorts of sight around the world and for a bus fare you can see this every day". And every day it is different and interesting. The Hutt River was running very high yesterday and you could see the muddy river water spreading into the cleaner sea water.

Currently I car pool with another teacher to get to school. Charles come with us and catch his bus to Wellesley from outside Chilton - which works out well. He comes out with me on school patrol duty and then walks to the bus with other Wellesley boys. We have got into a got routine - he usually cleans my whiteboard and then writes his name on it or plays with some of the other equipment I have - like the long tape measures. He measured my office today. It is 6m long ( for four people). On patrol days we then go and do that, otherwise we have a few minutes on the adventure playground.

At school we are doing some interesting topics - Term 4 always allow us to be more creative as the unit are not assessed with formal tests but with students completely activities - my class is making money - including a wallet for an imagery new Pacific State. The year 9's have been having a great time with a simulated voyage of the early Maori in 12th century. Another year group has made card and board games about the Middle Ages and are then going to make castles. I am collecting up boxes from the cafe for the teacher to use. And the year 10's are in themiddle of their enterprise companies - some very creative. In the midst of all this creativity the teachers are writing reports!

Holiday adventures

Charles and I made a list of places to visit. These included the Wellington Zoo and Te Papa. On Sunday we set off just before lunch for Te Papa. This proved to be a good time as we were there in the later afternoon and the crowds dispersed. Charles first stop was the Golden Days exhibit which he saw a few weeks ago for the first time and which he really enjoys. Monday was reasonably fine so we set off to the zoo. Ruth and Christopher joined us on this expedition which began with lunch at Eva Dixon's. We were able to see most of our favourites although there are some major changes occurring as the zoo renews some areas and refocuses its displays. It is 100 years old this year and they are planning clebrations this month. It was fine at the zoo even though there was rain to the north.

Although Saturday was showery we decided that none of us would melt and we visited the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. We had not been there since the new fence and mainland island predator free area had been established. I was really impressed. It is easy to forget the local attractions. Charles and I took a ride on the lower dam in an electric powered boat and saw a number of bird inlcuuding black shags nesting. We walked up to the upper dam but the highlight for Charles was the old goldmine. Unfortunately the guide was at lunch so we couldn't go in the whole way. At the this point the rain became more steady so we retreated planning to go again and to take lunch.

I spent four days in the second week on the school holiday in Kaikoura with my Year13 geography students. The weather was not the best but we were able to complete everything -only getting a bit wet while cycling to the seal colony on Tuesday. The girls were able to get out to swim with the dolphins and on Wednesday although the day started very wet in Kaikoura it wa fine in Hanmer Springs - and although the rain doesn't affect swimming in the hot pools being fine makes the whole trip more pleasant.

Our last holiday outing was to go to see a production at Capital E called "On our Street". This was good fun.

Then back to school and ERO. I tend to agree with Charles that the holiday are the best part of school!, although Charles started straight back into a school trip to the Museum of City and Sea which also included playing in Frank Kitts Park. So not all bad.

To LAX - on time

To complete the record of Murray'travels in the USA. He continued driving westward and reached California where he followed the Smith River. The forest changed progressively from the Douglas Fir (as in Oregon) to Redwoods. On reaching the coast he put his feet into the eastern side of the Pacific assuring another chap that NZ also has beaches - being on the other side of the same ocean.

Murray was due to fly out on Monday evening so Saturday and Sunday were to be long driving days without sightseeing. However this lasted only until he reached the Avenue of the Giants. This 32 mile section of road goes through a State Park and has magnificant stands of Redwoods. At the Visitors Centre there was a section of log with rings counted back to 1148AD..

Following the advice of a ranger Murray turned from the 101 onto route 20 to join the I5 and thus avoid San Francisco. After a fast drive on the freeway ( with a slight diversion into a senior living complex with maze-like roads when looking for petrol - the signed station was closed) Murray travelled on and stayed the night in Los Banos. This proved to be an attractive place and the motel was as cheap as earlier ones and a bit better appointed.

Some on us might not have been as surpirsed as Murray was to find he was making a late start on Sunday - actually he wasn't his cell phone was still on moutain time. He drove across endless horticultural land with truck loads of tomatoes. The Sierra Nevadas were lost in the murk. Murray had planned a camping place but the road that heads south in the mountain was closed at either 10 miles or 20 miles ahead depending on which sign you believed.

He didn't want to get lost on side roads but found a road that went back to the I5 but on the way passed through a national forest. The map had tent symbols so this looked promising for the final night in the US. He found Toad Spring camp ground down a narrow dirt road - basic with no water or toilet but the grass was cut and it was free. He began a clean out of the car which continued the next morning. He found a truck stop and dumped two bags of rubbish and then rest at a petrol station.

The next part of the trip was carefully mapped out to negiotate the freeways into LA, find the rental car depot (before it closed for the night) and get across the the airport - flight not till 11.30pm. This worked well until there was an unexpected lane division. Murray exited from the 101 and sorted this but the name didn't match any he had on his list. However the sun was in the right place and he then realised he should have been on the 105. Fortunately he had plenty of time and was at the airport by 3pm.

Having anticipated the extra security he had his carry-on luggage in a Wal-mart plastic bag - which turned out not to be strong enough. There appeared to be a long queue but this was for domestic flights. Murray's queue was short and security efficient. A long wait and then the pleasure (?) of seeing "16 Blocks" for the 3rd time on as many flights. Overnight it was Wednesday and back to the cold of NZ and waiting to be picked up on a windy corner in Lower Hutt after catching the airport flyer to Queensgate. I had managed to leave my cellphone at home so this complicated coordination until I had gone back to get it.

Back to the cold and work - but a great trip with fanastic memories.

Pemmican cakes

Those of you who have read "Swallow and Amazons" will be aware of pemmican cakes. Charles and I have just finished reading "Swallows and Amazons". We have been discussing making pemmican cakes and cooking outside. It had been put on our holiday list and so today we made pemmican cakes. We make the cakes ( with luncheon meat) and as we had decided we could not light a fire outside near a house we borrowed a fuel stove ( along with friendly native alias grandad). The cooking was a great success and the friendly native was invited into Charles' fort in the native trees at the side of the house. Baby Vicki ( alias Christopher) was in the backpack to avoid any issues with stoves and hot pans, had his in the backpack. A pleasant time on a day otherwise taken up with getting extra supplies to the golf course and sorting out the non-printing eftpos machine ( wrong tape)

Volcanic dust or maximising a National park pass

When Murray go back to New Zeland I washed his Icebreaker top and even after several rinses there was still grit in the sink. This came from the next section of his trip. After leaving Devil's Tower he camped in the Big Horn Mountains - these are a very ancient formation - Precambrian. The next day he travelled to Yellowstone National Park. Murray mostly freedom camped in national forests but here due to grizzlies also sharing the forest he chose to camp in the official site. He explored part of Yellowstone early before the crowds built up saw Steamboat geyser one of the world' largest turn on a minor display. The evening was spent camping at Palisades reservoir after driving through the Tetons. Murray was just thinking how alludes it was when a thunderstorm arrived. He managed to get tea between storms.

The next day was to be seeing Craters of the Moon and Sawtooth but the best laid plans... Instead it was EBR1, Craters of the Moon plus Palisades dam and roadworks. The last was a half hour delay. EBR1 was the first nuclear reactor to generate electricity in 1951. The whole place has been decontaiminated and he could walk aroud. Outside were two reactors built to develop a nuclear engine for a long range bomber. The idea was for it to fly non-stop for 5 days - there were even menus planned for the crew. The plane was never built.

Craters of the Moon are in Idaho. The lava caves were particularly interesting with ice in the bottom - a huge contrast from the heat outside. A torch is needed but thanks to Merewyn, Murray had his. Idaho itself is quite different from Wyoming. Much of the State is volcanic. In next few days as Murray attempted to move westwards he also made good use of his National Park pass he visited an interpretative centre for the Oregon Trail. John Day Fossil Bed Monument,Newberry Volcanic Monument and Crater Lake. He continued to camp - mostly free except in Ontario, Oregon where he stayed in a cheap motel. The only cooking device was a microwave which was of limited use with metal billies so he boiled some vegetables in the plastic bowl and fried meat, onions and mushrooms with the camp stove on the table - this probably would have pleased the owners as much as it would have pleased the camp controllers in the former Stalinistic Youth camp we stayed in, in Hungry - fortunately in both cases they didn't know and so everyone was happy.

A Saturday outing

Charles and I did seven interesting things today. We left early to collect our ticket for Malvin Tix the musical clown. We parked under Te Papa and on the way to get the tickets stopped to look at a display of big trucks. Clearly fascinating in their own way to a section of the community. Because we were early we had time after getting the tickets to go over to the water front. Charles noticed a digger so we watched trucks being loaded by a digger that I removing a hill by the lagoon near the rowing club ( the wheel wash was particularly interesting) and to have a look at a display at Te Papa that Charles wanted to show me - about how a fault works. You can press on a lever to build up stress and then the rupture occurs. This was topical as we had a magnitude 5 earthquake during the night and we had been talking about it. We bought something to eat at Te Papa and then went over to the concert. It was first class. Malvin Tix is a very talented musician and clown from Norway and he was conducting the NZSO. Charles was totally engaged for the whole performance. We decided after this we didn't want to go home yet so walked to the new Playground at Waitangi Park. It was a nice sunny day and out of the wind very pleasant. We then felt we wanted to see more of Te Papa. We tried one of the rides (Magic Lilo's - magic seemed to be a theme for the day -large reclining chair that moves as you fly over NZ - slightly sea sickish but reassuring as Charles pointed out that we weren't really lifting up!), looked at the presentation called Golden Days (Kiwi memorabilia) and spent some time in the Pacific Discovery centre. We decided we would go back again in the holidays. By this time we were both hungry and in Charles' case wanting to play on a playground. Where else to go but McDonald's! On the way we stopped to buy Charles a new wallet and a magic book ( you rub patches to find answers to questions). On Charles' count 7 adventures.

The A-team start school

Now that both mother's have commented I thought Grandma could add a bit. Great work girls 25% of the through the job but a critical phase over -the foundations are well in place. Charles's birthday being on the day of Dad funeral along with the other changes got me thinking back. At school one of the teachers asked for an hour to go and see his son at Starter group ( at Alice town Playcentre) this got the other teachers talking about their PlayCentre training - (2 level 3 and a Level 1) . Some how this got me thinking of the sewing and time we ( Judith and I) put in and the rewards ( yes there are some stresses too!) that one can have as a grandparent. Doesn't seem so long since we made the four matching jackets for our team back then.

Badlands and the Devil
After a driving day (2 August) Murray camped in the Black Hills Forest in North Dakato. He awoke at dawn to coyotes - obviously more effective than an alarm! The wildlife theme continued a he visited Wind Cave National Park. As well as seeing prairie dogs, antelope and bison. I was particularly envious of this - seems really western. He didn't visit the caves.
The Badlands were the furtherest east Murray went. Again an amazing sight - familar to geography students from text books but of course much more impressive in reality and on the grand scale that features are in the USA. And its not just the natural features. Murray viewed Mt Rushmore from the road but was more interested to go on to Crazy Horse. This scuplture of the Indian chief is like a medevial cathedral project. It has been going for 60 years and has another 60 to go. The whole thing is some 700ft high and more long, to show Crazy Horse on a horse.

Having found a pleasent campsite in the extreme NW of the Black Hills Forest, Murray could not find his small billy and cooking stove. As these were indispensable he repacked and back tracked two hours to see if he could find them but no luck ( not at this point - hold this for later posts). He camped at the previous night's site again and ate cold andwiches for tea.

Given the lost time he thought of missing the Devil's Tower ( I don't think this personage can be held responsible for the stove) but after trying a different route from yesterday for variety- but variety it seems is not a feature of Central Wyoming - the mentioned difference was following the railway with lots of stationary trains. Fortunately the Devils Tower was worth the effort.

A smaller adventure

Now that I am back at school the journeys have got back to the routine of back and forth to school. However I am at present car pooling and this involves crossing a bridge we made at the back of the neighbour's property across a disused stream - which is council land. Our neighbour is obviously happy with us cutting across the corner. Christopher tried the bridge out and found it nice and bouncy.

The Old Geezer goes anoxic

While I was at Calwood and conferences Murray set off in the rental car on his own adventures. I plan to write up some of the highlights. The first being what Murray tells everyone was the highlight of the trip or at least the High point - climbing Long's Peak. This involved Murray getting up at 2.30am and being on the track by 3.20am. ( Almost unbelievable - hard to imagine he was still in the going to bed phase of the day!) The first part of the trip, through the forest, required a headlight to be worn until dawn broke. By dawn he had reached the turn off to Chasm Lake and continue up the Upper Valley and on to the boulder field- (10-20 tonne variety) There was also near vertical granite cliffs with dozens of routes for the rock climbers. Passing through the "Keyhole " he came to the ledges - with a steep drop off. ( I would have been like many others who stop at this point I am sure) By this time the lack of oxygen was becoming apparent. After the narrows which are a sidle along more ledges around to the front of the peak, there was the final climb up slabs to the summit. The major challenge here is getting enough oxygen - climb a few metres, stop and gasp for a minute. The only food he felt like eating on the top was a NZ Braeburn apple - the lack of oxygen didn't encourage eating more. The view from the top made it all worth while - particularly the feeling of looking down on the peaks around. Then there was the journey down. Murray arrived back at the car park about 3 o'clock feeling tired from the lack of sleep. He drove a short distance to Roosevelt National Forest camped and although the road was too close and noisy he didn't care!

Melbourne

The final 4 days of my trip was spent in Melbourne, Australia. The purpoe was to attend the Geography Teachers of Victoria's annual conference. I find this a really stimulating conference and have attended for the last 3 years. Just as well I had been flying with United (this the only good point - well no the flights were uneventful another good point) and was allowed two bags otherwise I would have had a lot of excess luggage given all the free material I collected - some of which now adorns my classroom wall.

I stayed with friends and on Saturday we went for a very pleasant bike ride that helped the jet lag and I warmed up. There is a big difference between San Deigo and Melbourne especially eperiencing a frost again after weeks in the high 30's. Melbourne has turned a number of former train tracks into walking/cycling/horse trails. We rode from Lilydale to Warburton-about 22 kms stopping for lunch in Warburton. Forgot my camera so no photos of me cycling along.

I arrived home safely 11.55 on Monday night and made it to school on Tuesday - the first lesson involved watching a DVD - a good piece of forethought on my part and I am glad the reliever hadn't used it. Several lessons have featured a DVD I bought of the SW USA - it is amazing how everything can be linked together and made to relate to the actual topics.