Observations, experiments, and experience
Originally written on 2 January, 2015.
Clair and I woke up at our customary 8am this morning. The shuttle to our wine country bike tour was to pick us up at 9:30. We stepped out of our camper into the warm summer air under blue skies. The previous days’ storm and cold front had passed and the dry, beautiful New Zealand climate was back.
Originally written on 1 January 2015.
We awoke to the blue skies we had become familiar with in New Zealand. Having shed the previous day’s thick blanket of cold misty, a cool, crisp, bright day appeared. And we were again in for a spectacular drive as we crossed the island from the west to its eastern shore.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 8: Punakaiki to Blenheim”
Originally written on 31 December 2014.
Clair and I woke up in our luxurious camper to a bleak day. Our adjacency to the rugged west coast of New Zealand also provided direct access to its cold, wet winds. I could tell the day’s drive would be difficult.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 7: Fox Glacier to Punakaiki”
Originally written shortly after 30 December 2014, when Clair I and drove this leg of our trip.
Queenstown was charming. It was quaint, rustic, and full of friendly travelers enjoying its short summer. Clair and I woke up a little early and enjoyed a massive breakfast before heading out. Just west of the city we crested a large hill and a vista point rewarded us for a five minute stop.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 6: Queenstown to Fox Glacier”
The drive from Milford Sound was no less spectacular than the drive to it. In fact it was the exact same route.
We realized this morning exactly how remote and inaccessible Milford Sound is. The town contains only one restaurant/pub and it closed early. There was no mobile phone service. Internet reached visitors only via satellite, which was prohibitively expensive for most. There appeared to be only one road in and out which also passed through Te Anau. So, it was not possible to avoid doubling back.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 5: Milford Sound to Queenstown”
Originally written on 28 December 2014 while Clair and I were touring the south Island of New Zealand.
Today’s drive was incredible. We passed through old growth forests, vast grass plains, craggy snow-capped mountains, and rushing rivers. The landscape really did remind me of Lord of the Rings. In just two hours we saw the equivalent of four US states’ worth of terrains.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 4: Te Anau to Milford Sound”
Article originally written in very late December.
After missing our flight in Melbourne and losing two nights of our camper van, Clair and I were forced to make cuts in our already tight touring schedule. We removed Dunedin and one of the two days in Milford Sound. We were forced to make up time with a very long drive (seven hours) to Te Anau.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 3: Lake Tekapo to Te Anau”
Original travel date was 26 December. Boxing Day in New Zealand.
I will admit I was intimidated when I first got behind the wheel of our 6.2-meter camper. It accelerated sluggishly and cut corners short when turning. Christchurch traffic is moderate but the combination of a bulky, unfamiliar vehicle and left-handed driving were difficult to manage.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure Day 2: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo”
This article was written during our holiday. But only today, over two months later, have I gotten around to posting it. It describes our first day in Christchurch after a long flight, rescheduled itinerary, and lost luggage.
Ours was an auspicious beginning to an expensive trip. Clair and I purchased roundtrip tickets on Qantas through Melbourne. The flight to Christchurch left us only a couple hours to change planes. But the route back included an 18-hour layover. We decided to turn this into a special treat with our friend Stuart by exploring Melbourne with a local. It never occurred to either of us that we’d need an Australia visa for this..
It never occurred to Qantas, either.
Continue reading “New Zealand Adventure, The Beginning: Christchurch”
A couple months ago my great uncle Eddie passed away. He was one of six brothers, among which was my material grandfather. I probably had fewer than 10 occasions to talk with Eddie. But he had a special humor to him that everyone loved. People really gravitated to him. And I loved to be near him at family gatherings as he was sure to make me laugh.
Like all six of his brothers, he served in World War II. They each contributed in different ways and many were involved in heroic and hair-raising action. Every few years I try my hand at Google to see if I can find stories about them. And after Eddie’s death I found one about him, which came with a photograph.
Below is the story that I found on Facebook. I’m preserving it here with the photo for myself, my friends, my family, and posterity.
Interview with: (Col Edward F. Fleming).Capt Edward Fleming, 84th FS, 78th FG and several other P-47s were chasing enemy fighters at low altitude over Charters, France. Suddenly flack blew a hole in his right wing. The rudder was damaged and under a lot of pressure, he lost the ability to Bank and turn the aircraft quickly.Fleming looked up and found himself headed right at Chartres Cathedral!“I missed the steeple by no more than a foot and a half!” he said.He was headed in the wrong direction and used all of his strength to turn the P-47 around to fly over the channel back to Duxford with two 84th FS P-47s escorting him back.Later, looking at the damage, his assistant crew chief said, “I can’t figure out how you got back at all!”Fleming remembered, “The hole was so big you could stand up under the wing, fit into the hole and look out over the top!”
He was convinced he was going to crash into the Chartres Cathedral and kept thinking…“If I demolish a church will they ever let me into heaven?”
