California
Mon. 10/19
We got a ride to the Dane County airport from Erin Bosch of Prairie UU Society, and were off to California for Robin and Evelyn's wedding. Arriving in San Francisco we made our way to the Days Inn where we had reservations.

Tue 10/20
After breakfast at Days Inn we hiked to Corona Heights. [Photos] Coming down from the heights Barb slipped on loose gravel and scraped her hand. We stopped at a CVS drugstore for a band aid. Back at the motel Barb found she did not have the wallet with our join money. Fortunately she soon got it back from the motel office. She had left it on their counter. In the afternoon we walked to the Civic Center area and Van Ness Muni train depot. Bought card to use in evening for trip to Wendy and Jim's for supper on 22nd St. Got off at 21st and had to walk up, down, and up again to 3652 22nd. St., which is so steep that the sidewalk is in steps. Beside Wendy and Jim and their kids Anna and Ella in attendance were Casey & Tim, Joan and Carol. Casey & Tim are staying there tonight (as they did last night).

Wed 10/21
We had breakfast at the motel and then walked to The Mill thru Alamo Square park. A van hit a pedestrian 1/2 block away and Barb went to help. Victim in shock but not seriously hurt. Police car, 2 fire trucks and an ambulance came. Group walked afterwards to Painted Ladies next to Alamo Sq. Then our tour contined by car. Barb & I went with Robin past Evelyn's old apt. near Golden Gate Park, then to Whole Earth for picnic food which we took to spot near de Young museum. Sax player echoed in tunnel. Elodie chased birds. Robin took her to raised fountain. She watched me splash with my hand at far side and did small imitation. After lunch Elodie came with Robin, next to Barb in back seat. Next the group went across Golden Gate to Marin Vista Point parking lot. After enjoying the sunny day view Robin left by himself to tend Willow in San Jose and Barb & I split up. I rode with Evelyn's sister, mother and stepfather David. We stopped at the apt. where E & R lived when Elodie was born, with the rooftop where Robin proposed. We met Evelyn, Elodie and Rosalind (from London) there. From the apt front door we walked down the block to the fitness center where Evelyn used to work, where she talked to someone she used to work with. I think that is when I switched to Evelyn's car. We went to the parking lot at the foot of the Golden Gate bridge, then to Lombard St. and drove down. stopping so that Rosalind could snap a photo at the bottom. Then we went to Coit Tower. Fog had come in and blocked the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Rosalind and I went in and saw the murals inside the Coit Tower. Later Amy arrived and took Elodie up the steps (which Elodie wanted to climb) and we went around the circle, Elodie looking at the murals and out the window while being bounced. At Coit I switched back to the sister's car, allowing Rosalind to sit in the front seat next to Evelyn again. Barb, Casey & Tim went with Janet. She missed the turn for the road to the base of the bridge but they stopped farther up the shore. They also drove by the Palace of Fine Arts. Then she brought Barb to Days Inn to get ready for opera with Mischa. She took Casey & Tim to Wendy's to get their things (from their 2 nights there) and brought them to Day's Inn. We met them later at Tony's Pizza for supper. (The pizza and a meat ball gave me stomach pain that night.)

Th 10/22
No wedding group activities today. Barb, Casey, Tim and I walked to the Civic Center and went through the metal detector to get into the City Hall, which we viewed upstairs and down. We walked a bit farther from there and noted the Bart station we'd need to return to to get to Berkley for supper with Warren et al. Then we headed back toward Days Inn where I stopped for lunch and a short nap. The other 3 stopped to see the Symphony Hall and got in to a limited area, where they saw halloween decorations and the gift shop (not open). They stopped by Days Inn (Tim returned my corderoy overshirt) and continued on to lunch at a little place off of Octavia where they ate outside. After lunch we walked north past a playground to Jackson Square where more homeless were sleeping on the grass. We went further to St. Mary's Cathedral and followed a tour group inside. Then we headed east past First UU church and an antique car place where were able to view the cars through the windows. Casey and Tim continued with us to the Bart station entrance where we parted ways. Homeless in alley next to it. Barb and I went down and got roundtrip tickets to Ashby on the Richmond line. We missed the first train because people standing in front of the doors and blocking our way were waiting for a different train. We hurried to the next open door where the line was shorter but the doors closed just as I got there. The loading lasted only a few seconds. We got the next Richmond train about 15 min. later and walked from the Ashby station to the house Warren and Daniel et al. had rented at 2630 Grant St. in Berkeley. Margot and Tavery were already there. After supper Margot drove us back to the Days Inn, so we didn't use our Bart tickets for the return. (They are staying not far away on Turk St.) We got back a little after 7:30 pm. (Margot did not want to drive in the dark.) Tim and Casey were out until late.

Fri. 10/23
After our usual breakfast in the breakfast room at Days Inn we headed for the Alcatraz Cruise loading at Pier 33. Casey was using her smart phone to guide us. We took the Muni trolley bus from Grove St. (in front of Days Inn) to Market St. and transferred to a tolley (when it finally came). Casey had us get off much too soon when she heard Embarcadero. We walked the rest of the way to Pier 1 and then headed northwest up the Embarcadero toward Pier 33. We saw that it was going to take us too long to get to Pier 33 by 9:30 so eventually got on another trolley for the rest of the way. Margot and Tavery were already there. (They had contacted Casey by phone wondering where we were.) Mischa and Evan arrived in time for the 9:30 ferry, which they had tickets for. Robin's block of tickets were for the 10 am ferry. Evelyn arrived about 10 min. to 10 and picked up the tickets. Robin arrived 5 min. before 10 (when passengers for the 10:30 ferry had lined up). There were no extra tickets for the ferry to Alcatraz available. Robin had not included Barb and me in email asking who wanted tickets in his block reserved for them, even though he had gotten senior tickets with us in mind. (We had mentioned an interest earlier.) Margot and Tavery also did not have tickets, but Casey and Tim did. We thought Tavery should go and Tim offered his ticket. In explaining this to Margot and Tavery Barb indicated that Margot could have Casey's ticket, though she was planning to accompany Tavery. Margot and Tavery went (but did not stay together on Alcatraz Island). Barb, Casey, Tim and I walked up the Embarcadero as far as Pier 39, then out to the end of that pier past all the shops and the carousel. Hearing the barking at the end we headed over to the sea lions and watched them crowded onto one of the rafts. Another less noisy group was on another raft. Heading back we stopped for hot dogs, a crab cake and a corn dog for me ($4.50). After that we heard by cell phone that some of our group had already returned from Alcatraz. We connected with them on Pier 39 where Warren, Daniel et al. had lunch. Tavery was by herself at the carousel and Casey went and got her. Barb ordered a 2nd lunch and lunch for Tavery at a place where she had heard Warren and Daniel were going, though they didn't. Margot eventually showed up there and ate one of Barb's two sandwiches. I helped eat the fries.

Connecting with Warren in the restaurant where his and Daniels' families were eating I learned that though Daniel et al. were driving back to the house they had rented in Berkeley, Warren and Patty were planning to head directly to San Jose for the rehearsal dinner after seeing some more of San Francisco. I arranged to get a ride with them, while Barb, Casey & Tim made plans to get to San Jose by the CalTrain "Bullet". Barb wanted to return to the Days Inn to change clothes. Stepping outside for a minute to view the ocean while Warren finished lunch I was immediately crapped on by a sea gull (or pidgeon). I wiped my hand and head off with tissue I had in my pocket and went up to the 2nd level to view a sign giving the location of public restrooms. Going to the nearest one I tried to wash off the right side of my head. There were no paper towels provided, so I went to a nearby food stand and took several paper napkins to clean and dry my hair as best I could. Then I rejoined Warren and Patty and returned to the sea lions at the end of the pier with Warren, Daniel and families. Then we headed our separate ways. We considered driving up to Coit Tower at the top of nearby Telegraph Hill but Patty was worried about traffic, etc. making us late for the 6 pm rehearsal dinner in San Jose. She thought there would be things to see in San Jose if we got there early. We drove by the dinner address when we got there, about 4 pm. Next we stopped for gas, but Warren was confused by a message on the gas cap about E15 and E85. Eventually we realized that there was a line through the message indicating that these ethanol blends were NOT to be used. Then we thought we would drive to the Alum Rock Park area. This led to adventures by GPS. Traffic was backed up on I-280, so we gave up. Next we tried directions to Kelley Park. It cost to park, and Patty said she didn't want to pay to park. The zoo closed at 4 pm. We headed back to 1204 Avis Dr. We got there about 5:15 and I went in under the Welcome sign. Warren and Patty worried that they were too early and went for a walk. Daniel's family and others were already there when I went in. The dinner was wonderful. Robin gave a brief welcome and Evelyn gave and extended and emotional thank you to all family and friends who had helped. Firepit and conversation. Janet gave the 4 of us a ride back to Days Inn.

Sat 10/24
The 4 or us walked to The Box after I had some lunch with the cheese and crackers and bread we had bought days earlier.

Sun. 10/25
After Days Inn breakfast we walked to the Foreign Cinema restaurant at 2534 Mission St., where Robin and Evelyn had 2 reservations (for tables for 10). The reservations were for 10:45 am, and after those who had arrived had waited outside the front door for a time Casey found that the double door on the left was open (or unlatched). She went in and was followed by several people but staff stopped them and said they were not open. We went back out and a woman followed us and locked the door. Robin, Evelyn and Elodie arrived a bit later and we all waited on the street until after 11 am. Robin was surprised that we could not get in at the time they had made reservations for. One of our tables was inside a concrete walled room and the other was outside in a courtyard with a view of nothing but high walls. Both rooms were noisy and the inside room had high windows with no shades, allowing too much sun on those siting on one side of the table. I recorded some of the ambient noise. There were no official remarks of welcome. Mischa and Evan arrived late and were squeezed in at the ends of our inside table. We were eventually served. Casey and Tim had packed up and brought their luggage as we walked to the restaurant, and left to catch their flight back to Alaska after the brunch. Mischa offered to serve as a guide for Warren and Patty for some driving around San Francisco. I had asked Warren to drive Barb and me up the Twin Peaks scenic road. The 5 of us headed out in Warren's rented car with Mischa directing, using Google maps on his cell phone. We got a parking place in the lot atop Twin Peaks that someone was just pulling out of. Then Mischa and I hiked up the trail to the top of each of the twin peaks. Warren made it up the first one. I filmed the cloud blowing rapidly across between the peaks. The sun peaked through occasionally showing the city below. We were able to look down on Corona Heights from well above on one side of the parking lot. Mischa took us by the house where he had once lived. Then we headed for Golden Gate Park, entering via 9th Street. We drove around Stow Lake but did not stop and get out. We continued toward the ocean, glimpsing 2 Dutch windmills. Mischa mentioned Spreckels Lake, site of picnics he'd had during a summer romance. We reached the shore and drove up the coast past the Cliff House and eventually got a parking space as someone pulled out on the road. (The parking lots were full.) Then we hiked down the hill to the shore and the ruins of an old bathhouse complex. Mischa and I explored a tunnel that came out with a view of the ocean but ended with a fence. Then we climbed a big rock on the edge of the water and I recorded the sounds of the ocean below. Heading back up Mischa took stairs that no longer had easy access at the bottom. I connected with Warren, Barb and Patty on the path not far from the shore before heading up to join Mischa on an observation platform area and then up the high trail. We were hurrying to get back to the car where Warren et al. were to meet us. I took a shortcut of the path and caught up to Mischa. We got back to the car to find Barbara there. She had taken the shorter path up to the Cliff House and then to the left a short distance to the car on the roadside. Warren was doubtful that the path went all the way up to the road and questioned the location of the car that Barb remembered, so he and Patty took the path in the other direction up, that we had come down. It was a longer path, and he and Patty arrived well after Mischa and I had joined Barbara. Then Warren drove us all to the rented house in Berkeley, where we ordered pizza for supper. Evan (who had driven back to Oakland after brunch to study) joined us there, picking up the 5 pizzas on the way. I mostly had the potato and bacon one (which had no tomato sauce). (No stomach problems last night, much different from the night after we ate at Tony's Pizza.) Mischa, Evan and Warren all took turns playing the grand piano. Daniel, kids and I used some of the available rhythm instruments to accompany Mischa. Later Warren drove us to the Ashby BART station where Barb and I caught the 8:30 Fremont train, switching to another train into San Francisco at the next stop. We could not get into our Days Inn room at first because they had not set our key cards to accommodate the one day extension Barb had arranged by phone 2 weeks earlier. We got our key card updated at the office.

Mon. 10/26
Again (on our last morning) the Days Inn breakfast room did not have the shelled hard boiled eggs they had the first 2 or 3 mornings. I had my usual oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins made with hot water from the coffee/tea machine, orange juice and raisin bread toast, followed with a little raisin bran and frosted flakes. Back in the room we packed up. Barb walked to a drug store. At 11:30 Janet picked us up and drove us to San Jose. Robin and Evelyn were packing up presents at Brad's house. (No one else was there.) They drove us and our luggage to their place. They had both cars. I went with Evelyn and Elodie. Evelyn said the wedding night band was Cosmos Alleycats. I worked on the patio cross piece on the house end which looked like it was ready to fall. I removed the netting staples, got the 2 spikes out at the better end, and reversed the 2x2 so that the bad end stuck out at the other side. Barb found that Elodie can now climb step ladder step. She did it several times before I returned to continue using it. In the evening Robin and Evelyn drove to Oakland to have a last night with Ian & Layla, Mischa and Evan, Evelyn's friend Rosalind from London and some of her friends. Robin had hoped Ian and Layla would come here but there was miscommunication. Barb and I stayed here caring for Elodie. I cooked most of the raw brussel sprouts Tim & Casey had left in the motel room for supper, with some frozen peas. For dessert I had a large chocolate nut piece from a box Robin and Evelyn had opened, with other wedding gifts. Robin guesses it was from Steve Doob, who attended the wedding. (Robin was surprised to see him there.) We didn't know how to get the TV going, or how to open the child-proofed lower kitchen drawers and cabinets.

Tue. - Wed. 10/27-28
This morning I finished working on the reversed bar with rotten end above Robin's patio. I climbed on the roof and drilled a hole through the 2x2 end away from the house and put a spike through into the hole in the support beam below. Then I removed the 2 spikes at the house end that the rotting 2x2 had fallen away from. I drilled 2 holes in that end and put the spikes back in their beam holes. The whole structure is wobbly and would probably not take much pounding, but by using the old holes I was able to secure the 2x2 with 3 spikes and a minimum of hammer work. Then I used Robin's staple gun to reattach the edge of the netting.

Barb was up at 5:30 with Elodie, reading stories etc. Around noon we took her for a walk around the block in the stroller and she finally fell asleep. Around 4:30 pm we loaded our luggage in Rhonda's van and she took us to the San Jose airport, where we caught our flight to LAX. There we took the shuttle to the international departures area and went through security again. Evelyn was selected for luggage search and they went through everything. After about 3 hours in LA we got on our big New Zealand Air aircraft for the 12 hr. 15 min. flight to Aukland NZ. Robin and Evelyn got seats with a bassinet while Barb and i were farther back in center 4 in a row economy section seats. Robin had planned on the 4 of us being there with Elodie but Evelyn decided the other option was better. The airline served a good dinner. We did not see Elodie until 10 hours into the flight. She was fussy when Robin first disappeared after bringing her to us, but then settled down. She had breakfast with us. She especially liked the honeydew mellon and grapes.

New Zealand
Wed. 10/28
(Above is the laptop date. It is a day later here.) The sun was up when we arrived in NZ. We got a van to the car rental place. There Robin rented a van, watched a video about driving in NZ (on the left, etc.) and got van instructions. The rental place had a water dispenser with a water catching tray that Elodie enjoyed dipping her hands in. We drove to a shopping center where we got food for Elodie, and Robin bought cell phones for himself and Barb and a stroller. Then we drove to downtown Aukland and after driving in circles for awhile found our hotel, the entrance to which was behind construction scaffolding. We dropped off most of our luggage and got directions to an all day parking garage. After driving there we stopped at a nearby bar & restaurant for lunch. [photo]

Then we walked to the hotel. We are in room 203 and Robin and Evelyn in room 701. We took Elodie for a walk in the stroller, up a steep hill to Princes St. and to a narrow section of Albert Park. It started to rain and we returned to the hotel. When the rain let up in the afternoon we went back to Princes St. and found that Albert Park was much larger. We saw birds (of interest to Elodie) big trees (including palm trees) statues, cannons, and a fountain. We returned to the hotel when it started sprinkling again. Hotel staff brought a folding cot/playpen with net sides and Elodie spent the night with us. She went to sleep early. Youtube kids music helped her settle down again after she woke up during the night.

Thur. 10/29
Elodie was up at 5:15 and Barb read her books in our bed. Youtube provided background music. Elodie sat in my lap watching Barb shower through the glass side wall. When she had had enough of that we left the bathroom, and Elodie wanted out in the hall. I went out with her and she fussed at the elevator. When we returned to the room I realized I had forgotten to take a key card with me. Elodie fussed and I knocked at the door. Finally Barb came in a towel and let us in. Later Evelyn came down and nursed Elodie, who fell asleep. Robin and Evelyn left her sleeping on our bed and set off for their day's excursion. After Elodie woke up we headed to a cafe for breakfast, where Elodie ate French toast, peaches and bacon. Then we walked to the harbor and over the lift bridge to Quarter. Elodie enjoyed the seagulls with bright orange bills and feet (and other gulls, pigeons, sparrows) and the little playground. There I frightened a little girl of nursing age when I emerged from the snail playground play equipment (with my beard). The bridge was up when we came back that way, though no boat came through. It finally was lowered and we returned to Queen St. where we stopped at a plaza where a large carved rock with water running down one side periodically emitted a flame from its top. We stopped and ate at the nearby Hollywood bakery/expresso place where Elodie was entertained by a pigeon which came inside to our corner table and walked around our feet. At one point Elodie held a long piece of crust out to the side of her stroller and the pigeon took it out of her hand. Another pigeon showed up to join the feast. When I went to get more water I returned to find one of the pigeons on my chair about to hop on to the table where there were crumbs on my plate and tray. I shooed it and it flew off over Barb's head. Later a young woman employee came over and shooed the pigeons out with a tray.

Back at our hotel room Elodie was fussy and Barb put her down in the walled cot for a nap. She quieted down for a short time after I put on kids nap time music from Youtube on Barb's laptop, but then started fussing again. Barb gave up on the nap and put her in the front carrier and took her to a small grocery shop. After her return I left them in the hotel room and took a quick walk to the Sky Tower while there was still daylight (and sunshine). [photos] When I returned Barb said Elodie has asked to go to bed, standing at the cot side and crying. Barb persuaded her to stay up at little longer for another story so that she would still be awake when Evelyn and Robin arrived back. They got here a little after 8 pm. Elodie fell asleep nursing.

Fri. 10/30

Sat. 10/31
We spent the night at the National Park Village. Elodie went for a walk with me and tried the swing again. She was not happy after getting off by herself, though she held on to the ropes and did not fall. We discovered the lounge and kitchen, and borrowed kid toys and books. Near the office she was entertained by a talkative 5 year old and climbed the stairs several times. We drove to a waterfall and hiked in. [photos] We hiked to another trail, the Whakapapanui Walk, but it was not the one Robin thought was only 1 km away. I walked and jogged back to get the van so that Barb (with Elodie on her back) would not have to walk back. This aggravated the pain below my left knee. The snow topped mts. were not hidden by clouds this morning. At the south end of the North Island the steep slopes had clumps of violet to pink flowers. We rushed past amazing scenery, stopping mainly for Elodie to nurse and get a diaper change, arriving at Wellington before dark. Wifi instructions at Trinity Hotel did not work.

Sun. 11/1
We got to the ferry terminal before 7 am and waited to board. Eventually we were directed to drive up the ramp to the open deck level 4 where we parked and took the lift up to the passenger level. After a stop in the family room we went forward and ordered breakfast in the main open room. (There was also a quiet room and cabins available on the next level up.) The arrival channel near Picton was especially scenic. On our way in the van we saw some great scenery on the way to Nelson where we are spending 2 nights. Steep slopes have yellow flowers filling in among the trees. Some steep slopes are barren after trees have been clear cut. In Nelson we checked into the Aloha Lodge. Our room is on the ground level next to a garden & pond area. There are fish in the pond and a cat who sits on a rock in the pond to watch. We are near a beach, playground and library. Elodie enjoyed the playground. I got a glimpse of the beach. Five U shaped kites were being flown far down the beach.

Mon. 11/2
We had breakfast in the Aloha Lodge breakfast room. I burned one piece of toast. Elodie reached up and grabbed a couple of triangles of butter and stuffed them in her mouth when I wasn't looking. (I retrieved them.) [11/3?] We hiked to the center of town along the shore and up to the Nelson Anglican Cathedral. Barb got wave splashed on the shoreline walk back to the lodge.

Tue. 11/3
We set off for

Wed. 11/4
Restaurant with baby toys, fur seals, town overlook that we drove to.

Thur. 11/5
Tiny rock church overlooking lake, with a nearby collie statue. Farther along we stopped at another lake with snow capped mountains across it. [photos] Later stop to eat and play on infant equipment. Then Elodie watched dogs play. Barb bought herb scissors at Cider Thyme. (Otago?)

Fri. 11/6
Queenstown

Sat. 11/7
Sunday here in Queenstown. Today Robin drove Evelyn and me to the Real Journeys start point in town, for the start of an overnight adventure. Robin went in the exit of the hotel loop across the road. I took over the driver's seat as they left, and accidentally stepped on the gas while buckling my seat belt. (Robin had left the engine running.) The engine roared and Evelyn looked back in surprise. At first I thought it was some other vehicle's engine roaring.

I returned up the hill to our rented air B&B house, and after Elodie finished eating breakfast we drove down to a parking lot by the shore I had checked out earlier. With Elodie in the stroller we walked into town along the shore path, then up Duke St. looking for the Queenstown Gardens. We continued as far as the paragliding landing field next to a school. By that time it had started raining. I was looking at the little town street map I had obtained from an info booth near the shore, trying to figure out how to get to Camp St. A woman under an umbrella crossed the street to offer assistance. She directed us back the way we had come to Camp St. (which we had passed, watching the paragliders come down). We headed downhill toward the center of town, Elodie falling asleep in the stroller (which had a cover, protecting her from the rain). We stopped at a Starbucks where Barb bought a chai and a blueberry muffin. Then we stopped at the Nomad Hostel (voted best in NZ for several years) and reserved a double room for 11/10, the day Robin, Evelyn & Elodie fly to Auckland and then on to French Polynesia. The rain stopped and Elodie woke up and began eating much of the large muffin. Heading toward the shore we came to a nice playground where I stayed with Elodie and Barb went to a little shop we had passed for some groceries. Elodie enjoyed swinging in a infant swing (rubber basket with leg holes), trying to climb up slides, interacting with a 3 year old, swinging some more, until Barb returned. Then we continued on to the nearby Queenstown Botanical Gardens. With Elodie in the stroller we saw flowers, many ducks (including ducklings) and other birds and a few dogs. Us grownups also admired the huge trees. Then we walked back to the Mazda van and returned to the house for a diaper change and lunch as the rain began again. For once I remembered that the left stalk was for the windshield wipers and turned them on. Barb laughed at me, thinking I had once again tried to used the turn signals, which were on the right steering wheel stalk. Elodie busily entertained herself in the house the rest of the afternoon, with a red plastic pail, black plastic measuring cups and spoons, drapes to hide behind, etc. I wanted to drive to a nearby hillside but a thick mist rolled in from that direction (to the right, looking down toward the lake) and it started to sprinkle again. After supper it cleared up and I drove as far up as the paved road went, parked where there was a chair across the road, and hiked up the dirt and gravel road beyond, and took photos from the hilltop.

Sun. 11/8

Mon. 11/9

Tue. 11/10 [Laptop gives photos 11/9 date]
After being dropped off near the Nomads hostel in Queenstown by Robin E&E on their way to the airport, we put our luggage in the storage room there (since check in time was not until 2 pm). We decided to book a noon ride on the Earnslaw coal fired steamer on Lake Wakatipu, (one of the last, over 100 yrs old) taking the option of being dropped off at Walter Peak Farm because Barb wanted to see sheep shearing. We got to hold a lamb [photos] and feed red deer and cattle and saw a couple of alpacas. We had high tea with scones (date and cheese) and cake. The steamer made another back and forth trip to Queenstown and we then took it back, arriving around 3:30 pm. The sun came out long enough to display a vivid blue-green color in the water. [photo] After our return we checked in to our room and then walked uphill toward the gondola ride. There Barb decided against walking up the steep Tiki Track with me and went to a nearby wildlife place. I hiked to the top of the hill where the Skyline complex is located, with gondola drop off building, shops and restaurant, jelly bean pictures, luge carts which race down concrete tracks to the gondola ride upper dropoff point, where they are hooked to the chair lift that goes farther up the hill, and the zip line starting point. A sign said 10 min. to the paraglide launching point, so I went up further. There were 3 different green artificial carpet launch pads. (We had seen the paragliders appearing above the top of the gondola.) At the paraglider launch place there was an inviting trail further up the ridge just beyond, so I went as far as a high point where it dipped down before going even further. The sun was moving toward a ridge so I thought I needed to start down again. Soon both knees were hurting, and it was obvious I had overdone it.

Wed. 11/11
We walked to the Naked Bus pickup point with our luggage. Two pieces had been checked (fee). The bus was unmarked but the driver confirmed it was the Naked Bus to Fox Glacier. There were some great views, especially as we went up Crown Range Rd. toward Wanaka. After dropping off a couple in Wanaka the bus had only 5 passengers. (Besides the driver there was a driver trainee in the left seat in front.) It was a small Japanese bus with 2 seats on the right side of the aisle and 1 on the left. (Fuso by Mitsubishi.) We passed Lake Hawea and the north shore of Lake Wanaka, stopped at Makarora, passed Thunder Creek Falls (which I got a quick glimpse of, not Barb) and got some ocean views. The bus arrived in the little village of Fox Glacier around 1:30 pm. After checking in to our room at the Ivory Towers Backpacker's Lodge we walked to the edge of town and took the track to the Fox Glacier overlook point. The near end of the track (shared with bikes) was thick with moss etc. growning on almost all available space on rock and tree trunk. The trail was steep at the end. The old trail near the glacier had been closed due to a washed out section and falling rock hazard. After a late supper at the Fox Glacier Inn restaurant (not recommended, though it was less crowded) we make a quick visit to the Minnehaha Track after dark and did see the glow worms mentioned in the guide book.

Thur. 11/12
Before our 9:30 Naked Bus we did the Minnehaha 20 min. loop in the daylight. Our new bus was a black Fuso with automatic transmission. The driver offered to let Barb or me ride in the front left seat, and I did so. Barb and I were the only passengers (one other did not show up) until we reached Franz Josef, where we added a 3rd passenger. (This Fuso had the back row walled off for luggage so it had fewer seats than the previous one, which towed a luggage trailer.) The talkative driver had informative info about NZ. He stopped to let us photograph a blue river where he said the color resulted from a chemical reaction. The terrain was mostly flatter than during the previous day. Our destination was Greymouth, one of the larger cities on the west coast, which is located at the mouth of the Grey River. We checked in to the Noah's Ark hostel in an old building on Chapel St. We hiked down to the ocean shore and I went as far as the jetty on the near side of the Grey River outlet to the ocean, where the waves were crashing against the rocks. After rejoining Barbara back along the shore we headed inland and discovered a nice trail looping around a tidal inlet where we saw coots and 5 black swans.

Fri. 11/13
In the morning? I discovered that the entrance to a hiking track was just up Chapel St. from us and came back… Then After the hostel's 10 am checkout time we walked to the trail depot with our luggage and checked in the two larger pieces. Then we discovered the raised quay trail just beyond the rail line, which is the starting point for a bike race. We followed it under the bridge over the river to a section of the old railroad bridge on the near side of the river which we had noticed while crossing the river yesterday. After reading about rail history we crossed the river to 2 more sections of the old rail bridge and the nearby cave. I did not venture too far into the damp cave since what we read said hikers should have boots for walking in mud. Seeing that we still had some time before our train we continued a bit further to the entrance of a Lion's Club track and hiked up to the wooden observation platform. [photos] We returned to the depot before the 1:45 pm scheduled departure time for our train but it was late. Around 2:15 (?) we boarded the Kiwi Rail Tranz Alpine train to Christchurch. Our assigned seats were in the last passenger seating car which was followed by an open air standing room only car for photographers. From time to time I visited that car and snapped photos. Much of the route was flat with little difference from the countryside we had already seen by bus. When we reached the steepest most picturesque section of the route everyone with a camera was encouraged over the loudspeakers to go there and I found the handrail crowded with photographers, so it was difficult to take snap shots. Around 6:15 pm we arrived at the Christchurch station (late) and found Dana Dopleach (formerly Dopp) waiting for us. She took us to a local eatery but it was closed because it was a local (not national) holiday, so we proceeded to her house to make supper there. We had casadias made with cheese, tomatoes and herbs from her garden. Dana showed Barb her garden and Barb helped collect the herbs. The house, like many in Lyttelton, is on steeply sloping ground, and the garden is up the hillside from the house, which is itself up a series of steps from the street. Above the terraced garden are more steps, a small level play area with with trampoline, etc., and more steep slope where Dana has planted some olive trees. We received verbal and written instructions for how to care for their large dog Marley, and after supper Dana set out on her planned tenting tramp along the Crater Rim Track. (She headed up through her own backyard to the Bridle Path track, reaching her intended forest camping spot for the first night just before midnight.) Dana left her car for us to use, and set up a guest account on her computer for us to use. Her husband and son had left earlier for a weekend outing.

Sat. 11/14
We walked down to the Lyttelton Farmers Market that Dana had told us about, and Barb bought food for our weekend, including venison sausage. (It was uncooked. Barb was expecting it to be cooked.) The venison provided our tastey meat for the weekend, being not too spicy. For todays hike I drove by myself in Dana's car up to what the Google map showed as a starting point for a section of the Chalmers Track. The trail took me to an overlook of the harbor and its connection to the ocean. Some of the track was overgrown with knee high grass bending over the trail. Voices ahead proved to be a couple of climbers across a small gorge from me.

Sun. 11/15
The wind was chilly this morning and rain predicted. We drove through the 2 km tunnel from Lyttelton to Ferry Rd and up to the coast, and along the coast as far as Sumner, then up the no exit road to the top of Nichols Park. We had a great view of the beach below where surfers were in the water. Barb met and talked with a couple with a dog. She was from California. As we headed back down we had light rain and went back to Lyttelton. Barb gave up on her idea of taking the bus to Christchurch city center due to the chilly damp weather.
The weather improved after lunch, and I decided to hike up Major Hornbeck Track, which I could walk to. 2/3 of the way up I took off 3 long sleeved layers and proceeded in my pocket T-shirt. I found the track took me to Summit Rd and the large curved building on the ridge top. The building proved to be the top of the Christchurch gondola ride (up the other side of the mt.). On the last bit of the hike up I followed a bike track which had a sign instructing pedestrians to give way to bicycles. [photos] On the way down I came to the Crater Rim Track and followed it to my left toward the way I had come up. Down a ways I recovered my yellow shirt and blue cordoroy shirt wrapped in my blue jacket under a stone. Back at the steps to the house I was surprised to find Barbara, who I had left knitting by the fire, returning from a walk of her own to the Bridle Path Track (and various unintended streets). Later Barb and I returned to the house to find that Andy and Dylan were back from their weekend tramp. Dana returned a bit later.

Mon. 11/16
We spent the morning with Dylan and Marley (until Dylan left for school - Dana brought his bike down the steps) and with Dana & Andy, who took us into Christchurch and walked with us thru part of the Botanical Gardens and earthquake damaged areas. Then they dropped us off at the Christchurch airport in time for the 12:25 Jetstar flight we had reserved online (though payment was pending with the VISA card Barb provided). When we got to the check-in counter and gave them our ref. no. they told us the reservation had been canceled, and no seats were now available. (There had been no notification to Barb's email address, which we had provided by walking down to the library on London St., which provided free wifi even though it was closed). Jetstar rescheduled us on a later flight at a much higher cost, Barb using her Delta credit card this time. Our flight was due in at Auckland at 4:05 pm.
We took Air New Zealand's 12-1/4 hour flight to LA, leaving at 7:30 pm from Auckland and arriving the morning of the same day in LA. I watched Max (a dog movie), Frozen, and most of Fame. Our flight from LA to O'Hare was overbooked and they were offering a $500 credit on United for 4 months to volunteers giving up their seats. Barb looked into it (when they were offerring at the $400 level) but found the next flight would get us to Chicago after 1 am. Our flight (in a Boeing 737) arrived around 8:30 pm. We caught (barely) the last bus from O'Hare to Madison and arrived home around 11:30 pm.