David's Gig

Here's a snippet from David's gig in NZ. He's the one on the far right- not the guy up front with acoustic (just in case you couldn't tell)!

Queen Charlotte

Mom caught a fantail on her hiking pole, a quite impressive feat.

...and here we are on the lovely Queen Charlotte Track. This was trip #2 for Mum and Dad.

Views were lovely, as usual!

David and the Kaka

These birds, called Kaka, were not the least bit afraid to fly into you in order to get to their food. Mere especially like the way they held their food with their talons.



It was like a scene from The Birds! Really!

Isabelle holds a lamb

This was on the 2nd day of our trip, when we went to the infamous Hobbitown. It was lovely and we had a wonderful time even though we didn't pay to take the tour!

Mere in New Zealand

One thing that Mere learned while living in New Zealand is that "mere mere" is a machete. We love Mere Mere and her interesting signs.

(Feel free to add your own funny Mere Mere pictures to this post)

Lovely Scenic New Zealand

Click Me!

Isadavid's Travels

You may have noticed that nobody on here has mentioned the train in New Zealand yet. What, you didn't know New Zealand had a train??? Perhaps you haven't heard of it is because the rest of the Selbies found themselves less afraid of the NZ airplanes (see South Island video footage), or maybe they just wanted to get to their destinations quicker. Either way, David and Isabelle found the train to be a joyful and quaint way to get up the North Island... kind of.

We took the train at the end of our journey to get from Palmerston "Palmy" North to Auckland. Mere dropped us off at the station in the morning and we wandered about it in confusion until the train arrived, still slightly confused but boarded it nontheless. If you, dear readers, are confused by our confusion (ack!) this is because the "station" appeared to be completely empty and there was no help to be found. Basically, it looked abandoned. However, this is New Zealand so perhaps to them it looked jam packed full of people!!



We boarded the tiny tiny train (the metro cars in NYC are longer) and headed forth on our journey across the North Island.

David and I counted that we saw: 3 dead sheep, one man waving at the side of the road with a red flag (our kind crew told us to look our for him), 3 scarier than the old Cooper River Bridge bridges (that we crossed), and I'm sure I'll think of some other clever things later.


We also had 2 attendants (or whatever you call them) who would make an announcement every 5 minutes to tell you some history about the train or where we were going or what we were passing by. This was no Amtrak, folks. They would even come by to check if anybody needed anything from the dining car (which was only one car away!). Other than that the highlights were probably the girl in headphones next to us who sang the entire way there (loudly) or the obnoxiously loud-laughy-etc English group 3 rows in front of us. Though, perhaps they were just trying to drown out the singing girl. Who knows.

We did get to stop along the way while they changed crew and David and I found a cute little coffee shop where I ate "the #1 carrot cake in New Zealand". Yea, it was pretty good.


So, the big question is... Would we take it again????

...probably not .

Blast from the (recent) Past

Time to throw in a few more random pictures from NZ.  Here is John starting his abseil (rappel) down a 14 story hole into the glowworm caves during our "Black Abyss" tour.  We highly recommend this to all adventuresome spirits. (And yes, he is wearing a wetsuit, because later on they are going to have us jump off a 10 foot ledge into 50 degree water so we can innertube through the glowworm part of the cave)

And here is Mom (Lynda) in her favorite town of Bulls where everything, and we do mean everything, seems to have either a bull logo (e.g., outside the medical clinic) or use bull in a play on words (e.g., the Soc-a-bulls Club).
This picture is from Mt. Taranaki (Egmont) outside New Plymouth on the North Island.  I just liked this picture.  This is on the same hike where we went over the highest swing bridge in the park.
And Mom again, the fearless leader.  So, these are a few more pictures and video from when Lynda and I did the Tongariro Crossing (Mt. Doom as we called it).  
We still aren't sure why Lynda looks like she's out for a little hike while the rest of the group seems to be strugging, but, oh well. The first video shows how we were walking along some sheer drop offs.  The volume on the second video where our guide is talking should be listened to as he is proclaiming the toughness of our group compared to the group from the day before.  

Me and my silly flight changes...

I don't know how, but I have yet again suceeded in pwning the system by my inability to try, and reliability on dad being smart (ie, choosing Emirates for me... because it was a good deal).

I am drinking Moet and have finally been able to upload some photos online. I have eaten a small prawn crabcake, fresh celery, cheese, Persian Lamb, and am wondering if I have time for one of those lovely salads... hmmm... or more cheese. It's a very gluttonous atmosphere here, I must say. Isn't that Uncle Him's favorite deadly sin?

Anyway, THANKS EMIRATES. I hope to always be on standby with you... and cheers, New Zealand; from Palmy and parents, to Stray and strange friends, to Joan and the city, to surprises and Sara, this has been good. I'll be back soon.

PS: The lady who keeps calling me "Miss Selby" and helping me with my ticket, is named "Clare." Teehee!

Surprise surprise...now want to move to Dunedin.

Hey folks and friends,

am in Dunedin staying with the German jewellry teacher (who studied with Schulz-Wahle) at her farm with her husband, 3 dogs, 3 horses, plus chickens, geese, and goats. I have my own little shanty room that I have to hop a fence to get to that is also her workshop, and have already helped feed the horses. We're actually about to go put blankets on the rest of the horses because it looks like drizzle. So nice. SO nice. We're discussing horse poos right now in the kitchen. Oh how I wish you guys were here. I think I need one of those little japanese ear pieces like Pam and Jim had while Pam was still at art school.

So...... the school was absolutely great today as well, and talked to a lot of different artists (and you can do EVERYTHING when you're here... textiles, jewellry, ceramics, painting.......) so... if anybody can think of new ways of me finageling scholarships in the next year and a half, let me know. Pictures to come (because my camera still works!!! Yaaaaaay!!!!)

Going on a walk to horses with the new American Bulldog puppy now! (I am in heaven).
Love you all, from heaven.

SKIING....now with PICTURES!

IN QUEENSTOWN!!!!!!!

Rethinking life plans once again... think I might try to be a lift operator/ticket checker/nighttime skiier here for the rest of my life instead.

WHERE ARE MY COMMENTS? Just because I have no pictures?

Btw, Geoff and family is great (much like sister Joan ;) and have taken me out to dinner and drinks numerous times, and even a movie. His boys are incredibly nice (and very funny... it's nice to hang out with families), and lent me their skis and Geoff took me and picked me up from the slopes today. Really - family, next time you come here, plan a week in Queenstown skiing. I think it might need to be the next family ski trip. Fantastic - I had slopes to myself almost ALL DAY.

Cheers (with a Black Mac).

Hopefully hike a glacier tomorrow!

My stupid left heel is killing me though, enough to make me think twice. I will let you guys know how it goes though (since I REALLY want to, since didn't get to do Tongariro)!



Ahh... less than 5 minutes. Nutshell:



-New bus cool, with cool driver that seems to know everything about everywhere - really fun guy too, knows lots in Maori (but is normal Kiwi).

-in Franz Josef at the moment for 2 days.

-Carved a Jade hook this morning!!! So cool!!!!!!!!

-Went on Montieth's Brewery Tour last night. Apparently those give you splitting headaches the next day, as well as vague recollections of Kareoke songs... weird. Good beer though.

-Will try to call you guys soon! Sorry - I will text before hand though.



MUCH LOVE!!!!!! Hope you other Selbies and such are having some great reunion

No photos for forgetters of camera cords...

Oh well, I tried to remember everything.

(Heh... that having been said, I managed to leave my ipod in my checked bag in Auckland AFTER not forgetting to charge it but hey! I'm getting good at bird whistles so... yeah!)

Anyway, just wanted to give you guys a smidgen (correct spelling? word at all?) of a post so that you won't give up on me. Basically, the trip sans the rents has been fairly exciting as well (though I do miss them and dear Palmy). It began with a chance happening of going to a jewelry showcase (fair thing) in Auckland the night of Mere and Pere's departure. Great selection of stuff and made a lot of contacts, including a teacher in Dundedin who studied at the Zeichenakademie under Herr Schulz-Wahle!!! I'll be visiting her on invitation too, if all goes well on the South Island!

Basically, I took a tip to Hahei, or "the Coromandel" where we dug a hotwater tub in the sand (biggest our busdriver, Skins, had ever seen a group make.... fit for 10!) late at night an looked at the stars (hello Southern Cross), then went to Raglan where there were some awesome beaches and waves and a very cool hostel... definitely the place to go (in summer) for surfing, Then to Maketu where we partook in some Maori tradition (food, watching performance and learning the Haka, etc), through Rotorua (I did caving and saw Angora Rabbit shearing somewhere in this mix) onto Taupo (the had a plane on display in McDonalds where my Brazilian friend and I drank cappacinos inside!!! Also the craziest, drinkingest trivia night ever FOLLOWED the next day by SKYDIVING! I hadn't planned on it, but weather looked bad for Tongariro so... yes. Post to follow on that with pictures), National Park (indeed that... went skiing with the two french girls from the bus! IN JULY! A feat for us all!), and down to Wellington where met up with dear Joan again.

Joan is now my best Kiwi friend probably ;) She is also working on earning points for her party she's getting when she next visits SC, btw... My bus driver, Skins, was a great Kiwi friend as well. In addition, the bus was made up of a great and colorful crew from Germany (as Johnno, my caving guide said, "I don't know how there are any Germans left in Germany, with all the ones I meet here, eh?"), Holland, England, France, Canada, Brazil, and me.

After coming to Wellington, I hitched a ride with Skins over the ferry to Picton, Abel Tasman, and back to Nelson the next day. Nelson had a great saturday market full of artisans and craftspeople... finally got some gifts there. Spent the night with the Irwins who were extremely hospitable and sweet, despite my short notice, and hiked around. I then took the scenic ferry back (saw Star Trek too.. yay!) to Joan and have since decide to extend my stay.

I'll admit, I've been taking it easy here in Wellington, but I've had a cold to be reckoned with (which is another reason I'm glad I didn't have to fly) so it's been nice. I've also visited about every goldsmith possible in Wellington and atleast heard Kiwis at the Korari (?) sanctuary, as well as seen many other neat birds and things.

Today, of course, it's been incredibly sunny as I've ironed out all my plans and bankwork and internets, so I think it's finally time to go outside... after all... sun... in WELLINGTON...

much love and hopefully pictures next time~!

Some Flashbacks to New Zealand

We have had a few requests to put up some more stories and pictures from our sojourn, even though we are back home.  So, to start, let's go back to the beginning.  If you remember, after our first week of getting our feet on the ground in Palmy, we flew to Invercargill on the southern tip of the South Island and then flew to Stewart Island, the "3rd" New Zealand island.  The plane ride to Stewart Island was on Stewart Island Air which flies a small 8-10 seater plane across the water.  It was a very rainy day and for some reason these planes don't have windshield wipers.  The front window also kept fogging up and apparently they don't have defoggers either, but they did have a towel, which the pilots used generously.  In fact they even handed the towel back to us midway through the flight so we could clean off our windows.  Nice!  Here is a clip of landing on Stewart Island.  Our main pilot is sitting in the right hand seat and I'm pretty sure we had an apprentice pilot actually flying (do you like the term apprentice pilot? - I think it's better than the other term I could have used.)  However we loved the flight and had no problems as the landing shows.

 

There and Back Again

And so all good things must come to an end, at least for some of us.  Friday morning (NZ time) we dragged our big bags to the airport and took the flight from Palmerston North to Auckland with Claire.  It was beautiful weather and Mt. Ruapehu, Nguarahoe, and Tongariro gave us some great exit shots.  We got to Auckland, checked in, and then said good bye to Claire, off on her second adventure (must have some Took blood in her).  She stored some stuff at the airport for her return in about 10 days and then we said good-bye as she hopped on the bus to take her downtown Auckland to the youth hostel.  We heard later she went to a big gold/jewelry fair they were having and met someone who had trained with Herr Schulz-Wahle!  But we'll let her add her own tales.  She'll be traveling on the Stray Bus through the North Island ending in Wellington.

So then it was just Lynda and I again.  And it was very sad to say good-bye to New Zealand.  I went to sleep on our Air New Zealand Boeing 777 watching an old All Blacks - British Lions rugby game (guess who won, of course).  But wait, we finally saw a bunch of sea lions!  Well, yeah, we did, but where?

Here is your first clue.  Don't scroll down to look for the answer until you have looked at the pictures.  There is a landmark in the background up on the hill behind Mom that is your 1st clue as to where this picture was taken.
And your second clue is this scary old place behind me.  Wouldn't want to spend the night out there, would you?
Yes, after a nice plane flight from Auckland leaving at 7:30 pm their time and arriving at our first stop about noon THE SAME DAY Mom had a great idea.  Our next plane didn't leave for 8 hours, so we put our carry on stuff in a locker, hopped on BART and headed down to the Embarcadero.  Yes, the answer is San Francisco.  We had a nice sunny afternoon, had lunch at Fisherman's Wharf looking at the Sea Lions, Alcatraz, and Coit Tower (in the background).  Then back to the airport and on to our minimalist USAir red eye to Philadelphia.

We arrived quite tired the next morning at 6 am local time, but got on our plane to Charleston at 9:30 am.  Well, we got on and in our seats.  Then they let us know there was a mechanical problem (some light coming on) so we all had to get off.  Fortunately they got us another plane rather quickly and we were out of there about an hour and a half later arriving in Charleston at about 1 pm - Total Travel Time since leaving Palmerston North - 41 hours!  But a smiling Papa and Grandma were there to meet us and we had a nice trip home.  After  a little unpacking and a little nap, we just had to take a walk to the beach.  It was nice to be back in the Shire.

One for the Road

Okay, one more post. We leave Palmerston North at 11:55 am to fly to Auckland and it is now about 9:40 am. So here goes.
These are a few pictures from our last trip a few days ago to the East side of the island. Lynda and Claire really enjoyed hiking Te Mata while I really enjoyed Cape Kidnappers golf course as you have previously heard.

After a couple of days at work cleaning up a few last cases that all went very well, we went to Rosie O'Grady's for quiz night. As you may remember, we had started getting a group to go there and it now appears it will live on past us as they all love it. We are ... El Gato! Our group consists primarily of Lynda and I and any of our kids that happen to be in town, Kerry and Antony, Janine and hubby when available, and Mareka when available and hubby. So last night was tough! Fortunately we relied on Claire's movie knowledge, Kerry and Janine's inborn skills, Lynda and my random contributions, and of course Antony's unparalleled knowledge of Kiwi sports to propel ourselves to ... 1/2 point out of 2nd place. Usually they only pay out the top two, but the girl who runs the contest, recognizing it was our last night (and possibly related to the fact that we tried to buy her off by giving her an Isle of Palms, SC, frisbee) presented us with a $20 NZ certificate. Team - Use it well next week! and in fact, keep doing well until we return sometime in the future!

So long New Zealand! We love Palmy!

Claire arrives in NZed

Claire arrived in Palmerston North after coming the wrong way around the world - Frankfurt to Dubai to Melbourne, Australia to Auckland to Palmy. But she looked just the same getting off the airplane!
I have to admit that Mom and I were sort of "planned out", so we didn't have the tour ready to go for Claire. But that may be just as well. She enjoyed trivia within 6 hours of her arrival and although she liked everyone there, she was noted to be nodding off about halfway through the game. We got her home, filled up her hot water bottle, and got her to bed. She adjusted on Friday in Palmerston North and we then thought about leaving Saturday morning for Christchurch or Queenstown on the South Island. Unfortunately school vacation was on and as we were booking tickets the last seats were scooped up by someone else. Rats! We did go out to the airport, in classic Selbies fashion, and waited like poor homeless waifs, but everyone showed up for their flight. Double rats! So where else to go but ... the Tui Brewery! And then on to Joan's in Wellington who, even though last time we said we wouldn't see her till our next trip to NZ, was quite welcoming as usual when we called her on the phone. We had dinner at one of the local pubs in Miramar and of course a great visit with Joan who was off for a mini golfing holiday early the next morning. We woke up to say good bye to her, well, at least Mom did, and then we headed to Weta Cave where Claire may get a job working for Peter Jackson movies. Next to Mt. Victoria. Claire's weather literally blew away the weather David and Isabelle got. It HAILED on us up on Mt. Victoria. I believe the winds were at least Force 9!

Then what to do? Well, we did a half day of Wellington, then headed for the Wairarapa on the REALLY blustery southeast coast of the North Island. And again, an unexpected finding - the Pinnacles where Aragorn and Legolas got the Army of the Dead to join them. We hiked with only 1 1/2 hours of daylight left, but got up in time to see yet more unbelievably spectacular New Zealand.

Monday Dad played in his last golf tournament at his club, Manawatu Golf Club. It was an over 55 tournament and he came in 5th! Good for $3! (Paid $5 to get in). Still seemed to be ending golf on a high note! But there was more to come. Tuesday we decided to figure where the sun would be shining and go there no matter where. It was Napier/Hastings! So off we went at only 8:30 am, good start for us. We got to Hastings on a beautiful day and stopped in at the I site (information site). It turned out the Cape Kidnappers Golf course, ranked 27th in the world ahead of the Ocean Course at Kiawah and Harbour Town at Hilton Head, was open and wanted me to play. And I just happened to have my clubs and shoes in the trunk. What are the odds! I ran to tell Mom and Claire the good news, but they were out playing with the sheep.

So the plan was made. They dropped me off at the golf course where I checked in with the guy behind the counter who had gone to school at COASTAL CAROLINA! It was meant to be. And they charged me the rate for local New Zealanders who belong to another club, which I do. That was literally a savings of over $100! And the course was probably the most beautiful I have every played in the world, Pebble Beach included. Meanwhile Mom and Claire hiked Te Mata which they said was the most beautiful place in the world (although there were some steep dropoffs that some people might not like to hike on).

That picture is not an exaggeration, by the way. But the rest of the hike was equally beautiful and they had a great time.

Then we drove to Napier, the art deco city, had dinner, saw the Milky Way better than I have seen it since I was a boy and Dad showed it to me in semi-rural Kentucky, and then drove home. Today I am back at work for my last two days. Friday the 3 of us will fly to Auckland from whence Mom and I will head home. Claire will pick up the Stray Bus Saturday morning and tour the island with her soon-to-be new friends. Mom is in withdrawl over leaving NZ, but tried to ease the pain by seeing the new Harry Potter movie today with Claire. I will go home now and get the first review. Tomorrow night we will go to Trivia for our Grand Finale.

Isabelle and David

As part of Isabelle and David's great adventure in New Zealand, I thought I would add a little extra - a video and some more of their mountain climbing.This is how they looked leaning out of their room balcony at their swank New York type honeymooner hotel in Auckland Harbour, the Auckland Hilton which is shaped like a ship (almost everything in Auckland seems to have a water motif).This was apparently how things looked on Mt. Tongariro (check out the latest National Geographic - July 09 - In the Land of the Lord of the Rings - for pictures where you can see more).

And here is Isabelle's favorite moment - well, at least one of many!

Isabelle and David climb Mt. Doom - they think

Next in the line of climbers to Mt. Doom, aka Mt. Nguarahoe, Mt. Tongariro, and Mt. Ruapehu in the distance, were Isabelle and David. However this story may be a while in the telling. They set off at the usual time and it was okay weather but clouded over. However they encountered snow at much lower levels than John or Lynda and I and had to put on the crampons quite a bit sooner. And then the big snow and wind began. But they made it to the top. At least that's what the guide told them. Apparently it was pretty difficult to tell where you were.

The weather was supposed to clear sometime during the day and the hope (of the guide) was that it would clear before they got to the top. However ... it didn't. the picture below is comparable to some when B & L hiked and at that time it was clear and no snow at that level. Still being the expert hikers they are, hmm, er, they really enjoyed it, hmm, er, maybe, er.

But survive it they did and other than sore muscles, no one fell off the mountain. And the sky did clear on the way down so that they could look back up and say, "Oh, that's where we were!"In fact Isabelle was able to take solace in the fact that the previous day we had gone to Hobbiton (where the Shire part of LOTR was filmed, and she got to hold a baby sheep, um lamb.

So the Linaburgs are now happy in Palmerston North and sort of ready for another adventure, though maybe not quite as big. So we are heading to Wellington and then will take the ferry to north end of the South Island. But we probably won't climb a mountain there.

Changes in Auckland

At around 5:45 am this morning, the following was seen at the Auckland airport.  Yes! David and Isabelle arrived safely.

John, Lynda, and Bayne had arrived last night after a great visit to Waitomo Glowworm Caves where John and Bayne did the Black Abyss Tour, a caving expedition that started with rappelling down a hole 11 stories into the cave.  We then got to float through the cave wearing wetsuits in 50 degree water.  And there's a lot more, but those details will have to wait.  But it was great!  Anyway, after picking up Iz and David, we decided to take the ferry out to Waiheke Island in the Auckland Harbour entrance.
We did a nice little walk that included Isabelle almost jumping a stream and then returned home.  Then it was time for John's NZ trip to come to an end.  Mom and I took him to the airport and saw him pass through the gates.  He is now on his way to Los Angeles with plenty of stories to tell when he gets home.

jk

John Climbs Mt. Doom

On his last week here, John went up to Tongariro with Mom.  She did some little hikes while he went with Stuart, our guide last time, with crampons and ice axe and did Tongariro and Nguarahoe.

Today we will try the Black Water Abyss Caving Adventure at Waitomo Glowworm Caves.  More later.

Change over Time

This will be John's last weekend with us and then Isabelle and David will be coming in. Mom has finished a picture of Mt. Taranaki (Egmont) that is really good. I was not in the picture, but she painted me in. Yea!

John hiked Mt. Ngaurahoe and Mt. Tongariro with ice axe and crampons, but I don't have his pictures yet. We will miss the little guy.

In his two weeks here, our trivia team has come in 2nd both times, good for $40 in the Pub. We actually tied for 2nd this week and the team sent John up for the playoff. First it was to be singing, but the other guy backed out, then arm wrestling, but then the pub people decided to give us each $30. This weekend - Rotorua for Yellowstone like hot springs and Maori stuff, then Waitomo for glowworm caves and extreme caving, then to Auckland to trade John for Isadave.

Wellington and the South Island

Last weekend. Ah, where to begin. I guess at the beginning. This was John"s "weekend" in NZ. All the kids will spend time here but get only one long weekend when we can get away. So we planned to head south. First stop, Wellington, capital of NZ. We got in Friday night and went straight to Joan Mirkin's house, our good friend who Lynda and I stayed with previously. She was once again unbelievable with her hospitality and John loved the house - views both ways over two parts of Wellington harbour. The next day started out rainy, so we hit the Weta Cave, the workshop for Peter Jackson, the movie director. We'll have to tell you about that in person, but it was amazingly cool for such a small place. I have not posted the picture of Mom lecturing the Uruk-Hai towering above her, but it is priceless. After that we walked around Wellington, went to the Te Papa museum, Mac's Brewery, and then back to Joan's to change for ... THE GAME. Yes, we went to the All Blacks vs. France at the Cake Tin (also known as Westpac Stadium). It was cold and rainy, but we bundled up well and were quite comfortable. And best of all, the All Blacks avenged their loss the week before with a good, albeit nail biting, win! Highlight was the red, blue, and white painted rooster getting loose on the field. Those French!
We headed home to Joan's picking up a pizza on the way. We rose early the next morning to catch the BIG ferry to Picton on the South Island. It is about a 3 1/2 hour ride across seas that are sometimes pretty rough. They were pretty rough this time and Mom had to get me some Dramamine, but we won't dwell on that. John and Mom were fine. On arriving in Picton we got to see their mid winter swimming event. They don't even call it a "Polar Bear" swim. It's just "everybody go in the water". We didn't, needless to say. Then it was on to our water taxi for the 10-15 minute ride across the sound to Portage. We were met their by a little van and transported over a saddle in the ridge to a really cool little lodge - better than we were expecting. A short walk followed by a chess game, then dinner, then sleep. The next morning we had breakfast and set out for a 7-8 hour hike on the Queen Charlotte track from Portage to Anakiwa. A boat would be waiting for us there at 4 pm. We planned to leave at 8 am, but actually hit the trail at 8:55 am.

Everything was covered in mist, but we figured with the hike starting out with a straight climb to 1300 feet, we might pop out of the clouds. We ran into little areas of residual snow/frost, but the track was in good shape.

And we did pop out into bright sunshine. Too many good pictures to post and too many good stories to tell of our journey, but it was right out of the Hobbit. Best might have been a fat Jack Russell terrier suddenly emerging from the woods followed by a grizzled mountain man looking guy. He was holding what turned out to be a dead possum (NZ version) in one hand. He then knelt down, showed us how much fur he had already gotten, and then proceeded to pick the fur off this possum. Interestingly, it came right off in big bunches. He said he gets $95/kilo. More details on that story and others later.

The scenery was nothing short of spectacular the whole way (did I mention the cloud/mist "waterfall" pouring over a saddle in the ridge! Wow!). Finally we got to the end 20 minutes early and the boat was there. A dad and his little 6-7 year old boy as first mate. On the way back to Picton we went through the middle of at least 50 dolphins (porpoises) feeding and got some spectacular pictures. It was right out of a National Geographic article. I won't go into the ferry home as it was even rougher and the captain announced he had to take a somewhat alternate route - at least that's what Lynda told me. I took my Dramamine ahead of time and stayed pretty quiet. And again I fared quite well. Then Wellington, into our car, and the drive home. Another amazing Selby long weekend in New Zealand.

John arrives in NZ

We got nice updates along the way as John went from Charleston to Philadelphia to San Francisco to Auckland. Thanks Papa, John, and Isabelle. Mom and I were afraid we might oversleep and not be at the Palmerston North airport to pick him up at 7:55 am, so we set lots of alarms. However we didn't have to worry. Mom's phone went off with a txt from John at 5:30 am saying he was in Auckland. We were happy. A few minutes later we got another text saying "Where are you". Mom, who was pretty asleep, txt'd back "At home". John txt'd back, "Should I get a cab?". Rut-roh. Not sure where it got lost in the translation, but John didn't realize he had one more plane flight for which we had purchased a ticket. I called him on Mom's cell and filled in the details. So he left the curb outside the Auckland airport in the dark and headed back in to the domestic counter where they gave him his ticket to Palmy.

He told us later there was one more bit of excitement. When boarding time came he couldn't find the boarding pass. He searched frantically. Then they said last call. Then a red light went on that said CLOSED. Then they overhead page John Selby while he was waiting behind a slow lady trying to take care of a ticket for a later flight. Just as he got to the counter and started to explain, he saw his boarding pass laying on the counter. A quick dash to the gate where they were waiting for him (This is not US Air) and they got him on. Fortunately he didn't txt us any of that so we went out to the airport at 7:45 am happy and relaxed. And there he came. Yes, on our coldest day yet in Palmy, frost on the ground and a low of 0 celsius, a young man stepped off the plan in his sandals. Ah, he must be Maori.

But of course, Mom (and Dad) always wants to see her little chicks or little roosters, I guess, and all is well. Mom and John are playing chess now while I'm working... What... okay, be right there. Sorry, gotta go.