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.
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.
5 comments:
I am so sad that you all will be leaving New Zealand... not that I don't want to see you on Saturday, but couldn't you just move to NZ?
Looks like Claire is having a wonderful trip!
Has she opened my birthday present yet?
GO EL GATO!
or wait.. VIVA EL GATO
She has, loved it, and said she has yet to thank you. El Gato will rise tonight!
Camp Selby salutes the Selbies. Well done. Well done indeed! As someone once said, you only live once. But if you live right, that's all you need.
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