Queenstown
We are on our way home. Even though we won't reach Klamath until Feb. 4th we have definitely slid into the mindset that we are headed down the homestretch of this Southern Hemisphere snowbirding season. I left in mid-September and Sheryl about 3weeks later, not knowing how four and a half months on the road would agree with us as we approach elderhood. Well its worked just fine. We have thoroughly enjoyed both Australia and New Zealand but most of all the joy of this trip has been family and friends.
Friends of nearly 40 years are a treasure that has added so much richness to our lives. It's our wonderful friends in Oregon that keep us hanging in there when we scratch our heads and ask "Why are we living here?" But these friends of a lifetime cause us to pause and appreciate just what a fine trip this lifetime has been.
Australia was wonderful in we felt a leisure that I don't think either of us had ever felt before. We had no date to leave so we just wandered from the west coast to the east. Western Australia must be the most booming economy in the world. Building building building and minimum wage is about $17/hour. The place is dry, hot, and fly-ridden in the north but oh so interesting. We explored so many fascinating canyons, creeks and snakey places that I can't count em' all. The train ride across the Nullabohr was the fulfillment of a 40 year dream. Our house in Adelaide was just so disappointing, (as was my school) that we could only laugh and remember just why we left the place. The Reeders home in Melbourne was fun to visit and just visualize what their life had been like, and Melbourne and Sydney were both a great time, capping it all off with a night at the Sydney Opera House.
The Kiwi legs of this odyssey have been equally fascinating. Those September/October weeks fishing with The Guys were a hoot that I'm sure we will all remember forever. Plenty of fish, reasonable weather and great companionship, a good time all round. Then this return in December has just been a mad dash, mostly with Tyler and Meghan ( who are SO easy to travel with), but with liberal doses of old friends along the way. Meghan's sister Ellen came for three weeks and it was super getting to know her even better, and to see what great friends these two girls are. We had a lot of rain. Too much rain. But of course, things finally dried out and we have had some oooh and aaahhh weather traveling around this amazing Lord of the Rings country. Sheryl and Meghan had a great day for Milford Sound and we just saw Mount Cook in its summer glory (wow).
And the fish?
At "Stu's", the worst flyshop in the world, there is a sign that says, "If you can't catch fish in New Zealand, you just don't have the fly-fishing skills" How rude! But true. For years I have had trouble catching fish here but after this trip, especially with Tyler by my side I now believe that I can catch these Kiwi monsters, even if only occasionally. Ty and I have had some serious fun fishing together, truly treasured moments. Sheryl and Meghan have even fished together - what a hoot. It's all just been sooooo much fun, but now it's time to say goodbye and head off on our separate paths. Our attention will return to that wonderful family of ours in Beaverton. Tyler and Meghan are heading off on what surely will be a life altering odyssey around the world. They start in Oz and the Great Barrier Reef, then Bali, SE Asia, China and India and who knows where. They hope to be home for Thanksgiving. As parents it all worries us but we also couldn't be prouder of those two. It will be an eye-opening education of the highest order. As the Pines, Stouts and so many of you know, it's tough seeing the kids off to dark corners of this world, but what a ride. Tyler, Meghan and Sheryl all went on Queenstown's death defying thrill rides, but I am sure the REAL excitement lies ahead for Ty and Meghan. We said our wet-eyed goodbye yesterday in Nelson and they have been in our thoughts ever since. Tonight they are in Sydney and we are packing for the ferry trip to the North Island. A Quick stop in New Plymouth, a cast or two and we will be on the plane Feb.2
See Ya Soon.
GodSpeed Ty and Meghan.
Friends of nearly 40 years are a treasure that has added so much richness to our lives. It's our wonderful friends in Oregon that keep us hanging in there when we scratch our heads and ask "Why are we living here?" But these friends of a lifetime cause us to pause and appreciate just what a fine trip this lifetime has been.
Australia was wonderful in we felt a leisure that I don't think either of us had ever felt before. We had no date to leave so we just wandered from the west coast to the east. Western Australia must be the most booming economy in the world. Building building building and minimum wage is about $17/hour. The place is dry, hot, and fly-ridden in the north but oh so interesting. We explored so many fascinating canyons, creeks and snakey places that I can't count em' all. The train ride across the Nullabohr was the fulfillment of a 40 year dream. Our house in Adelaide was just so disappointing, (as was my school) that we could only laugh and remember just why we left the place. The Reeders home in Melbourne was fun to visit and just visualize what their life had been like, and Melbourne and Sydney were both a great time, capping it all off with a night at the Sydney Opera House.
The Kiwi legs of this odyssey have been equally fascinating. Those September/October weeks fishing with The Guys were a hoot that I'm sure we will all remember forever. Plenty of fish, reasonable weather and great companionship, a good time all round. Then this return in December has just been a mad dash, mostly with Tyler and Meghan ( who are SO easy to travel with), but with liberal doses of old friends along the way. Meghan's sister Ellen came for three weeks and it was super getting to know her even better, and to see what great friends these two girls are. We had a lot of rain. Too much rain. But of course, things finally dried out and we have had some oooh and aaahhh weather traveling around this amazing Lord of the Rings country. Sheryl and Meghan had a great day for Milford Sound and we just saw Mount Cook in its summer glory (wow).
And the fish?
At "Stu's", the worst flyshop in the world, there is a sign that says, "If you can't catch fish in New Zealand, you just don't have the fly-fishing skills" How rude! But true. For years I have had trouble catching fish here but after this trip, especially with Tyler by my side I now believe that I can catch these Kiwi monsters, even if only occasionally. Ty and I have had some serious fun fishing together, truly treasured moments. Sheryl and Meghan have even fished together - what a hoot. It's all just been sooooo much fun, but now it's time to say goodbye and head off on our separate paths. Our attention will return to that wonderful family of ours in Beaverton. Tyler and Meghan are heading off on what surely will be a life altering odyssey around the world. They start in Oz and the Great Barrier Reef, then Bali, SE Asia, China and India and who knows where. They hope to be home for Thanksgiving. As parents it all worries us but we also couldn't be prouder of those two. It will be an eye-opening education of the highest order. As the Pines, Stouts and so many of you know, it's tough seeing the kids off to dark corners of this world, but what a ride. Tyler, Meghan and Sheryl all went on Queenstown's death defying thrill rides, but I am sure the REAL excitement lies ahead for Ty and Meghan. We said our wet-eyed goodbye yesterday in Nelson and they have been in our thoughts ever since. Tonight they are in Sydney and we are packing for the ferry trip to the North Island. A Quick stop in New Plymouth, a cast or two and we will be on the plane Feb.2
See Ya Soon.
GodSpeed Ty and Meghan.
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