tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89569289180272650142024-02-07T09:06:14.707-08:00Carneys on TourAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-2942263026584247942010-02-28T12:36:00.000-08:002010-03-09T08:28:33.574-08:00Last PostOr is it?<br /><br />Cue the sound of bugle playing up and down in fifths, putting to bed our big trip.<br /><br />For our final night in the States we’d decided to splash out and have a stay in something posh so I’d booked us into L’Auberge de Sedona, at least it sounded posh.<br />It was a bit special as on arrival we were ushered to our own cabin that had some first class facilities and a welcoming bottle of champagne accompanied by chocolate covered strawberries. Dinner could only be described as fine dining and the position of the restaurant, alongside Oak Creek, was stunning. Our little celebration before heading back to Phoenix and the long flight home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvR8Mjcqydvy88XzMtWiQ8e1qBWa_qbN4aOVbpaZBg8D9mxldBgVrdg_JGejHsSjLXD9huPWB1ObGUczm1eE9ijcF2qRZGieuobfOKbRVRUynaUoJ8zYBNVP-R_IV5ne_sGZDzMcxJsIc/s1600-h/sed1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443397343874155890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvR8Mjcqydvy88XzMtWiQ8e1qBWa_qbN4aOVbpaZBg8D9mxldBgVrdg_JGejHsSjLXD9huPWB1ObGUczm1eE9ijcF2qRZGieuobfOKbRVRUynaUoJ8zYBNVP-R_IV5ne_sGZDzMcxJsIc/s320/sed1.jpg" /></a> <em>Porte Cochere at L'Auberge de Sedona</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERazNR5iafWDBsRpwtJhGKNXWHEUb8UXew1slejybNDC_weJv5AnI_NuMuTLeViuvtIjgHAUowFl6JCRM9ohk-cJpvjauYF2nPPZ6YLcDuQh3IRWmqvnub95t00fwrISUxNvaGnTpzRg/s1600-h/sed2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443397340831003986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERazNR5iafWDBsRpwtJhGKNXWHEUb8UXew1slejybNDC_weJv5AnI_NuMuTLeViuvtIjgHAUowFl6JCRM9ohk-cJpvjauYF2nPPZ6YLcDuQh3IRWmqvnub95t00fwrISUxNvaGnTpzRg/s320/sed2.jpg" /></a><em> The Carney Cabin</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK3x5YaROZBiP-OGMBEeO8zlJQwHQQAIZZrglggi7qHi343YFf44yFJiN-eDeOV1XA8shrXFK7vXrssS181y56LXdijnvvQEoDxe4g8TbOTP0-8HHjSag6HANApiAwI8gWZ3VKJ-A0Zw/s1600-h/sed3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443397331624008482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK3x5YaROZBiP-OGMBEeO8zlJQwHQQAIZZrglggi7qHi343YFf44yFJiN-eDeOV1XA8shrXFK7vXrssS181y56LXdijnvvQEoDxe4g8TbOTP0-8HHjSag6HANApiAwI8gWZ3VKJ-A0Zw/s320/sed3.jpg" /></a> <em>Creekside Seating</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsxJMqlIaQ8FUDOYAjNUe1-uRnW_mvu6iGvQ4wlYy0q4FDFyyca03rhqsjmqmlB4FAPXsdOJnJSP8f-8vXZgvZ3XfTkbq1ctugTJ4HV3Xeg3szuFEJnr9D9Na-cbVQLV9Jr2pRA9DA7Y/s1600-h/sed4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443396903440211106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsxJMqlIaQ8FUDOYAjNUe1-uRnW_mvu6iGvQ4wlYy0q4FDFyyca03rhqsjmqmlB4FAPXsdOJnJSP8f-8vXZgvZ3XfTkbq1ctugTJ4HV3Xeg3szuFEJnr9D9Na-cbVQLV9Jr2pRA9DA7Y/s320/sed4.jpg" /></a><em> Our Bed<br /></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwvtvo-gPmDG79DWKF1i4_pPhlJT5wakitKduvWFT2768aZk8oJK1OznGaT39SgEY2edzEYU7RKFCbBA3rXM_XR2uYhnh1CQ_W07AZ1J0-VulXDtSYkvwDSAogGpYANRTwuhv1LbJtB4/s1600-h/sed5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443396892058842322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwvtvo-gPmDG79DWKF1i4_pPhlJT5wakitKduvWFT2768aZk8oJK1OznGaT39SgEY2edzEYU7RKFCbBA3rXM_XR2uYhnh1CQ_W07AZ1J0-VulXDtSYkvwDSAogGpYANRTwuhv1LbJtB4/s320/sed5.jpg" /></a> <em>Sheila contemplates Champagne and Strawberries<br /></em><br />The trip back to Phoenix was under no time pressure so a couple of diversions to places like Red Rock Crossing gave us our final visual memories of our trip.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX5UnbvVIClsK-C-6OmAUT3BGqXknVMlY91IebCMyZvhcJc0kojsoUk8Qiaa5X4DJwMOO2aaJAHq6faiVaGqtO9wiWhEPPoJscnTcQKKf2rreB9CNN9ffIPx9f5xVRB3hAO4vIbjDl7g/s1600-h/sed6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443396888327310962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX5UnbvVIClsK-C-6OmAUT3BGqXknVMlY91IebCMyZvhcJc0kojsoUk8Qiaa5X4DJwMOO2aaJAHq6faiVaGqtO9wiWhEPPoJscnTcQKKf2rreB9CNN9ffIPx9f5xVRB3hAO4vIbjDl7g/s320/sed6.jpg" /></a><br /><em>Above Sedona</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzN3DKBetQBbbtNAKue3nsrWT5C-bRga_sBMEnOQcnkVD_Xcgy4GvP_3y-xd2LpXBivCek9jtaCBIQadzCuc_dAdIoeRMLCD8e2-Cosr5vp7rg-s10D1xpTVAKOCuTn9m2tuqXdOUCGw/s1600-h/sed7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443396887575124514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzN3DKBetQBbbtNAKue3nsrWT5C-bRga_sBMEnOQcnkVD_Xcgy4GvP_3y-xd2LpXBivCek9jtaCBIQadzCuc_dAdIoeRMLCD8e2-Cosr5vp7rg-s10D1xpTVAKOCuTn9m2tuqXdOUCGw/s320/sed7.jpg" /></a> <em>Four miles down the road</em><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEfkZTHUDAX21IOafCRl6hDjuIJhi9EdjXKztvENIiwP6nEI1mrye7ajVo-3fSp8hXsNvk8ik9VrEYK1VIt6CQX0_cTX-B3_3T2ARUn4zO6c_K3JPylc_EpS_Z02jEObi6hmgmzwKvr8/s1600-h/sed8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443396876821245058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEfkZTHUDAX21IOafCRl6hDjuIJhi9EdjXKztvENIiwP6nEI1mrye7ajVo-3fSp8hXsNvk8ik9VrEYK1VIt6CQX0_cTX-B3_3T2ARUn4zO6c_K3JPylc_EpS_Z02jEObi6hmgmzwKvr8/s320/sed8.jpg" /></a><em> Red Rock Crossing</em></div><div><br />There are one or two small tales to relate to round off proceedings but I think that they are better left until we’ve had time to absorb the whole of the experience that the last two months has given us. So maybe this isn’t the Last Post after all.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-20500395582353939902010-02-25T18:23:00.000-08:002010-03-09T08:29:30.235-08:00Me John Wayne or I thought they shut the Works<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Early awakening to rip the curtains open as the sun was rising to be met with a warm glow at the horizon silhouetting the buttes. It was enough to postpone the morning shower until after a quick run out with the camera. Back to the Lodge to clean up and have breakfast before our planned excursion. We’d booked a package that included a day in the Valley guided by a Navajo who rejoiced in the name of Larry. We were picked up at 9.00 and found that there was another couple booked on the trip as well. This made it very comfortable, as the vehicle we travelled around in was able to accommodate twenty that would have been a nightmare if it had been full at summer levels.</span></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UFTAXvGP8GGBsXsrJ2w0eGmj1l3bQDk-bzpFD_F6AGm_P7zS8bZgw9jh56aCvbya6yJrwWYU-p3C_pJC6bAAvBvaDoTGZPPYjfYs576pLgakfTrRU74Cuf05oDfJDtU4JmzUGDSed4Y/s1600-h/ab32.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442375262753718978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UFTAXvGP8GGBsXsrJ2w0eGmj1l3bQDk-bzpFD_F6AGm_P7zS8bZgw9jh56aCvbya6yJrwWYU-p3C_pJC6bAAvBvaDoTGZPPYjfYs576pLgakfTrRU74Cuf05oDfJDtU4JmzUGDSed4Y/s320/ab32.jpg" /></a><i>From the bedroom</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONW62xLEHy-CLoqU-sYiX7T8xJWro2Caq5TzhZojYlYvGNpqybQwdEKl2Ae-VQdZZ8kHPwCB81ZPoVatvVcMx0GuZYuLhrxCk2h4L0Kcl7U2F1kyheVIwuHZFr_Mc91DHgPIOUETU7qw/s1600-h/ab31.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374592138855394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONW62xLEHy-CLoqU-sYiX7T8xJWro2Caq5TzhZojYlYvGNpqybQwdEKl2Ae-VQdZZ8kHPwCB81ZPoVatvVcMx0GuZYuLhrxCk2h4L0Kcl7U2F1kyheVIwuHZFr_Mc91DHgPIOUETU7qw/s320/ab31.jpg" /></a><i>Early light</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp7Nc2xRsoHRpn25bbwON1ipWtdxEEcW0dylCAkeSz6GeP-wyp6ZQQz2jQUaOXnmAYeTh7jsTm6VfXhPanSdy6eUavSnYsy5sEg9sE4ps4s87Pnuh0YKjn1P_cMuvTawroAAALzg-kxs/s1600-h/ab29.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374585602343122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp7Nc2xRsoHRpn25bbwON1ipWtdxEEcW0dylCAkeSz6GeP-wyp6ZQQz2jQUaOXnmAYeTh7jsTm6VfXhPanSdy6eUavSnYsy5sEg9sE4ps4s87Pnuh0YKjn1P_cMuvTawroAAALzg-kxs/s320/ab29.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSdLkAjX18M1sPSY3yQOsNWpL24A7xmsx9BSxiyfJweC6EswtLVYt9wZ5j9HKvdbDCRcD1GkPgUJRaZZLAmjq-MPvvROXw_mDsVFFN1Mf5yOlF66QWPt5zaHuKtboxrQZf2FS7J4de-k/s1600-h/ab28.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374573416159554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSdLkAjX18M1sPSY3yQOsNWpL24A7xmsx9BSxiyfJweC6EswtLVYt9wZ5j9HKvdbDCRcD1GkPgUJRaZZLAmjq-MPvvROXw_mDsVFFN1Mf5yOlF66QWPt5zaHuKtboxrQZf2FS7J4de-k/s320/ab28.jpg" /></a><i>Back in the tripod holes</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisL3yktJD9cayEx-RcwLaCLC_5mo3KWAuRtvadUsfWq8OzRl3oyEHPgui6bnNsDpPJDy_pmFJF4TleIedxyGmWSw01NPftgghgMbW25cWY3fRrUUdlxbGqLO_ztbjGvbfHG2Xyh6b0nE/s1600-h/ab27.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374561880662226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisL3yktJD9cayEx-RcwLaCLC_5mo3KWAuRtvadUsfWq8OzRl3oyEHPgui6bnNsDpPJDy_pmFJF4TleIedxyGmWSw01NPftgghgMbW25cWY3fRrUUdlxbGqLO_ztbjGvbfHG2Xyh6b0nE/s320/ab27.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VNefQGZio5M3iLTk_WtdhKQ3dpUsXxI0EqWHsbTbZktzG5MBp4NJdHPZZ4TmT_aKp-5_wwGjwMkP-loLvLFPZD9GI5BA_tWO_xTkTMnff3fSY3MjMVtsk4yBZYrhA7KJeIK2KImnmxo/s1600-h/ab26.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374292089662738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VNefQGZio5M3iLTk_WtdhKQ3dpUsXxI0EqWHsbTbZktzG5MBp4NJdHPZZ4TmT_aKp-5_wwGjwMkP-loLvLFPZD9GI5BA_tWO_xTkTMnff3fSY3MjMVtsk4yBZYrhA7KJeIK2KImnmxo/s320/ab26.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASFKRGTn9UD-rN6G-P2N3ZJwhEkVyUvXOMLvy4pyX2CQ5SEyCVzbkKAMQPJ5GHdKFvAi6yZvNh5d-RptyOGUnG-VIF-aWf7sw6VwyaVHnEWzvOcLsrqllM6iDErxLPhiBuoY7qtzbFSs/s1600-h/ab25.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374282072246530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASFKRGTn9UD-rN6G-P2N3ZJwhEkVyUvXOMLvy4pyX2CQ5SEyCVzbkKAMQPJ5GHdKFvAi6yZvNh5d-RptyOGUnG-VIF-aWf7sw6VwyaVHnEWzvOcLsrqllM6iDErxLPhiBuoY7qtzbFSs/s320/ab25.jpg" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Our next stroke of luck was the weather, bright clear skies were the order of the day and whilst cold we had wonderful visibility. The quality of the light in this part of the world is a joy and I am determined to return and take advantage of it with a full painting kit. It is no wonder that the region is a Mecca for artists and photographers.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGsG84fYOhEl3eHFLiPGLyk_k0FpQn6Sg2i3jF83L1K1tVObSv7Ra7Wmg4N0pBaIiU4p4YrnkWGVYFdG_28kXeBUN3yGntRgVy2B1JQOyMD6oIM-0HX3EhpRDr4EnCAerhiCBkcGwZHo/s1600-h/ab24.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374278042658562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGsG84fYOhEl3eHFLiPGLyk_k0FpQn6Sg2i3jF83L1K1tVObSv7Ra7Wmg4N0pBaIiU4p4YrnkWGVYFdG_28kXeBUN3yGntRgVy2B1JQOyMD6oIM-0HX3EhpRDr4EnCAerhiCBkcGwZHo/s320/ab24.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5FH9g0z3YloS1cHbUwJ61dsS6hrNBdQ4Wy-1mGGEiICz9QfzFnf9w90DJhTg1Ml9FTYMyQTtdeA7RJYx9Bk146SMJd9cfmzZEhMFMAM2jXYzV6kqdipaq47g8B4hrn3gCsQwZEY8xtU/s1600-h/ab23.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374276291057538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5FH9g0z3YloS1cHbUwJ61dsS6hrNBdQ4Wy-1mGGEiICz9QfzFnf9w90DJhTg1Ml9FTYMyQTtdeA7RJYx9Bk146SMJd9cfmzZEhMFMAM2jXYzV6kqdipaq47g8B4hrn3gCsQwZEY8xtU/s320/ab23.jpg" /></a><i>Lots of holes and arches</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUft7uv870C8xuWzlUJHfvpNalciw7yQQxYnX_LS39acEcgqKk3OYu2NVRu43MfAeKVb58Cvt4bapRrwhlU-wBTNUdwAoZOzAFlZpOg03FS9kCGlNhF9ACpzkta2nIqIHetzTiaafwRkc/s1600-h/ab22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442374266732045970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUft7uv870C8xuWzlUJHfvpNalciw7yQQxYnX_LS39acEcgqKk3OYu2NVRu43MfAeKVb58Cvt4bapRrwhlU-wBTNUdwAoZOzAFlZpOg03FS9kCGlNhF9ACpzkta2nIqIHetzTiaafwRkc/s320/ab22.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0JLbktxdDK1fh3p9VqL6H8KctrEtGWYd-XkW0CROC5iZsc9pj15_zouIIUc95ScDXXZVygjLr7KU91TsZo9ZQv5N2RGtslP9pOs0hd3EgXEG8QzTNbzcmU6xg6x4BArTsNO7nio_8bI/s1600-h/ab22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373764948855170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0JLbktxdDK1fh3p9VqL6H8KctrEtGWYd-XkW0CROC5iZsc9pj15_zouIIUc95ScDXXZVygjLr7KU91TsZo9ZQv5N2RGtslP9pOs0hd3EgXEG8QzTNbzcmU6xg6x4BArTsNO7nio_8bI/s320/ab22.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQWd_ZJSt4DsNHrpgJyHr-rClSigRXcl4kzDRcAfWdiQ-d_npPKzF8xDqVukxAWCdGUL6XKRZykQsg60Y_uBrysVJsgBgDz15RZs3iNBgkU4NFUSRq6f2In0NKii6xz4FneitocjPRWc/s1600-h/ab21.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373754698770274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQWd_ZJSt4DsNHrpgJyHr-rClSigRXcl4kzDRcAfWdiQ-d_npPKzF8xDqVukxAWCdGUL6XKRZykQsg60Y_uBrysVJsgBgDz15RZs3iNBgkU4NFUSRq6f2In0NKii6xz4FneitocjPRWc/s320/ab21.jpg" /></a><i>Clinging on for dear life</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKvumWPKGx691W0CkVEMdIVDkm4tg50FXo88L4ZBYbAVBweWmvYspChn74Ij_P9VXaJ5FdhyphenhyphenTzxhNHJDk1mQWPSFXzxyVMS4XIDNi1xWvnBAke9PpvoCB1wzwYdB8mXKTajdhDvfIEuw/s1600-h/ab19.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373745969741874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKvumWPKGx691W0CkVEMdIVDkm4tg50FXo88L4ZBYbAVBweWmvYspChn74Ij_P9VXaJ5FdhyphenhyphenTzxhNHJDk1mQWPSFXzxyVMS4XIDNi1xWvnBAke9PpvoCB1wzwYdB8mXKTajdhDvfIEuw/s320/ab19.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLrisk-FlCRxgxMPZvYLmRssvGrFMtQxu8TChHow6gK735v-z8u_DV4voXuH7n4OA0vXBtLqMck2m9DmIEu8V5iVLXn-SJvfAFpHIEqsXBLJ59SMOqwa6Xzni2MkYOdY0ZLnjZbED1Yo/s1600-h/ab18.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373738521884850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLrisk-FlCRxgxMPZvYLmRssvGrFMtQxu8TChHow6gK735v-z8u_DV4voXuH7n4OA0vXBtLqMck2m9DmIEu8V5iVLXn-SJvfAFpHIEqsXBLJ59SMOqwa6Xzni2MkYOdY0ZLnjZbED1Yo/s320/ab18.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Jui6WPcgyi2SEnYzoVlVCdUuKu_L-N3czhyPMePpVxfJK4cvgyrTVXq3F7dmSeXY0g9OI-cDk0X7ECQgLUySYc2OOwcwH2HT_CjXCBQkt6hgPAv3cq3t0K9sxQkMQiaGPaKs0NjJE88/s1600-h/ab17.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373729859593218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Jui6WPcgyi2SEnYzoVlVCdUuKu_L-N3czhyPMePpVxfJK4cvgyrTVXq3F7dmSeXY0g9OI-cDk0X7ECQgLUySYc2OOwcwH2HT_CjXCBQkt6hgPAv3cq3t0K9sxQkMQiaGPaKs0NjJE88/s320/ab17.jpg" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sheila, Mick, J.J. and Carolyn</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Larry was the ideal guide, born and bred in the Navajo Tribal Lands, a Navajo speaker as his first language and well versed in the history and mythology of his people as well as intimately familiar with the geology and biology of the Valley. Besides all that he had a cracking sense of humour. The other couple, J.J. and Carolyn were also good company so the whole day was a joy from every perspective. J.J. and Carolyn had an interesting story, having attended school together, they were reunited by the miracle of modern technology, both having led lives without seeing one another for decades. They were now carrying on their relationship at some distance, Carolyn living in San Diego and J.J. in Illinois.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><!--EndFragment--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYVWbxThbju9NLJ9UvOsglwDf2OIlw2-l8CkEyY6ZBIfx6M-DZVUcjM2aK3vQflx2Tqt802uubZUii7jXO5Pf7-MimyYprIqE0s0l6raIQ8FH7IN0KhoMNXRpvql12Ochgp5SyMTNMtA/s1600-h/ab16.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373365158746754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYVWbxThbju9NLJ9UvOsglwDf2OIlw2-l8CkEyY6ZBIfx6M-DZVUcjM2aK3vQflx2Tqt802uubZUii7jXO5Pf7-MimyYprIqE0s0l6raIQ8FH7IN0KhoMNXRpvql12Ochgp5SyMTNMtA/s320/ab16.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_qQoxRtdmbniNjPJMyuA84cm88gy0OYWIzAyWqk6_IGh21zwS9YeNxqptf37OErU-K8gTNiuwa8TGGd3Fdyfh_o9kujSMg6whBuk2fF5WoWUjIvRI7g-a3f9PtEJg7IA1nAKm8bp9vs/s1600-h/ab15.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373357085318466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_qQoxRtdmbniNjPJMyuA84cm88gy0OYWIzAyWqk6_IGh21zwS9YeNxqptf37OErU-K8gTNiuwa8TGGd3Fdyfh_o9kujSMg6whBuk2fF5WoWUjIvRI7g-a3f9PtEJg7IA1nAKm8bp9vs/s320/ab15.jpg" /></a><i>Petroglyph</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko7QNDRR91cVt4OVFEACVY1PPPcsbXaxOlLUvDcvBCm_9jd6xB_btEZYxzwEK-z1jD8dAlDP9bFMADe5aAohtDVfsEbpxSsNo3WJUv1eGjATGXPROpEb5y2VkN8v4WpUKs89fcPtvv2g/s1600-h/ab14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373341607416674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko7QNDRR91cVt4OVFEACVY1PPPcsbXaxOlLUvDcvBCm_9jd6xB_btEZYxzwEK-z1jD8dAlDP9bFMADe5aAohtDVfsEbpxSsNo3WJUv1eGjATGXPROpEb5y2VkN8v4WpUKs89fcPtvv2g/s320/ab14.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQwE2kVWvEHR5FNA3qAfT-K58OBAXFepTIbhiciEkag8nIMqaiiuugwAw9gWMEx1AvuA-_UmYxz5f7unYhI-1qPGF2_X_Wu1d8UCQuRTLk03T93FUy1l-OlDSl6nOetsF9XqrPktQDN8/s1600-h/ab13.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373334301245122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQwE2kVWvEHR5FNA3qAfT-K58OBAXFepTIbhiciEkag8nIMqaiiuugwAw9gWMEx1AvuA-_UmYxz5f7unYhI-1qPGF2_X_Wu1d8UCQuRTLk03T93FUy1l-OlDSl6nOetsF9XqrPktQDN8/s320/ab13.jpg" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Larry cooks the lunch</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">This is going to one of those occasions where the pictures should do the talking so I’ll shut up for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></p><!--EndFragment--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcpuCLav88NrmUcBsxUuK5W4VzRzZ2r_Qu7x_mnQ9XqVezcEfGtpZFjKgyXWmmQVoBYOyM6VPAaq0WooN6Ooxs6dQj0eo580NULSHqPHyBOW3-f-ybdJgtGmlfpG_x-PJSXfMT3Fm_ro/s1600-h/ab12.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442373324802901954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcpuCLav88NrmUcBsxUuK5W4VzRzZ2r_Qu7x_mnQ9XqVezcEfGtpZFjKgyXWmmQVoBYOyM6VPAaq0WooN6Ooxs6dQj0eo580NULSHqPHyBOW3-f-ybdJgtGmlfpG_x-PJSXfMT3Fm_ro/s320/ab12.jpg" /></a><i>There's a magnet at this spot</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUskcTbEA7d4fa0g2-sD4xNV0-S8gdrvPpax1RwptBzVvMi3XcDUZw8t9CuLoo7NNgG3Toggv98KM23DfENWauz6_uGm3oa7PvGz8cAlwFJh8p8opuESUfdxOjlhPsSA0LaxyJkw85fN0/s1600-h/ab11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372889080852962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUskcTbEA7d4fa0g2-sD4xNV0-S8gdrvPpax1RwptBzVvMi3XcDUZw8t9CuLoo7NNgG3Toggv98KM23DfENWauz6_uGm3oa7PvGz8cAlwFJh8p8opuESUfdxOjlhPsSA0LaxyJkw85fN0/s320/ab11.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg407_ntt1qaPCf-HkQAv4VV3cGeO5RbTydlUbyu8aMbXc-nDyJcW8OsXdWNTeiAvadGmX-kbXQ-pdd4ncj2akbp6Jj5v8h2k4pdXtnQIjm0xUCH7BtgsA7rK-B21Z1flk26vSTejrfxfw/s1600-h/ab9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372881944271074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg407_ntt1qaPCf-HkQAv4VV3cGeO5RbTydlUbyu8aMbXc-nDyJcW8OsXdWNTeiAvadGmX-kbXQ-pdd4ncj2akbp6Jj5v8h2k4pdXtnQIjm0xUCH7BtgsA7rK-B21Z1flk26vSTejrfxfw/s320/ab9.jpg" /></a><i>John Ford Point</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGwkEgS6qVXdmw6_ZT3-JFA_cRWC4CIerBHR0KV0UyFnrk38kTf6Yr2DIIyL8p2PrKfhtcYmEcXNA5Sg-rZZ70bRu4wCrt3FjQRzoGa7AFy2g09ZiKGWPZkqYa36AYs3QCcaiTbtmEvY/s1600-h/ab8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372871768984530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGwkEgS6qVXdmw6_ZT3-JFA_cRWC4CIerBHR0KV0UyFnrk38kTf6Yr2DIIyL8p2PrKfhtcYmEcXNA5Sg-rZZ70bRu4wCrt3FjQRzoGa7AFy2g09ZiKGWPZkqYa36AYs3QCcaiTbtmEvY/s320/ab8.jpg" /></a><i>Elephant Butte</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV4Y_BlycQijCR6Q_lgHakNKawKazJENKBXPShooP4idVfl5BsUHdshk1fHDlo_7iGPWC08Y57EFXe7ekhUWM-4JA39w3U_OjHMnTHtvLgPTeTejtLShndLIyRqw0_ZQRuuPvUv_YXR0/s1600-h/ab7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372863004139410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV4Y_BlycQijCR6Q_lgHakNKawKazJENKBXPShooP4idVfl5BsUHdshk1fHDlo_7iGPWC08Y57EFXe7ekhUWM-4JA39w3U_OjHMnTHtvLgPTeTejtLShndLIyRqw0_ZQRuuPvUv_YXR0/s320/ab7.jpg" /></a><i>Susie, 97 years young and still weaving</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTu4Jm6O1d0AZwLuPgKAiCCYDjLRqYyJPVLPQuKOoh46LOX22DXKQ82iUcTdfJjZWhDpKY10lLaB8USRT4ySdDt6Jbb-JW85ZUHfcLZ7Vc65Q5bJ0X4KX8mKbPnLjhis0R6GPWSc_fRi0/s1600-h/ab6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372854286487298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTu4Jm6O1d0AZwLuPgKAiCCYDjLRqYyJPVLPQuKOoh46LOX22DXKQ82iUcTdfJjZWhDpKY10lLaB8USRT4ySdDt6Jbb-JW85ZUHfcLZ7Vc65Q5bJ0X4KX8mKbPnLjhis0R6GPWSc_fRi0/s320/ab6.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BSkJPdezB4DsyUASS8bVqgUr3O-kPM2EByL4Oh8CnzRBoOjaIXR0RHmvTCXgcVzjeMfQzPOvEMHetsoJ7NUq2wH527kxywpnZRdDm_c7A-EVw6Yrw6q-xX7Z1H7tkTuFMP9dLGYHDJ8/s1600-h/ab5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372605192893426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BSkJPdezB4DsyUASS8bVqgUr3O-kPM2EByL4Oh8CnzRBoOjaIXR0RHmvTCXgcVzjeMfQzPOvEMHetsoJ7NUq2wH527kxywpnZRdDm_c7A-EVw6Yrw6q-xX7Z1H7tkTuFMP9dLGYHDJ8/s320/ab5.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrk3XwMcbd8-HH7hyphenhyphen0C7aPB2CmY5UO5uX7pOFolbWZZ9Nwu9ldzzMoT1-x4-keerYVH_gaVL68vlGrXFuxGRMCXHdSibQjCo76X2v0z-5PKsqCgdo3y4QMFTaYkswF41sAUwWpQ5vdL0/s1600-h/ab4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372595543109810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrk3XwMcbd8-HH7hyphenhyphen0C7aPB2CmY5UO5uX7pOFolbWZZ9Nwu9ldzzMoT1-x4-keerYVH_gaVL68vlGrXFuxGRMCXHdSibQjCo76X2v0z-5PKsqCgdo3y4QMFTaYkswF41sAUwWpQ5vdL0/s320/ab4.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcrCtW0e9uyz3tVvggo8udoVJqHcJ3KVG8horLZ40P0HVBIqasDvPbyjAKKaHoJs1MleNdoG_w1-grwg4uSC2LSBHH_LZKAQvyTimZv7Mp0bGnlUnEPLanzJvYWO2mWx8uCqmmpGTSuc/s1600-h/ab3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372586923932130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcrCtW0e9uyz3tVvggo8udoVJqHcJ3KVG8horLZ40P0HVBIqasDvPbyjAKKaHoJs1MleNdoG_w1-grwg4uSC2LSBHH_LZKAQvyTimZv7Mp0bGnlUnEPLanzJvYWO2mWx8uCqmmpGTSuc/s320/ab3.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH4A4jiR9IfqwT7qhqGVjibUMblURWB34HopVq66iHbXAJzu97lsp270-qCD_61RwqRmHuEb5RcyPfJiHl1smPwEbo1slKzhpedKPPym6yw41oO8pG7IA_gQYTxLACcqPYeydtKd137M/s1600-h/ab2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372583242873106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH4A4jiR9IfqwT7qhqGVjibUMblURWB34HopVq66iHbXAJzu97lsp270-qCD_61RwqRmHuEb5RcyPfJiHl1smPwEbo1slKzhpedKPPym6yw41oO8pG7IA_gQYTxLACcqPYeydtKd137M/s320/ab2.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAonLQSFcbjzNatrldJDFWN3m1YSVAOzIRTyY9HKZncnlJ-wsgGvKxJOk2rXwxDusksg5_WmIFXgGn6qZgI-ag3RSRRmDPS8pBoM7MUiGF8b3TI3DHKaJJzqBn79Fw5yIOgofZMIISK24/s1600-h/ab1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442372575177118562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAonLQSFcbjzNatrldJDFWN3m1YSVAOzIRTyY9HKZncnlJ-wsgGvKxJOk2rXwxDusksg5_WmIFXgGn6qZgI-ag3RSRRmDPS8pBoM7MUiGF8b3TI3DHKaJJzqBn79Fw5yIOgofZMIISK24/s320/ab1.jpg" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The references in the title are mixed, the first being very easy to understand, I’ve been reliving the cowboy fantasies of childhood but the second relates to the patina of red dust covering everything up here. Those of us brought up not too far distant from Consett remember well the layer of red dust that covered the town as a result of the activities at Consett Iron Works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><!--EndFragment--></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-56213682395088346762010-02-24T06:39:00.000-08:002010-02-24T07:07:00.091-08:00Road to Monument Valley<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Up with the American equivalent of the larks with a sense of excitement as today was the day we would head for Monument Valley, scene of many movies and so familiar that it was intriguing to know whether the place would live up to the expectation, but first of all we had to get there.</span></p></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhbidPqAYkUVxu6c6HOumxq3Qhosq6A9J-7HGhJDCH6QrFOWNqY8XZhBSmWpvhOsU5maaHJys_lU8-nr6AB35p6yzHiDu2vb5OMEUTbHQksMGRmeHyMLG2O1WWnBrYJjhO2mlAXKD2Ss/s1600-h/mon21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhbidPqAYkUVxu6c6HOumxq3Qhosq6A9J-7HGhJDCH6QrFOWNqY8XZhBSmWpvhOsU5maaHJys_lU8-nr6AB35p6yzHiDu2vb5OMEUTbHQksMGRmeHyMLG2O1WWnBrYJjhO2mlAXKD2Ss/s320/mon21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822835822855586" /></a><i>Breakfast in Kanab</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwt9lgS7_5f27f2N0DwNt_eHa4Na_PWTdIKLLlne5Qmamo1eR9V-k3iJNU_Xoq2coxrG76lnYE8pJzPm1nRLZu3fEKJgl85D5VS0BGZ4kk7-d0hi6VYsYbRpU19D4cCID717AURKXeqk/s1600-h/mon19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwt9lgS7_5f27f2N0DwNt_eHa4Na_PWTdIKLLlne5Qmamo1eR9V-k3iJNU_Xoq2coxrG76lnYE8pJzPm1nRLZu3fEKJgl85D5VS0BGZ4kk7-d0hi6VYsYbRpU19D4cCID717AURKXeqk/s320/mon19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822831499263074" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>The road out of town</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The route would take us, first of all south through the previous day’s snowfall on roads that had been cleared but were subject to wind driven snow covering the tarmac with no warning as to the presence of ice that occurred in patches. Difficult conditions for driving that didn’t ease till we dropped from 7,000 feet to 5,000 feet where the ice that had attached itself to the car showed the first signs of thawing. However, the route was spectacular with snow clinging to the precipitous faces of the roadside mountains as we progressed towards the junction that would take us heading toward the Valley.</span></p><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwBjZjSlG86Y9HShPIqgANCX5mCrsVFtY3-xYf3UEmAx3HGlzx5bZUFoNtC5RWKqnA0_ToBhkDC95G-aYyMEhFAoZ8hKje7PTkS7qb0Vpk_94P_JfxMa4Vhb9eNcUzOFxN7yRMYM1JA/s1600-h/mon18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwBjZjSlG86Y9HShPIqgANCX5mCrsVFtY3-xYf3UEmAx3HGlzx5bZUFoNtC5RWKqnA0_ToBhkDC95G-aYyMEhFAoZ8hKje7PTkS7qb0Vpk_94P_JfxMa4Vhb9eNcUzOFxN7yRMYM1JA/s320/mon18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822825153962098" /></a><i>Icing Up</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4TxuU9JK6UlURap9E7Hu7mBmYCelv41tx-KwdN7Z1NSMreeskc4alyojqsgSUPd3WJFj3FvAiNRVQL2_u64rjVCfrpj1T8g3fLgzG7ohsFj9PiNQM915i9poh7rTimu7f3OZwmRrucM/s1600-h/mon17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4TxuU9JK6UlURap9E7Hu7mBmYCelv41tx-KwdN7Z1NSMreeskc4alyojqsgSUPd3WJFj3FvAiNRVQL2_u64rjVCfrpj1T8g3fLgzG7ohsFj9PiNQM915i9poh7rTimu7f3OZwmRrucM/s320/mon17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822820790989490" /></a><i>Vermillion Cliffs</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ31Hb1cZJXr1w48YQykj-T3nHzAj75zzyfa8ThbZtF7o9214JWghGICStByKFUZ5kIwZ8txmhEPdaHYh5FtR6vfScc5_egmT0PaubWHn5SNfmtpFI6Ruri1JoOWzIK_X-InvECU_F2p4/s1600-h/mon16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ31Hb1cZJXr1w48YQykj-T3nHzAj75zzyfa8ThbZtF7o9214JWghGICStByKFUZ5kIwZ8txmhEPdaHYh5FtR6vfScc5_egmT0PaubWHn5SNfmtpFI6Ruri1JoOWzIK_X-InvECU_F2p4/s320/mon16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822296422833570" /></a><i>More Vermillion</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4HDdf-2QReO-UDJ71lYcAnqFZcR5DGQuKMJF894nMUZwncZIfEsWEr0M0qm1Nrmqhlpq8YMHr_k_bML6tys3fH4qF0Qx3jKavAXeWOtDnzi58I99NrCHBmhUNT4b1aXrPzWk6k6NQtA/s1600-h/mon15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4HDdf-2QReO-UDJ71lYcAnqFZcR5DGQuKMJF894nMUZwncZIfEsWEr0M0qm1Nrmqhlpq8YMHr_k_bML6tys3fH4qF0Qx3jKavAXeWOtDnzi58I99NrCHBmhUNT4b1aXrPzWk6k6NQtA/s320/mon15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822288455719970" /></a><i>And More</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFqOGqWclkE4z5V386zj86R_8YOFdxO5TlVtA4wVen7CEarcKJqk7GhPUlqf-Q4tfF_tpcLinY5jefaZHkFpbOKenQ9lKsG1loxsehg8S4yMLJMjIccsaf1cDnxwpokXL9n8gq-tzPVg/s1600-h/mon14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFqOGqWclkE4z5V386zj86R_8YOFdxO5TlVtA4wVen7CEarcKJqk7GhPUlqf-Q4tfF_tpcLinY5jefaZHkFpbOKenQ9lKsG1loxsehg8S4yMLJMjIccsaf1cDnxwpokXL9n8gq-tzPVg/s320/mon14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822286110673090" /></a><i>Rock Furniture</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKR2JcePNyjs7ZXL4k-2QC4e99JA07T654yAfZMTZ-japPXJyBR4sfi1JYCVCIxChm26iJ9wttKmN_KbrVXF_nyx467jnNgi0xe1OszBHWjHi0AdB6FfaLkFkmxOl8_jXZMhWZHtjtzs/s1600-h/mon13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKR2JcePNyjs7ZXL4k-2QC4e99JA07T654yAfZMTZ-japPXJyBR4sfi1JYCVCIxChm26iJ9wttKmN_KbrVXF_nyx467jnNgi0xe1OszBHWjHi0AdB6FfaLkFkmxOl8_jXZMhWZHtjtzs/s320/mon13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822283200847842" /></a><i>Rock Sculpture</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkvGP8PkeuIPfZe_FfhHwVQo4gcXErmCsKh8Q3YbGhpod_xbq4DMyqnMAQGDQjXEnhA9jDpDdbm4ZH3mYmidINdzw29avE31C3a9V35QJLL268nLp3kEpd8yhcEpMCavYvb7qgdqf9SU/s1600-h/mon12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkvGP8PkeuIPfZe_FfhHwVQo4gcXErmCsKh8Q3YbGhpod_xbq4DMyqnMAQGDQjXEnhA9jDpDdbm4ZH3mYmidINdzw29avE31C3a9V35QJLL268nLp3kEpd8yhcEpMCavYvb7qgdqf9SU/s320/mon12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441822278729884818" /></a><i>Towards the Junction</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVP_mgICLQ_bGMQSYgVFtZWiUiqrnWrGl3XmG4KqTGvc5bqEWeuainQZ_4SQavyhPC0SimyNje13IgiAZEEkLqhvV5aM0ZJTZwsEkVMhBNdWqJSwJcT3bY5emc9mcVgowaiYKAmRvfeI/s1600-h/mon11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVP_mgICLQ_bGMQSYgVFtZWiUiqrnWrGl3XmG4KqTGvc5bqEWeuainQZ_4SQavyhPC0SimyNje13IgiAZEEkLqhvV5aM0ZJTZwsEkVMhBNdWqJSwJcT3bY5emc9mcVgowaiYKAmRvfeI/s320/mon11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441821505155189346" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd85oWSjtgP4xQrepQ7zeLIN8NstTce1VZ3Dhcyh5H0e_DDyxcqY8BjQnw8T6M6kyl5TkDpNlTxmecDbPsp1TnftvsmxAr-MJ8Tbll7yuypPXl5Wkw79IoeTzGjqs_rnGeFLIF6jIgE7I/s1600-h/mon9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd85oWSjtgP4xQrepQ7zeLIN8NstTce1VZ3Dhcyh5H0e_DDyxcqY8BjQnw8T6M6kyl5TkDpNlTxmecDbPsp1TnftvsmxAr-MJ8Tbll7yuypPXl5Wkw79IoeTzGjqs_rnGeFLIF6jIgE7I/s320/mon9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441821493893932530" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Interesting roadside rock scenery was a constant distraction until the first sight of El Capitan the first significant uprising of the Monument Valley region. I couldn’t resist photographing it as the background to a sign declaring that there was an accident ahead. Little was I to know that the accident might be in my head as I tried to take in the enormity of what I was beginning to view. The closer we got the more tantalising glimpses we had of the familiar sandstone mesas and buttes, until finally arriving at our accommodation for the next couple of nights, Goulding’s Lodge. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3j6hRCa1Zf_MGqyE56TstoKwpl5f8FTqJr9qGZPiIudM0EGwGxaVJ5Kxz5RtWpIwjhltpa03MgMRGhwGhgUC5OabaLWP-R47KIyWCgMa3kn1KYcYaLJTLZ51TiZH_DcFqNa1BSauN5g/s1600-h/mon7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3j6hRCa1Zf_MGqyE56TstoKwpl5f8FTqJr9qGZPiIudM0EGwGxaVJ5Kxz5RtWpIwjhltpa03MgMRGhwGhgUC5OabaLWP-R47KIyWCgMa3kn1KYcYaLJTLZ51TiZH_DcFqNa1BSauN5g/s320/mon7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441821490551470146" /></a><i>El Capitan</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y5bEqGMufbPfsIcnG6W5hEaxM4RizlZWrHQltVn9ZyxeBhU22FnPh72a9MvmjSxHN2ygT_dUdXjLt7S91a-gA1y7LSzVdE7HkVI-5hkpPZUL8-NCbjwet-jNRe-SyRYqYFe8ZTzqJm4/s1600-h/mon8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y5bEqGMufbPfsIcnG6W5hEaxM4RizlZWrHQltVn9ZyxeBhU22FnPh72a9MvmjSxHN2ygT_dUdXjLt7S91a-gA1y7LSzVdE7HkVI-5hkpPZUL8-NCbjwet-jNRe-SyRYqYFe8ZTzqJm4/s320/mon8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441821485948564098" /></a><i>Beware Beauty</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2eOUwZkRNjj8afMmQLuZhh5g-qEmaY5M0Rgb7rQoJKtqxxdJgBth0SOab6hgWL_w6v_rACMzYkJEY_npsPc_OKygvpy31XR-MMAeKrjg1mQzsZDPPr47mbEj3LhJu_c8-M5tRtKogbk/s1600-h/mon6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2eOUwZkRNjj8afMmQLuZhh5g-qEmaY5M0Rgb7rQoJKtqxxdJgBth0SOab6hgWL_w6v_rACMzYkJEY_npsPc_OKygvpy31XR-MMAeKrjg1mQzsZDPPr47mbEj3LhJu_c8-M5tRtKogbk/s320/mon6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441821484330832226" /></a><i>How about this for a bedroom view?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The view from our window was like a fairy tale involving a stellar Hollywood cast who one expected to ride around the nearest butte at any moment. My childlike excitement at the sight had me Skyping another movie fan to share the moment, my mate Jed.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyKMkH9Rmp6zI1BeFaAGcCYou25WY6FhTur962OMmYHhhke5OlqHRYQdoq2GN3rmzYhZ6d7iJjrCePaU2yP-pujQ8DUA2EdfNQ7bcVvC1BfDheHLzfiHl3Q2NjYEuEw85sc5Xn639o78/s1600-h/mon5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyKMkH9Rmp6zI1BeFaAGcCYou25WY6FhTur962OMmYHhhke5OlqHRYQdoq2GN3rmzYhZ6d7iJjrCePaU2yP-pujQ8DUA2EdfNQ7bcVvC1BfDheHLzfiHl3Q2NjYEuEw85sc5Xn639o78/s320/mon5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441820669981605394" /></a>A short run along to the Navajo Tribal Park and Visitor Centre gave us the chance to take in one or two of the classic views and whet our appetites for the more detailed tour of the morrow. Magic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws6ZbJPr_77c-TfOCBxKgOgAXj2s4YUoW5UxizSRDTUIlbKO_r07zGDvHLhsWGMeAHC8bc12j_1iQq_Pw6JmRX5ZdJcQ_Nu2H5Z59ossvgFUO-eLQZ1XT7NBk7IB5zqrONUK4QtDKHjk/s1600-h/mon4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws6ZbJPr_77c-TfOCBxKgOgAXj2s4YUoW5UxizSRDTUIlbKO_r07zGDvHLhsWGMeAHC8bc12j_1iQq_Pw6JmRX5ZdJcQ_Nu2H5Z59ossvgFUO-eLQZ1XT7NBk7IB5zqrONUK4QtDKHjk/s320/mon4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441820666912572258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVgAMzD1nIZ5hTE_ILIK5QFC8B__CQrQYPu3lKpD19D3orwoZSxZuQS0p-zyCRI9FTKYIVwYAr1V4YJdqC-MCpuSzz4eJSbeLfJjbnY9iQTkncaZ2IYhLYbGksFOiOEVfGRNpkmPTLpk/s1600-h/mon3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVgAMzD1nIZ5hTE_ILIK5QFC8B__CQrQYPu3lKpD19D3orwoZSxZuQS0p-zyCRI9FTKYIVwYAr1V4YJdqC-MCpuSzz4eJSbeLfJjbnY9iQTkncaZ2IYhLYbGksFOiOEVfGRNpkmPTLpk/s320/mon3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441820657157401266" /></a><i>Two familiar Buttes</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj-_TnoZBx7rwuJ1kqjXjWsuk-y9SpuWk5VTqMf3cfoQ53Z7Zcp1kum3LeQGJG0exfISIjayC-rkY72KoNx1ppTFqtWLNifiefT_JYCfRJ8TuvRjbH1Tf3mXGxJFoL3r3isNDVo4cQE4/s1600-h/mon2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj-_TnoZBx7rwuJ1kqjXjWsuk-y9SpuWk5VTqMf3cfoQ53Z7Zcp1kum3LeQGJG0exfISIjayC-rkY72KoNx1ppTFqtWLNifiefT_JYCfRJ8TuvRjbH1Tf3mXGxJFoL3r3isNDVo4cQE4/s320/mon2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441820651981404962" /></a><i>Local Fauna</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOv8K9DTNJEudEK0s4EIMqv38vojWPlQsmDl4ufpJVSZVzGnuNAvlsJbILhipM3ryEhOyGiDNJ4NpsK-lRzYi9-K-yJQ5mlLZgCxu-ys9D9hZY46xYeBfZlg-dotg2vaWF3X7YF17Ww6Q/s1600-h/mon1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOv8K9DTNJEudEK0s4EIMqv38vojWPlQsmDl4ufpJVSZVzGnuNAvlsJbILhipM3ryEhOyGiDNJ4NpsK-lRzYi9-K-yJQ5mlLZgCxu-ys9D9hZY46xYeBfZlg-dotg2vaWF3X7YF17Ww6Q/s320/mon1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441820651571307042" /></a><i>In the tripod holes of Ansel and Les</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-33010839563761702222010-02-22T20:32:00.000-08:002010-02-22T20:40:53.416-08:00Zion<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Well the expected snow arrived over night but seemed to be shifting so we set out on our planned trip to Zion National Park. As each mile passed the falling snow increased in intensity and as we gained height it made a better job of lying making the conditions for driving treacherous. We entered the Park and soon found that the slipping and sliding along the narrow, winding roads was too risky to progress any further. Finding a turn off to get the car pointing home wasn’t easy as each seemed to be occupied by drivers attempting similar manoeuvres. </span></p></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Okxmvizeljc7hZ6SRl68Rs_0UwojeWSiwx6D4mpQRzOI1-9iKw0SDf7O0PMrwerHGsFUDfNN3_9G-H9rQsqnK0Yw-bM2RhcVhFLBVSom-S1GVlvfk-umEFef4lTG48px8No5w-b8qNk/s1600-h/z5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Okxmvizeljc7hZ6SRl68Rs_0UwojeWSiwx6D4mpQRzOI1-9iKw0SDf7O0PMrwerHGsFUDfNN3_9G-H9rQsqnK0Yw-bM2RhcVhFLBVSom-S1GVlvfk-umEFef4lTG48px8No5w-b8qNk/s320/z5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441292808971003234" /></a><i>Road into Zion</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid19Yza1F62-qvtWvZeZMB2bmRFeZhPU3EsJg_a9zRIk5n97Iqpy1D3pyzdLF2Zt0IYlPpTj76RV6I3MqHmj29dFargUwbzkX8KAXMehnz6gUZmIqqLz_HlQe8hLVILO84B1GRsLyKUM0/s1600-h/z4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid19Yza1F62-qvtWvZeZMB2bmRFeZhPU3EsJg_a9zRIk5n97Iqpy1D3pyzdLF2Zt0IYlPpTj76RV6I3MqHmj29dFargUwbzkX8KAXMehnz6gUZmIqqLz_HlQe8hLVILO84B1GRsLyKUM0/s320/z4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441292812437222578" /></a><i>Zion View</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTDKskOVNmw729h79062DoHgYdTszQqAmqEaD4ZNU4TupNXOO9Zrk4GRfjf2piGyVN37skuK6oVFj_682f9pn8iPOH1BbWISWzOoJQWwru0obGYEqya1h893nadmb5Hyy4AZ9JfClLqg/s1600-h/z3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTDKskOVNmw729h79062DoHgYdTszQqAmqEaD4ZNU4TupNXOO9Zrk4GRfjf2piGyVN37skuK6oVFj_682f9pn8iPOH1BbWISWzOoJQWwru0obGYEqya1h893nadmb5Hyy4AZ9JfClLqg/s320/z3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441292802967223586" /></a><i>Snow thickens</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWpvoYdk-DkKzqrPSu3213DOE1NT70GAltdUxSXAfufjX1DHgOA60Es6j1EiNGhmE3-c1zTfXR2CwRTOBK4i19Aa4uyAVLEETI835_0mS28h9lVJr0DgsHgGH9dMXF-IaA-Gi7WUXd6k/s1600-h/z2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWpvoYdk-DkKzqrPSu3213DOE1NT70GAltdUxSXAfufjX1DHgOA60Es6j1EiNGhmE3-c1zTfXR2CwRTOBK4i19Aa4uyAVLEETI835_0mS28h9lVJr0DgsHgGH9dMXF-IaA-Gi7WUXd6k/s320/z2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441292798229378594" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>On the way out</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">What we needed now was another plan for the day. As we sat over coffee at the first dine we spotted we took stock and reflected that a rest wouldn’t be too bad an idea. Our deliberations also dwelt on the fact neither of us was feeling our best and hadn’t been for the last couple of days. A quick run down of symptoms, particularly shortness of breath and background headaches convinced us that we were both suffering a little from altitude sickness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> We had talked ourselves into making a return to our lodgings and spending the time catching up on correspondence, maybe a little painting and making a start on rationalising the luggage as a prelude to our journey home.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> However, before getting back we made a short detour to a gallery that I had discovered via a flyer for a show of paintings by an artist called Kate Starling. Of all places I discovered the flyer lying on the counter or a State Liquor Store when calling in for a bottle of wine. Yes, a State Liquor Store, Utah is a state with a strict control on the sale of alcohol, nothing like the easy availability of drink at home or indeed in other states in USA. Anyway that’s an aside, we got to the gallery to find it closed and difficult to access due to the depth of snow on the drive. This did not deter Sheila who bounded through the snow, mounted the deck around and the gallery and tried every available door. Not finding one open she then decided to knock at the rear door that was clearly the home of the gallery owners, the Binghams. Mr. Bingham answered the door and then proceeded to open the gallery for us. What a treat. The gallery was full with examples of first class landscape work largely devoted to the wonderful Parks in Arizona and Utah. Good conversation and fabulous artwork for me to study made this a delightful interlude.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the day was spent in the jobs we had set ourselves while watching the snow carry on falling. The watercolour below was my little contribution to proceedings.</p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUQuJkSroA74fO_V6imOOdCz3TfIb0YRhymTM0YsxR1wYl9EnR3vA1Xf9HdGPf28Fegvpb05RzEn-hSKJQMindnjokeiU1gwAiIcUdiqn7KyP_xK6dCzkWd_1aj4nxGfbazSFJ8xy-SU/s1600-h/z1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUQuJkSroA74fO_V6imOOdCz3TfIb0YRhymTM0YsxR1wYl9EnR3vA1Xf9HdGPf28Fegvpb05RzEn-hSKJQMindnjokeiU1gwAiIcUdiqn7KyP_xK6dCzkWd_1aj4nxGfbazSFJ8xy-SU/s320/z1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441292793414925874" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Canyon View - watercolour</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The big challenge for the early evening was to locate a place selling food that was open and had not been abandoned by the staff in making sure that they could reach their homes; that on top of the fact that this was a winter Sunday in a state where they roll up the sidewalks at the onset of poor weather. We were lucky and kidnapped a team of restaurant staff, as they were about to abandon their place of work and had a pleasant repast with no sign of resentment on the part of a fine bunch of people. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-22185244273332710432010-02-21T20:02:00.001-08:002010-02-21T20:17:40.368-08:00The weather closes in<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Awakening in El Tovar that stands on the rim of the Grand Canyon, was exciting in more than one way. Within twenty yards of the front door you are standing over one mile vertical drop, but his morning there was an added dimension, an atypical heavy fall of snow had begun and the forecast was that it would last for the day. The day took on an air of urgency as we set about ensuring that we were able to get out of the Park before the roads required the sort of treatment that has been the winter’s story at home. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwujTTLcYdI-ZjtY-iLy4cxARa5lnjD0ed5gEq3WVEx4Iv6DUJceGzSh0J4yZQ4unLIaAMlSPRZH9YskIX5aJ5Hjv5cLPp0zEbcbfKEkCaln-4AKnw6PU-NT2S26wvRn2NE6Yvzbgo_I/s1600-h/kan5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwujTTLcYdI-ZjtY-iLy4cxARa5lnjD0ed5gEq3WVEx4Iv6DUJceGzSh0J4yZQ4unLIaAMlSPRZH9YskIX5aJ5Hjv5cLPp0zEbcbfKEkCaln-4AKnw6PU-NT2S26wvRn2NE6Yvzbgo_I/s320/kan5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440915124367755346" /></a><i>Just out the front door</i><br /><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">It wasn’t so much of a rush that we couldn’t enjoy the atmospheric dining room of the hotel before leaving and also get one or two more shots of the Canyon when there was the slightest let up in the snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGnUQHNt4Pho1CbfyrJN36yDTRzW8Ei1tBw_zyPhp2h1-u8ESLy0HiPK8XMka4Et7WBbWiVpGqGg7rD0XP-GRqQLTZD_pAgaH_99cCG0H9ANotN0uoLEwPRErVe2-l0VsuBdQhMVfrJc/s1600-h/kan9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGnUQHNt4Pho1CbfyrJN36yDTRzW8Ei1tBw_zyPhp2h1-u8ESLy0HiPK8XMka4Et7WBbWiVpGqGg7rD0XP-GRqQLTZD_pAgaH_99cCG0H9ANotN0uoLEwPRErVe2-l0VsuBdQhMVfrJc/s320/kan9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440914185180675618" /></a><i>El Tovar Dining Room</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3fMwIWltrtCyZnSB0dsoAbnyYO8CDIqzdsnmVYnwg8-D19UdK7WDvq0PAE1Whqkt_Tr0z06NGIySQRlu2ieQmbIZcvpC_Ne99mBffSyzXZWuAgHlt34N7mBu6iAvma91bn6_Fmz_oDA/s1600-h/kan8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3fMwIWltrtCyZnSB0dsoAbnyYO8CDIqzdsnmVYnwg8-D19UdK7WDvq0PAE1Whqkt_Tr0z06NGIySQRlu2ieQmbIZcvpC_Ne99mBffSyzXZWuAgHlt34N7mBu6iAvma91bn6_Fmz_oDA/s320/kan8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440914174131647314" /></a><i>El Tovar Lobby</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLZqwLIzeXaYdeVTifituV81OCS12djl6ggUufzNEr0xIHm-FFHmbCH1L_V02W2SxrjW-p32UmHH903ju7g7Tx0fqPaFGNn40_lswPRATvrkM_Pytc9sUFC2indYIDg2CSwMv87sxSRI/s1600-h/kan7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLZqwLIzeXaYdeVTifituV81OCS12djl6ggUufzNEr0xIHm-FFHmbCH1L_V02W2SxrjW-p32UmHH903ju7g7Tx0fqPaFGNn40_lswPRATvrkM_Pytc9sUFC2indYIDg2CSwMv87sxSRI/s320/kan7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440914171932170178" /></a><i>Snow coming in</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kmyGCqHR6HHV4BmCX5T8luEgupC3MqacEMRKa0tVRnY-yzGSiHIwzHR_EXaAst-rZS6O_6A8yv1_DYjvkZHdg0Q4wD7LV-rkc7BV-M0kQ2KHeOAhe1sViKLoGsQSU0mYHeDANPYue50/s1600-h/kan6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kmyGCqHR6HHV4BmCX5T8luEgupC3MqacEMRKa0tVRnY-yzGSiHIwzHR_EXaAst-rZS6O_6A8yv1_DYjvkZHdg0Q4wD7LV-rkc7BV-M0kQ2KHeOAhe1sViKLoGsQSU0mYHeDANPYue50/s320/kan6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440913855086931538" /></a><i>More snow on the way</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov3UsVkunaY1fx0ePEQGbdghCB-8f0CFuflr_FWT9U1tSvIggaERynL9ZrIJBNAG2Ww6GmnP0mVP9ij8lTA5zeuCG2KjXjgSL1HF5qdbyO55Pwqk2Rb0j8CfCxvCJtnzcuYLDISAZ0Y0/s1600-h/kan4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov3UsVkunaY1fx0ePEQGbdghCB-8f0CFuflr_FWT9U1tSvIggaERynL9ZrIJBNAG2Ww6GmnP0mVP9ij8lTA5zeuCG2KjXjgSL1HF5qdbyO55Pwqk2Rb0j8CfCxvCJtnzcuYLDISAZ0Y0/s320/kan4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440913849854597250" /></a><i>Last view of the Canyon</i></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">From Grand Canyon Village our route was to take us on a fascinating route that crossed land that was Native American Reservation and to have glimpses of the settlements that were strung out along the barren landscape that lined the road. The landscape began to change as rising hills of coloured sandstone became the norm. Page was the next town on our way and as the gateway to the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Glimpses of Vermillion Cliffs and Paria Wilderness made sure that we would promise ourselves a return trip. For years I have enjoyed the images produced by my good friend Les McLean, a fine photographer, who had spent many working trips in Arizona and Utah, and now I had the first hand experience of placing those images into the context of my own visual memory. Thanks Les.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1AwGG-sCPDQ-N0UPRvhPBZGY5x9Kp4LjxqJdMbjsKdWxRLk3tULlj1JEKK0TOwKfVmeb-VC7QwiXdIpjARifcRv8aCzyfpoLyw11tEmcu6hZ0kPEeoM6zObqYqyWPCkGw3hLFMg8b6A/s1600-h/kan3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1AwGG-sCPDQ-N0UPRvhPBZGY5x9Kp4LjxqJdMbjsKdWxRLk3tULlj1JEKK0TOwKfVmeb-VC7QwiXdIpjARifcRv8aCzyfpoLyw11tEmcu6hZ0kPEeoM6zObqYqyWPCkGw3hLFMg8b6A/s320/kan3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440913844010423234" /></a><i>A little shaft of light before the storm catches up</i></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Deteriorating weather seemed to be following us so we kept moving and missed numerous opportunities to fill more of our memory cards. We arrived in Kanab, venue for the making of lots of cowboy movies by all of the big names of the genre, including John and Clint, to hear that there was a really heavy snowstorm forecast over the next twenty-four hours. Sky watch was the order for the evening. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXtPg8kT3XeT6O0GUZIX9kqzv_YI9hfukMYvCHa3wModyrtCuFAGr5Fvf3crjmVjqLtrFVSXE5jtMAyXtGNqwzCcgYxdhPnenhIkcPRUlL_kXgnf5E_Xki4d-L76eKzE1mqxslvIsWbA/s1600-h/kan2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXtPg8kT3XeT6O0GUZIX9kqzv_YI9hfukMYvCHa3wModyrtCuFAGr5Fvf3crjmVjqLtrFVSXE5jtMAyXtGNqwzCcgYxdhPnenhIkcPRUlL_kXgnf5E_Xki4d-L76eKzE1mqxslvIsWbA/s320/kan2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440913835653187010" /></a><i>Kanab Main Street</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOdDIOEtw2D9LBVu0HW3yZ7D9BziHND29H8ZR-hZ9E2pUb2wZLKz6k1_eWNYyrJ01jrFaDdwg5J2gQrreqDtW4wfJkv390NEjRytuOqQMxqDmBNXq5Y1dvjD0AnueANKmK8td-spR7IQ/s1600-h/kan1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOdDIOEtw2D9LBVu0HW3yZ7D9BziHND29H8ZR-hZ9E2pUb2wZLKz6k1_eWNYyrJ01jrFaDdwg5J2gQrreqDtW4wfJkv390NEjRytuOqQMxqDmBNXq5Y1dvjD0AnueANKmK8td-spR7IQ/s320/kan1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440913832047039650" /></a><i>Memories of the Movies</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-70437288583119399902010-02-20T19:36:00.000-08:002010-02-20T20:05:04.423-08:00How Grand Can it Be?<div>Just before last light I managed to do a quick sketch of the view from the balcony at our digs in Sedona. There wasn't enough light to photograph it last night so it had to wait till this morning. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj73bvwW_Cd3xwZ9ItZRKdmNZWSE-2odoe56hJUD-2gZcMjxrUkqJm70OMPOQczS4c3C7CCQ846ZJSeJAezoa2s1W4p2gAhXCr_DloInozITPeIw6A_gFn9ZfFlbADfNDcoRzPtmd7FBM/s1600-h/can27.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj73bvwW_Cd3xwZ9ItZRKdmNZWSE-2odoe56hJUD-2gZcMjxrUkqJm70OMPOQczS4c3C7CCQ846ZJSeJAezoa2s1W4p2gAhXCr_DloInozITPeIw6A_gFn9ZfFlbADfNDcoRzPtmd7FBM/s320/can27.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440538352133126706" /></a><i>View from Matterhorn Inn, Sedona</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDKbDTGqs6dBPMoqOfKTL8hVJC_-nlT4jWAQbI7sZJ9SlceAGjdZ37qXr5oOKy2q5wfbCZhkeYotKQGYUoRKZfuA0UWVGCtZOSshif698zyJhyphenhyphenIb-gs3DbvJjUUyFp0WiNrc2iw5ox9A/s1600-h/can26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDKbDTGqs6dBPMoqOfKTL8hVJC_-nlT4jWAQbI7sZJ9SlceAGjdZ37qXr5oOKy2q5wfbCZhkeYotKQGYUoRKZfuA0UWVGCtZOSshif698zyJhyphenhyphenIb-gs3DbvJjUUyFp0WiNrc2iw5ox9A/s320/can26.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440538347139758594" /></a><i>Early morning, Sedona</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGJ3VH4akfTS7Eph-iUtxLzkOecbNavP59xHrlRcErUeYdZfKmMCrD3dfMbI6e_2Tv2LBc6JRiv1UqLni4_Qzb0kJ0EHiAb-ndYdaPhf1VWDNn2vysKdKX25w1a88C85mjc0HgMFtyAk/s1600-h/can25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGJ3VH4akfTS7Eph-iUtxLzkOecbNavP59xHrlRcErUeYdZfKmMCrD3dfMbI6e_2Tv2LBc6JRiv1UqLni4_Qzb0kJ0EHiAb-ndYdaPhf1VWDNn2vysKdKX25w1a88C85mjc0HgMFtyAk/s320/can25.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440538345349235842" /></a><i>Another morning shot</i></div><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">To travel in Arizona is to understand the impact that the Grand Canyon has on the consciousness of those who live there but also how it is held in the thoughts of the nation. No matter what the time of year, whatever the weather the huge number of Americans who come with the foreign tourists in their thousands is testament to the affection and awe that this huge scar on the surface of our planet engenders.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy7sPnX2EjvFUDZ31iYqsf4jNz6IBbdQt_GDzqJrgSXt6utoajYMXAPntIQx8RHrYnwTdpQNNacncQFS9jsae-UolRD5jcgAx399b3HsJsACRoEBKjsa1hxgeTZehklAnegjPbEucWeE/s1600-h/can24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy7sPnX2EjvFUDZ31iYqsf4jNz6IBbdQt_GDzqJrgSXt6utoajYMXAPntIQx8RHrYnwTdpQNNacncQFS9jsae-UolRD5jcgAx399b3HsJsACRoEBKjsa1hxgeTZehklAnegjPbEucWeE/s320/can24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440538341998449074" /></a><i>View down Oak Creek</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRghOSiyYgiokEFMIvvAVPpQkBkMphRAVHFvVhydzbBhkHIT3_MXwnriIxMLTcg88LwhIu_zYUHQTO3Nk_XGLqeSEyYcgoiZ197XgzqOqKappckfrXV7eQImuwesIpH9Adl9kgbTTnaZk/s1600-h/can23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRghOSiyYgiokEFMIvvAVPpQkBkMphRAVHFvVhydzbBhkHIT3_MXwnriIxMLTcg88LwhIu_zYUHQTO3Nk_XGLqeSEyYcgoiZ197XgzqOqKappckfrXV7eQImuwesIpH9Adl9kgbTTnaZk/s320/can23.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537975610155874" /></a><i>Wider view along Oak Creek</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyqbnRccS6P3sZrzXMJ5YJ1vn5wKSWe_3Iasvs39n8A7T8A8mwmLq33jYIOaKG0nj4YB3PhSgFpyGyrqsv5iJnvC_Y2AtdJOSTgYeEm_V_dTP35vGK2TRUbVlSloa5EMlzNsX24DGqWE/s1600-h/can22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyqbnRccS6P3sZrzXMJ5YJ1vn5wKSWe_3Iasvs39n8A7T8A8mwmLq33jYIOaKG0nj4YB3PhSgFpyGyrqsv5iJnvC_Y2AtdJOSTgYeEm_V_dTP35vGK2TRUbVlSloa5EMlzNsX24DGqWE/s320/can22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537970079096978" /></a><i>Top of the hill above Slide Rock Park</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQ-XGp31SJNNLVxNqjcDG5uBrdPNlKYnuFxS_XjPAQw3wwoNyaFXxr4Rjm9-cvQ4kN_j2PjrefZXhux9Fj6A6i2elifrjRbxwqZY6W931GM0vhc-gOtzFiuyiojOFfyK3Jw-I6sesAjE/s1600-h/can21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQ-XGp31SJNNLVxNqjcDG5uBrdPNlKYnuFxS_XjPAQw3wwoNyaFXxr4Rjm9-cvQ4kN_j2PjrefZXhux9Fj6A6i2elifrjRbxwqZY6W931GM0vhc-gOtzFiuyiojOFfyK3Jw-I6sesAjE/s320/can21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537968200241634" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sheila shivers in her 'acclimatisation for returning home' programme</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">And so it was that we headed North from Sedona on our own pilgrimage to the National Park. Our route took us along Oak Creek Canyon, through Slide Rock Park to Flagstaff rapidly rising and seeing the amount of accumulated snow increase as we gained height. It is easy to forget how high these mountains rise, at various times we get as high as 8,000 ft.. After stopping to take in the views on numerous occasions we eventually arrived at our destination the wonderful old lodge in the Park, El Tovar. After checking in we had time to take in the vistas from the rim of the Canyon. Jaw dropping spectacular is the only way to describe it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOpJDOFxHYUO9P5Sbf_6GtVaMp1waFU8ueZQSlR8EZ_-b-MaL9c9D0VtwaClrcY1dLLFGp5v0usrIqky1wc4W_LWm4ZlJF-Ra3qplr-FgzrhRoNokAl4SJIG0cWA4IMRh1SElwFWNi60/s1600-h/can19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOpJDOFxHYUO9P5Sbf_6GtVaMp1waFU8ueZQSlR8EZ_-b-MaL9c9D0VtwaClrcY1dLLFGp5v0usrIqky1wc4W_LWm4ZlJF-Ra3qplr-FgzrhRoNokAl4SJIG0cWA4IMRh1SElwFWNi60/s320/can19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537961742621538" /></a><i>First view of the Canyon</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc5tfJSOHZQIzZ60FoFk6mxQZPSWOnjelF9vUpaEyT6ZxLgqjvCZX5OOlNYyZkm1epFpSOUM7bs1zu9exxj8IPBt6gXdRlIlY_1tmClM0bUZjJidf7CPrBcyw4Zs-mo7IIO2LDeOk_qk/s1600-h/can18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc5tfJSOHZQIzZ60FoFk6mxQZPSWOnjelF9vUpaEyT6ZxLgqjvCZX5OOlNYyZkm1epFpSOUM7bs1zu9exxj8IPBt6gXdRlIlY_1tmClM0bUZjJidf7CPrBcyw4Zs-mo7IIO2LDeOk_qk/s320/can18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537956685844850" /></a><i>More of the same</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT1I1AhNPtB1ZrQ99yiVqrMSuD2UyO-goJ5qDbGhhTpViBikespBlbHYookIvtcdV2nWr_UMXIU4LmXTD1eJCONG1Y4SISyM91rG15pwGrJT2BPYYoTUU784TWi3jmiPGNjkGY271u8g/s1600-h/can17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT1I1AhNPtB1ZrQ99yiVqrMSuD2UyO-goJ5qDbGhhTpViBikespBlbHYookIvtcdV2nWr_UMXIU4LmXTD1eJCONG1Y4SISyM91rG15pwGrJT2BPYYoTUU784TWi3jmiPGNjkGY271u8g/s320/can17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537471425401074" /></a><i>Just to prove that I'm not actually in Middlesbrough on the Pamole die</i>t</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1an9Bvu-xNYZtSLaUSLrDdXvI8c9UCqDlbXvETVm3dYJD2HogeEO8Zq7c-0I_IZReSZTOB35Pa0YrXwJf5kY5tJ5cf5-cQBIzDUTdBjKkFU29HnvWTo61-T5PCa4O6mbZvGdOEC2Nxs/s1600-h/can16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1an9Bvu-xNYZtSLaUSLrDdXvI8c9UCqDlbXvETVm3dYJD2HogeEO8Zq7c-0I_IZReSZTOB35Pa0YrXwJf5kY5tJ5cf5-cQBIzDUTdBjKkFU29HnvWTo61-T5PCa4O6mbZvGdOEC2Nxs/s320/can16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537468109889250" /></a><i>More Canyon</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS4iUs2sI5sXWddhCyHLy6cOVnqoKTpxIPbFsppKMR8NbJ8ic9rpmKU79efP9Jxg_Jyarcfz2vkCD4wnD0HsAgyIUp-6EwYonDTWrvDdvrzTJO0kQeETrabDYst66ixOLdOs1241H3ig/s1600-h/can15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS4iUs2sI5sXWddhCyHLy6cOVnqoKTpxIPbFsppKMR8NbJ8ic9rpmKU79efP9Jxg_Jyarcfz2vkCD4wnD0HsAgyIUp-6EwYonDTWrvDdvrzTJO0kQeETrabDYst66ixOLdOs1241H3ig/s320/can15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537462980808530" /></a><i>And again</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1GjR6xYHOJEB30mlUI7pqUEJ-wPBWhGkVtPWFDe9uFo4x1p2AYdT3PrNn6F4S4DC_4-m4XFW81612LKQa3dsFXjF_nMk0nUbaIZpx_QnIgWIXz18WdKgYMdKrc7k5dNqW3BCZbAGm_s/s1600-h/can14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1GjR6xYHOJEB30mlUI7pqUEJ-wPBWhGkVtPWFDe9uFo4x1p2AYdT3PrNn6F4S4DC_4-m4XFW81612LKQa3dsFXjF_nMk0nUbaIZpx_QnIgWIXz18WdKgYMdKrc7k5dNqW3BCZbAGm_s/s320/can14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537460677226306" /></a><i>Are you fed up yet?</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivccTx_hTcLotE0D6Vo1q8XAPnnsSIPVoFrQIREjwq7gZLna6OOkuQa6H9__xQZw4zkf7CU_-JqakgDo_DBnfa7XC3zASH5Kz7TlOqy90WtXX1wgi2C4SEqaQTVuMoDhSc56DOOrU_Zbg/s1600-h/can13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivccTx_hTcLotE0D6Vo1q8XAPnnsSIPVoFrQIREjwq7gZLna6OOkuQa6H9__xQZw4zkf7CU_-JqakgDo_DBnfa7XC3zASH5Kz7TlOqy90WtXX1wgi2C4SEqaQTVuMoDhSc56DOOrU_Zbg/s320/can13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440537454199586642" /></a><i>Keep going</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4FiXx_vRa_HpgLaZIbiNHhw0_7xLfysSE4Q2oqs768knXY6kaSKn4swY5GybBPv13C_esL5QIo8ngTbHkSj_IPUyBL6G5UHaEM1I7XKwBx6tboU8LStuNXVvfh6ze7xeCBE02YgpQ98/s1600-h/can12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4FiXx_vRa_HpgLaZIbiNHhw0_7xLfysSE4Q2oqs768knXY6kaSKn4swY5GybBPv13C_esL5QIo8ngTbHkSj_IPUyBL6G5UHaEM1I7XKwBx6tboU8LStuNXVvfh6ze7xeCBE02YgpQ98/s320/can12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536914134869826" /></a><i>Little details</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi7j_3YlSpAzLNEzeo_0eSgcbT5fjLqxk8YQ_cEUL4TFQ5BrOQ-BRZp8vYie9X0sdUoyr3GelMLbVg-uXN5fE-Oo1F4SA6qHusKatJ1ac3FUnjg_Fpzlv_VoKb0KZ7H2dHw2L6jJR0kA/s1600-h/can11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi7j_3YlSpAzLNEzeo_0eSgcbT5fjLqxk8YQ_cEUL4TFQ5BrOQ-BRZp8vYie9X0sdUoyr3GelMLbVg-uXN5fE-Oo1F4SA6qHusKatJ1ac3FUnjg_Fpzlv_VoKb0KZ7H2dHw2L6jJR0kA/s320/can11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536906500466274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5Xg3ZkkGAMPzaePrX9CTfQ6pbzObXGCLdg0HZQK5dkyOU9p4qk1sjJ_DAGaTJwGEZlI17HTeqmiBD1ADS-HZklCxK97qFlFbTKqcAFvqA0iMW9AI6vRwb1k5CJikXxC-TSKW-fHBr-g/s1600-h/can9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5Xg3ZkkGAMPzaePrX9CTfQ6pbzObXGCLdg0HZQK5dkyOU9p4qk1sjJ_DAGaTJwGEZlI17HTeqmiBD1ADS-HZklCxK97qFlFbTKqcAFvqA0iMW9AI6vRwb1k5CJikXxC-TSKW-fHBr-g/s320/can9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536901933161922" /></a><i>Out on the edge</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb3sOuHaPxr6Px_9aDh5NxdOOfW9vm5VtW7v-KBzSE8s4OxiVeFFiqb1LRtf41XdcnyuFLSL7DNkU4z1MbcHgwlui5VNoQsATvDRN0ltRnz_OmXsaZQIPfS0tH8-m1YSG1HVsMcM9Vuo/s1600-h/can7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb3sOuHaPxr6Px_9aDh5NxdOOfW9vm5VtW7v-KBzSE8s4OxiVeFFiqb1LRtf41XdcnyuFLSL7DNkU4z1MbcHgwlui5VNoQsATvDRN0ltRnz_OmXsaZQIPfS0tH8-m1YSG1HVsMcM9Vuo/s320/can7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536895878205362" /></a><i>El Tovar</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaU0_qgRZyEeX21nkZb-hZvdegWyvwT2CngZa4B1_iRgQEWjg_HYk1QgAlcFhbgmB_jEWSpMzKLMmA8c7uWBAPw_gZrNE1ezdRayPbe8QDgSBtO-eyD7v0bFCSm4B3pd6Gg0bqO-fNnwY/s1600-h/can6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaU0_qgRZyEeX21nkZb-hZvdegWyvwT2CngZa4B1_iRgQEWjg_HYk1QgAlcFhbgmB_jEWSpMzKLMmA8c7uWBAPw_gZrNE1ezdRayPbe8QDgSBtO-eyD7v0bFCSm4B3pd6Gg0bqO-fNnwY/s320/can6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536890593616546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk3fLSuDY6WsyDGN10tsBx90cvSBSWPotC-zChC-t_kBl58j6PbQ6uBw4XCOiQ0PB8c4XKs90q2V6-nFVAfP0gXp0jpg699MIq5OsVyk4MN2NWM7FlOCqRJF4HJFFujKEG7ur7LAA3pQ/s1600-h/can5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk3fLSuDY6WsyDGN10tsBx90cvSBSWPotC-zChC-t_kBl58j6PbQ6uBw4XCOiQ0PB8c4XKs90q2V6-nFVAfP0gXp0jpg699MIq5OsVyk4MN2NWM7FlOCqRJF4HJFFujKEG7ur7LAA3pQ/s320/can5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536239839824946" /></a><i>Sheila gets as close as she is comfortable</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8qxE2T3VdiupCq7g8-0eNptqTfb51VFu9o5CTzNU39yOgT6vNev0obqxm2-uEDnBGl9LNxG_GS7_VYYV8drscJOg5Rz1zbrzs6zRghHRjzsnMLIhO3Ck2SAGXvR-a0-PPKNMd9BkKSs/s1600-h/can4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8qxE2T3VdiupCq7g8-0eNptqTfb51VFu9o5CTzNU39yOgT6vNev0obqxm2-uEDnBGl9LNxG_GS7_VYYV8drscJOg5Rz1zbrzs6zRghHRjzsnMLIhO3Ck2SAGXvR-a0-PPKNMd9BkKSs/s320/can4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536237248203634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWboDnBc2m896ZaUGSt9m6NQa-tUEYzPpZnslXSB_-siaOqacBvzFvSk0LFBMIoX62xZqofMRmrgFTy_G4F4aCfQOTheT0D5G_aQXpB-iKb8L7sC-K1b3Sa-VVHRzOobPTVEmmU2aZsU/s1600-h/can3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWboDnBc2m896ZaUGSt9m6NQa-tUEYzPpZnslXSB_-siaOqacBvzFvSk0LFBMIoX62xZqofMRmrgFTy_G4F4aCfQOTheT0D5G_aQXpB-iKb8L7sC-K1b3Sa-VVHRzOobPTVEmmU2aZsU/s320/can3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536231176622162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QThn7PuwDMIl4Cicj0WHANqlh9VJDoIgEkxHIyJeVg9ZyLsCBbETCpH0H-XLrMicuSilTEDckBoPj6W_lJhrS7hgbw9QL7dKNfxh4peFBl7GUjh8lshPcefbJN4dn9Tzxm9XZNJAtMc/s1600-h/can2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QThn7PuwDMIl4Cicj0WHANqlh9VJDoIgEkxHIyJeVg9ZyLsCBbETCpH0H-XLrMicuSilTEDckBoPj6W_lJhrS7hgbw9QL7dKNfxh4peFBl7GUjh8lshPcefbJN4dn9Tzxm9XZNJAtMc/s320/can2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536228503805698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOcSb1FhSsE0F97IsTe6dBGt94sYJH6YFnPVzhYqtRZLmySCDQDma-_MX0ionerDrzRmj3zCsnqk9IvAAb9zH65TaloPL-OSIo0AM3j5s2FIha_Ko8WarKIMQJjdBtLXkhnrMbL49qCw/s1600-h/can1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOcSb1FhSsE0F97IsTe6dBGt94sYJH6YFnPVzhYqtRZLmySCDQDma-_MX0ionerDrzRmj3zCsnqk9IvAAb9zH65TaloPL-OSIo0AM3j5s2FIha_Ko8WarKIMQJjdBtLXkhnrMbL49qCw/s320/can1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440536218768877202" /></a>Snow forecast for the morning, hope we get to see more before we head off to Kanab.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-28069913911389634572010-02-19T18:01:00.001-08:002010-02-19T18:11:29.764-08:00To Sedona<div>A relatively short hop from LA to Phoenix set us up for a drive up to our first top in Arizona, Sedona. Phoenix itself seemed to stretch for miles before we hit more open country and the climb through land covered in the monumental Saguro cacti much loved by movie fans. The landscape changes as you move into higher desert country and eventually we met country that made us realise why this part of the world is known as Red Rock.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today's pictures are a little selection of shots taken en route. The last two are taken from our motel balcony. Not bad, eh? </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JsQUm__2W7-X93ncAgtVlodBAeDWEFUISkQP3RrRYUaEsmfUuXqFnZPFoBVjB2TX9e7vREi-Aauv6KAZwdOZz46a-WtFEOFraVrOanCr8BYCLQKO_QGHfX0Ao8bRBVUbtvYRR9RhHdg/s1600-h/sed5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JsQUm__2W7-X93ncAgtVlodBAeDWEFUISkQP3RrRYUaEsmfUuXqFnZPFoBVjB2TX9e7vREi-Aauv6KAZwdOZz46a-WtFEOFraVrOanCr8BYCLQKO_QGHfX0Ao8bRBVUbtvYRR9RhHdg/s320/sed5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440140463017766738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX9n2E2q0hJOzcgGcsONqxBCbbpqhHrflZL-ER4Ox3PNitq9WHFU3KpfB7Y62T0mi1IKz7BvftvJWBNwQ4Q-b50SKO9J1FgfFTnhR_HJ4YApH1cVGFw0SoBX26w4lcdbC4LsuQ1VfG3Q/s1600-h/sed4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX9n2E2q0hJOzcgGcsONqxBCbbpqhHrflZL-ER4Ox3PNitq9WHFU3KpfB7Y62T0mi1IKz7BvftvJWBNwQ4Q-b50SKO9J1FgfFTnhR_HJ4YApH1cVGFw0SoBX26w4lcdbC4LsuQ1VfG3Q/s320/sed4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440140452003208898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSE7miIJL7MBp2l8I6Y-DU89S-SeGFzfgxJETjzptFOz2dg8uXWIYMzKL0xQJWbqpHgtI9y6pTnb8iyNXv6cl5IdfW2UVuCodEa0SWNasbJB9Zq-iUvhde9ib85xwYMFVzBT4MdtDG2E/s1600-h/sed3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSE7miIJL7MBp2l8I6Y-DU89S-SeGFzfgxJETjzptFOz2dg8uXWIYMzKL0xQJWbqpHgtI9y6pTnb8iyNXv6cl5IdfW2UVuCodEa0SWNasbJB9Zq-iUvhde9ib85xwYMFVzBT4MdtDG2E/s320/sed3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440140445220248866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZGK41jJyJY8QpIQdW_XLYQL3-tfcOP8Zxfj6qxk5O3gnrbZMmbC9aLxQwipIjypmWDxQrnVWi07AWdOXp6MHGQEf_9hBzBWxdHLjF_XKUvQjkPSEiLxHqzZMy4BpBo68u4zZEVipDXA/s1600-h/sed2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZGK41jJyJY8QpIQdW_XLYQL3-tfcOP8Zxfj6qxk5O3gnrbZMmbC9aLxQwipIjypmWDxQrnVWi07AWdOXp6MHGQEf_9hBzBWxdHLjF_XKUvQjkPSEiLxHqzZMy4BpBo68u4zZEVipDXA/s320/sed2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440140435822021410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Kx4tlZksfWe2PFu1cpHPqCX7Z8rJP7n1OFTOhAR7tPnnbqNZV3JUxNHK3Fhxajq_84NKKG3kvQ8DPUTt2jcTx0dAzDAwu4mbh_VZSJjTUdib-0LtrShyphenhyphenoa4ku6LzpFJI_-zw0k-9BhI/s1600-h/sed1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Kx4tlZksfWe2PFu1cpHPqCX7Z8rJP7n1OFTOhAR7tPnnbqNZV3JUxNHK3Fhxajq_84NKKG3kvQ8DPUTt2jcTx0dAzDAwu4mbh_VZSJjTUdib-0LtrShyphenhyphenoa4ku6LzpFJI_-zw0k-9BhI/s320/sed1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440140428396857826" /></a>Hope you're not going to get sick of rock shots, we're off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-2676540672053228872010-02-18T19:52:00.001-08:002010-02-18T20:04:28.676-08:00Down in Hollywood!<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Smokers beware! For the second time in recent travels, sneaky smokers have set off fire alarms in airport toilets resulting in terminals being evacuated, passengers having to undergo the rigours of security checks for a second time and flights being delayed. Myself and hundreds of other tortured souls are now looking for the culprits with a view to ripping out their selfish hearts. The thought that one person can cause so much disruption makes it easy to understand why the airlines and airports make such a dramatic target for those who wish others harm. As you may gather from today’s rant our flight from Auckland to Los Angeles was delayed as a result of a fire alarm being set off in one of the airport toilets. Fortunately for us the flight had started to board and whilst we were shepherded onto the tarmac and guarded we did avoid having to go through another round of security checks, the latest version of which travellers to the US have to undergo being even more thorough and in addition to the usual check. We arrived in the USA knackered after all that, but we did have the consolation of having our second opportunity to enjoy February 17<sup>th</sup>, courtesy of the International Date Line.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIITnYxu3EVoaJDSCCslltDvdqzz74ll6LCJCJysZOWARh34MKe4pBoZk56eqpHD4ylcV7bm0t4x4zzKGmen2dpLFXD-sTYUgImVyVnVBw8QBPhf7dg_YypT_atjTrd6qurdmFgG2SdVs/s1600-h/la12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIITnYxu3EVoaJDSCCslltDvdqzz74ll6LCJCJysZOWARh34MKe4pBoZk56eqpHD4ylcV7bm0t4x4zzKGmen2dpLFXD-sTYUgImVyVnVBw8QBPhf7dg_YypT_atjTrd6qurdmFgG2SdVs/s320/la12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439798767741877890" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Manhattan Beach - Beach Volleyball Capital of the States</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">On arrival at our hotel after a smooth and swift passage through US immigration and customs we had to decide whether to sleep off our travel weariness or try to drop straight into local time. We decided on the latter and after a quick Skype session to catch up with the family, we headed for the beach. LAX is not too far from the coast just south of the main city centre and as we hadn’t been there before we decided to avoid the cross city trip to more well known venues like Venice Beach and go local. A shuttle down to Manhattan Beach gave us the chance for a pleasant and rejuvenating stroll along a promenade lined with some very expensive looking seaside real estate as well as a walk to the end of the pier.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFjehUssGeRbqqQmE9LfgFKOd8-ChvkpYCuLZAph3nQFzC7T2uCOYaQk4tg0ijgPdLVwG1-gnOjsQ7o9OJpYKSfdBlu69gpo8a70zhSFYMcI5xkFdIPnsBBlkArEgRnt6FKs9a4ozR3o/s1600-h/la11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFjehUssGeRbqqQmE9LfgFKOd8-ChvkpYCuLZAph3nQFzC7T2uCOYaQk4tg0ijgPdLVwG1-gnOjsQ7o9OJpYKSfdBlu69gpo8a70zhSFYMcI5xkFdIPnsBBlkArEgRnt6FKs9a4ozR3o/s320/la11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439798763049902834" /></a><i>The Pier</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxenIlFCj3u9xD2H4o1egQiFKQJDi-t5vRdXjhUjZ8zyo-sFSM7oRlCZg9k_2U6ypzdy0keaSVFDUfKaJ6F_kFu7BGKQhvUt4wMNWKh5eMnFWwVPGAcYTL5_pGUqqkPhw5e9RF_YAXQE/s1600-h/la9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxenIlFCj3u9xD2H4o1egQiFKQJDi-t5vRdXjhUjZ8zyo-sFSM7oRlCZg9k_2U6ypzdy0keaSVFDUfKaJ6F_kFu7BGKQhvUt4wMNWKh5eMnFWwVPGAcYTL5_pGUqqkPhw5e9RF_YAXQE/s320/la9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439798556457442642" /></a><i>Pam was out saving somebody</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfTzDyHFS25gvvZRb7GVs1G5avWmizEJjm_TUU8vkeO1bVdg8KaAiFlijPwhYRb39V1rcnOale-0KQphwCBtRP9n90vzXDWj8lFTaByiy09A_8JQ6nyeOvx0NJR-ETAN2ypVRtJuFry4/s1600-h/la8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfTzDyHFS25gvvZRb7GVs1G5avWmizEJjm_TUU8vkeO1bVdg8KaAiFlijPwhYRb39V1rcnOale-0KQphwCBtRP9n90vzXDWj8lFTaByiy09A_8JQ6nyeOvx0NJR-ETAN2ypVRtJuFry4/s320/la8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439798552657546930" /></a><i>Interested Observer</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2PxaN_AmJpa-KRnQdhchfx7oq99mw5Q2MDVoYmBg9kEk-KPPRWiU3RPHd11XBvikgkYT7Ed80GdELEnEI9fV4PvnFenKbVVOHt_LP6QWpyUFTXKhlXN8bPfFxDu3Cli_eAbZjXsNnio/s1600-h/la7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2PxaN_AmJpa-KRnQdhchfx7oq99mw5Q2MDVoYmBg9kEk-KPPRWiU3RPHd11XBvikgkYT7Ed80GdELEnEI9fV4PvnFenKbVVOHt_LP6QWpyUFTXKhlXN8bPfFxDu3Cli_eAbZjXsNnio/s320/la7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439798542619290642" /></a><i>End of the Pier</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ULr2wwI2AY4tc94DDmIq3Irz5M68G0RPPVvG-KDgz-lsShP5odj5e1tNSza_UxLGIpz3kXeLHmA4_LWwJOkfBBLazkKDpkfoYN9gAaRiKGhB4ZDG5TlyRaFypYfXe_zi4yUSsd9UGmo/s1600-h/la6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ULr2wwI2AY4tc94DDmIq3Irz5M68G0RPPVvG-KDgz-lsShP5odj5e1tNSza_UxLGIpz3kXeLHmA4_LWwJOkfBBLazkKDpkfoYN9gAaRiKGhB4ZDG5TlyRaFypYfXe_zi4yUSsd9UGmo/s320/la6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439798539618634658" /></a><i>Round, round I git around</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwSaTkv2QGKkgE_1UJ1k7ddSK2qdfjTIH4SgxH59qRFfICX1AjTkcBGlfae0wrWIjaK_x2yOibBxXymBp9X2Fz9iSXtRMxby3XSuAUxtjVA1sQ2dxp5f93jeHcLu9VmhQc8b4omW0SYk/s1600-h/la5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwSaTkv2QGKkgE_1UJ1k7ddSK2qdfjTIH4SgxH59qRFfICX1AjTkcBGlfae0wrWIjaK_x2yOibBxXymBp9X2Fz9iSXtRMxby3XSuAUxtjVA1sQ2dxp5f93jeHcLu9VmhQc8b4omW0SYk/s320/la5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439797848156636050" /></a><i>The Recovery Position</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4MftTUpclc-SQSe-Wyaf1__GUdOSZlYB2JnX6l47pWbwWFwfsMwW1bIl7XecOblOjyx-IeGvM9r6dHbsXXBwRu_dIWp7rkiw7x9cHfQgbwjxQLjzdI3idhaemh3XFwcFhF-8KHMciyU/s1600-h/la4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4MftTUpclc-SQSe-Wyaf1__GUdOSZlYB2JnX6l47pWbwWFwfsMwW1bIl7XecOblOjyx-IeGvM9r6dHbsXXBwRu_dIWp7rkiw7x9cHfQgbwjxQLjzdI3idhaemh3XFwcFhF-8KHMciyU/s320/la4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439797840191617538" /></a><i>Bijou Beach Cabin</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_rhElgkGLx8VyhHiZjiQJCnttIXkQ_NX4AeUHMxZRZpaBX0VX88_3PNmUtftIoYxiuguo-92kFXXQ0IbYhN_0zhdr2YyIxrmjzBTke7R0xmgi3sfDJeWKZyHjHnEfcoqD2yCmwceMUU/s1600-h/la3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_rhElgkGLx8VyhHiZjiQJCnttIXkQ_NX4AeUHMxZRZpaBX0VX88_3PNmUtftIoYxiuguo-92kFXXQ0IbYhN_0zhdr2YyIxrmjzBTke7R0xmgi3sfDJeWKZyHjHnEfcoqD2yCmwceMUU/s320/la3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439797835197289634" /></a><i>Just to have room for the family</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgs39EQ5A2sHgttr2QYDFua_BJgBumc2htWgrVOERk8QlLgOmE3I0KkSBWNYSVnp-NVCFlcCXrXdjzotpHKvVdaFFRyGQ2zOQjExe1HrXU1qhsxyw2oGTxsF9gWoyMmftlxMzwSe7cOM/s1600-h/la2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgs39EQ5A2sHgttr2QYDFua_BJgBumc2htWgrVOERk8QlLgOmE3I0KkSBWNYSVnp-NVCFlcCXrXdjzotpHKvVdaFFRyGQ2zOQjExe1HrXU1qhsxyw2oGTxsF9gWoyMmftlxMzwSe7cOM/s320/la2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439797828177456482" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Main Street Manhattan Beach</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Much quieter than some of its better-known neighbours this was a very discreet, up market community that oozed wealth and as such was graced with a good selection of eating establishments, one of which provided us with the evening meal. A shuttle back to our hotel gave us the chance of an early night prior to the next morning’s flight to Phoenix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7Z9gObj9rrrb31KeQ1mEaIpwl18nASwZZj2kSMvkx1MZPBsHZWP8K36GJtVXaMX3Vpk8xgEtN_Uw0HhGFAQgGIGcbyGKiJbPOmk0kzki7aAq-mWf3VJhLVm91snzM3kxAUsJrfSkoi0/s1600-h/la1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7Z9gObj9rrrb31KeQ1mEaIpwl18nASwZZj2kSMvkx1MZPBsHZWP8K36GJtVXaMX3Vpk8xgEtN_Uw0HhGFAQgGIGcbyGKiJbPOmk0kzki7aAq-mWf3VJhLVm91snzM3kxAUsJrfSkoi0/s320/la1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439797823931686834" /></a><i>LAX with reflections</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-56111232047659766762010-02-16T11:40:00.001-08:002013-02-17T04:22:43.300-08:00$6.60<div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Christchurch, our last stop off in New Zealand, has a little different feel to the other cities on our tour whilst it still demonstrates the things that we have come to appreciate on our journey. This is a great country to visit, very comfortable for Brits, ‘feels like home’, full of stunning sights and fine hospitality and food, not to mention the glorious wine. Maybe the difference here is the older part of the city where there is a river not unlike those running through our Oxbridge cities with dripping willows and boater behatted punt pilots. They tell me that this is the most English of New Zealand cities and in the oldest section it could be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> Today was a day inspired by the contents of the first photograph, found outside one of the numerous Irish pubs that inhabit every city on the face of the earth. On spotting it a plan began to form. Was there any chance of escaping the latest Lonely Planet tick list and streetathon? A forlorn look and muttering about lack of painting opportunities had Sheila suggest that, after a quick tour on the tram and visit to Art Gallery, I miss out on the joy of the Botanic Gardens and the Arts and Craft centre and head off with my watercolours.</o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6afgkbjZPkULDureivuLq_zCaK0DbKpUNZIT93PiIL0ET4nh9oUfE0osPkib-8U9i_743lTSOv7RS4D1vmkqy97n5PLFrqsyL8Ws8TsvHYAtEMK6x33sK1IxeY4iSO_ktd-S4ifi-Q8/s1600-h/cant9.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438929318152783282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6afgkbjZPkULDureivuLq_zCaK0DbKpUNZIT93PiIL0ET4nh9oUfE0osPkib-8U9i_743lTSOv7RS4D1vmkqy97n5PLFrqsyL8Ws8TsvHYAtEMK6x33sK1IxeY4iSO_ktd-S4ifi-Q8/s320/cant9.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><i>Inspiration</i><br />
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGYRyiPaeau68hUYBBTnfQVEYJT1jgjW-5xg4dvgzbYEE0hvxySbv-oVA2SqJzRszZI77nTjapep5jIrCO1xRg1MQFANeHMQ5m7LpgYSWCmoAWIKPtMx2ClE2HxhO7gOAmNbtprUUZwY/s1600-h/cant8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438929310048924706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGYRyiPaeau68hUYBBTnfQVEYJT1jgjW-5xg4dvgzbYEE0hvxySbv-oVA2SqJzRszZI77nTjapep5jIrCO1xRg1MQFANeHMQ5m7LpgYSWCmoAWIKPtMx2ClE2HxhO7gOAmNbtprUUZwY/s320/cant8.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><i>City Centre Tram</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf4Z_Z9oNwfsqLz7eyc9QrHULXrP0CuTRs-9NwhMcFY5IuoczMRDQeiI6V3T71MvI9cLBEV01C3MxzspoCldlKOQ2kVP6oJLOD497OHw7rHnL7loKLGdY5HIe6xY-Nf68BTRm7dIxX1g/s1600-h/cant7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438929306926269250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf4Z_Z9oNwfsqLz7eyc9QrHULXrP0CuTRs-9NwhMcFY5IuoczMRDQeiI6V3T71MvI9cLBEV01C3MxzspoCldlKOQ2kVP6oJLOD497OHw7rHnL7loKLGdY5HIe6xY-Nf68BTRm7dIxX1g/s320/cant7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><i>Town Crier</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFoW66G1xwmxV5x-0ZjwuZEgIsPgkRo6yJMwVIjK_uPjRt3Zdjpgo7zsdE1phdWoUjz19uciaXNwO-9COC3jMmbsGQF9kluPonbb7Z8TLUQM8YOfPLfuPrnYc2JhtjhBgQoqT83Ukr64/s1600-h/cant6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438929299390592594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFoW66G1xwmxV5x-0ZjwuZEgIsPgkRo6yJMwVIjK_uPjRt3Zdjpgo7zsdE1phdWoUjz19uciaXNwO-9COC3jMmbsGQF9kluPonbb7Z8TLUQM8YOfPLfuPrnYc2JhtjhBgQoqT83Ukr64/s320/cant6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 280px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><i>Jolly Boating Weather</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUcBGJk_HwVK-XqMAUYYfXAlLqb4x4MfC8UeT3xWyyCQNS9ScdJMF1lGC8rwvZ4FGscPQ_gIP_BSmKPwhlXm9V89fHsu9Kc4LkbO_u0c330Jb-1KQet6NaIZ42vHB5SP-w6fH85OoaGg/s1600-h/cant5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438928926543884658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUcBGJk_HwVK-XqMAUYYfXAlLqb4x4MfC8UeT3xWyyCQNS9ScdJMF1lGC8rwvZ4FGscPQ_gIP_BSmKPwhlXm9V89fHsu9Kc4LkbO_u0c330Jb-1KQet6NaIZ42vHB5SP-w6fH85OoaGg/s320/cant5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><i>Forecourt of Art Gallery</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnExjjmFlXT6W8xy55CIRmamiiSJrDFJPGgSUOf5TrdxwzJWdqvq2PdrIyG896uLmgKvUHRPxbIfGPrnZnNHjEBICcU3f2Gzu0MSltDR_f-2oMoY9Ex_xeXybEd9VJctiD3ZdyfDvI0LM/s1600-h/cant4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438928920180886338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnExjjmFlXT6W8xy55CIRmamiiSJrDFJPGgSUOf5TrdxwzJWdqvq2PdrIyG896uLmgKvUHRPxbIfGPrnZnNHjEBICcU3f2Gzu0MSltDR_f-2oMoY9Ex_xeXybEd9VJctiD3ZdyfDvI0LM/s320/cant4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><i>Street Sculpture</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WMeZhMURd20GgFt3O2MFPFapVffTeAw2FK6eHqL3SzmEeOWzwv1llg7gKUkDNtw2SrN0x_tVRavyeLdlRUCDvCcrJT2H72b5HUTStJT5rm86zmzQl2BGTIW-GTbDJWNdnxihyphenhyphenqAXsnk/s1600-h/cant3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Off to Cathedral Square, the centre of people activity, to watch and maybe find some inspiration for sketches. Like other congregating venues this was a gathering point for buskers, public speakers and entertainers young and old. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> This brings me to the title of this collection, why $6.60? Well I sat and decided to sketch one of the speakers, an interesting guy with magician’s hat and gown, who talked about our failures as a species to accept, acknowledge the great problems of our age and posited his solutions to those problems, a little out of the main stream in his thinking. As I painted I heard the tinkle of coins and found that some of the people looking over my shoulder were deciding that my poverty stricken appearance was deserving of a financial boost. By the time I packed my paints the princely sum of $6.60 had accumulated next to my palette. This was a new experience for me and maybe this is the future that Sheila has for me, ‘Get out there and paint me some housekeeping’.</o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WMeZhMURd20GgFt3O2MFPFapVffTeAw2FK6eHqL3SzmEeOWzwv1llg7gKUkDNtw2SrN0x_tVRavyeLdlRUCDvCcrJT2H72b5HUTStJT5rm86zmzQl2BGTIW-GTbDJWNdnxihyphenhyphenqAXsnk/s1600-h/cant3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438928911398264754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WMeZhMURd20GgFt3O2MFPFapVffTeAw2FK6eHqL3SzmEeOWzwv1llg7gKUkDNtw2SrN0x_tVRavyeLdlRUCDvCcrJT2H72b5HUTStJT5rm86zmzQl2BGTIW-GTbDJWNdnxihyphenhyphenqAXsnk/s320/cant3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 219px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></a><i>$6.60 Portrait</i><br />
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Our last evening started in frustration as we attempted to find a recommended restaurant that unknown to us had closed but did have a stroke of luck attached, the place over the road from the empty address presented us with some of the best meat either of us had eaten even in this land of fine produce. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndhivEKU3cDUstip2kmeF5yPmMRUdfR9DgCZPlflcGs1pM0KEKaGOoH3mT74A8BiXTdwn8GzhLr9XGHpzt9_oN3tPG185lVFLfUmRqvxqDwigN3-Fnea4yplMyfcQqq1WObz6GTZBYH0/s1600-h/cant2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438928906109452610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndhivEKU3cDUstip2kmeF5yPmMRUdfR9DgCZPlflcGs1pM0KEKaGOoH3mT74A8BiXTdwn8GzhLr9XGHpzt9_oN3tPG185lVFLfUmRqvxqDwigN3-Fnea4yplMyfcQqq1WObz6GTZBYH0/s320/cant2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 243px;" /></a><i>Did Norman Bates live in Christchurch?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo6ThaUMi9i-XlwzBIXQJ9KChWdr2jU1CyXkzf8dY06pUvVKy5kAKYpzGUX5AO7rn05wAZ8yPZM69JYEHPzMrd3ls_fCj-p-i12K4ak3-lSdoi7n-of7XOOu3_YRlMPY5jU7F0fq20Fo/s1600-h/cant1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438928896059248754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo6ThaUMi9i-XlwzBIXQJ9KChWdr2jU1CyXkzf8dY06pUvVKy5kAKYpzGUX5AO7rn05wAZ8yPZM69JYEHPzMrd3ls_fCj-p-i12K4ak3-lSdoi7n-of7XOOu3_YRlMPY5jU7F0fq20Fo/s320/cant1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 210px;" /></a><i>Night Lights in Car Park</i></div>
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And so goodbye to New Zealand, a country that has enchanted us from start to finish. There is much that I could write but will leave that till I've had time to reflect on the experience, suffice it to say that it was a stroke of genius when Sheila said, 'I fancy going to New Zealand'.</div>
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The next bulletin will appear in a few days time, from the US of A.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-66079407719074881082010-02-14T01:13:00.001-08:002010-02-14T01:18:07.689-08:00Another change of venue<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Another driving day, Te Anau to Dunedin, unfortunately leaving the best of the weather behind. Our stay here was to be overnight before heading to Christchurch and in a couple of days heading off to the States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What a gem of a motel we found here, one amongst a generally high standard but this place is really special, as good as many of the best hotels that we have experienced. Travelodge and the other chains at home have a lot to learn about providing value for money. Bluestone on George should be used as a benchmark for what the traveller needs on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYkPViVXyFKmrwh9_6J88I7Dwg90LMnB35E1QbtoPpEmwMfs5Q9ToOp8JpnG5EP0KGDZLLowa-Jw6BpvmHkNcJrzIYmuqPZADDtekwOZ1gFgQzpU4-3bhVjmJZohoJ7w-MlbVtLKLwxQ/s1600-h/dun4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYkPViVXyFKmrwh9_6J88I7Dwg90LMnB35E1QbtoPpEmwMfs5Q9ToOp8JpnG5EP0KGDZLLowa-Jw6BpvmHkNcJrzIYmuqPZADDtekwOZ1gFgQzpU4-3bhVjmJZohoJ7w-MlbVtLKLwxQ/s320/dun4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438025008310631906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjCXeRC77kpx4rmKSweP_wNXPEE_LSNZtX7uqMrYIzHyBJO1fwoiv2wp4ht7shFh7njUvC21-eaOJHHeV6wQRpvOsiVZn7VxJV80KUYQBKb0Wl54YTH61Rmnu7OYADtfOjycFf7a5QkY/s1600-h/dun3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjCXeRC77kpx4rmKSweP_wNXPEE_LSNZtX7uqMrYIzHyBJO1fwoiv2wp4ht7shFh7njUvC21-eaOJHHeV6wQRpvOsiVZn7VxJV80KUYQBKb0Wl54YTH61Rmnu7OYADtfOjycFf7a5QkY/s320/dun3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438025000786448194" /></a><br /><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">As the pictures show, Sheila decided that a celebration of her relationship to Irish roots was in order and dinner was taken at The Bog. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div>This was all in response to the overwhelming Scottish influence in the town, Rabbie Burns and all. I took no persuading.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv16JZCSh7156Se_pwRExqqhG3Sixf-3ttqIXUtoAOYmZyXiHBuGq-TVu3dedMo_XnMOvyBkvlHj4vqeTAZ_hPAwYDXbE6zn2zYc5a13LnB_etuRkRYJABzB80ECbweFNrpodPnnwnBpY/s1600-h/dun2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv16JZCSh7156Se_pwRExqqhG3Sixf-3ttqIXUtoAOYmZyXiHBuGq-TVu3dedMo_XnMOvyBkvlHj4vqeTAZ_hPAwYDXbE6zn2zYc5a13LnB_etuRkRYJABzB80ECbweFNrpodPnnwnBpY/s320/dun2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438024995379455602" /></a><i>Rabbie</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1GF61gn6IDLEEcnrTNcSASzbACMGTirtUxBaE3adgrdxBDpOEdNYu_ziNlHiZy6PalRQoOENWhscqj3Mmh_m-rd88jkz_CBY0HEDvag25L3dlutUZISZjd76eQK7KL78NW3IeD8lLRc/s1600-h/dun1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1GF61gn6IDLEEcnrTNcSASzbACMGTirtUxBaE3adgrdxBDpOEdNYu_ziNlHiZy6PalRQoOENWhscqj3Mmh_m-rd88jkz_CBY0HEDvag25L3dlutUZISZjd76eQK7KL78NW3IeD8lLRc/s320/dun1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438024989763024626" /></a><i>Dunedin's finest edifice - the Station</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-22732840247908247862010-02-14T01:08:00.000-08:002010-02-14T01:12:41.871-08:00Day Out<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Easy days are hard to come by with the itinerary that we have set ourselves and so a short run out in the car to enjoy the views and expend a little paint made a bit of a change. Each corner has something of interest and taking the time to enjoy it is welcome. We found a little pull off next to the River Waipau and rejoiced in the lack of biting fly activity. Lunch and a spot of watercolour made the break worthwhile, then a leisurely drive back to Te Anau and an evening amble for dinner at what had become our local Italian restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWe0QSMC-8_wngAAm0T_3sVYXno5P1kQIv8KabEf5Wcy599P-7t4QP_lYws16UwrQbgHlsu71_o_g6xn6AGHKLgoopxwuorPJsIjodjtwydZ-ZHo5T75-aG3631rvX1vcza8v4oh_iHI/s1600-h/tea4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWe0QSMC-8_wngAAm0T_3sVYXno5P1kQIv8KabEf5Wcy599P-7t4QP_lYws16UwrQbgHlsu71_o_g6xn6AGHKLgoopxwuorPJsIjodjtwydZ-ZHo5T75-aG3631rvX1vcza8v4oh_iHI/s320/tea4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438023897409669106" /></a><i>River Waipau</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYGEvSyQBBHMl7Srj_x_OO6a6l1_7UfvNK3RiJx_yRk8XtF87uH7LERaOEjCJ8UibQbI4-jp80pbdjJX7MtzW7kUbnnyBujfdfqpG646BSvC0HjediahyphenhyphenT3DeL6flTW6WBs1mQkx1S3M/s1600-h/tea3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYGEvSyQBBHMl7Srj_x_OO6a6l1_7UfvNK3RiJx_yRk8XtF87uH7LERaOEjCJ8UibQbI4-jp80pbdjJX7MtzW7kUbnnyBujfdfqpG646BSvC0HjediahyphenhyphenT3DeL6flTW6WBs1mQkx1S3M/s320/tea3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438023887806935922" /></a><i>Background mountains</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW8eb__PATQXecMrViEGw-pUZj2z6f65nl10ExGp5_qWnllqrXfcv5qK7Oo4cFjujWzsmLzlGnKzc-g6c9aKCC9bIG_95gI9k_kBbpCUBzKRGuEj4TFIryJP5Zw8_imw78yUTprHGjoE/s1600-h/tea2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW8eb__PATQXecMrViEGw-pUZj2z6f65nl10ExGp5_qWnllqrXfcv5qK7Oo4cFjujWzsmLzlGnKzc-g6c9aKCC9bIG_95gI9k_kBbpCUBzKRGuEj4TFIryJP5Zw8_imw78yUTprHGjoE/s320/tea2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438023884676214802" /></a><i>Sun goes down over Lake Te Anau</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnf-PwqroB8RSbOI0gODlKHKJEsVqiG2YsTH4s-TXkAGKZGVvh7TY4VgbmvVNjkrGoOMLFV05mg2n9LGnlLmedIa1hiXGpQRfSWZCZRVz_p9KQsg1flkdR4EPdIvYPrTNCahVAVfBqhI/s1600-h/tea1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnf-PwqroB8RSbOI0gODlKHKJEsVqiG2YsTH4s-TXkAGKZGVvh7TY4VgbmvVNjkrGoOMLFV05mg2n9LGnlLmedIa1hiXGpQRfSWZCZRVz_p9KQsg1flkdR4EPdIvYPrTNCahVAVfBqhI/s320/tea1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438023878764996674" /></a><i>Watercolour sketch at RIver Waipau</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-59242576827297830092010-02-12T12:45:00.001-08:002010-02-12T12:57:42.952-08:00Milford Sound<div>It's got to be done if you are in this part of the world and it is arguable that it's just got to be done anyway. There are some days when you just need to shut up and take in the world around you. This was one of them and all it leaves me to do is disappear and let you look at some of the images that barely do the place justice. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsI9sJ5vkxWHp2l9kCr-d5SpDES4K_1n6Gf8njuvHAGJOUyAYt5jB7GvDQKd6NcOLwZ0PZHVLR4aRFPhHOOMKFL6mfzw0DfBXGFwdVkcenznvxdpK7G6HQru_SXzwdnEr_QImWghdDLE/s1600-h/mil25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsI9sJ5vkxWHp2l9kCr-d5SpDES4K_1n6Gf8njuvHAGJOUyAYt5jB7GvDQKd6NcOLwZ0PZHVLR4aRFPhHOOMKFL6mfzw0DfBXGFwdVkcenznvxdpK7G6HQru_SXzwdnEr_QImWghdDLE/s320/mil25.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437463334183310674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JInljoxfZpJmpXLauM44oFuHA_Pz5RkmL5c3LbQBbBwy32rFq-_gz7NGAK53SQhUfpWEHyeXNT9kJ7fPHaKKJA-LIOoy4_wnf6J-q9s74xMzV_SHQ5VoBx_fcrjfSXc3USi6xmg14_0/s1600-h/mil24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JInljoxfZpJmpXLauM44oFuHA_Pz5RkmL5c3LbQBbBwy32rFq-_gz7NGAK53SQhUfpWEHyeXNT9kJ7fPHaKKJA-LIOoy4_wnf6J-q9s74xMzV_SHQ5VoBx_fcrjfSXc3USi6xmg14_0/s320/mil24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437463318108170370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFoGfHgPkJ_xEBLbapXUK75t9-0bGHFJXjwYviltkx5cXRDI0ZVJ9mEKi-FJ93xICDxIsmadDLXjZUHKu8EhnnTilaBBQ-ZorcHf4srFFeQGHYqqC-kXmQoVWNMs6WsWFlMb4Jw07qPg/s1600-h/mil23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFoGfHgPkJ_xEBLbapXUK75t9-0bGHFJXjwYviltkx5cXRDI0ZVJ9mEKi-FJ93xICDxIsmadDLXjZUHKu8EhnnTilaBBQ-ZorcHf4srFFeQGHYqqC-kXmQoVWNMs6WsWFlMb4Jw07qPg/s320/mil23.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437463312538713778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B0CieA21WCv-BvidPdT8_nkBYzztITZI9Y_qRrsC5_XWu86M4lfdO0JM-ejMeV7mgdk-luw6mB9kmdTEORFIKLHZD9brSiSFv0VEc-EXflyQkF9-u9hzH-VRDWpByf2uXbMlBBNCvcg/s1600-h/mil22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B0CieA21WCv-BvidPdT8_nkBYzztITZI9Y_qRrsC5_XWu86M4lfdO0JM-ejMeV7mgdk-luw6mB9kmdTEORFIKLHZD9brSiSFv0VEc-EXflyQkF9-u9hzH-VRDWpByf2uXbMlBBNCvcg/s320/mil22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462955056548338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3uBbhRxVe0DviroD2rKwyiIm1o1ZHaHx1sx9kpB3CmZu4UMVzjeXyMbw9qVy8TAKEZCgxdG3FH5nxIE8BXeTo9S2blg_cU8rlwIuIRPZa_UNZnrPona13bPTFev3RbPmdjXbYEelEZg/s1600-h/mil21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3uBbhRxVe0DviroD2rKwyiIm1o1ZHaHx1sx9kpB3CmZu4UMVzjeXyMbw9qVy8TAKEZCgxdG3FH5nxIE8BXeTo9S2blg_cU8rlwIuIRPZa_UNZnrPona13bPTFev3RbPmdjXbYEelEZg/s320/mil21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462945819340546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGurYDFbNulTdsvpasQzev58nPSaTOCHWOAaE3nMqHL2-DW971amE_ekiiumJ5ewSRZoHZgzSqtB1EgfEs2TQF9JqNxyTdyhru5BdjeJy_I-HRY_px8dmEdsivys64q-2P-UL8AO_-e_c/s1600-h/mil19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGurYDFbNulTdsvpasQzev58nPSaTOCHWOAaE3nMqHL2-DW971amE_ekiiumJ5ewSRZoHZgzSqtB1EgfEs2TQF9JqNxyTdyhru5BdjeJy_I-HRY_px8dmEdsivys64q-2P-UL8AO_-e_c/s320/mil19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462940079874786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8gZ28IKvYsXy4nx9UphQs7TwhfurrooltP6hAX7N_2La-zFV9bzOdzG5tyv3XSbOvNGzm-1GFeDvKXn9yWtjJg7oqLuqFoBNvqxtyDWOID098gbJHQdmaituiL9mKWdXK8_3YYvMRIA/s1600-h/mil18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8gZ28IKvYsXy4nx9UphQs7TwhfurrooltP6hAX7N_2La-zFV9bzOdzG5tyv3XSbOvNGzm-1GFeDvKXn9yWtjJg7oqLuqFoBNvqxtyDWOID098gbJHQdmaituiL9mKWdXK8_3YYvMRIA/s320/mil18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462931394220834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKAbuPJgPhfz7U2daAUJjxiL4d8jFd6g6yHugo231e1vj_mQzlTo87yd1CC3JP2C0tq7xT7H4suK8JbgbfGxDpVav5H8q_nZTvdc8XC3ykGDhwo18IH9MPm8lfGgjd3Vw3SSVDRZ06EQ/s1600-h/mil17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKAbuPJgPhfz7U2daAUJjxiL4d8jFd6g6yHugo231e1vj_mQzlTo87yd1CC3JP2C0tq7xT7H4suK8JbgbfGxDpVav5H8q_nZTvdc8XC3ykGDhwo18IH9MPm8lfGgjd3Vw3SSVDRZ06EQ/s320/mil17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462929894711794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszfrwVfLxttVMHMvfx94TFM6BEAmAz3oByreJJ3KeyhTYe66QpSHJ4AdolTFup1ndayYWJ4-eZTU8ibB0YHQim6qCEdoSrIU-O3JgMR3H7c1YWRy9HO6R7sV1CeUckX7fUl-2aXs_kxs/s1600-h/mil16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszfrwVfLxttVMHMvfx94TFM6BEAmAz3oByreJJ3KeyhTYe66QpSHJ4AdolTFup1ndayYWJ4-eZTU8ibB0YHQim6qCEdoSrIU-O3JgMR3H7c1YWRy9HO6R7sV1CeUckX7fUl-2aXs_kxs/s320/mil16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462334653059474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYExwU1ymBLNovPfd7PzcTw1XRvJ4fhKyWnAk1ADcSvhw8jDAKuhteMnp28Mmbq1Wsq-0zAm8h5zQ7UN2-A6dRKpLENTjH3zNZbg9WoZHppqnL8WVjyYJ0F-8DXYOlJT8RDWQa9rQv7SA/s1600-h/mil15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYExwU1ymBLNovPfd7PzcTw1XRvJ4fhKyWnAk1ADcSvhw8jDAKuhteMnp28Mmbq1Wsq-0zAm8h5zQ7UN2-A6dRKpLENTjH3zNZbg9WoZHppqnL8WVjyYJ0F-8DXYOlJT8RDWQa9rQv7SA/s320/mil15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462329196026530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcsLAusePlOchIHzBUf0L9IlvHkR-59Ax5v88u2H4hnaYSgj2ma9KTebwmOgJamT51w3_bNhw_7pDOqAnXFjEb5IppLYPbzqi7PXxkXyUjFaDAiN3ldE7rAXRif7tTtfbpkfXeXg7YVM/s1600-h/mil14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcsLAusePlOchIHzBUf0L9IlvHkR-59Ax5v88u2H4hnaYSgj2ma9KTebwmOgJamT51w3_bNhw_7pDOqAnXFjEb5IppLYPbzqi7PXxkXyUjFaDAiN3ldE7rAXRif7tTtfbpkfXeXg7YVM/s320/mil14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462316965482706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA02zHssTa4FNU5X9vu_JLTMvLb4qSHuEIbhq7EePTblmAFffckXZaxAdxz3czMmTuv-uByhLOvhJudMxFFTxf8xRZbcAHxhkZq9bEIJpTMILQHb-wA6UAh9scOgWLY0Pvg81HuJwz3c/s1600-h/mil13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA02zHssTa4FNU5X9vu_JLTMvLb4qSHuEIbhq7EePTblmAFffckXZaxAdxz3czMmTuv-uByhLOvhJudMxFFTxf8xRZbcAHxhkZq9bEIJpTMILQHb-wA6UAh9scOgWLY0Pvg81HuJwz3c/s320/mil13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462309248864594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71POXyAW1ZJ_-0r6CPUgw4gmcW-sQgVCSMeoab5TuY0pALBJtkETBj3JVv-8JGGPfGYkZ5WcxrIXg3miDAZh3rSk6NFzBMH2TefP5yT-7CFDjL4JKwyI9FrFJ41q1XGG-oR_bf9dWiTE/s1600-h/mil12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71POXyAW1ZJ_-0r6CPUgw4gmcW-sQgVCSMeoab5TuY0pALBJtkETBj3JVv-8JGGPfGYkZ5WcxrIXg3miDAZh3rSk6NFzBMH2TefP5yT-7CFDjL4JKwyI9FrFJ41q1XGG-oR_bf9dWiTE/s320/mil12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437462299056558194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_ZEzXjy74rK6_aCg1ogzAKEuERH3czyZAg150EoocQwSWdjxym8Kx8wHVRVk1m9MxP8G5ngWzNSCFtTOGREi7BSe8LKiUv_XrxiTCxIeTe7-rpPeAYBrA2fYbu_XI85_nnnsvijkWBI/s1600-h/mil11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_ZEzXjy74rK6_aCg1ogzAKEuERH3czyZAg150EoocQwSWdjxym8Kx8wHVRVk1m9MxP8G5ngWzNSCFtTOGREi7BSe8LKiUv_XrxiTCxIeTe7-rpPeAYBrA2fYbu_XI85_nnnsvijkWBI/s320/mil11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461886384042082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95LvYGAob-GW2akr_wXcLHR6OO3mdclFYwhNunv9iwd7vj-Qlz28CI218a_yt9Mi-j_yFzD1uSKamep2RkY8LZaFctIxY9P5nxNTV6LpjY0dOrQjUIWnsvgXNiEwZRgo1pm5NQrBX4Io/s1600-h/mil9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95LvYGAob-GW2akr_wXcLHR6OO3mdclFYwhNunv9iwd7vj-Qlz28CI218a_yt9Mi-j_yFzD1uSKamep2RkY8LZaFctIxY9P5nxNTV6LpjY0dOrQjUIWnsvgXNiEwZRgo1pm5NQrBX4Io/s320/mil9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461877688953218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UYSATyT_OZKXpBwc5pCWLMmqOxuOvb3zyjh4wDzytAYIhetPc1EqeQvGAWKux9Dzm61KIftCI-SRbHViZL6wqhfRQ3OyrgHETG_ap1OLWG_rDueLdmxOLZTU2QQ-RYpGwLMFUkQyPRg/s1600-h/mil8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UYSATyT_OZKXpBwc5pCWLMmqOxuOvb3zyjh4wDzytAYIhetPc1EqeQvGAWKux9Dzm61KIftCI-SRbHViZL6wqhfRQ3OyrgHETG_ap1OLWG_rDueLdmxOLZTU2QQ-RYpGwLMFUkQyPRg/s320/mil8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461871937222450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfNPPGyh0fHu56wtk0dm66Mi_3nTWuzRNTYL5KOurk7VcfuRMSXCYaIxxCLm_I0NrVbwjLeK-yYpCVfFfqZ01ci5pK2gHvlMJvKWGbuFP5H5T7iv7k_4lZ39hREklTYolwxmfeGjVAZQ/s1600-h/mil7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfNPPGyh0fHu56wtk0dm66Mi_3nTWuzRNTYL5KOurk7VcfuRMSXCYaIxxCLm_I0NrVbwjLeK-yYpCVfFfqZ01ci5pK2gHvlMJvKWGbuFP5H5T7iv7k_4lZ39hREklTYolwxmfeGjVAZQ/s320/mil7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461867643492866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d42dWFK9dwLOqVk-PxRunZGO-Gh5H6_ionXRzCcoTnBRQ5_GkBlZRMVEdFIQ3WzGGtElUzLxJgmu5sIHwKhuZPoaHSRAY8_lyqmxEYpOKGSVTbdm5-miDH-_LygM0rvjNc8OVkSLXBg/s1600-h/mil6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d42dWFK9dwLOqVk-PxRunZGO-Gh5H6_ionXRzCcoTnBRQ5_GkBlZRMVEdFIQ3WzGGtElUzLxJgmu5sIHwKhuZPoaHSRAY8_lyqmxEYpOKGSVTbdm5-miDH-_LygM0rvjNc8OVkSLXBg/s320/mil6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461859249135858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_WT-QDyiqPSjLlTQ2tDq5OfoEMKB6nIRWkenjlmlYudhwhM1LQzqtabfhTSAoaY5OMU-hYEK9MlwvDLCJE5mhQFHsy5yoPd1e0HtsLYVTpKD_Orp5pRlvNHzO7IslrDNzj7bIa1pEUo/s1600-h/mil5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_WT-QDyiqPSjLlTQ2tDq5OfoEMKB6nIRWkenjlmlYudhwhM1LQzqtabfhTSAoaY5OMU-hYEK9MlwvDLCJE5mhQFHsy5yoPd1e0HtsLYVTpKD_Orp5pRlvNHzO7IslrDNzj7bIa1pEUo/s320/mil5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461448305964834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPINEJMBBGcYDKx4x-zr9sQu4P97424VItXa_GuP78peRinzdri84wa0C1jIaYK8fA2LlRh-YJntxqJHfCgv35so_aXMUqxNgyABp9SQWspSuUTGwAhrLedAPk-IwYY6FmZ5NU7JVc5uM/s1600-h/mil4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPINEJMBBGcYDKx4x-zr9sQu4P97424VItXa_GuP78peRinzdri84wa0C1jIaYK8fA2LlRh-YJntxqJHfCgv35so_aXMUqxNgyABp9SQWspSuUTGwAhrLedAPk-IwYY6FmZ5NU7JVc5uM/s320/mil4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461444631711586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDxHkqiOuhMx_xZUbtor1nFQWUkZaNRxPS9-8jARQkN4fUBwp0qJVxCb1ZWZU7socuKr8sN1JpAVB9UFSAgl9OG28Tm0-jKAw-snrndUe9HXHTaMGgSgmN0UqSGxWKXom710TURLzsxM/s1600-h/mil3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDxHkqiOuhMx_xZUbtor1nFQWUkZaNRxPS9-8jARQkN4fUBwp0qJVxCb1ZWZU7socuKr8sN1JpAVB9UFSAgl9OG28Tm0-jKAw-snrndUe9HXHTaMGgSgmN0UqSGxWKXom710TURLzsxM/s320/mil3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461434591576786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_vwvipqJu5a4PjE0jgtjWWwhM3ibZBHo4wjF84bN45sPrlQs5nE44YxA0UKhA8LqdUxqPiB-uisFXSLhGlq0FDIHt3KUDozD6j5hkbpvQ0drp77n_Mp0YcUG5bCLd1VJDpg8Fzbwx5c/s1600-h/mil2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_vwvipqJu5a4PjE0jgtjWWwhM3ibZBHo4wjF84bN45sPrlQs5nE44YxA0UKhA8LqdUxqPiB-uisFXSLhGlq0FDIHt3KUDozD6j5hkbpvQ0drp77n_Mp0YcUG5bCLd1VJDpg8Fzbwx5c/s320/mil2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461420854481154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzsdv23A1sQ1dq-XT88WdpmeitRLIa-mh0wFk46i-rcmpV1dDpTCO57TyMO4221GnyGDbRSIhKIdBSnm1Eyykm8qq-IYBkzZZNRKmGMtcyIojWmDotmvfOozUON2T1UMWfLWvKKq88EQ/s1600-h/mil1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzsdv23A1sQ1dq-XT88WdpmeitRLIa-mh0wFk46i-rcmpV1dDpTCO57TyMO4221GnyGDbRSIhKIdBSnm1Eyykm8qq-IYBkzZZNRKmGMtcyIojWmDotmvfOozUON2T1UMWfLWvKKq88EQ/s320/mil1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437461414463343186" /></a><i>Content</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-89502281662529046312010-02-11T19:06:00.001-08:002010-02-11T19:15:27.015-08:00Taking it Easy<div>Up this morning rather reluctant to leave Queenstown, we were very impressed with the situation and scenery, but it was goodbye to the wonderful lake and even more wonderful mountains.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA5S0qh7K9vZ2XD3ZNAEXPFPWl8wVtbDytsWCzy2EmP5TmZikD9SMpELyendYV4QprjtIvCeptgf6561q9aHk8ZESdpM6bRCKFxaGGlKd410459leB9OOHsa84D0vsFHu6VD37JDWbi8/s1600-h/te5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA5S0qh7K9vZ2XD3ZNAEXPFPWl8wVtbDytsWCzy2EmP5TmZikD9SMpELyendYV4QprjtIvCeptgf6561q9aHk8ZESdpM6bRCKFxaGGlKd410459leB9OOHsa84D0vsFHu6VD37JDWbi8/s320/te5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188462111776050" /></a><i>Shaking off the mist of the night<br /></i><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240Z-G8-l-qTrkHfBQEuubSJGTi9DISV2uf0BO_KQIjIf9GBBSmPnhKffAmUSNwVTyDUUUG8frJhquBX3kFOLQdJt0GwrWesLt7BcPu0zbr19h2p3jc2QvNT-byIg0yt9hTXr84LGUrw/s1600-h/te4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240Z-G8-l-qTrkHfBQEuubSJGTi9DISV2uf0BO_KQIjIf9GBBSmPnhKffAmUSNwVTyDUUUG8frJhquBX3kFOLQdJt0GwrWesLt7BcPu0zbr19h2p3jc2QvNT-byIg0yt9hTXr84LGUrw/s320/te4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188448619982642" /></a><i>Last view of the Remarkables</i></div><div><br /></div><div>A shorter drive today over to Te Anau gave us the opportunity to take it easy and stroll by the Lake and get out the paints.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnHpPyQFwsaoz6UpjrG8Zsg55P2mkr3mXQQw82sxwKzWv-Delzd11lW6kMdXRxTCD4xEX40n2_COsDCnrIXk_q6gOgMDL9Hl5x0GZ38Jde-WKGrN4oYY1pLjRNvLfgObbF25LPOZgoqE/s1600-h/te3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnHpPyQFwsaoz6UpjrG8Zsg55P2mkr3mXQQw82sxwKzWv-Delzd11lW6kMdXRxTCD4xEX40n2_COsDCnrIXk_q6gOgMDL9Hl5x0GZ38Jde-WKGrN4oYY1pLjRNvLfgObbF25LPOZgoqE/s320/te3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188441762323698" /></a><i>Mt. Titiroa over Lake Te Anau</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi7IWdZWvPk_BQMtlMRzfkMOk__PPvUoba63zN_UmMDBZyk-VrA20AtpQT3_LbR_UKNjbfKTQgY2J72uv2us7gy0gmhHvjZhS9bLsD0kUJMzfmfSsRbKaac8WTa0GFPU1t2tGkiHXmSI/s1600-h/te2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi7IWdZWvPk_BQMtlMRzfkMOk__PPvUoba63zN_UmMDBZyk-VrA20AtpQT3_LbR_UKNjbfKTQgY2J72uv2us7gy0gmhHvjZhS9bLsD0kUJMzfmfSsRbKaac8WTa0GFPU1t2tGkiHXmSI/s320/te2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188435711004674" /></a><i>Mt. Titiroa - watercolour sketch</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil882AXdYXxZuNKq1Uucn15WlHRhwRKto1ZwfE4VGf05pbOZf309sn93CWChq8jqqrQK0fliOgBpBI6bXXNNmLoSYZr70oKZF8BObU1Pw9HWD9KH1O1yt75N1FaO4Emg7d-Sy9aJGuE6M/s1600-h/te1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil882AXdYXxZuNKq1Uucn15WlHRhwRKto1ZwfE4VGf05pbOZf309sn93CWChq8jqqrQK0fliOgBpBI6bXXNNmLoSYZr70oKZF8BObU1Pw9HWD9KH1O1yt75N1FaO4Emg7d-Sy9aJGuE6M/s320/te1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188430491033698" /></a><i>Last light over Lake Te Anau</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-8486828126538631072010-02-10T17:05:00.000-08:002010-02-10T17:22:04.321-08:00In Transit<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Another travel day, this time we drive from the rain of Franz Joseph, down the coast, across the Haast Pass to Wanaka then over the Crown Range to a sunny Queenstown.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUGlzKbB83Y8mbQny5T1UUADQWfdO2wKcmj2qm3gIoFAANGpqVJJVU9opgrbAifHMIknJ4_Iq4Sain1cllcmqcCYgKMTFahj45omD20XburhH7DB3iT95iqQkR3Mb0Bjf455SgmDvRlU/s1600-h/q15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUGlzKbB83Y8mbQny5T1UUADQWfdO2wKcmj2qm3gIoFAANGpqVJJVU9opgrbAifHMIknJ4_Iq4Sain1cllcmqcCYgKMTFahj45omD20XburhH7DB3iT95iqQkR3Mb0Bjf455SgmDvRlU/s320/q15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436787027885617954" /></a><i>Last glimpse of Franz Joseph Glacier</i><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The coast varies between flat and uninteresting and spectacular with the odd idiosyncrasy thrown in. Bruce’s Bay was an obvious place to stop in the hope that it might bring the Boys a little luck. Generations of passers by have created a unique sculpture park of small cairns and various pieces of jetsam.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0w7QSJkjXTrFJeqyqvmRZ6AHRlARFERlCJYRuagUzyUep0hhsQkAMtrGdGxvfeEBPncTdlyzuMXlfoLR6bZFbytJ3VMW2x27xHc8X3ddrJVtapNCY3dkc0Edp2S3KZ1ONLzrspA1_Oc/s1600-h/q14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0w7QSJkjXTrFJeqyqvmRZ6AHRlARFERlCJYRuagUzyUep0hhsQkAMtrGdGxvfeEBPncTdlyzuMXlfoLR6bZFbytJ3VMW2x27xHc8X3ddrJVtapNCY3dkc0Edp2S3KZ1ONLzrspA1_Oc/s320/q14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436787024832715570" /></a><i>Bruce's Bay 1</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7mWMxq5KOjb4Hcj3wAAZIT6O45yxcSph1b9Fh7Xl_vfeOloGQz0bBCAyL1qy7l6VZnijc4szQJ8Jh-uwuf2JfnIuSY09hxt2h4O_44D5EXx70m26rXmBfv7LxwEpUS7iLsBahxNONto/s1600-h/q13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7mWMxq5KOjb4Hcj3wAAZIT6O45yxcSph1b9Fh7Xl_vfeOloGQz0bBCAyL1qy7l6VZnijc4szQJ8Jh-uwuf2JfnIuSY09hxt2h4O_44D5EXx70m26rXmBfv7LxwEpUS7iLsBahxNONto/s320/q13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436787018107744258" /></a><i>Bruce's Bay 2</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Having eaten well again the previous evening we had made the decision to breakfast on the way and our chosen venue was South Westland Salmon Farm where the portions of Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict were another strategic error. The length of the journey made it impossible to take the required sleep after the food.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> On to the spectacular Knight’s Point, where between avoiding the sand flies we managed to get a few shots to record the visit. </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitN8Z1-eyio6vvG67iAW3LbqOe0puvgG-ZjM72IjD-nLYwz0LfpEeSJHFuNCu0jqdmorUerwB5-9IRQ5plWbma_yy5yjhscfG3pXkAwNkRvMZNl1JSqoGutVw2FsVQYqB7f1C38GQR2CA/s1600-h/q12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitN8Z1-eyio6vvG67iAW3LbqOe0puvgG-ZjM72IjD-nLYwz0LfpEeSJHFuNCu0jqdmorUerwB5-9IRQ5plWbma_yy5yjhscfG3pXkAwNkRvMZNl1JSqoGutVw2FsVQYqB7f1C38GQR2CA/s320/q12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436787013419686482" /></a><i>Knight's Point</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNguw0pK-guSR7npifvTUbcY8A25wKoakHQW8CZ7x4KFyhmfhLBtXnECRpkWtXze8Qk1WB2Z2tga_guVRJwcI9ZgW38tqFiIy0G9lp4wDe3Kg-lXqnmP7zvXrEpWnO0_Y9SkKAHos23k/s1600-h/q11.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNguw0pK-guSR7npifvTUbcY8A25wKoakHQW8CZ7x4KFyhmfhLBtXnECRpkWtXze8Qk1WB2Z2tga_guVRJwcI9ZgW38tqFiIy0G9lp4wDe3Kg-lXqnmP7zvXrEpWnO0_Y9SkKAHos23k/s1600-h/q11.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNguw0pK-guSR7npifvTUbcY8A25wKoakHQW8CZ7x4KFyhmfhLBtXnECRpkWtXze8Qk1WB2Z2tga_guVRJwcI9ZgW38tqFiIy0G9lp4wDe3Kg-lXqnmP7zvXrEpWnO0_Y9SkKAHos23k/s320/q11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436787002156974466" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mountains various in cloud</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Haast Pass is the route that takes one from the coast through the Mount Aspiring National Park over to Wanaka. Visibility varied on the way but tantalising glimpses of crags and peaks through the cloud cover convince that clear weather here must be spectacular. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">In this shot Mts. Solution, Ward and Trent are wreathed in the low-lying cloud of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuYsyFaepGh_82Mr2FG1SPCKV4mgRy59fxw2-NE4Zd3txnbdtqMkUr17lXJ2b0boort09u5cOxicHQk0P_VhyltseeMsLVglmMKyUCUC33GgZg5mEwU5theURpv4H-RJ_jPHk6Ne4u7Y/s1600-h/q9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuYsyFaepGh_82Mr2FG1SPCKV4mgRy59fxw2-NE4Zd3txnbdtqMkUr17lXJ2b0boort09u5cOxicHQk0P_VhyltseeMsLVglmMKyUCUC33GgZg5mEwU5theURpv4H-RJ_jPHk6Ne4u7Y/s320/q9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786604555591618" /></a><i>Thunder Falls</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Thunder Falls, one of a number of beautiful falls that are to be found as we weave our way through the hanging valleys and gorges that line the route. </div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC8qCKsl1bjtT1v907i2Hfk2AUpnIxYgVtu7hGQ6td8uVHylVfeOCV_rGRm0oh3d1siy3-mFcmMTLVHDNCda_iNOECgmSSkJdJtIZHbuR1pP8Qax6qQObndUMhLV_xL31sgqDFEki9F0/s1600-h/q8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC8qCKsl1bjtT1v907i2Hfk2AUpnIxYgVtu7hGQ6td8uVHylVfeOCV_rGRm0oh3d1siy3-mFcmMTLVHDNCda_iNOECgmSSkJdJtIZHbuR1pP8Qax6qQObndUMhLV_xL31sgqDFEki9F0/s320/q8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786585213567762" /></a><i>Must have liked the look of this it deserves a repeat</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL97RJEQuYwAkQ7g_hovGrzSBcHwSO_pQAy0v93NwPTDl40bYJUIgf8uyNivm9yyNP3V7DR3Rsm0cHI-si-q2go5ZgpneoBzoy6VVIIq-Wje13mwoWYYO3VV9ay4LB-guNI2AUaSOt6E/s1600-h/q8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL97RJEQuYwAkQ7g_hovGrzSBcHwSO_pQAy0v93NwPTDl40bYJUIgf8uyNivm9yyNP3V7DR3Rsm0cHI-si-q2go5ZgpneoBzoy6VVIIq-Wje13mwoWYYO3VV9ay4LB-guNI2AUaSOt6E/s320/q8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786583470996738" /></a><i>Over Haast Pass</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvG4pFhoj36jENb97xv_o6vFmOkDL0Ibda76qeKogUaJt-Yjk8JYMjOQiHncXjMh28SxPF3B4RVr3orNzuZmmhlTWpyzBefg_4paqIq7CCRpa1lxMnX-QbmjdSMFF1VHvbJYS7EwutyLI/s1600-h/q7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvG4pFhoj36jENb97xv_o6vFmOkDL0Ibda76qeKogUaJt-Yjk8JYMjOQiHncXjMh28SxPF3B4RVr3orNzuZmmhlTWpyzBefg_4paqIq7CCRpa1lxMnX-QbmjdSMFF1VHvbJYS7EwutyLI/s320/q7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786573371559602" /></a><i>Lake Hawea the Lads</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Lakes Hawea and Wanaka lie at the end of this leg and by the time we reach there the weather is clearing and visibility improving, they provide lots of jogs to the memory about previous trips to the Rockies and at times it would be easy to imagine that you were travelling along Wastwater.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> A pit stop in Wanaka prefaced the journey up the next mountain pass, over the Crown Range, through Cardrona with its very old shack-like hotel and bar and over the top to a view down into Otago and the towns of Arrowtown and Queenstown.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcHN2LqlzuHMcun882JUaI-R5ck4KZoFQ8N6UJ30IcwVbhGb8qjj7AugLX4xDa4J0kO3sx3T4ba9dsHZye4LGCSWt4myJucwaUF06t0BXRstyYsnvAd8Zplrqm-Vcw0mTCrPj4aUaj8Y/s1600-h/q6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcHN2LqlzuHMcun882JUaI-R5ck4KZoFQ8N6UJ30IcwVbhGb8qjj7AugLX4xDa4J0kO3sx3T4ba9dsHZye4LGCSWt4myJucwaUF06t0BXRstyYsnvAd8Zplrqm-Vcw0mTCrPj4aUaj8Y/s320/q6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786563930513266" /></a><i>Lake Wanaka</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKg3s53vxwfgnJfl5MUVFGFeQdI2P1g-5fWx9UaK5RG8SUOTBJcXWB-51nzwTh-iOab3mARIpBMvPFWAAq-BrwEqZnWBnsWYXS2dZ28KBBbiL_vxbC8yJYM48PBRYd_asFJ6ZZ3fD80g/s1600-h/q5.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKg3s53vxwfgnJfl5MUVFGFeQdI2P1g-5fWx9UaK5RG8SUOTBJcXWB-51nzwTh-iOab3mARIpBMvPFWAAq-BrwEqZnWBnsWYXS2dZ28KBBbiL_vxbC8yJYM48PBRYd_asFJ6ZZ3fD80g/s1600-h/q5.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKg3s53vxwfgnJfl5MUVFGFeQdI2P1g-5fWx9UaK5RG8SUOTBJcXWB-51nzwTh-iOab3mARIpBMvPFWAAq-BrwEqZnWBnsWYXS2dZ28KBBbiL_vxbC8yJYM48PBRYd_asFJ6ZZ3fD80g/s320/q5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786051431492546" /></a><i>From the top of Crown Range</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLMH7dY_i0q2MMbHjMOOKvpolr_0djTDWhPSpOpeKZ5Z09pp66A6qX6VXRDdFc1CSIO7gktGWy4R9W3MGvUYcEqFE0R178CEZUmQqYOItIIAu5EmKrQEUSLwiRZxNZUrbgruram2aEnk/s1600-h/q4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLMH7dY_i0q2MMbHjMOOKvpolr_0djTDWhPSpOpeKZ5Z09pp66A6qX6VXRDdFc1CSIO7gktGWy4R9W3MGvUYcEqFE0R178CEZUmQqYOItIIAu5EmKrQEUSLwiRZxNZUrbgruram2aEnk/s320/q4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786046969147410" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Central Otago stretches before us</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Queenstown, standing on Lake Wakatipu, was to be our home for the night is something to see, gorgeous lake and stunning mountains, one set of which is appropriately named the Remarkables. It was with real delight that we found our accommodation and took in the views that were there for free from the motel site. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAnIEviIqPi1Z0U2zoqzi-xM4ZgdmxYharalC9sFnZ90HiDlNQEuNvY7HWy7JUhhN7d5qbyiHK2vN7AOejtqyJV61gGJXgYYN3SRiFAi6MLGYaNo4B4f65dl20WFtXpPKJu5rf1qwNMs/s1600-h/q3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAnIEviIqPi1Z0U2zoqzi-xM4ZgdmxYharalC9sFnZ90HiDlNQEuNvY7HWy7JUhhN7d5qbyiHK2vN7AOejtqyJV61gGJXgYYN3SRiFAi6MLGYaNo4B4f65dl20WFtXpPKJu5rf1qwNMs/s320/q3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786038678244898" /></a><i>View from front gate of Motel</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpRHyehb-lxl1X7q6_lWtb7t6Xt9rQloHI3d1b_oqe59kBXm9UC5CqTw4Nyu3bMRoF2POelvJGKFZKLDRnqU2SIVxoHxtLQxMGgLp0TY-ZQiJNjls_s5n3q8rr32M1CzHUG-Iii5F-ik/s1600-h/q2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpRHyehb-lxl1X7q6_lWtb7t6Xt9rQloHI3d1b_oqe59kBXm9UC5CqTw4Nyu3bMRoF2POelvJGKFZKLDRnqU2SIVxoHxtLQxMGgLp0TY-ZQiJNjls_s5n3q8rr32M1CzHUG-Iii5F-ik/s320/q2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786029905512050" /></a><i>Back along the road</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cQCC_KM8yrZAhI-LtxZejlfEyEJWXvTz-NUQWZ7_Z9t_s1FL4JDh2oA3qPmQ72LgbiKOv8zOTB4xjmzs0cGfP4i1OzHBRtIUCe2LgmZr5BYZGk6b3r5fZ0yhtZwaDhlVKQv2eXjyIOo/s1600-h/q1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cQCC_KM8yrZAhI-LtxZejlfEyEJWXvTz-NUQWZ7_Z9t_s1FL4JDh2oA3qPmQ72LgbiKOv8zOTB4xjmzs0cGfP4i1OzHBRtIUCe2LgmZr5BYZGk6b3r5fZ0yhtZwaDhlVKQv2eXjyIOo/s320/q1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436786020340416578" /></a><i>Lake side Queenstown</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-50631465928326798502010-02-09T00:17:00.001-08:002010-02-09T00:28:27.650-08:00Strategic Errors<div><!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Sometimes we fail to learn the lessons from our slip-ups or mistakes. We’ve consistently failed to learn one lesson on this trip and that is to do with the ordering of food. Invariably as we peruse menus we convince ourselves that it’s okay to add a side or this time try a starter. Foolish us, just as invariably we end up with far too much on the plate. This is a country where food portions are never less than generous and the side order is often the size of a family meal. Chips are a case in point, we’ve yet to see a side order of chips completely eaten anywhere that we have stopped to eat.</span><!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7scROxlgTFrKmzIVYxeqk8QE3ScbvubgRUFf4ruS2riDBlNR3-Iz5i0AII8hbSu0o_W81ekDwanBL-FRJMZL_cVe9Nz8hXwHYeB-C9hbpTG4U2fGS3FJcn7CNdcJbIRyhKCcy-INQGBM/s1600-h/franz9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7scROxlgTFrKmzIVYxeqk8QE3ScbvubgRUFf4ruS2riDBlNR3-Iz5i0AII8hbSu0o_W81ekDwanBL-FRJMZL_cVe9Nz8hXwHYeB-C9hbpTG4U2fGS3FJcn7CNdcJbIRyhKCcy-INQGBM/s320/franz9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155590301070018" /></a><i>Wildfoods are Us</i><br /><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Ostensibly our first stop of the day, at Hokitika, was to try the famed whitebait fritters of the West Coast. Sheila is clearly a faster learner than I am as she declined a plate of food and declared that she would nibble round the edges of mine. Wise woman, a huge plate of food arrived and even with two of us at it food was sent back. Our ‘clean plate’ upbringings are giving us real conscience issues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Interestingly enough, Hokitika calls itself the Wildfood Festival Town and we were to discover more about this later in our trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> A few miles along the road we arrived in the metropolis of Pukekura (population 2) where there are two buildings, the Bushman’s Centre and the Wild Foods Restaurant. A scrutiny of the menus certainly clarified our thinking as to what constituted wild foods in this part of the world and also the fact that political correctness is yet to permeate this corner of the South Island.</o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqcpZ8o99RlOX_Jx0Zio_Les33BgGp257GUB3Q45qqoVCQDj4k04v_IKmjLV3S7qtsx44FWEq0S9T4ymHuwGxD7dP8lrRFMSyIeBiEMSX4UQcGESWH04_sJwVU_kNum6hurFkFs3rP9o/s1600-h/franz8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqcpZ8o99RlOX_Jx0Zio_Les33BgGp257GUB3Q45qqoVCQDj4k04v_IKmjLV3S7qtsx44FWEq0S9T4ymHuwGxD7dP8lrRFMSyIeBiEMSX4UQcGESWH04_sJwVU_kNum6hurFkFs3rP9o/s320/franz8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155589437310466" /></a><i>You kill 'em, we grill 'em</i></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The rest of today’s travel was through heavy rain as we made our way to the small village of Franz Joseph. Regardless of the weather that had not yet reached Franz Joseph we were keen to take a walk and view the glacier but as you can guess we had not long been into our stride when the heavens opened. The worst of this was that it limited our view and consequently our photographs are not as clear as we would have liked. We carried on with our walk till we reached a swing bridge that crossed the torrent emerging from the glacier. This provided us with one of the highlights of our trip. Those of you who know Sheila are aware of the fact that various injuries have affected her balance and consequently her confidence when her footing is not perfectly secure but you will also know that she is fighter and she decided after watching me on the swaying swing bridge that she would like to give it a try and off she went. A huge step in restoring confidence out in the countryside.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF4Onv3YWpGMwaVa8r4cCsPkAIDTCLfSj3S4s_I0mGS1YoB70dVpFoYgRxLrekGUUP5PAOX0Q0oLO_O3AK_LKKTjnsn6IFxrorQAw_kQh4QSvUH-301WtZ2fASqDvySvONIJKFLqpskI/s1600-h/franz7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF4Onv3YWpGMwaVa8r4cCsPkAIDTCLfSj3S4s_I0mGS1YoB70dVpFoYgRxLrekGUUP5PAOX0Q0oLO_O3AK_LKKTjnsn6IFxrorQAw_kQh4QSvUH-301WtZ2fASqDvySvONIJKFLqpskI/s320/franz7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155585344333618" /></a><i>Glacial run off</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xVGbA8bx-feg1bLBD4jDfFhPLqxWK1u2ftYWboUoLIpFD2fiSA6w6-3SRRKrWVKVPdd9MYetRlRSjeqUXBIAX34r_-tCvXX8iFFmF_WOPZiQbJi3Xu0wOdrRuOrjpvMMydye3u2zAtk/s1600-h/franz6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xVGbA8bx-feg1bLBD4jDfFhPLqxWK1u2ftYWboUoLIpFD2fiSA6w6-3SRRKrWVKVPdd9MYetRlRSjeqUXBIAX34r_-tCvXX8iFFmF_WOPZiQbJi3Xu0wOdrRuOrjpvMMydye3u2zAtk/s320/franz6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155573824359170" /></a><i>Franz Joseph Glacier in distance</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROQ_ZKK2ACf5qudr8wscgtOwVpLNntz25bCxy07rnXIIUFfx_ipGqv6FbAElOgnDVtbMyvi3BO29GbRKbSJH3jN4dv9YxOu1OtAcmY_Pz1XsX5M3H7UKV0F3UN-agtKUZ0ruAle08XSM/s1600-h/franz5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROQ_ZKK2ACf5qudr8wscgtOwVpLNntz25bCxy07rnXIIUFfx_ipGqv6FbAElOgnDVtbMyvi3BO29GbRKbSJH3jN4dv9YxOu1OtAcmY_Pz1XsX5M3H7UKV0F3UN-agtKUZ0ruAle08XSM/s320/franz5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155258664890226" /></a><i>Franz Joseph Glacier</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkQmjQaUnvYKpqQIjLauF03R7IgIFktMMfNGcEGgzkpfBxpy7dIjpo-qr5BDmmy_zNy0sex7SARmNBTx4OYzwmQN7M_QopmHeTKdpgl0oM85Z-wLNuMRNtExB3DMTGyqPGEUs_Dq6is0/s1600-h/franz4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkQmjQaUnvYKpqQIjLauF03R7IgIFktMMfNGcEGgzkpfBxpy7dIjpo-qr5BDmmy_zNy0sex7SARmNBTx4OYzwmQN7M_QopmHeTKdpgl0oM85Z-wLNuMRNtExB3DMTGyqPGEUs_Dq6is0/s320/franz4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155249293650962" /></a><i>Final view before the cloud came all the way down</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL__5zmSyCHsswc4g_KyKApK-AFL_esIJCCRWvj4Rhdtc_lAFzAZ8hbPuLb2j5dHPsLnMg92RiD6FJxKKEPnLwOXxm197DuwHQ_DrZcIPTcwhoJQwpePmao_CYBcu7bde7eP6qFJKvJ0/s1600-h/franz3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL__5zmSyCHsswc4g_KyKApK-AFL_esIJCCRWvj4Rhdtc_lAFzAZ8hbPuLb2j5dHPsLnMg92RiD6FJxKKEPnLwOXxm197DuwHQ_DrZcIPTcwhoJQwpePmao_CYBcu7bde7eP6qFJKvJ0/s320/franz3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155241349262082" /></a><i>Sheila steps out</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9U__rmM-a9e_jSaeTu5SdMYVpzKGKx8XI9JTRCuHX_hazA9_J-5oZjf0c3J5IVOfglCSQN8P15qJFmJocQtLQN-Wg0z0FCGeuGzaMGnOuwlM2HEa3IyXQmFh3NNumCqGXepP2oTtUjE/s1600-h/franz2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9U__rmM-a9e_jSaeTu5SdMYVpzKGKx8XI9JTRCuHX_hazA9_J-5oZjf0c3J5IVOfglCSQN8P15qJFmJocQtLQN-Wg0z0FCGeuGzaMGnOuwlM2HEa3IyXQmFh3NNumCqGXepP2oTtUjE/s320/franz2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155227097504290" /></a><i>Who's a clever girl then?</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRyIFVxFamM72RIWMEnN3AqphT588HeJVWW7AXAYEz85zSr52wONco-Eu2VB-uZKi2xd0CJZbpguZF4HQJA32c-hwLRUUPYpicgL3Zifw_v9kCsHA38zjJetlUHiuFsOZjlmfKP3ud0Y/s1600-h/franz1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRyIFVxFamM72RIWMEnN3AqphT588HeJVWW7AXAYEz85zSr52wONco-Eu2VB-uZKi2xd0CJZbpguZF4HQJA32c-hwLRUUPYpicgL3Zifw_v9kCsHA38zjJetlUHiuFsOZjlmfKP3ud0Y/s320/franz1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436155222436239570" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Come back, all is forgiven</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The celebratory dinner had us back where we started, ordering a starter, garlic bread, we thought just enough to get the juices running and we just ordered the one to share. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A more careful investigation might have had us ready for the arrival of one day’s output from Warburton’s, cut through and doused in delicious garlic butter. A further Strategic Error to add to the list.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-46779851573861625382010-02-08T11:09:00.000-08:002010-02-08T11:25:28.111-08:00In Transit<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Up early and a half hour Skyping the family got us up to date with the news and ready to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Toady was a travelling day, leaving the vines behind and heading across country to a very different landscape. Our route took us alongside first of all the Wairau then the Buller emerging on the west coast, and then following it down to Greymouth. We had a mixed day as far as weather was concerned, some sun and cloud followed by overcast conditions and rain.</span></p></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjEChd7Y9Y7FdImKhpfTilny1FZSVF34Wz7f6Y4JL6LDI5RQzpwWj98V-rEaOg_7njZZqmcrYWD8yaKNtDT2TyM1-S_1U0gUXlKF-iBimL1EGGqN3qeiiQFk8BDFyCO4eHu-CDxo_V3g/s1600-h/grey11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjEChd7Y9Y7FdImKhpfTilny1FZSVF34Wz7f6Y4JL6LDI5RQzpwWj98V-rEaOg_7njZZqmcrYWD8yaKNtDT2TyM1-S_1U0gUXlKF-iBimL1EGGqN3qeiiQFk8BDFyCO4eHu-CDxo_V3g/s320/grey11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952868432216018" /></a><i>An infestation that turns Beech Trees Black and White!!!</i><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7I7Rz90hYjX6ae2R2ez7-AkFzogaE6KsI1G52zavFsvw21IB8c_NTRPlGQUp4ZAdXLfXJounCufdKY2vfl0wYnZ5a1qIlh_PIBxoPAnTRjJmEg3LqslYHP0z_ViAK-z1GkCR-V90WY0/s1600-h/grey9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7I7Rz90hYjX6ae2R2ez7-AkFzogaE6KsI1G52zavFsvw21IB8c_NTRPlGQUp4ZAdXLfXJounCufdKY2vfl0wYnZ5a1qIlh_PIBxoPAnTRjJmEg3LqslYHP0z_ViAK-z1GkCR-V90WY0/s320/grey9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952860428693458" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lake Rotoiti</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Our first stop off en route was St. Arnaud to view Lake Rotoiti, reminiscent of our own Lake District. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1tFmNw9EASBf4Mfva2eAf1tpZJ7ORzjZxTQwdwgTiqFBGpJsEIhOWm26_O_G9k6sO0Rp9nA3QSoT_xPhHoDTtI1_XukhHp6W6cNGrueiS7Z8jF-EjJTIHClr-QBU9BuIJhgrPf8Ci0w/s1600-h/grey8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1tFmNw9EASBf4Mfva2eAf1tpZJ7ORzjZxTQwdwgTiqFBGpJsEIhOWm26_O_G9k6sO0Rp9nA3QSoT_xPhHoDTtI1_XukhHp6W6cNGrueiS7Z8jF-EjJTIHClr-QBU9BuIJhgrPf8Ci0w/s320/grey8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952846856127938" /></a><i>Buller Gorge</i></div><div><br /></div><div>A further stop at Murchison for a coffee and we entered the wonderful scenery that follows the rivers over to the coast, stunning gorges and heavy river flow over gravel beds, perfect for salmonids and what a delight it would be to spend a holiday pitting one’s wits against the large brown trout that lurk in the deep pools that link the current races and rapids.</div><div><br /></div><div> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqgDEGlo5H2x5j9HCDj6yM36orfI8bk6S2XS8q_Rz6JfB1gV7DowhlPJMV4dgBWdBnIRCcEUXZpjp2ghohW4WdE4qb2iIMwbzX112pmAS6ReNTn7SOvgtgIAwP4RnTHEOsEQwJqhELdw/s1600-h/grey7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqgDEGlo5H2x5j9HCDj6yM36orfI8bk6S2XS8q_Rz6JfB1gV7DowhlPJMV4dgBWdBnIRCcEUXZpjp2ghohW4WdE4qb2iIMwbzX112pmAS6ReNTn7SOvgtgIAwP4RnTHEOsEQwJqhELdw/s320/grey7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952835361662402" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>West Coast 1</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Arriving at the west coast our first sight of the sea and the coastal topography occurred a little south of Westport, (not a jig or reel to be heard). The next 100 kilometres were difficult to drive because of the number of occasions that a corner was turned and the view took one’s attention form the job in hand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For those familiar with the road along Big Sur in California you have a good idea of what this is like, artist’s dream. Our only disappointment was the quality of light, by the time we got there the cloud was well down and the rain about to start sprinkling. Consequently the shots here, not having been doctored, are a little lacklustre.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrsQ0TX-jatHf_c0zfRzpYYfeO7ndLGUiTDYMLJTDNyhSho-nuPrYAq34jeDCKl7etW5Eeg5P6j26lvPpvslAde0NnHZMXoMTTlfDxu_EejhE6lx-5KSCwagRAzMUclWfPVjFLq3hHRk/s1600-h/grey6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrsQ0TX-jatHf_c0zfRzpYYfeO7ndLGUiTDYMLJTDNyhSho-nuPrYAq34jeDCKl7etW5Eeg5P6j26lvPpvslAde0NnHZMXoMTTlfDxu_EejhE6lx-5KSCwagRAzMUclWfPVjFLq3hHRk/s320/grey6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952823451078930" /></a><i>West Coast 2</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Our final stop was Punakaiki where the Pancake Rocks and Blow Holes are the attraction. A well-organised pathway takes the walker around the top of the cliffs that show dramatic stratification and erosion, another visual treat heightened by our first view of the penguins that populate this part of the world and the pod of dolphins working close in added an extra frisson to the stop.</span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypPaWEfx6iMv9F5F370ASYrMeezLcbrfHmcfhlnggVj-7AzrPAFUgakCDjewqyE2skMTx2NNfwHBrYKRX5VaYwTWSqtSz3iTgWeh8CRBafV3kDD7jCtPpp0j10xI-RV4TGsQj_AEmlj8/s1600-h/grey5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypPaWEfx6iMv9F5F370ASYrMeezLcbrfHmcfhlnggVj-7AzrPAFUgakCDjewqyE2skMTx2NNfwHBrYKRX5VaYwTWSqtSz3iTgWeh8CRBafV3kDD7jCtPpp0j10xI-RV4TGsQj_AEmlj8/s320/grey5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952381884222594" /></a><i>Punakaiki 1</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qGwkIjzIVUpadsU9udmRwV-SvKLraYo08UHjLJ9UJV_jqH1D82hVXTNab1_nyIoJMirmH0PuCKQusiZN02hc3dWRqotXHftFuWzXVIK2qIm0sWNMaDoSgN2qVXG1DTziaudaVz1tB7U/s1600-h/grey4.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qGwkIjzIVUpadsU9udmRwV-SvKLraYo08UHjLJ9UJV_jqH1D82hVXTNab1_nyIoJMirmH0PuCKQusiZN02hc3dWRqotXHftFuWzXVIK2qIm0sWNMaDoSgN2qVXG1DTziaudaVz1tB7U/s1600-h/grey4.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qGwkIjzIVUpadsU9udmRwV-SvKLraYo08UHjLJ9UJV_jqH1D82hVXTNab1_nyIoJMirmH0PuCKQusiZN02hc3dWRqotXHftFuWzXVIK2qIm0sWNMaDoSgN2qVXG1DTziaudaVz1tB7U/s320/grey4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952377258159250" /></a><i>Punakaiki 2</i></div><div><i><br /></i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEGGw1MFob_pxi2hkIAJvrTvPrw_K4jjDFUpGXjaN-8AuKqg-a-J5sxUy9qKObgLRFiOSQk9YWd9cAt966mvIWW51beXOcY6FUtrGhcs0LMh_ZWA5i0sgcGQDc_NTa5ki2XwQaNw2pvg/s1600-h/grey3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEGGw1MFob_pxi2hkIAJvrTvPrw_K4jjDFUpGXjaN-8AuKqg-a-J5sxUy9qKObgLRFiOSQk9YWd9cAt966mvIWW51beXOcY6FUtrGhcs0LMh_ZWA5i0sgcGQDc_NTa5ki2XwQaNw2pvg/s320/grey3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952367111178578" /></a><i>Punakaiki 3</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3uLVVFwEKbaCWlP6X-wv0wvGSIRy0iqTcLGKXQHFIqlXrpQ20w0QJaMsCUQc7DKtmK83SxgHUrFyy9BLaVNI3YU6GZ_Xhu6mIYvmL5k5oww5XkI7Pa72lHm92xL-NSpHV-ofSi3aIio/s1600-h/grey2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3uLVVFwEKbaCWlP6X-wv0wvGSIRy0iqTcLGKXQHFIqlXrpQ20w0QJaMsCUQc7DKtmK83SxgHUrFyy9BLaVNI3YU6GZ_Xhu6mIYvmL5k5oww5XkI7Pa72lHm92xL-NSpHV-ofSi3aIio/s320/grey2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952357680393330" /></a><br /></div><div><i>Punakaiki 4</i><br /><br /></div><div>More short stops to marvel at the coastal stacks slowed our progress down to our resting place for the evening. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoLmBzTh6Szj1YjPmVbApcWUS5wUkJWQr4iMbNJFQPMprHuGsHxTuylAjkgtRCxUYs-YXwPZLljL9S5Uejne_-YMOgHWGXTHJz-NMmL818EhGkR1lbHpVGo5KGxizPQJ_c_qv5G2jR_U/s1600-h/grey1.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoLmBzTh6Szj1YjPmVbApcWUS5wUkJWQr4iMbNJFQPMprHuGsHxTuylAjkgtRCxUYs-YXwPZLljL9S5Uejne_-YMOgHWGXTHJz-NMmL818EhGkR1lbHpVGo5KGxizPQJ_c_qv5G2jR_U/s320/grey1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435952355301503106" /></a><i>West Coast North of Greymouth</i><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-86988110432292005442010-02-06T23:10:00.000-08:002010-02-06T23:27:14.066-08:00Rest and Recuperation<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">After yesterday’s exertions in the name of oenological enlightenment, today was a day for less strenuous pursuits. So without any defined plan we headed for the Farmer’s Market that is held every Sunday in town. We were slightly intrigued as the previous day had been Waitangi Day and in these parts that coincided with a local party day called Blues, Booze and BBQs. On our travels we had passed the site at lunchtime and it would be fair to say that the place was really cooking, the best cameo was a couple of guys heading for the site pushing their settee with their provisions on top. I’d loved to have seen them this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fYCnAH6__HEv-ABrflQ-7uNv_N5pmEcnGx5nBe-uC3GioaWWTOjcgfgUhQAvK88FNoQ5K9s9tav6uOsQlYvC28JpU9bfwfjsPeH1CwGAJgq8sm0hlvzy_iaFQK7zz4ZH2zE_d5O27z0/s1600-h/with7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fYCnAH6__HEv-ABrflQ-7uNv_N5pmEcnGx5nBe-uC3GioaWWTOjcgfgUhQAvK88FNoQ5K9s9tav6uOsQlYvC28JpU9bfwfjsPeH1CwGAJgq8sm0hlvzy_iaFQK7zz4ZH2zE_d5O27z0/s320/with7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435396250809053890" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Flowers at the Market</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The Farmer’s Market was a real social occasion, families out for a few hours, lots of stalls with some very fine produce and speciality items like fruit flavoured olive oils and interesting pies. We acquired a couple of Lamb and Mint pies to have for supper and having just eaten them can testify to their quality and flavour. This is a land full of the finest ingredients and they take their food very seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJP64Y3fkYJFTzt8KwY17hc8Iid_UU7QYo7G4_Da0TS_WnnHrpMFZekAYWwDaQX-di9zIryIj2MwD3nWGG_D45VfAWatnDbiJLTljTXu_95aU-I9fMV19UVSV2qWLeBcRBDwoJII3MaE/s1600-h/with6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJP64Y3fkYJFTzt8KwY17hc8Iid_UU7QYo7G4_Da0TS_WnnHrpMFZekAYWwDaQX-di9zIryIj2MwD3nWGG_D45VfAWatnDbiJLTljTXu_95aU-I9fMV19UVSV2qWLeBcRBDwoJII3MaE/s320/with6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435396242344619474" /></a><i>Clara entertains the Market</i></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">We then went for a short drive in search of potential painting locations, there were in fact great locations on every turn in the road, but we found ourselves almost inevitably drawn back to the wineries that are the main feature of the local valley. A couple of spitting stops in the name of location searching and then a short stop with the watercolours to attempt to capture a feel of the buildings at Highfield Estates and Sheila had the very fine notion that we should stop off for lunch at one of the wineries, a short discussion had the car heading for Wither Hills, where we were well catered for. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYDPTDwQaKHmzyGN7Y1CRh_Ub66KjEodW5N-QOWo4EufZU74beEyfYv0CgDp6pjeeZC0Sk-8nxZjI9zGRKYrzfXgZCeBxeFIgqXPs6Yi3pgh3Hg0GIp07vCVzQN0THiR_CrPfT6f-T1I/s1600-h/with5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYDPTDwQaKHmzyGN7Y1CRh_Ub66KjEodW5N-QOWo4EufZU74beEyfYv0CgDp6pjeeZC0Sk-8nxZjI9zGRKYrzfXgZCeBxeFIgqXPs6Yi3pgh3Hg0GIp07vCVzQN0THiR_CrPfT6f-T1I/s320/with5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435396231265765234" /></a><i>Road in to the Withers</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ya6a-GDCU-XbyOWuAUp0iPT_STzeXd-qZTrS806qoytsWs7Ctl-fui_6BqXtXhKjqGiV-JVDXSr2cMsRTLpRyPKQL2k6a58JSVP836BJ8fvt42c8Th7ove4_cAfTD7BhuVQ1PYMX8-w/s1600-h/with4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ya6a-GDCU-XbyOWuAUp0iPT_STzeXd-qZTrS806qoytsWs7Ctl-fui_6BqXtXhKjqGiV-JVDXSr2cMsRTLpRyPKQL2k6a58JSVP836BJ8fvt42c8Th7ove4_cAfTD7BhuVQ1PYMX8-w/s320/with4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435395968778148386" /></a><i>From Villa Maria Winery</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40Tm6CvhGfiW2d4SllIPxCL74A438W3ocD1udRrBz5X4aUjV4PjLLiWtqUDEt7DwHHt5Y_rOSpO8fywyYejWuaZoZ6JI9jh5gY4FRZHCpA7MhQKsyV1OSgSj2Yh0eK1sU2b0BGZ16OZY/s1600-h/with3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40Tm6CvhGfiW2d4SllIPxCL74A438W3ocD1udRrBz5X4aUjV4PjLLiWtqUDEt7DwHHt5Y_rOSpO8fywyYejWuaZoZ6JI9jh5gY4FRZHCpA7MhQKsyV1OSgSj2Yh0eK1sU2b0BGZ16OZY/s320/with3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435395957539600834" /></a><i>Wither Hills</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3c17dSGwzNLXtggsgia8uyWS29BB3z5H2eqFwQc-Y2ydghzbTlv5Pu_3HJt5RMZGC_BbNfeDjrHIbjR9lqS9YnhnhyGh7kEJWeHBZKZE51BuS8qdFriTHvgHt1y5iHB7mX5pFmZZzxow/s1600-h/with2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3c17dSGwzNLXtggsgia8uyWS29BB3z5H2eqFwQc-Y2ydghzbTlv5Pu_3HJt5RMZGC_BbNfeDjrHIbjR9lqS9YnhnhyGh7kEJWeHBZKZE51BuS8qdFriTHvgHt1y5iHB7mX5pFmZZzxow/s320/with2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435395947760470194" /></a><i>Highfield Estates</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkWbTdRUrLIgr94GKGc9qtkmEFzCZTl1amz3nrcwDsnlnAqHaDjYjIx3yj1TLpz0vl4Ih8f8jfAUwoPp5p4xC_nxWUM9FV1D08Ms0yQH8754FwjPIV70jafUoWnn-ePAp8bguyyAwkGY/s1600-h/with1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkWbTdRUrLIgr94GKGc9qtkmEFzCZTl1amz3nrcwDsnlnAqHaDjYjIx3yj1TLpz0vl4Ih8f8jfAUwoPp5p4xC_nxWUM9FV1D08Ms0yQH8754FwjPIV70jafUoWnn-ePAp8bguyyAwkGY/s320/with1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435395946637609442" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Highfield Estates - watercolour sketch</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Our leisurely lunch over we declared the jollies of the day over as we had to prepare for the next stage of our journey in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-61822356581002818462010-02-05T23:35:00.000-08:002010-02-05T23:56:46.770-08:00Worried Parents<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Today has been a very difficult day for us as parents. You know that feeing that you are always responsible for the children you raise. Well today we started proceedings by engaging in the technological marvels of Skype, that has been keeping us in touch in a much more satisfactory way than e-mail does. In both cases, in between lots of exciting family news, Jonathan’s interesting finger and knowledge of the streaking phenomenon, Jack’s latest football exploits, the Dancing Queen’s progress and the walking smileathon that is Oliver, we were left with lingering doubts to our impact on our own two offspring. These are disturbing thoughts, had we or had we not been the influence that had them sitting on the other side of the world with their respective partners flagrantly quaffing glasses of wine while they are spending the evening looking after our grandchildren? Did we lead them astray when we subjected them to the degustation regime on French holiday?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Whilst pondering these matters of great moment we decided that the most appropriate way to give the question proper weight was to go to the source as they say and arrange for a tour of some of the wineries in this region and spend the day in contemplation. It took no time at all to make arrangements with Marlborough Wine Tours to get the process under way. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB4SYIJ9knhpcKI3XBO0b8Rmte75ZjCsC5mIxVb6OvXQ7QMZXXXKYVlHwPX-biWwXNlLiLOBByiKVuXSVVsgz0a7RFvXAcwwDLNFsJOxwantothLEKow5okyy2okSkKkT72mmHa_nhzs/s1600-h/win9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB4SYIJ9knhpcKI3XBO0b8Rmte75ZjCsC5mIxVb6OvXQ7QMZXXXKYVlHwPX-biWwXNlLiLOBByiKVuXSVVsgz0a7RFvXAcwwDLNFsJOxwantothLEKow5okyy2okSkKkT72mmHa_nhzs/s320/win9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031763855446274" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Barrel Room at Wither Hills</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">We were picked up promptly and introduced to our other two tourists and asked about any preferences that we might have on the tour. Initial exchanges over we headed off to the first of our wineries. This stop off gave us the opportunity to get to know our party a little better as well as judge what the form was on these visits. The first thing that became clear was that the two guys with us had a great sense of humour and both interest in and knowledge of wine A real good quaffing at the first of our calls, Lawson’s Dry Hills, set the tone for the rest of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwLgrAnee-Ew4VQId46lg9G10JwT67rJBx9CoKQRTY4l6IO9zbOMVaOPHLAT3_aOVUzCfG05CAQiT49McHqqQMhrEiKmLmyXTx6MW68zafUYRoK-nnBmdMIjytRwmCZka1isYura-tbA/s1600-h/win8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwLgrAnee-Ew4VQId46lg9G10JwT67rJBx9CoKQRTY4l6IO9zbOMVaOPHLAT3_aOVUzCfG05CAQiT49McHqqQMhrEiKmLmyXTx6MW68zafUYRoK-nnBmdMIjytRwmCZka1isYura-tbA/s320/win8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031752257506962" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Neil, Dene and Sheila at Lunch</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">On to the mighty Wither Hills where it became clear that if we were to progress at this rate there could be casualties a tactical decision was made that at the next winery it would be politic to attempt the ingestion of some solids. And so it was at Highfields we sat, after appropriate tastings, and had wonderful mixed platters of food accompanied by one of their wines.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxectZuZQJl1ZC74didGtjHBZaSxR9kV1tHgzLCPSNBQRLAK8AQXmT2yQF2BZKp-vc0qsEp5yMs7H6t1IjKY5U79yUhWxVhkwoAs6Fia9LJtxeCR2aU40CPngTIYBwiQpNtzP7Cqk9v4/s1600-h/win7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxectZuZQJl1ZC74didGtjHBZaSxR9kV1tHgzLCPSNBQRLAK8AQXmT2yQF2BZKp-vc0qsEp5yMs7H6t1IjKY5U79yUhWxVhkwoAs6Fia9LJtxeCR2aU40CPngTIYBwiQpNtzP7Cqk9v4/s320/win7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031751189479090" /></a><i>Highfields Tower</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5shL4wm5aijq2Gj8tf2GvU9acGdSwdRkTw3NvzIqbqz6zCc9aEVukZ2P_zmTTxCqNIEEEaN76cWynRE2EOAxY7UXvL5xaBQ6VPyFmCdMU-IulVCOL-gY_UwTftr3WuYjahvWrSgW8fIE/s1600-h/win6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5shL4wm5aijq2Gj8tf2GvU9acGdSwdRkTw3NvzIqbqz6zCc9aEVukZ2P_zmTTxCqNIEEEaN76cWynRE2EOAxY7UXvL5xaBQ6VPyFmCdMU-IulVCOL-gY_UwTftr3WuYjahvWrSgW8fIE/s320/win6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031743734617618" /></a><i>View from the Tower</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtj1lYo2HKBqWbtmJdUaqPhBdR6pXnACc1c51CVGFFUPKQfNgvkiYjMFx6Cfnx3thTAoWBUQNgQt23wYMPXEMyvB2d75D3H9BcTmdCEEDaCXPgjDyoJtxtf14c3w8mhtjDHMda2wJEgs/s1600-h/win5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtj1lYo2HKBqWbtmJdUaqPhBdR6pXnACc1c51CVGFFUPKQfNgvkiYjMFx6Cfnx3thTAoWBUQNgQt23wYMPXEMyvB2d75D3H9BcTmdCEEDaCXPgjDyoJtxtf14c3w8mhtjDHMda2wJEgs/s320/win5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031732887212082" /></a><i>Spot who's feeling the pace</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUZktHd1I767puBWZp48FH2u1nF8rzRdS-HpvJbdheIxleaNhsitNcuC6cfYYmKONn3qebAvZMZ1oA-vGxn6D-AKqQ6j9kku4mIbTIK3qIffyGBIiQ3086ZecCzd_4AqVF0N7PBtR0DU/s1600-h/win4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUZktHd1I767puBWZp48FH2u1nF8rzRdS-HpvJbdheIxleaNhsitNcuC6cfYYmKONn3qebAvZMZ1oA-vGxn6D-AKqQ6j9kku4mIbTIK3qIffyGBIiQ3086ZecCzd_4AqVF0N7PBtR0DU/s320/win4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031331976183778" /></a><i>Cloudy Bay grounds</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUeaywruioiu4hYALeData7LuH5jTcD-MUIamv5LbNRhQLqOBw4-CywvrsZ5KiUtlf4hUx-kmj4Zi4XP4PRqQqMYLgK6SStIXiuDxWT-FzXosB2kJT-3HG_XCbs6eFjNTP3v0EJRpjOQ/s1600-h/win3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUeaywruioiu4hYALeData7LuH5jTcD-MUIamv5LbNRhQLqOBw4-CywvrsZ5KiUtlf4hUx-kmj4Zi4XP4PRqQqMYLgK6SStIXiuDxWT-FzXosB2kJT-3HG_XCbs6eFjNTP3v0EJRpjOQ/s320/win3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031322645797042" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Carneys at Work</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Next on the agenda was a cracking boutique winery, Seresin, whose organic pedigree and philosophy is evident in the quality of their wine. Another winery, unknown to us at home, followed, Forrest Wines. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> Final call of the day was to a place that had to be on my itinerary, Cloudy Bay. Over twenty years ago I attended a blind tasting of white wines and for me the best wine on offer even against some well-known European names was indeed a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. This was the moment that I became convinced of the quality available in the Southern Hemisphere. Once again we were not disappointed, although by this stage of proceedings not all of our party were as coherent in their tasting comments as they had been when we met earlier in the day.</o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcTf3PGFtUBhGR5_7fQhpqkI88eTyucnm3WGyZl4158bqZT1C2dI1TFPFvZGgLi-K6UHd84qGvZZr6mOOaU23lKiERIQu9Rw4_96jN36MQecau_UrVzRGDKZYIjA7tFX0sPwazKNUhdI/s1600-h/win2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcTf3PGFtUBhGR5_7fQhpqkI88eTyucnm3WGyZl4158bqZT1C2dI1TFPFvZGgLi-K6UHd84qGvZZr6mOOaU23lKiERIQu9Rw4_96jN36MQecau_UrVzRGDKZYIjA7tFX0sPwazKNUhdI/s320/win2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031315981237138" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Charlene, Dene, Michael and Sheila</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Intellectual stimulation, grape varieties well known and newly tasted, great company, lots of tempting purchases and purchases made, logoed pens liberated when not on sale, knowledgeable staff and generous hospitality ensured that this was a day to remember if we could. What we do know is that if you want a value for money drinking exercise and want to do it with quality product you can do a lot worse than sign up with Marlborough Wine Tours. Thanks Charlene, Dene and Neil who were such great company.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZZ8xtqqg4wMFH_lDG_ZqKAVTJI98zBP0IdxFMRXNxEKrrqDRDFBgZOEGMd0rmvnYVqSz-tqbIa-P7GP9YQGKKQyziTZslCdCuAS5b-hpezJ_7a39qBoygmrYB4BgJe0P3Z7CJ-_UYzo/s1600-h/win1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZZ8xtqqg4wMFH_lDG_ZqKAVTJI98zBP0IdxFMRXNxEKrrqDRDFBgZOEGMd0rmvnYVqSz-tqbIa-P7GP9YQGKKQyziTZslCdCuAS5b-hpezJ_7a39qBoygmrYB4BgJe0P3Z7CJ-_UYzo/s320/win1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435031312541050866" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>How did this lot get into our luggage?</i> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Back to where we started, where are we as parental influences, well if a glass of wine is something learned and appreciated then maybe it wasn’t all bad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If it was bad then we’re still bad and enjoying it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> This article has been brought to you by dint of liberated pen ink and befuddled thinking. The author accepts no liability for any stupidities that are contained therein. Good night one and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-73365067763920922312010-02-05T23:24:00.000-08:002010-02-05T23:35:17.005-08:00Marlborough<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Our stay in Wellington over we headed via the ferry to the South Island.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The journey is one of the classic trips in itself. Whatever the conditions there must always be something to tantalise the spirit in such majestic surroundings.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div>The following photographs are just a tempter as to the delights available as part of the fare on the Interislander.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUr8H2vA0nchsanFbefb-D0qM8hkTOG019Mn04uV0Td7jf1fUPJMf4dGCpj3n7E8Q5FQmjZ1F7otx0JkOQJHzl_ez8sn1oPMiGX2khrTkZwg6_1NClR-SjbUDxxnBQrlZPIxJ8o80yvmQ/s1600-h/marl3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUr8H2vA0nchsanFbefb-D0qM8hkTOG019Mn04uV0Td7jf1fUPJMf4dGCpj3n7E8Q5FQmjZ1F7otx0JkOQJHzl_ez8sn1oPMiGX2khrTkZwg6_1NClR-SjbUDxxnBQrlZPIxJ8o80yvmQ/s320/marl3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435028941061695490" /></a><i>Cloud cover on North Island</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFHzTyV8TtEtxq32mmw9uUSupv5nfZMjUKRvm-YqTQ_Mjlh4AX-TGTsHnYZ5tswEmG0Knm6RexDYx8DzSG0O-XAh9G_chfLG9dbpZTAubIRuzIMltrKVDKECeWEZdiH1o3e6b3CX-nMA/s1600-h/marl2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFHzTyV8TtEtxq32mmw9uUSupv5nfZMjUKRvm-YqTQ_Mjlh4AX-TGTsHnYZ5tswEmG0Knm6RexDYx8DzSG0O-XAh9G_chfLG9dbpZTAubIRuzIMltrKVDKECeWEZdiH1o3e6b3CX-nMA/s320/marl2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435028935961408850" /></a><i>Some of the first land on South Island</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UDfH3MiUzSTD12HYM45DO5X1hPRXTAH6hixWjl1dl9HGcEUARuhuasRke6uuByTxt-2Q9gI3Vf3DMjLMERZF9MR1WOwM_BH6oUrjkNqbI9T0_dDG7SRpIfREZ0e6-mqn_OKVLvqdF1k/s1600-h/marl1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UDfH3MiUzSTD12HYM45DO5X1hPRXTAH6hixWjl1dl9HGcEUARuhuasRke6uuByTxt-2Q9gI3Vf3DMjLMERZF9MR1WOwM_BH6oUrjkNqbI9T0_dDG7SRpIfREZ0e6-mqn_OKVLvqdF1k/s320/marl1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435028928275262722" /></a><i>Into the Sound</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-69665147556602169902010-02-04T23:49:00.001-08:002010-02-04T23:53:03.320-08:00Hippie Codicil<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Sorry about this but as we went to press the following weren’t available and I can’t think why. However, later though they are they further emphasise the message in the last post. Children abound and environs are antiquated, but Sheila beams. Absolutely great crack and couldn’t finish the food.</span></p></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYBgtP45jPjE_1nc1dizfJ5liTHGKVOuJe02xWwN-sipz1Y9PhtvjM0O2fg_gWDvgi2FIPsBjr7KP5c7GHUt-o5rpIG7pADTC-8nZy6ZquDIxl6dK3Z9ttMGcmedcft0I8B6DFQmCOuw/s1600-h/marl6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYBgtP45jPjE_1nc1dizfJ5liTHGKVOuJe02xWwN-sipz1Y9PhtvjM0O2fg_gWDvgi2FIPsBjr7KP5c7GHUt-o5rpIG7pADTC-8nZy6ZquDIxl6dK3Z9ttMGcmedcft0I8B6DFQmCOuw/s320/marl6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663714308566402" /></a><i>Sheila chews chowder</i><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTeDr7IsyJ-ryaWupKOJVa_291Nm4rrmAMcWFZ8A2UHaXtx-hefYN_ZB19jbn-T_YIEg3J35k0POpxgxrkrf0z10fAmO0zd8q81xt67s4S1496BIVfmUZodwOsx4fLN268PQKtcvJdyU/s1600-h/marl5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTeDr7IsyJ-ryaWupKOJVa_291Nm4rrmAMcWFZ8A2UHaXtx-hefYN_ZB19jbn-T_YIEg3J35k0POpxgxrkrf0z10fAmO0zd8q81xt67s4S1496BIVfmUZodwOsx4fLN268PQKtcvJdyU/s320/marl5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663708131936850" /></a><i>Superman delivers the bill</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqND-2ClIxgogp8U54YvKfPBWtr5YUXBWmavbZdTMD19cQfCbc92W_r2ITmpHSyULXDmTfkHnEapI41n1yc2tuVpQq33pNeHZYvEdmxPNDSNO79IBcH8ylpCB3JjxiufR0dTG5WKU85I/s1600-h/marl4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqND-2ClIxgogp8U54YvKfPBWtr5YUXBWmavbZdTMD19cQfCbc92W_r2ITmpHSyULXDmTfkHnEapI41n1yc2tuVpQq33pNeHZYvEdmxPNDSNO79IBcH8ylpCB3JjxiufR0dTG5WKU85I/s320/marl4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434663703739825282" /></a><i>Children's playground</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-7784601935426746152010-02-04T18:59:00.000-08:002010-02-04T19:11:43.598-08:00Harbours and Hippies<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Out of the hotel, down a lift to a lower street level and we were quickly down to the harbour side. Like many cities on the water, the Wellington harbour side has been developed to make it an accessible area for pedestrians with lots to interest them while they walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Boardwalk, buildings and sculpture keep you diverted as you promenade. A short stroll along the boardwalk here leads to a very fine building full of fascinating artefacts and works of art, Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpwDYpk6YcM1cZO8wDSTEq9nMQ9LEtZl_ATGjVSoCzgX3Kguxc6QR5HVGbPq-cw-CYHXiMx2fx9CIgOda_kFthfXHiD0y13TEodWffBisJ_Bx-iawhpWxUh804xabVzEy9T_vQwF7ULI/s1600-h/wel8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpwDYpk6YcM1cZO8wDSTEq9nMQ9LEtZl_ATGjVSoCzgX3Kguxc6QR5HVGbPq-cw-CYHXiMx2fx9CIgOda_kFthfXHiD0y13TEodWffBisJ_Bx-iawhpWxUh804xabVzEy9T_vQwF7ULI/s320/wel8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589705210967362" /></a><i>Harbourside</i><br /><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Our short visit to the Museum allowed us to climb to the roof and view the small sculpture area and whilst enjoying the impressive views of the harbour and city have one of our perennial debates about the meaning of modern art. After this seeing some of the striking indigenous art housed next to European influences of the developing art of New Zealand posed lots of questions about the history of ideas and their part in artistic expression. It was also exciting to see the work of some old artistic friends, whose works have become familiar on visits to Kelvingrove and Edinburgh.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxTUEb9RrnDnUNCWwlMeKARqbjxpSnN-XpzinOFX5SZWi3Vr2E-8PFQJvYfYQJhqXcvVQTM8puAbMxYNcXM4dBOv-D7dgPcb4lBv_IIOXVCcGJDQYxF2pyTbJZq3MZuwp5gqqBI-4jgk/s1600-h/wel7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxTUEb9RrnDnUNCWwlMeKARqbjxpSnN-XpzinOFX5SZWi3Vr2E-8PFQJvYfYQJhqXcvVQTM8puAbMxYNcXM4dBOv-D7dgPcb4lBv_IIOXVCcGJDQYxF2pyTbJZq3MZuwp5gqqBI-4jgk/s320/wel7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589698002588338" /></a><i>Te Papa</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2ShBEN6mrvU1jhiEt2NfDysVRYTDKkV-eh0Nxf32-nbRlP0nSbPeetp0LA3JU0Jef68izkZNwRxPmJiLkOiMWqYLH6hccEBWj9IEXnj-jTwQUWQIkgLrIdGAwgnKIZ27VDP2mbFwkO8/s1600-h/wel6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2ShBEN6mrvU1jhiEt2NfDysVRYTDKkV-eh0Nxf32-nbRlP0nSbPeetp0LA3JU0Jef68izkZNwRxPmJiLkOiMWqYLH6hccEBWj9IEXnj-jTwQUWQIkgLrIdGAwgnKIZ27VDP2mbFwkO8/s320/wel6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589692340568338" /></a><i>Sculpture Exhibit - The Garden</i></div><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">A short walk over to the Civic Square where the international teams for the New Zealand Rugby Sevens were being received by the local civic leaders and lots of cheering crowds. Unfortunately, we will leave Wellington as the tournament begins. Bit of a Bill and Ann going on here, we arrived here just as the AC/ DC tour moved on to Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUAWFjyaLwgMMTUKWacvkqinWJz69ZBqEwuvWK2UZg0dmrz_yHCB1V9QyX0hPzH0_EvuskS3iyHf6VQxbkE_xsTXjodI8spyZPe7bg_DleU5kiuuT7XNvbXVjL_zd_XwneU2dxaIs5eY/s1600-h/wel5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUAWFjyaLwgMMTUKWacvkqinWJz69ZBqEwuvWK2UZg0dmrz_yHCB1V9QyX0hPzH0_EvuskS3iyHf6VQxbkE_xsTXjodI8spyZPe7bg_DleU5kiuuT7XNvbXVjL_zd_XwneU2dxaIs5eY/s320/wel5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589282343239458" /></a><i>Civic Welcome for Rugby Sevens Teams</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmuF7JtUwMUlGCSXsqiJSinT_YjgmB_MVEpB_0-s40zmODNdNKmHJi1rG9C5F6GvWdshYUDJQFX8DGKMsGlBvv3Cpr4_97t_1X8gMEqg54-XiJC3VoflbGGPYPzCFSMhPimDYJDQCDk4/s1600-h/wel4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmuF7JtUwMUlGCSXsqiJSinT_YjgmB_MVEpB_0-s40zmODNdNKmHJi1rG9C5F6GvWdshYUDJQFX8DGKMsGlBvv3Cpr4_97t_1X8gMEqg54-XiJC3VoflbGGPYPzCFSMhPimDYJDQCDk4/s320/wel4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589274534666562" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Library</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The rest of the day was to be devoted to Sheila’s search for a hippie past that she had somehow missed out on and the premises that she had winkled out of the trusty Lonely Planet guide were best described as idiosyncratic. First of these was a café called Fidel’s, one of a number of premises that related to the name of the street, Cuba. In a small outdoor enclosure we were surrounded by students, Castro/ Guevara inspired artefacts and well-worn tables. The pizza however, was first rate and the salad perfect. The long trek back to the hotel won its own reward in a late afternoon dizzy spell.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VH_MbWkViFBE6bgM2vMK-j-6T0Utd2N0aLXKwmOb3sPV76WDisChOTgQn0EdQDIsrgXA2IouFOBA-GfUnSfzw2fFx1xMC0nrw3RJrBeuAKxRCWdkCv7IiupYLYKBXwtlVthssjW-i_4/s1600-h/wel3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VH_MbWkViFBE6bgM2vMK-j-6T0Utd2N0aLXKwmOb3sPV76WDisChOTgQn0EdQDIsrgXA2IouFOBA-GfUnSfzw2fFx1xMC0nrw3RJrBeuAKxRCWdkCv7IiupYLYKBXwtlVthssjW-i_4/s320/wel3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589270017838994" /></a><i>Sheila supporting the Cuban Flag</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpuJlZz8-rcqxc_Xv1tcZ-M9y1nRlDo8CA19v286Xr1rU_WMiM-S6TN0AF7mVcA6hAKLC2WU65Aom9NyghYiJBKkKJkTw3M8EoZLuIGlVAi4zXMNd0AdZB6CzwgmX6Jhyphenhyphen1catee1RiY4/s1600-h/wel2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpuJlZz8-rcqxc_Xv1tcZ-M9y1nRlDo8CA19v286Xr1rU_WMiM-S6TN0AF7mVcA6hAKLC2WU65Aom9NyghYiJBKkKJkTw3M8EoZLuIGlVAi4zXMNd0AdZB6CzwgmX6Jhyphenhyphen1catee1RiY4/s320/wel2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434589264712848082" /></a><i>Ernesto</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6gTT6zapk6q4QCSblqeoMXdEUn_hU4o6wXN_dCUfMrfW7migHNFk9xAbCz5eAWLfJfzUEQOYUBourkKdB0jG0uQ9a62P4zPLlknRwOGJS5arl8YA6Grba5KmrJer8XmmnMFEs6evxWA/s1600-h/wel1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6gTT6zapk6q4QCSblqeoMXdEUn_hU4o6wXN_dCUfMrfW7migHNFk9xAbCz5eAWLfJfzUEQOYUBourkKdB0jG0uQ9a62P4zPLlknRwOGJS5arl8YA6Grba5KmrJer8XmmnMFEs6evxWA/s320/wel1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434588915685523298" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Fidel's Doorstep</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Evening arrived and the initial plan, to attend a debate on the Waitangi Treaty, was shelved more because of general weariness than lack of interest. Eventually the final stage in our reversion to the old ways came about with a lengthy amble to Sheila’s selected, Sweet Mother’s Kitchen. This place is a real throwback, Cajun cooking, old American memorabilia and the best background music in town. In fact it’s fair to say that this is the first establishment I’d been in where the ‘proprietor selected’ did not cause me deep offence. Muzak rant over. What was most interesting about each of these establishments was the fact that the collective age of all the other customers would not have amounted to the addition of ours. We are fast gaining notoriety as the New Age/ Old Age Grandfolks from Great Britain and as we walk the streets of Wellington you can hear young people mentioning the presence of ‘those old folks’ in their favourite haunts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-7790623474718526782010-02-03T20:21:00.000-08:002010-02-03T20:35:19.787-08:00Arrival in Wellington<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">A driving day from Napier to Wellington, for the most part straightforward and as usual little traffic until the last portion through the Rimutaka Forest Park where we met the now familiar steep climbs with lots of switchback turns. During the highest parts of the trip we travelled through cloud and light rain till we started our descent towards Wellington where the sun was shining and we were into another beautiful day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhMot8N4Q_0wIJ66uquFGo7-LlEW6HEgm702g0_Fxs8CPm-UpsQLtaGRuwHRtbyVOWbQ54rdJF_5LkJ1BCUtFcYXgSJTdTGNakgxfokCYVjCQ9GuklUplxF8wQFee3bVIdL8YSs1NxJw/s1600-h/well7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhMot8N4Q_0wIJ66uquFGo7-LlEW6HEgm702g0_Fxs8CPm-UpsQLtaGRuwHRtbyVOWbQ54rdJF_5LkJ1BCUtFcYXgSJTdTGNakgxfokCYVjCQ9GuklUplxF8wQFee3bVIdL8YSs1NxJw/s320/well7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239545032521986" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>View down Cable Car Track</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">After unpacking our initial venture out found us taking the cable car out of town and up to the Botanical Gardens from where there are stunning views of the city and bay.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">From the top we were able to look back to the hills draped in the cloud that had obscured our vision as we drove through it on our journey south.</span></o:p></span></p><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUQQzxoGnWbapbwACuMUDBbNHmXEGXUQoieCzbrVQ0XATLWm5GpIP4ENumMk_dn7IpUdTkwYlUWwiJ2T02XHadwWZZ0dwtM5rZF9r4WC5fk6RQ3qXYGOXEckdCkuDaBmWxJzt-BgYeW8/s1600-h/well6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUQQzxoGnWbapbwACuMUDBbNHmXEGXUQoieCzbrVQ0XATLWm5GpIP4ENumMk_dn7IpUdTkwYlUWwiJ2T02XHadwWZZ0dwtM5rZF9r4WC5fk6RQ3qXYGOXEckdCkuDaBmWxJzt-BgYeW8/s320/well6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239536987173570" /></a><i>Krupp Gun - relic of WW1 presented to New Zealand Government</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZd086CozLeloLPWSo3vWjJwDug7eJUGDVPLVmkCyaBu5_mGGkfEIe_yzhBjkR_V_zgIu6yiTXI0tXh6wK0pSCN81RN1TVVgTrYg-euiAjhvXyIRFamd1_ko-Zs4G4YmEU311NDdatBo/s1600-h/well5.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZd086CozLeloLPWSo3vWjJwDug7eJUGDVPLVmkCyaBu5_mGGkfEIe_yzhBjkR_V_zgIu6yiTXI0tXh6wK0pSCN81RN1TVVgTrYg-euiAjhvXyIRFamd1_ko-Zs4G4YmEU311NDdatBo/s1600-h/well5.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZd086CozLeloLPWSo3vWjJwDug7eJUGDVPLVmkCyaBu5_mGGkfEIe_yzhBjkR_V_zgIu6yiTXI0tXh6wK0pSCN81RN1TVVgTrYg-euiAjhvXyIRFamd1_ko-Zs4G4YmEU311NDdatBo/s320/well5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239535130662642" /></a><i>Wellington from Botanical Gardens</i></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUeW_YsHP9sbg5cI_U57zVS58-TzkR4TQTyEyXNCqri36LB7IQzTxLvyIss2DhXWhI9hZPnNsap2KBOZ4RINuRLWtU4HA79mgDkn6IA-ZjDt62vF3K5JC5a-JOyq4LDWFo5rjj_5JEGc/s1600-h/well4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUeW_YsHP9sbg5cI_U57zVS58-TzkR4TQTyEyXNCqri36LB7IQzTxLvyIss2DhXWhI9hZPnNsap2KBOZ4RINuRLWtU4HA79mgDkn6IA-ZjDt62vF3K5JC5a-JOyq4LDWFo5rjj_5JEGc/s320/well4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239191928850514" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Botanicals being Botanicals</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Enjoyment of the summit was followed by a walk through the gardens that took us down the hill towards the town, all part of a cunning plan to have me scaling mountains, on this occasion by walking back up the hill to the cable car station. You will be pleased to hear that I thwarted the plan to arrive breathless and dripping in perspiration at the summit by continuing down to the town at a leisurely pace. Great gardens, great views, first impressions a really interesting city.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLHlcYjv_RtXzxduJ4VHonOzkSxRjUlOF_SMiTkEUbRBi_ZbEyzjAyhQnxPzuNESpkIg2alQGBYc1JSdtleryYddNwlHVH-IxmSlo_8brJ-6owBAp6c0VPRO-yrpds6qIZ-afm34SISs/s1600-h/well3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLHlcYjv_RtXzxduJ4VHonOzkSxRjUlOF_SMiTkEUbRBi_ZbEyzjAyhQnxPzuNESpkIg2alQGBYc1JSdtleryYddNwlHVH-IxmSlo_8brJ-6owBAp6c0VPRO-yrpds6qIZ-afm34SISs/s320/well3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239178262447058" /></a><i>Peace Flame - The Flame will burn till nuclear disarmament is a reality</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapCiTi57JL_2f8CCam4A7E9rSv7ar62B36xzWvEhV_5QHUA80pl9N5BWzHY5rIX8DpIYd0BvNdFtX7NNVkICXNsQutLJbqiSVvMjXXVjv-3EfIuP-c7mco3uikO1tOsCimP9XCZOCTvw/s1600-h/well2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapCiTi57JL_2f8CCam4A7E9rSv7ar62B36xzWvEhV_5QHUA80pl9N5BWzHY5rIX8DpIYd0BvNdFtX7NNVkICXNsQutLJbqiSVvMjXXVjv-3EfIuP-c7mco3uikO1tOsCimP9XCZOCTvw/s320/well2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239171822067154" /></a><i>Cityscape</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURYHgjTvO7dIvVPEYEzpJPlEMs4jyW0pDljwr4o0CGj-W77-FSHvoHLZ1dxJpfPrFn0sSlXGILTt6muB7_D4FcRVa-WGVA3HoAPKlNtc8FbjdcwKgGkvyRyxVZzK03et-pukPhabLTw4/s1600-h/well1.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURYHgjTvO7dIvVPEYEzpJPlEMs4jyW0pDljwr4o0CGj-W77-FSHvoHLZ1dxJpfPrFn0sSlXGILTt6muB7_D4FcRVa-WGVA3HoAPKlNtc8FbjdcwKgGkvyRyxVZzK03et-pukPhabLTw4/s1600-h/well1.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURYHgjTvO7dIvVPEYEzpJPlEMs4jyW0pDljwr4o0CGj-W77-FSHvoHLZ1dxJpfPrFn0sSlXGILTt6muB7_D4FcRVa-WGVA3HoAPKlNtc8FbjdcwKgGkvyRyxVZzK03et-pukPhabLTw4/s320/well1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239169532668066" /></a><i>Parliament Buildings</i><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-83907641492000011052010-02-01T23:35:00.000-08:002010-02-02T00:28:12.031-08:00A Taste of Hawkes Bay or a Craggy Experience<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Another early morning nervous awakening due to the impending latest instalment in the saga of our beloved football club. We’ve not yet decided whether or not the facility of seeing most games live over here is a good or bad thing. At least today we didn’t ship any more goals. Enough of that.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p>Hawkes Bay is known for two things. The first relates to the aftermath of a 1931 earthquake that devastated the town. It did have one positive that emerged and that was the concentration of new buildings that echoed the Art Deco style that was enjoying a vogue at the time. This makes Napier an interesting town to ramble around. The buildings are worth looking at.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> The second thing is the concentration of some of the best wine growers in the country whose vineyards are well worth looking at and visiting for tastings.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> As the early morning drizzle receded we walked the streets to take in the design and then we headed off to visit the home of one of the best vineyards in the area.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> The first pictures are a few details from the buildings around Napier City Centre.</o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixyZFD1WqnR7IaJ_vhyphenhyphenDC4Hz9iOAuGzCxEUv1gr5E2lhzVBEz2cEun1JSNTEdrPR7AOJeD83-92lmTiCXpZkbZA6Nc0hBPVLwRsmjFLATsFIsuLalvGN5cNHEBgFnRhLll85LSG4w0Ow/s1600-h/nap11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixyZFD1WqnR7IaJ_vhyphenhyphenDC4Hz9iOAuGzCxEUv1gr5E2lhzVBEz2cEun1JSNTEdrPR7AOJeD83-92lmTiCXpZkbZA6Nc0hBPVLwRsmjFLATsFIsuLalvGN5cNHEBgFnRhLll85LSG4w0Ow/s320/nap11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433548056942130018" /></a><i>Deco detail 1</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxG_MA73A9cHMoDPQONp9I0p1NA8dFMHCe3I6oAMcQ8u5ULXQ6PXne9MpWJPSNQMezJv6A5qGkmLR8A2Py2rmRqPNLBt_UaiSobJ4pg5Udlzm_NzCeTZTvm3GGm1oJjRbVfDdl7TJKgM/s1600-h/nap9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxG_MA73A9cHMoDPQONp9I0p1NA8dFMHCe3I6oAMcQ8u5ULXQ6PXne9MpWJPSNQMezJv6A5qGkmLR8A2Py2rmRqPNLBt_UaiSobJ4pg5Udlzm_NzCeTZTvm3GGm1oJjRbVfDdl7TJKgM/s320/nap9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433548053998559986" /></a><i>Deco detail 2</i><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eRBoPsa7566tLCMtN5XmXhHWOdMyG6Oshg9ACfjcrhqurln8xv7Z-HxuwNQqIeONbRdVyjQ_XOdsq2ers5TjwynMsgIg0kL47b0ap09wfc5K1F3qVjbCmAiEQvf8pU_q7z6bWgzugBs/s1600-h/nap8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eRBoPsa7566tLCMtN5XmXhHWOdMyG6Oshg9ACfjcrhqurln8xv7Z-HxuwNQqIeONbRdVyjQ_XOdsq2ers5TjwynMsgIg0kL47b0ap09wfc5K1F3qVjbCmAiEQvf8pU_q7z6bWgzugBs/s320/nap8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433548049840737522" /></a><i>Deco detail 3</i></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevDq55Cc-bDpP4CHev-eHOEVq0E68uWzvJfV-FgGqmFwRM8G0Ff0fskL5pG3mq1BzwUq3aWh0kiy71HYwqy7qErxgmePBDDltpPTgpZM0qcVM1Uyuw5WPd8U26fiLU_-PDqgVHO8xUuU/s1600-h/nap6.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevDq55Cc-bDpP4CHev-eHOEVq0E68uWzvJfV-FgGqmFwRM8G0Ff0fskL5pG3mq1BzwUq3aWh0kiy71HYwqy7qErxgmePBDDltpPTgpZM0qcVM1Uyuw5WPd8U26fiLU_-PDqgVHO8xUuU/s1600-h/nap6.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevDq55Cc-bDpP4CHev-eHOEVq0E68uWzvJfV-FgGqmFwRM8G0Ff0fskL5pG3mq1BzwUq3aWh0kiy71HYwqy7qErxgmePBDDltpPTgpZM0qcVM1Uyuw5WPd8U26fiLU_-PDqgVHO8xUuU/s320/nap6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433548042809892450" /></a><i>A view from the tasting room to the Craggy Range</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZSuYacgecAco61w25Qt4z8JdT39ddiSWXO5Kb_Y97eOBgFcGKbOzJRH1SK4ifReMJU3pOAiiBM4CAD-ZjHCcE433V3STin53NSXkCIvI9Cd8SC8W88EeDHBjJ-hUy-sw9LQTaglGtUQ/s1600-h/nap7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZSuYacgecAco61w25Qt4z8JdT39ddiSWXO5Kb_Y97eOBgFcGKbOzJRH1SK4ifReMJU3pOAiiBM4CAD-ZjHCcE433V3STin53NSXkCIvI9Cd8SC8W88EeDHBjJ-hUy-sw9LQTaglGtUQ/s320/nap7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433547600351315026" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Another bit of detail</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the afternoon we drove out to the area past Havelock North below the beautiful hill of Te Mata and the set of peaks known as Craggy Range which give their name to the wine that is produced in their shadow. This was to be our only full tasting session while in the area and the choice of Craggy Range was based on the ever-reliable wine writers in our chosen newspapers. We were not to be disappointed. The range of wines for tasting was varied and served in progressive fashion from light whites to meaty reds. The sommelier was knowledgeable and helpful. The only downer was the necessary spitting out to preserve the fitness to drive but it is possible to enjoy without consuming. As you will no doubt have guessed we did not leave empty handed and our luggage to Wellington will be a little heavier than planned. Shame we can’t ship a case or two home, another search required when we eventually get back. Without boring you the viticulturists of Craggy Range know their job and are producing some interesting and complex wines that rise above the vast majority of Antipodean wines we see back home.</p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVR4v51r7YOd2yTuNUe81vk76WWZ43XssaEI4xJWHi5KJ3JVTMH5yzweDlethPS5h6EF0ixL7g3RPLXsevmWZEemcHZa93NiKHv7aZu7kHDjTiYjWdTs9D9wGgflS89hColPImSsAyLA/s1600-h/nap5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVR4v51r7YOd2yTuNUe81vk76WWZ43XssaEI4xJWHi5KJ3JVTMH5yzweDlethPS5h6EF0ixL7g3RPLXsevmWZEemcHZa93NiKHv7aZu7kHDjTiYjWdTs9D9wGgflS89hColPImSsAyLA/s320/nap5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433547594805187986" /></a><i>Craggy Vines</i><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">After the joys of the tasting room we got our dose of fresh air by taking the road up towards the peak of Te Mata walking the last three quarters of a mile or so. Great views to complete our day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlPORY3SSBHNcNcjCbWSBMm33n_h-9bkxVMc9htR9Zos-ifGrBQ0MZ7znv8Ow43B9lA5jm2yt3fq08B5hwzqhfPKOoItIX-cpO2Oww-duk9lt9yBjDMaCD2I5Dy-2Uurn4_VDgLSR8JU/s1600-h/nap4.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlPORY3SSBHNcNcjCbWSBMm33n_h-9bkxVMc9htR9Zos-ifGrBQ0MZ7znv8Ow43B9lA5jm2yt3fq08B5hwzqhfPKOoItIX-cpO2Oww-duk9lt9yBjDMaCD2I5Dy-2Uurn4_VDgLSR8JU/s1600-h/nap4.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlPORY3SSBHNcNcjCbWSBMm33n_h-9bkxVMc9htR9Zos-ifGrBQ0MZ7znv8Ow43B9lA5jm2yt3fq08B5hwzqhfPKOoItIX-cpO2Oww-duk9lt9yBjDMaCD2I5Dy-2Uurn4_VDgLSR8JU/s320/nap4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433547585822891778" /></a><i>On top of Te Mata</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjKl4TrSqjCzvHWeFD0wwFuwZFLyvkjkwv6qIquvRIVaeSNC2jqOJ7bKll_Gff4OZhZR01KaYPJZvvSYpUS4Ahi53CiJg2w-r_StFuZnLLxqqwRzT5JCmnrO6prv_ZjzmOSb_C_wYRwM/s1600-h/nap3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjKl4TrSqjCzvHWeFD0wwFuwZFLyvkjkwv6qIquvRIVaeSNC2jqOJ7bKll_Gff4OZhZR01KaYPJZvvSYpUS4Ahi53CiJg2w-r_StFuZnLLxqqwRzT5JCmnrO6prv_ZjzmOSb_C_wYRwM/s320/nap3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433547581419175874" /></a><i>View to the North</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjixcl6PHF7SAHr8lwBHiKkLq2cS_RtMIJCkIgS9Q33lUd7anWu2vA5xEvXVmga0QYh9GtoUvkLFitXB-7juxM_3ErsSgDz5BRA3-ZR_FUPooPvKJIRaGqDi_7cety7vtgRFDKAj__t8g/s1600-h/nap2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjixcl6PHF7SAHr8lwBHiKkLq2cS_RtMIJCkIgS9Q33lUd7anWu2vA5xEvXVmga0QYh9GtoUvkLFitXB-7juxM_3ErsSgDz5BRA3-ZR_FUPooPvKJIRaGqDi_7cety7vtgRFDKAj__t8g/s320/nap2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433547572675698978" /></a><br /></div><div><i>The Craggies</i></div><div><i><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg522UwT3P0r1u5TNbqc-x5X0-ztf1AUSsS4PKV25julbIIVmUnMkrhCynukjGwHLbIGgUa4WahSl4ejHegV8eb_RhfToTpzO2XLtBZ94H3e9YbHu44j6-9NQZ2zgCFZKvrXayuGBfKAj4/s1600-h/nap1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg522UwT3P0r1u5TNbqc-x5X0-ztf1AUSsS4PKV25julbIIVmUnMkrhCynukjGwHLbIGgUa4WahSl4ejHegV8eb_RhfToTpzO2XLtBZ94H3e9YbHu44j6-9NQZ2zgCFZKvrXayuGBfKAj4/s320/nap1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433546942774540882" /></a><i>Our Craggies</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-63753318165693916012010-02-01T23:25:00.000-08:002010-02-01T23:32:23.483-08:00Landslips and Late Running<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The impact of the rains on the landscape here can be dramatic as much of the countryside is still just that, countryside, uncultivated and untouched by the ministrations of man. Where the countryside and man meet it is not always possible to control the impact of the elements. Today we were to drive from Rotorua to Napier and set off with the day in front of us when we heard a road report telling us that the road from Taupo to Napier was closed. The overnight rain had caused a series of landslips that had blocked the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For those of you unfamiliar with the roads in this part of New Zealand there is only one alternative route to the Taupo/ Napier road. It goes through Palmerston North and involves an extra four hours on the road. Time was required to think about the situation so we stopped off at Huka Falls to kill some time and ponder our short list of options.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_1fB-lE_CysRQrEc_2J3ez5XNmvXYfE7CYs64qaA0XkQO75x9NMA9TmH-ENg0VZUxf8t0p-uQgjehFaHzVo2v7nF5kxwCQwF-WkXqS5EU-jBXSApg4VeWHb57X7IrJn2OhyphenhyphenbZvoFzW0/s1600-h/taup2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_1fB-lE_CysRQrEc_2J3ez5XNmvXYfE7CYs64qaA0XkQO75x9NMA9TmH-ENg0VZUxf8t0p-uQgjehFaHzVo2v7nF5kxwCQwF-WkXqS5EU-jBXSApg4VeWHb57X7IrJn2OhyphenhyphenbZvoFzW0/s320/taup2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433544989162036034" /></a><i>Huka Falls</i><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpzAcDaSgDRnTCapXjL8t-WQT6biXpxC-8eCzDt1n1NsLPrstBDoZdmz1nd0wpASpETJQXg0hbfNPHb5YXa9gugHpSIfO0XBPLMIbzT4ZyJfBvhkkOBQtitzEuFBOSB3gNdTznsR4uSE/s1600-h/taup1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpzAcDaSgDRnTCapXjL8t-WQT6biXpxC-8eCzDt1n1NsLPrstBDoZdmz1nd0wpASpETJQXg0hbfNPHb5YXa9gugHpSIfO0XBPLMIbzT4ZyJfBvhkkOBQtitzEuFBOSB3gNdTznsR4uSE/s320/taup1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433544987476322034" /></a><i>Entrance to the Falls</i></div><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">The Falls are a popular stop off for many of the bus trips that tour the area and we had the opportunity to consult with the local experts who informed us that there was a possibility that the road would reopen but that the predicted time for this was now well past. They advised stopping in Taupo until there was further news.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> Having enjoyed our diversion to the Falls we waited out the road crews by swapping authors with the local bookshop owner and taking coffee. It was with some relief that we heard from a passer by with his ear stuck to his mobile phone that the road had just opened. We hit it post haste. </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8956928918027265014.post-70822622341539409142010-01-31T22:29:00.000-08:002010-01-31T22:42:51.878-08:00The Day the Rains Came<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">You will receive this report a little later than written because, and wait for it, rant imminent, the hotel we’re staying in are robbers in terms of how they charge for Internet use. The hotel is fine in other regards but when logging on I discovered that they wanted to charge .75 cents per minute for time on line and that there was a limit to the amount of download at that rate, easily the worst rates met on this tour. The number of motels along the street from here that offer free Wi-Fi only highlights the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> Here’s the good news for all our readers, the weather broke today and in between two heavy spells of rain the rest of the day had intermittent lighter showers. This was our first spell of less than good weather since leaving home. We decided to make practical use of the situation and the family underwear got lodged in washing machines for the purposes of improving our social acceptability.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p> The heavy rain eased at lunchtime so we ventured out, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft Institute, Te Puai, our destination. The venue is an absorbing mix of the local thermal pools and geysers, exhibitions and events that reflect the Maori history and experience and the schools of carving and weaving that maintain cultural traditions of the local Maori community. It is difficult to understand the wonderful heritage of the Maori without some sort of immersion in their myths and beliefs but our fleeting contact has been sufficiently impressive in terms of appreciating the deep spiritual dimension to their culture. </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PzJiu_K3Qa69toSxWXjwNzCS6d9i52i4TEfDjKunAUZf7hajuEAdkKEnWEf0Og0Gx7v6RjOCE9Vb4sNX3V-Gg0-IdgsT_XfGStnuTFITp432fSilkXakHx7lbzsKgSPD80TJEc5NfD0/s1600-h/roto5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PzJiu_K3Qa69toSxWXjwNzCS6d9i52i4TEfDjKunAUZf7hajuEAdkKEnWEf0Og0Gx7v6RjOCE9Vb4sNX3V-Gg0-IdgsT_XfGStnuTFITp432fSilkXakHx7lbzsKgSPD80TJEc5NfD0/s320/roto5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433159328192015218" /></a><i>Defiance - Maori style</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjS1Sp8tX_uzqHI6C34Qo7xl37HXhrHBH7isUz3s53ahYSSelIE9LZD3nWMDx2ayP2OeCJjFzAJGc4vnVGkruak56V5K4M_j1itYqmb5Wz4WkMgzEgYZ5wW7DX5M_RxjkSrv9jqnnuPo/s1600-h/roto4.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjS1Sp8tX_uzqHI6C34Qo7xl37HXhrHBH7isUz3s53ahYSSelIE9LZD3nWMDx2ayP2OeCJjFzAJGc4vnVGkruak56V5K4M_j1itYqmb5Wz4WkMgzEgYZ5wW7DX5M_RxjkSrv9jqnnuPo/s1600-h/roto4.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjS1Sp8tX_uzqHI6C34Qo7xl37HXhrHBH7isUz3s53ahYSSelIE9LZD3nWMDx2ayP2OeCJjFzAJGc4vnVGkruak56V5K4M_j1itYqmb5Wz4WkMgzEgYZ5wW7DX5M_RxjkSrv9jqnnuPo/s320/roto4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433159320421791218" /></a><i>Kauri Carving as Gift to China</i><br /><br /></div><div>The Carving School have been chosen to create a piece from a 2,500 year old Kauri Tree as a gift to the Chinese People. The work will be completed at the World's Fair to be held in Beijing later this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8_VgYuPEmAAEJFL8H9wiVkuav_4jgHrax9TVo1vxy4pL6XkuI6jBmL9_mrXgKJgRgdHH56UgOx6FmrH2n_lbQWPokHeIc2I91GRvAKKh94kcjXN1sxnHFuDjmmeDA2gZB6UFFO_2RuM/s1600-h/roto3.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8_VgYuPEmAAEJFL8H9wiVkuav_4jgHrax9TVo1vxy4pL6XkuI6jBmL9_mrXgKJgRgdHH56UgOx6FmrH2n_lbQWPokHeIc2I91GRvAKKh94kcjXN1sxnHFuDjmmeDA2gZB6UFFO_2RuM/s1600-h/roto3.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8_VgYuPEmAAEJFL8H9wiVkuav_4jgHrax9TVo1vxy4pL6XkuI6jBmL9_mrXgKJgRgdHH56UgOx6FmrH2n_lbQWPokHeIc2I91GRvAKKh94kcjXN1sxnHFuDjmmeDA2gZB6UFFO_2RuM/s320/roto3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433159316592630642" /></a><i>I've got my eye on you</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqXXmhOZmR5NtnaJXkdMq4IIaFLPC2054_1MAFUgqHb0MDsJkZjmttIwwX5mKQfIIutp28l_n8KNvDi1ExcKBOlqBdTJRAwA5c-GbWeH9acf4yRA5joomyRWIQ-q-fy7F_JvuU8BjCXc/s1600-h/roto2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqXXmhOZmR5NtnaJXkdMq4IIaFLPC2054_1MAFUgqHb0MDsJkZjmttIwwX5mKQfIIutp28l_n8KNvDi1ExcKBOlqBdTJRAwA5c-GbWeH9acf4yRA5joomyRWIQ-q-fy7F_JvuU8BjCXc/s320/roto2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433159306159964738" /></a><i>Pohutu Geyser</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaGjthr4Ty-pLEUWMKqGEHvngjBRahYcVJkvPo0dqhgzeSugdhhV2Zx5wv531AeFTIiK6niOFUTEWaQ5eXB3KGLIA8Ti2y7d1-WT5sglKIOc7tUy63q8tVZ675ySQSa4Nx4o6WV3tvsM/s1600-h/roto1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaGjthr4Ty-pLEUWMKqGEHvngjBRahYcVJkvPo0dqhgzeSugdhhV2Zx5wv531AeFTIiK6niOFUTEWaQ5eXB3KGLIA8Ti2y7d1-WT5sglKIOc7tUy63q8tVZ675ySQSa4Nx4o6WV3tvsM/s320/roto1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433158762174957314" /></a><i>Sheila in Geyser Land</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">We managed to get round everything, attend the cultural concert before heading for the car park just as the heavens opened for a spectacular downpour. Two very damp people arrived back at the hotel to prepare for the evening meal. </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09350381570737387904noreply@blogger.com2