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We departed Nashville Christmas Eve 2005 and arrived Auckland on
December 26, which is Boxing Day in New Zealand. This was our
first aerial glimpse of Auckland, overcast with scattered showers.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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We flew from Auckland to Palmerston North where
John Booth from Taihape picked us up. The first official stop
was to refuel the car. NZ$1.359 per liter translates into
roughly US$3.50 per US gallon.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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The
second official stop was to get something to eat at the Churchyard
Cafe. After 37 hours of travel and crossing the international
date line, it is hard to say which meal this was supposed to be?
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
If you want espresso with milk, order a Flat White
for NZ$3.00.
The food was good.
Pictures of New
Zealand by Ron Castle
Pam
admiring the artistic aspects of the foam on her Flat White.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
We did a quick tour around town. Our
youngest daughter has been looking at studying at Massey University.
One of our New Zealand clients,
www.ecocover.com,
has agricultural research trials in process at Massey, one of the
best agricultural schools in the world.
Pictures of New
Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Heading north and east from Palmerston to Taihape, the broad
agricultural plain around Palmerston turns into rolling hills of the
Rangitikei River valley.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Anything that looks like a white dot is a sheep. New Zealand's
39.2 million sheep outnumber their human companions about 6 to 1.
Back in the early 1980's, New Zealand had a sheep population of
about 80 million. Numbers of sheep have declined 21% since
1994. Deer farming for the international venison market has
expanded, as have cattle.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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The
limestone formations in the mid and lower Rangitikei River valley
create canyons 100 meters (300 feet) or deeper.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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John and Pam admire the pastoral scenery.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Up
before the sun on December 27, we hiked up the hill from John and
Miriam's small farm to get a better view of the town of Taihape.
This is Ron, unwashed and unshaven and still not sure what time it
is.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Sunrise over Taihape. Without the clouds you could see Mount
Ruhapeu which is still snow capped in New Zealand's equivalent of
early July.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Tuesday morning chores include sorting the breeding ewes from the
hoggots and moving the lambs to new pasture. Not up on your
sheep terminology?
Read here.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Pam
discussing cooperation with one of the lambs.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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John and granddaughter Mackenzie running the gates.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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Pam, Liz and Miriam admiring photos of Mackenzie.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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This is a photograph of a composite of photographs of the headwaters
of the Rangitikei River taken during the annual headwaters adventure
camping, rafting and fishing trip. We are scheduled to depart
on December 29 by helicopter into the New Zealand wilderness and to
float back to civilization 8 days later. Note the current news
story top right regarding a New Zealand man hit by a helicopter
rotor blade. No rotor blades for me, thanks.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle |
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See
more pictures of New Zealand and the Rangitikei River adventure
here. |
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