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Travelogue - 12/28/04                                                                                                                               Links to all Travelogue pages

 

New Zealand Epilogue                                                                                  New Zealand Photo Pages:  1     2     3

Having spent most of my last month in New Zealand cruising around the Northland region, which is the upper half of the North Island, I'm inclined to augment my original description of New Zealand. There really is a great deal of geographical beauty here, much of it unique in my experience and worth seeing. In particular, the cathedral-like Kauri forests possess a spiritual aura apparent to all but the most unconscious. The sparsely populated Cape Reinga peninsula, New Zealand's northernmost bit of land, made me think of Cape Cod the way it must've been 80 years ago. And the northeast coast boasts innumerable scenic harbors and hikes. Here, too, is the Bay of Islands, where I crewed aboard what turned out to be the winning schooner in the 2005 Tall Ships & Classic Sailboats Race.

I happened visit New Zealand during the wettest, coldest spring and early summer seasons in a hundred years, and I think the lousy weather was effecting my enthusiasm for where I was and what I was doing. In a broader sense, the weather may have been a reflection of my own state of mind. Whatever the reality of that is, both have improved immeasurably during this past month. In addition to that, Northland really surprised me. I wasn't expecting much from it; all you hear about when you arrive in New Zealand is South Island, South Island. The South Island is spectacular in places, but I found the Northland equally so in other ways. 

A great deal has happened, but I don't think I'll write more about it. Don't much feel like it right now, and I'm scheduled to fly to Thailand in a few days where I'll begin a whole new adventure. If you're interested, browse through the many photographs I've posted on subsequent pages and you'll get a feeling for where I've been and what I've seen during my 3 months here. When/if I get around to it I've got a hundred more photos to post, mostly from the Northland leg of my journey, on New Zealand Photo Page 2, so be sure and check back again.. 

I will boast that after nearly three months of cruising all over New Zealand, I sold my wonderful campervan the other day for a little more than I had into it, to the first couple that looked at it! Buying a temporary van was a great deal for me, ideal transportation and accommodation. It was unquestionably the best way to see this country.

Next stop: Thailand!                                                                                      New Zealand Photo Pages:  1     2     3

 
 

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