Last Good Pies: Safe Travels! – August 4th

Outside the dorms before heading off to the Lincoln Midwinter Market

Lincoln Midwinter Market

Last pies and flat whites at Hillyers

Our class left this afternoon for the long flights back to Florida with a few stopping off in other points in the Southern Hemisphere before making their way across the Pacific (but not before taking in the Lincoln Mid-Winter Market and some pies and flat whites at Hillyers, and some of them feeling their first atershock).  May all the journeys home be safe and not too tiring.  We miss you already!


Of note, the Gatorwaka (our 12-seater van) traversed 2,782 kilometers across the South Island of New Zealand.  This translates into 1,728 miles in just under five weeks before being returned.  Whew! Let is know that you got back to Florida safely! - m&m

The Gatorwaka

Last JCP pose at airport

The Journey Home and Beyond - August 3rd

Our Iwi

Kia Ora! Having been immersed in Kiwi and Maori culture for the past five weeks will make the journey back to American culture another adventure.  Our students will take with them lasting memories of the challenges and opportunities of what not only New Zealand faces, but what the rest of the world faces as well.  Preserving biological diversity, conserving resources, and maintaining a balance between natural and human built environments are key to a sustainable future.  And, it will take all of us with our diverse backgrounds to come together in many different ways to help make lasting change for a bright future.

Dear students, we hope that what you have experienced with us in New Zealand will help shape the decisions you make for our future in exciting and positive ways.  We thank you for giving of yourselves openly with your hearts and minds so that our time together could be such a special learning opportunity for us all.  We have really enjoyed being with all of you, touring the wop-wops, and sharing a daily cuppa. Sweet As!

From the land of the long white cloud, safe and happy travels!  See you in the land of the flowers (La Florida).  With a Hongi and hug to each of you, m&m

From cheeky Kea to a castle on a hill and the Simpsons? - July 29th

Kea on the Gatorwaka's rearview mirror, Arthur's Pass

Devil's Punchbowl Falls, Arthur's Pass

After becoming regulars at Maggies in Greymouth, we headed back toward Lincoln across Arthur’s Pass.  We stopped in Arthur’s Pass proper and enjoyed up close and personal time with the Kea, alpine parrots, before taking in a hike to Devil’s Punchbowl Falls.  

Castle Hill, Arthur's Pass

After we had lunch and drove on to Castle Hill, a spot popular with rock climbers  for its beautiful limestone formations.  The pass was clear and only the peaks of the mountains had snow. While we are not complaining about the warmer winter, we are sure the skiiers are not thinking this, but we were happy for yet another spectacular day! 

Cheers, Mark and Meryl

Doh!  We pass through a town called Springfield on the
way back to Lincoln.  Home of the Simpsons?

A leisurely day sightseeing - July 28th

Pororari  River, Punakaiki

We enjoyed breakfast at Maggies in Greymouth and looked around a bit before getting in the road and heading north along the West Coast up to Punakaiki where Paparoa Nathional Park and the Pancake Rocks lie.  Along the way we stopped to search for Pounamu (jade) at Barrytown beach, and took in a hike along the seemingly prehistoric Pororari River.

At the Pancake Rocks

Weaving flax

Then we got to see the Pancake Rocks at sunset and high tide.  We ate dinner in Punakaiki and Meryl and Jámm taght us how to weave some of the Maori flax figures.  On our way back to Greyouth, we stopped to explore a glow worm cave and listen for Morepork. 

Cheers, Mark and Meryl

Morning above the clouds - July 27th

Sunrise above the clouds

Breaky at Ces Clark Hut

Group shot at hut before heading out

We woke up to a beautiful sunrise above clouds that filled the valley below us and poured over some of the adjacent mountains. We eased into the morning and set off again for our trip down. A group of us headed back down the way we came, and another headed on toward Barrytown, a slightly longer and more difficult 9.15 mile hike  across the mountain top and then down to the Tasman Sea. Along the longer hike, we saw spectacular views to the Tasman Sea, views of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, weta, weka, wild goats, and we came within 50 feet of a calling kiwi!

We were all excited to check into a comfortable hotel that night and enjoy a good meal out.  

Cheers, Mark and Meryl

Uphill, both ways, 5.5 hours - July 26th

Views to the south and north of the Tasman Sea

Chasing the good weather to the West Coast paid off.  We had to stage a car at the end of the Croesus Track in Barrytown on the coast and then travel all together around to the other side of the mountain in Blackball to start our overnight journey.  Along the way to Barrytown we enjoyed a brilliant morning with the sun glistining off the Tasman Sea and spectacular views of the coastline.

Swing Bridge

Ces Clark Hut just within reach

Our 8.3 mile hike up to the Cess Clark Hut took us across three swing bridges, along a beautiful clear river and eventually, at the top, out of the dense rainforest to tussock and spectacular views of the valley and south toward the Southern Alps.  Along the way we saw the New Zealand Robin, heard a Tui, and as the day wore on we heard what we were after - a Kiwi!

We got settled in at the hut, saw a Weka, and enjoyed our freeze dried dinners.  Some of us ventured out for an evening hike to hear more Kiwi. 

Cheers, Mark and Meryl