This one will be quick as I have to be up early in the morning, not a happy time, and am going to try to post pics after this (no promises)!  It was an easy day.  I took a gondola ride up the volcanic rim that separates Lyttleton from Christchurch.  At the top, I hired a mountain bike for a 16 km ride to the bottom.  It was a little pricey, but I'm glad I did it.  About 80% of the ride was either really hard or really easy, though eno...

ever been to, but it was still fun to go from booth to booth.  I got wool socks for a bargain, they have more sheep than people here so go figure.  The socks are great, Marion is going to get more for me before she leaves for Vail this winter.  Yeah!!!!  Around lunch time people started coming over for a BBQ and Bathhurst.  Its a big car race through country roads surrounding Bathurst, Australia.&nb...

After the morning formalities it was off to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Museum.  It was outstanding!  The do some special tours of planes and an area where they restore antique aircraft.  There were exhibits of RNZAF's history, Spy and escape items, WII on the homefront, and WWII.  It has only been in the last couple of years that I began to realize NZ's contributions to the wars the US fought in.  This was very good a...

As with all days, I started off with a walk to the bakery for a fresh pie and then some exercise.  We went to Willowbank Zoo today.  It was a little pricey, but worth it.  The zoo is divided into animals not in New Zealand, animals imported to NZ, and animals indigenous to NZ.  The zoo has a very natural structure to it, which added to the environment.  My favorite was the Tuatara becuase it was one I studied this summer.  the sheep ...

     The first few days were slow moving as I was exhausted.  Day one was all about clearing customs, organizing belongings, and learning where everything is in Broomfield, the suburb of Christchurch I am staying in.  Marion, Ray, Wendy, and Marcos mounted a proper welcome of fish-n-chips and Speight's Old Dark Ale, then it was off to bed.Day two was much of the same.  I walked and ran across Broomfield, Hei Hei, a...