20 March: Monday. We said a reluctant "see you next time" to Audrey and headed to Devenport to meet Ian and Angela Symes for lunch. Friends and neighbors when we lived in Pahiatua, Ian is the physician who delivered Kate and Laura. We had a delicious lunch at Platter, just around the corner from their home. What luck to have a great restaurant almost at your doorstep. We had a good visit and, after lunch, we went to meet their youngest daughter, Mary, and her chi...

20 March: Monday. We said a reluctant "see you next time" to Audrey and headed to Devenport to meet Ian and Angela Symes for lunch. Friends and neighbors when we lived in Pahiatua, Ian is the physician who delivered Kate and Laura. We had a delicious lunch at Platter, just around the corner from their home. What luck to have a great restaurant almost at your doorstep. We had a good visit and, after lunch, we went to meet their youngest daughter, Mary, and her...

13 March: Monday. This week will be full of last minute visits and packing up before we head north on the final legs of this adventure. Today included finishing up the rest of the laundry, a visit with the Rangoonis, and some quick shopping. I did look at the packing, but haven't the will to start. 14 March: Tuesday. At Jo Rangooni's suggestion, we went to the Manawatu Knitting Mills outlet store in Palmerston North. What a find! They have wonderful sales on bot...

13 March: Monday. This week will be full of last minute visits and packing up before we head north on the final legs of this adventure. Today included finishing up the rest of the laundry, a visit with the Rangoonis, and some quick shopping. I did look at the packing, but haven't the will to start.14 March: Tuesday. At Jo Rangooni's suggestion, we went to the Manawatu Knitting Mills outlet store in Palmerston North. What a find! They have wonderful s...

6 March: Monday. We packed up the car, said "see you soon" to the Goldmans and headed north. Along the way we stopped in Geraldine to do a bit of shopping at Barker's which is famous for jams, jellies and fruit cordial mixes and at the Talbot Cheese factory store for some bleu cheese. We stayed the night in Timaru. 7 March: Tuesday. We awoke to a drizzle in Timaru, and the rain became steadier as we drove north. The Canterbury Plain area is not terribly scenic.....