USA - LA to San Francisco in Pics.....

Monday, 27 July 2009 05:57:09 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

BACK TO THE USA ON MACSWAYROUND!
We arrived back into the USA, after a very long journey from New Zealand! We were able to take a final glimpse of Australia as we stopped off in Sydney for a while before catching our onward flight. After approximately 23 hours we were met at LAX, Los Angeles – by our ever faithful friends, Tim and Sylvia. They were, once again, extremely hospitable to us all and we enjoyed several days at their house where we could acclimatise, recover from jet lag and organise ourselves for the next leg of Macswayround! During our time at Huntington Beach (which remains The Surf City of The USA!), Tim very kindly drove us to Victorville and there we saw NESSIE (our RV/ Camper!)–still resting in the desert town just as we had left her, all those months ago! The re-union was very emotional to us as Nessie is obviously such an enormous part of Macswayround and very special to us all. Especially as she had not been with us for our ‘down under’ leg of the journey –as was originally planned. It felt almost like we were ‘home again’ and it was like Christmas when we explored around to find the things that we had stored away and forgotten about! We would like to thank Bear Valley Storage in Victorville for taking such good care of our second home! The children have been over the moon to delve into their toy boxes and to be able to ride their bikes again! We were fortune to have landed back into the USA just days before 4th July – Independence Day- and enjoyed the Huntington Beach Parade in the morning of that day. Following the parade, we were happy to be invited, along with Tim and Sylvia, to their friend’s home for a party! We would like to thank Bob and Marty for their hospitality and it was very interesting for us to experience, first hand, such an important day in the history of the USA. We do hope that no permanent damage has been caused to your house and /or possessions as a result of letting us (well particularly me!) loose in a Dart’s match! Just turning the computer monitor around was just not quite enough protection – now was it?! Jemma and Ben would also like to extend thanks for the swimming pool and playmates as they made use of the pool for almost 7 hours – only popping out to be fed and watered from time to time! It was great to be able to meet more of Tim and Sylvia’s friends and to enjoy a ‘girl’s night out’ movie with Sylvia and Paula too. As it was pointed out to me-that evening was the first in a long while that I had been away from the family and it was very strange! My Nan was also celebrating a very special birthday at the same time, back home in England and so we would like to extend our love and good wishes to Nana on the occasion of her 90th birthday. We were all partying along with you in spirit, just a few miles apart. Nessie had a service – a wise move prior to our trek north – Alaska bound. Our thanks to Paul -at the Huntington Beach Dodge Dealership. So after more farewells-Nessie and Macswayround was back on the road again! We are eternally grateful to Tim and Sylvia and look forward to being able to return at least some of the favour, back in Devon, one day! Following a final stock pile of supplies and a stop at Bakersfield Palm RV Resort, we reached Lemon Cove – in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains- an immense range of continuous rock. We had a great time at the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park-home to the biggest trees in the world! We visited the largest tree (in overall volume) in the world –a Sequoia named General Sherman. To be in the presence of one of the oldest living things on this Earth, left us with feelings of awe and wonder. Not only this tree, but complete groves and acres and acres of big trees create numerous walks amongst these natural giants. The National Park Rangers prefer to think of all the trees as a whole immense of wonder – rather than to worry about which tree is biggest or tallest, as this changes frequently. We were mesmerised as we considered all of the extreme weather conditions that nature has ever thrown at these trees, including fire, which they have not only encountered – but lived through! Some of these trees were actually living on Earth BC and are still living strong today. It left an amazing feeling of all that has gone before us....... We even walked through a tunnelled sequoia that was created years ago to enable stage coaches to pass along the route and plenty of other smaller tunnelled trees along the forest pathways. We were extremely lucky to be able to camp right there within the National Park- at Dorst Creek – in Black Bear Territory! All food and products with a tempting smell had to be stored in Bear-Proof lockers. This made the camping experience ‘very real’ and we settled in for the night with a feeling of in trepidation! With bears in the camp grounds and surrounding meadows on those days, we were not in the right place at the right time....... Looks like we shall have to wait awhile for our much anticipated sighting-no worries! Yosemite National Park was our next stop in California and this has to rate highly in our Macswayround Hotspots! The scenery was nothing short of spectacular with a variety of sheers granite faces, mountains, crystal rivers and cascading water- falls. It is world –famous for its unusual rock formations and has massive cliff faces named El Capitan and Half Dome. Out of the National Park back- drops for a while and into the rush of San Francisco City. We spent our DAY 365 here – YES – we have survived one whole year on MACSWAYROUND so far! We stayed at Tradewinds RV Park in Vallejo and could then enjoy a pleasant ferry ride into the city – letting someone else tackle the driving for a while! The ferry dropped us along the Fisherman’s Wharf and we took a stroll along the way.....we took a cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and circled the Alcatraz Island. The tour gave lots of information about the island and the history of its infamous and high- security prison. Alcatraz was nicknamed – “The Rock” and we heard many stories about life on the island as a prison officer or as an inmate and tales of the 36 prisoners who tried to escape during the prison’s 29 operational years. It was deemed to be the final straw for inmates who were transferred to this prison, as they were unsuitable for any other ........criminals such as Al Capone and Robert (the Birdman) Stroud...... On Pier 39 we walked around the corner and were surprised to see approximately 200 California Sea Lions, lying out on the K.Docks! Apparently, they came here in droves in 1990 and have taken over the area. Now it is illegal for any boats to use these docks and the sea lions have become an international sensation with visitors like us! Some winters, the population can rise as high as 900 sea lions!
Friday, 24 July 2009 17:24:43 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

BACK TO THE USA ON MACSWAYROUND!
FACTOIDS: • One third of all the gold ever mined – about 1.1. billion ounces – is stored in government vaults throughout the world. Most of the USA Nation’s gold is stored underground at Fort Knox, Kentucky. • In volume of total wood – the Giant Sequoia stands alone as the largest living tree on Earth. • Sequoia trees do not die of ‘old age’. They also have chemicals in their wood and bark which provides resistance to insects and fungi. They have very thick bark (up to 30cms thick) which insulates them from most fire. The main cause of Sequoia deaths is toppling and as they have a shallow root system soil moisture, root damage and strong winds can lead to toppling. • In the Sequoia National Park stands the mighty tree named ‘General Sherman’ – and this tree is believed to be the largest tree (by volume), in the world. It is estimated to be 2,200 years old and ‘The General’ stands at a very proud 275 foot tall (still working in imperial measure in the USA). The trunk weighs an estimated 1,385 tons and at the ground has a circumference of nearly 103 feet. (31 metres!) Its largest branch is almost 7 feet in diameter and every year the General Sherman grows enough new wood to make a 60 foot tree of usual proportions! • Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are 865,257 acres – a land of big trees, deep canyons, tall peaks and flowing rivers...... • In 1868, a young Scotsman named John Muir arrived in San Francisco and asked for directions to ‘anyway that’s wild’. He was pointed to the Sierra Nevada and here his life long relationship and protection of Yosemite began. The spirit of Yosemite has been protected for future generations and as a lasting legacy to John Muir. • The Sierra Nevada mountain range is 400 miles long and up to 80 miles wide, at the widest points. • President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant in the late 1800’s and he also signed a bill that set aside the Mariposa Grove and the scenic Yosemite Valley, in 1864. • Deteriorating buildings and high operational costs, ended the Alcatraz’s days as a federal prison. The last inmates left the island on March 21st 1963, and the prison officially closed its doors a few months later. • Since 1972, Alcatraz has been under the protection of the National Parks Service and they have worked to reach modern safety standards, throughout the island. • California Sea Lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness and noisy barking! Sea lions have external ear flaps, seals do not! • Sea lions may bite if provoked and can live up to 20-30 years in the wild.
Friday, 24 July 2009 17:23:11 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

"WE MADE IT - 1 YEAR ON MACSWAYROUND-SO FAR.........!!"
Just checking in to say we are in San Francisco,USA -for our day 365 on MACSWAYROUND!! We will leave you with some final photos of New Zealand and will be updating you all with the start of our USA adventures-Part 2-soon! Many thanks for your time, support and continued interest........
Tuesday, 14 July 2009 05:21:53 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand

New Zealand - some last adventures

Tuesday, 07 July 2009 04:24:26 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand

TO THE END OF NEW ZEALAND AND BACK
‘Kia Ora – Macswayround check in again - from the Land of the Long White Cloud!’ At Whakatane we enjoyed another bush walk in the novelty of a Kiwi protected territory. There were some Pohutukawa Trees in and around this town and these have become known as the New Zealand Christmas tree - as they have a beautiful crimson bloom throughout each Christmas season. These trees also hold special Cultural Significance and tradition to the Maori people. Off the coast at Whatakane lies the moonscape island named ‘White Island’. This happens to be New Zealand’s most active volcano! On the way to the Coromandel and Hot Water Beach, we stopped off in a place called Bethlehem – for a fix of cream cakes! The weather was a little wet – and we got stuck for a day as flooding prevented our onward journey! However – we stayed at a brand new site just a stone’s throw from the Hot Water Beach and received a very warm welcome. The beach was a fantastic novelty – come rain or shine! We all enjoyed digging holes for our feet in the sand and making use of the natural bubbling hot spring beneath the sand – to heat our feet up! This beach is included in the top ten beaches in the world, although it is best to stick with digging a hole in the sand rather than swimming, as the beach is also within the 4 most dangerous for rip tides in New Zealand. Nearby the beach at Hahei has beautiful white sand and we also walked along to see Cathedral Cove which is included in the film setting for ‘Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian’ –the C S Lewis classic movie. We took an early morning dip in the hot pool at Miranda campsite to catch a romantic sunrise – unfortunately lost to the clouds! Ten out of Ten for effort though! At Birkenhead, in Auckland, we caught up with my cousin Neil, his wife Heather and boys – Max and Toby – some more long lost cousins for Jemma and Ben! At Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter – Underwater World and Aquatic Discovery (in Auckland) – we definitely got our PENGUIN FIX!! We were pleased to see massive stingrays, sharks and lots of other fish - as well as New Zealand’s only Sub-Antarctic Penguins – YES – mission accomplished!! Here, we were able to ride a snow cat through the largest underground colony of Sub-Antarctic penguins - in the world! We loved watching the King and Gentoo penguins as they played in the snow and even went around on the snow cat for a second helping! This centre also has a life-sized replica of Captain Robert Scott’s Antarctic hut and tells the story of the conditions that he and his team lived within during their exhibitions to the world’s coldest continent. Thank -you to Neil, Heather, Toby and Max for accompanying us on a great day out and for the use of their house! We ventured further north and our journey took us through Waiwera where we enjoyed the movie pool and slides at the Infinity Thermal Spa Resort. At Goat Island, the Marine Reserve was New Zealand’s first of its kind and enormous fish could be seen from the rocks along the coast line, through the clear waters. We found out that this island has never been home to a goat – although it did have pigs – until they decided to swim ashore! We stayed at Pakiri Beach on the way to Russell, in the Bay of Islands. Russell has many fine old buildings, an old fig tree and a lovely waterfront. It is also home to Christchurch – New Zealand’s oldest church (1847), which is still scarred with musket holes today. Charles Darwin made a contribution towards the cost of building this church. We all had a fantastic three hour boat cruise, leaving from the Russell waterfront. We toured around some of the islands and sailed through the infamous ‘hole in the rock’. The highlight of the day has to be the most amazing sight of a pod of large Bottle nosed dolphins, as they swam around our boat!! A small ferry trip took us towards Waitangi –the most important historic site in New Zealand. It was here that the Waitangi Treaty was signed by a large number of Maori chiefs and the British Crown in February 1840. The Treaty saw Maori cede sovereignty to the British Queen, affording them the rights of all British subjects in return. The Treaty then toured the country and by September it had been signed by 500 chiefs. This remains a cornerstone of New Zealand’s foundation today. The Treaty grounds is now home to the renovated Treaty house, a museum, a marae, a 35 metre Waka (war canoe), and the UK, NZ and Maori flag pole which marks the spot where the Treaty was signed. We also enjoyed our first cultural experience, where Phil was chosen as Chief to represent our group of visitors and had to be welcomed in the traditional manner and accept a fern leaf from the warriors. Phil was also greeted on behalf of the group with the traditional Hongi and then Ben joined him with the other men to perform a Haka! Jemma and I took to the stage later to join in with a traditional Poi. We stayed at The Park - Top Ten by Ninety Mile Beach. This beach is actually 52 miles long and often serves as a secondary highway for vehicles heading north. We drove by road to the top of the Aupouri Peninsula – Cape Reinga – which is the most northern point of New Zealand. The Cape Reinga lighthouse is right at the end of the path and has an ‘end of the world’ feel to it. It really is a most beautiful place and has the added force as it is here that the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.......at the Columbia Bank Maelstrom. Cape Reinga is a place of intense cultural and spiritual significance to Maori. According to Maori legend the Pohutukawa tree at this point (approximately 800 years old), marks the place where the spirits of the dead begin their journey back to the home of their ancestors. It is believed that the soles of the departed climb down the roots of this tree and swim north to Hawaiki and back to their eternal home. For us – it meant that we had made it from Bluff at the south of the south island to the very north of the north island! On the way to Matakohe we drove alongside the Waipoua forest on the west coast and saw the biggest Kauri tree in the world – at around 2000 years old the Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) certainly lives up to the name. We were pleased to accept an invitation to call into a farm near Putaruru and catch up with some friends that we first met in Invercargill! Steve and Eileen made us all very welcome and we enjoyed a guided tour of the extremely modern farm. The milking parlour can hold 50 cows on a massive turntable and these cows can all be milked within 7 minutes! They can hold 650 cows in the round yard, at any one time. We thank them for their hospitality and would like to return the favour back in the UK – one day! Rotorua was next and we all had great fun at the Skyline rides, gondoliers and the Luge – in the rain! Rotorua has an aroma all of its own which can take some getting used to! The Sulphur city gives an insight into what is happening beneath the earth’s crust. We visited Te Puia which is the largest and best-known thermal reserve and was excellent as it also doubled up as a major cultural area. We enjoyed spurting geysers, steaming hot springs and exploding mud pools! There are two main geysers, named the Prince of Wales’ Feathers and Pohutu (big splash or explosion). These geysers erupted several times during our visit and produced the most extraordinary spectacle. The Pohutu geyser can spurt water to an impressive height of 30 metres into the air! We had a great guide who took us on a very informed tour of the whole site and we thoroughly enjoyed another cultural performance in the meeting house. As we headed south from Rotorua, the Huka Falls were very scenic with beautiful turquoise water. Through Lake Taupo and along the Tongariro National Park we drove the desert road and were mesmerised by the active volcanoes on either side of the road. We stayed at Ohakune which is also the gateway to the majestic mountains of the central volcanic plateau! As steam rose through these thermal landscapes from every direction – we had another extraordinary feeling -as if these islands are on a living time bomb.There are many earthquakes throughout New Zealand, on a very regular basis, and we had 4 of them in our local area, all within one night! Our last stop off before Wellington, was at Papaparaumu- where we did our final bit of packing. The camper will be delivered back to Wellington Top Ten and then we leave New Zealand to fly back to Los Angeles, USA (via Sydney airport) on 1st July 2009! So as we say farewell to this volcanic country of natural wonder - we are off to find the sunshine and are all greatly looking forward to being re-united with our own camper – NESSIE!!
Tuesday, 30 June 2009 09:24:57 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand

TO THE END OF NEW ZEALAND AND BACK
FACTOIDS: • The Maori people are descended from an ancient line of Polynesian people who made their epic journeys in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from an ancestral homeland known as Hawaiki. Kupe is believed to be the first Maori to reach the New Zealand shore over 1,000 years ago. Northland is regarded as the birthplace of the nation. • Today – approximately 14% of the New Zealand population are Maori. • The Pohutukawa Tree is now a threatened species as it is no longer able to regenerate itself due to the competition from weeds and grasses. These factors, together with the added threat from disease and pests such as possums, are causing great concern for a tree that has become symbolic to New Zealand. • The Hot Water Beach is created by a reservoir of hot water and heated rocks which lies more than 2 kilometres beneath the sand. The heat is a remnant of volcanic activity which occurred in the Coromandel region 5-9 million years ago. There are two springs and they can reach maximum temperatures of 60 degrees C and 64 degrees C, respectively. They have a flow rate of 10-15 litres per minute. • As a nation, New Zealand embraces the Maori element of its culture and in recent times there has been resurgence in the use of the Maori language and culture. • The MARAE, or meeting place, is a central part of Maori culture. The traditional arts of weaving and carving are incorporated in intricate panels which reflect the story of their significant people. • The HONGI is a traditional Maori greeting. Noses are pressed together and the Ha, or breath of life, is exchanged and intermingled. The Hongi is an integral part of the Powhiri (welcoming ceremony). • MOKO – is the traditional Maori tattooing on the face or body. • HAKA – these are dances with rhythmic movements and shouted words. • HE TOHO – is a cultural performance. • POI – is a woman’s formation dance that involves singing and manipulating a ball of woven flax. • New Zealand is located on a ring of fire – an arc that stretches along the edge of Asia to Alaska and along the coast of America. This ring is the border of the pacific plate and other plates that form the Earth’s crust. More than 75% of the world’s volcanoes are situated along this ring. It is where the plates meet, that energy is created and is released as geothermal activity. Geothermal fields such as Rotorua occur in areas where water is able to pass down through cracks in the rocks. As the water gets closer to the geothermal activity, it heats and rises back up through the surface – and geysers and hot springs are formed. • Auckland has 49 discrete volcanoes and this is referred to as the ‘Auckland Volcanic Field’. • As it was opened in 1959, the Auckland Harbour Bridge has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. • Wellington has developed its name in the film industry – ‘Wellywood’. The director of ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘King Kong’ – Peter Jackson, still calls Wellington his home.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009 09:22:07 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand

TO THE END OF NEW ZEALAND AND BACK
WILDLIFE HITS: • Yellow Hammers • Gold Finches • Eastern Rosellas • Magpies • Swallows • Common Myna Bird • Nosey Myna Birds • Silver Eyes • Mute Swans • Rabbit • Hedgehog • Goats
Tuesday, 30 June 2009 09:15:05 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand

CHRIST CHURCH AND BEYOND - IN PICS

Saturday, 27 June 2009 08:59:31 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand

New Zealand - Christchurch and onwards.....
KIA ORA from AOTEAROA- ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’. Christchurch Top Ten was very busy and we figured that this was partly due to the nearby airport facility and the fact that it was a weekend...... We went along to the International Antarctic Centre – advertising itself as the “World’s Best Antarctic Attraction....” We had anticipated that this day was going to be a very special for Jemma’s imminent birthday. We took the Antarctic Storm experience where the wind chill sank to -15 degrees C, and a ride in the Hagglund - a genuine Antarctic all-terrain amphibious vehicle. We would describe the centre as a very virtual Antarctica with plenty of information to read ...although it was not really as we had imagined it would be..... The main penguin attraction centred around the ‘Little Blue Penguins’- who – albeit adorable and cute- are not connected to Antarctica at all! When the children went to ask if there were any animals that were actually from the Antarctic –they were told ‘No’ and this was disappointing (apart from a stuffed leopard seal!). Even more so- as all the advertising for this centre promotes the Emperor/King Penguins –and we were looking forward to being able to see these amazing creatures....we guess we’ll have to wait until Auckland to get our ‘big’ penguin fix? Out of the mouths of babes – time 9am - quote – “Has the sun actually come up yet?” We were not having the best of luck with the weather conditions!! Our spirits rose when we arrived into Kaikora, as, even though it was still raining, we were very happy to be able to visit the New Zealand Fur Seal Colony on the Peninsula. The colony was very big and the seals were either sleeping on the rocks and by the side of the road or playing in the waves, just off the shore line! It was great to see nature in action. We had parked the camper very close to the shore line wall and as we watched the wildlife show, the waves began to come over the rocks, as the wind and rain increased...... As we were just deciding that we should move the camper soon (as it would be difficult to explain how it had been swept away!) we found ourselves in another awkward situation. A seal pup had come out of the waves and slithered underneath our camper for some shelter! Not being content with this, the babe had then climbed up the rear axle for a bit of warmth! We were unable to move and as the rain lashed down and the waves swept across, there was soon a flood all around us. It is not easy to convince a seal who is all snug and warm –to PLEASE move! We must have looked a sight- trying to plead with and beckon to the seal babe! Eventually, it agreed with our plan and we were safe to move. We quickly found the Kaikora Top Ten Campground and we even gave ourselves the treat of a cabin for a couple of days. It was a novelty to be able to spread out and helped to dry us all out too! We enjoyed a birthday weekend for Jemma here..... Before heading to Blenheim, we called back into the seals once more and were able to enjoy them in the sunshine this time! We spent some time at Richmond and Nelson before trekking back to Picton. The scenic route between Nelson and Picton was stunning through the windy roads and coastal lakes. We were thrilled to see a couple of albatross as we made the Interislander journey, leaving the South Island behind and returning to the North Island. In Wellington, The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa offered a world-leading, innovative and interactive experience. There were many activity- packed levels to investigate and our experiences included an earthquake simulation, and an enormous colossal squid! There was a marae and plenty of examples and information about the indigenous people, their beliefs, history and culture. The museum has become a National Symbol and is now affectionately known as ‘Our Place’, as it celebrates the very essence of New Zealand and its people. The children enjoyed the many ‘hands- on’ discovery centres and learnt how to weave a bridge, at one of the weekend arts and craft sessions which was held at the museum. Onwards and upwards – we will hope to catch some more of the sights of Wellington when we return towards the end of June. We travelled through the Ashhurst Domain and managed to find the place with the LONGEST name – in the world! Are you ready? – it goes a bit like this – “TAUMATAWHAKATANGIHANGAKOAUAUOTAMATEATURIPUKAAKAPIKIMAUNGAHORONUKUPOKAIWHENUAKITANATAHU” We will give you a helping hand and say that in our estimation that longest name has 85 letters! It is difficult to believe-but this is actually the abbreviated form of ‘ The brow of a hill where Tamatea, the Man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, known as Land Eater, played his flute to his Brother’. We enjoyed our time at Hastings and the first class attention from James and his gang at the Hastings Top Ten Camp Site. We had an interesting visit to the Arataki Honey Visitor Centre at Hawkes Bay, where we took a look into the fascinating world of the honey bee and had a yummy honey tasting session! Afterwards we enjoyed a stroll around the Haumoana Farmyard Zoo and saw a wide variety of animals. Napier was a very interesting place as the area was devastated by an earthquake in 1931. This was a catastrophic quake and measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale. The number of fatalities rose to 258 and the Hawkes Bay Museum provided us with lots more information about this natural disaster. A major rebuilding plan was instigated and the town was re-built. It is now one of the most uniformed Art-Deco style Cities in the world, which helps to create a unique location. From the Bluff Hill lookout, we saw the views over Napier, Hawke Bay and the inner harbour, which has been raised from the seabed by the earthquake. At Morere we had our first experience of relaxing in a natural geothermal hot spring. These were unique hot water springs in the scenic Morere rainforest reserve. In the bush setting, there were several baths, of varying temperatures to choose from. This natural spring water has many minerals that are said to be very good for the skin and general well-being. We stayed at Mahia Beach and then went back to Morere to conquer the rainforest bush walk..... At Gisborne we fitted in a game of crazy golf around our trek to find all the Captain Cook statues and monuments in the city (and also Young Nick, Cook’s cabin boy too!) Check the next update for our news of Whakatane.........in the Bay of Plenty......
Monday, 22 June 2009 10:03:09 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  New Zealand