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2013 Journey Bob and Margaret Kellett Another new year begins. We are pleased with how our new home at Rotorua has developed, but as we plan this year's travels and visits to our family, we appreciate the old saying - "The best things in life are not things" Jan 2013 Boyd boys come to stay for ten days. We hope that they enjoyed it as much as we did.
Back to Mum Ethan starts High School
The weekend of 29 -31 Mar 2013 saw a reunion in Napier of the members of V3 Company, 4 RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion. It was 45 years since we served together in South Vietnam, and some of us had not seen each other since then. It was really great to see 12 members of my 3 Platoon on parade and still [almost] fighting fit.
On a stormy day in April our dear friends Liz and David bade us farewell at Rotorua Airport as we set off for our 10th summer of journeying through North America. Arriving in Ottawa, the weather there was still cool, with drifts of snow melting into Spring; nevertheless we spent five warm and colourful days with Victoria, Colin and our beautiful grandchildren, plus a happy interlude with Canadian friends Suzanne and Peter.
Then on to Kansas City, MO, where Playtime and the Jeep awaited us at the Sub Tropolis storage complex. Whilst in Kansas City we greatly enjoyed a chance encounter with our Te Puke friends who were about to store their RV and Jeep and return to NZ. After servicing and restocking our vehicles it was Hey Ho Silver, and we were bowling south along the great conveyor belt of life in the USA! Driving south to Dallas, Texas, with an overnight stop at Muskogee, Oklahoma, the countryside gradually greened up and Spring felt good in our bones. On entering Texas, everything seemed bigger, bolder and brighter than anywhere else, and the Blue Bonnet Ridge RV Park just outside of Dallas was a nice haven. Our plan was to be amongst the first to walk in the door on opening day (1st May) of the George W. Bush Presidential Library. The exhibits depicting many aspects of George Dubbya's eight years in the White House were truly impressive. Another most enjoyable place was the Dallas Arboretum, where swathes of spring flowers and fascinating features soon gave us ideas for the garden at 41 Mokoia Rd!
Scenes at the Dallas Arboretum
A week later it was westward ho the wagon towards El Paso. We beavered away in atrocious weather, taking well over an hour to quit the extensive Dallas-Fort Worth city environs on Hwy I-20, the route taking us near Granbury where, a few days later, a mile wide tornado caused mayhem and deaths.
Over-nighting at the Whip-Inn RV Park near Big Spring, the proprietor informed us of the oil boom currently being experienced throughout West Texas. This was borne out as we passed by enormous ranches studded with myriads of pump jacks, resembling donkeys with their heads bobbing up and down, extracting oil from the ground. And at the town of Odessa, we bobbed in to observe their Meteor Crater and marvelled at the phenomenon that caused the big hole in the ground about 30,000 years ago.
Following along the Rio Grande, El Paso soon welcomed us and we had just settled in when an approaching storm caused Bob to hurriedly stow the Satellite Dish. All of a sudden a distant whirlygig had gained momentum and was spinning towards us, fortunately at the last moment veering off as if thwarted by the solid stone wall around the perimeter of the RV Park. Turns out we had witnessed a 'dust devil', which is a strong whirlwind, but not as dangerous as a tornado. Exciting nevertheless!
Dust Devil at El Paso The best end of a rattlesnake
El Paso sits eyeball to eyeball across the Rio Grande with it's Mexican neighbour, Ciudad Juarez, wherein two million souls dwell in relative poverty, many of whom desire to better themselves by crossing the Rio Grande into the USA, legally or illegally. The Nat'l Border Patrol Museum instructed one about their role, plus the many hazards facing US border agents "who work tirelessly to secure and protect the external boundaries of the US, and have done so since 1904..." Later, on a cactus trail we happened upon a Diamondback Rattlesnake, which stayed long enough for a photo op before sliding away.
Border Patrolling the easy way Roadside stop in New Mexico
From El Paso, heading north on the I-25 to Santa Fe, the Rio Grande was our constant companion. A remote small town en route, called "Truth or Consequences" lit up our imagination! Originally it had a different name, but the citizens liked the popular TV game show of the 60s so much that they renamed the town after it.
Wide sweeping desert with sudden mountains jutting into the brilliant blue sky kept us fascinated all the way to the Santa Fe Skies RV Park, with its painters' sunsets and bright, starry nights!
The unique 'Santa Fe Style' is illustrated in coffee table books worldwide. The beautiful town centre and every house, in fact every structure you can think of, is built in the flat roofed adobe style and painted to blend in with the desert in which it basks. Turquoise is the predominant colour for doorways, window frames and trimmings. There are fine art galleries galore, and the shops sell all manner of beautiful turquoise jewellery and artifacts. Santa Fe is the oldest national capital in North America, originally established by the Spanish Conquistadors. This was our third visit, and hopefully not our last.
Distinctive Santa Fe Architecture Refilling the propane on a turquoise day!
Whilst hiking in the nearby Bandalier Nat'l Park where one learns about the ancestral Pueblo people and, whilst inspecting their ancient cliff dwellings, we suddenly observed a wild animal sauntering along. Thinking it was a mountain lion I yelled to Bob to run back to the safety of the visitor centre, but he noticed its canine features.... and shot the coyote, with his camera!
Hiking through Bandolier National Park, New Mexico
Condo living 800 years ago Inspecting the penthouse
Just NW of Santa Fe, the high desert town of Los Alamos is home to the Bradbury Museum where one learns about the top secret Manhattan Project that was developed during WW2. Here we saw replicas of Little Boy and Fat Man, the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus ending the war with Japan. On display is the original letter from Albert Einstein who, aware of the progress German scientists were making in the atomic field, wrote to President Roosevelt suggesting that the Allies develop the Atomic Bomb. This massive project started just two months after the President received that letter.
It was surprising to learn that modern Los Alamos has expanded substantially, with numerous large research facilities presently investigating many different aspects of nuclear physics. It is chilling, but one cannot turn back the clock!
Replicas of Fat Man and Little Boy at Los Alamos
Once more 'back in the office', from Santa Fe we crossed into Arizona (Aridzona!) and motored along Hwy 160 to Kayenta, near Monument Valley. With the sun setting on the dramatic red mesas and buttes, we found no convenient RV parks in town and therefore spent the night "roughing it smoothly" (as per the badge on our Tiffin Allegro Bus) on the Burger King truck-stop. Yes, and we had fries with that!
Next day, pointing towards Kanab in Utah, we pulled into an overlook on the Kaibab Plateau, AZ. Whilst making sandwiches and a cuppa some people knocked on the windshield. Huge surprise, it was our ex neighbours from The Pines, Richard and Bev who, driving in their lovely Tiffin Phaeton, aka Matilda, towing their Jeep, aka Joey, had been heading in the opposite direction when they saw our Playtime number plate. Hugs and smiles! The upshot was two companionable days parked together at Jacob Lake amongst ponderosa pines and wild deer. This is a big country... but it is a small world!
Lunch stop on the Kaibab Plateau NZ Friends drop in unexpectedly!!
We meet Matilda and Joey 10,000 km from home!
From Jacob Lake we drove to North Rim Grand Canyon where the altitude is 9,000 ft.(like, you're on top of Mt Ruapehu). Negotiating Bright Angel Point in howling winds was a tad scary, but oh, the Grand views!
Bev and Margie in Ponderosa Pines North Rim, Grand Canyon, don't step back!
Fond farewell to the Richard and Bev, their destination LAX, ours Kanab - from where we visited the nearby Pipe Spring Nat'l Monument where early Mormons had eked out a living in this tiny fertile corner of the vast, sweeping plains with the Vermillion Cliffs in the far distance. The old fort style dwelling was built to protect themselves from the Paiute Indians, and I loved the traditional quilts displayed on the beds and chairs.
Next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park. We hiked several miles amid the amazing hoodoos, or sculptured pillars of rock crafted by the Master Artist of Time. In their myriads, these red stone spires jab at the azure-blue Utah sky, and one cannot think of enough words to describe the sheer grandeur!
Hiking through the awe inspiring Bryce Canyon, Utah
A cool, blustery day today, perfect to be indoors. Also, a day to watch the current White House scandals further unfold on TV! There is never a dull moment here!
Leaving Bryce Canyon at the end of May, our next stop is Provo, a city situated just south of Salt Lake City in chocolate box picturesque scenery. It was to this area that Brigham Young led his fellow Mormons who, being exiled from Illinois, sought new beginnings far away from their persecutors. He set up a series of Mormon settlements along the route to grow crops and supply services for the main group that would trek over 1,000 miles pulling handcarts containing their worldly goods.
"This Is The Place Monument" near Salt Lake City describes the event when Brigham Young and his scouts come across the saddle in the Wasatch Range, see the valley stretched out before them like the promised land and, throwing their hats in the air, shout out "This Is The Place". However Utah is not yet the place for buying either lotto or alcohol!
Still in Utah, Bob works out a route that takes us over the Rockies to Vernal, from where we visit Dinosaur National Park. Well, what an eye opener for me, the sceptic. We have a most fascinating time viewing and touching real dinosaur bones. In this arid area 150 million years ago there was a river bed, and many dinosaurs evidently got stuck in the mud and drowned, leaving huge numbers of bones. Over time the riverbed turned to rock, then seismic activity elevated the old riverbed to a nearly vertical position. A large structure now encloses and protects the wall, and one is able to see and touch the countless fossilised dinosaur bones protruding from the rock.
Found as a near complete skeleton This wasn't
Eventually these two happy dinosaurs continue the journey north into Wyoming, through the gorgeous Flaming Gorge Nat'l Reserve to the all-seasons tourist resort of Jackson Hole situated at the foot of The Grand Teton range. The Tetons were aptly named by early French trappers who used them as a landmark on their expeditions, and one can imagine them tittering as they came within sight of these perfect peaks! We stay a week and cycle many miles along the excellent cycle paths in this area.
The Grand Tetons exposed Wide open spaces at Jackson Hole
Leaving Jackson, the driver steers Playtime north through wildly scenic mountains, observing bison and elk roaming in Yellowstone Nat'l Park then out east to learn about Buffalo Bill Cody. However, arriving at the town of Cody we find 'no room at the inn', so continue through the prairie to Greybull, where a warmer reception awaits us at the Greybull KOA! A large albino bison inspired the town's name - what a lovely bison he must have been!
Bob had read about a location near here, discovered in 1997, where dinosaur footprints are preserved on the edge of an ancient seashore (the Sundance Sea). So in the Jeep we bounce along a rough red dirt road for some miles until we hit the Dinosaur Track Site (well set up and curated by the Bureau of Land Management). We are completely alone in the total wop wops and are soon absorbed in the geological history, surprised at how well-preserved the footprints are, and learn about the process by which this phenomenon occured.
This is one of the few sites where one is permitted to remove certain fossils, so we dig out a small quantity of 155 million year old oyster shells, nicknamed "devil's toenails" from a seam in the cliff above the footprints. The geological history is very eloquent!
Dinosaur Tracksite 160 million year old tracks
Spring Muster in Red Gulch, Wyoming Trail Boss offers us a job
Moving on, we take the scenic route east across the top of the Bighorn Mountain Range, Bob patiently negotiating numerous switchbacks and steep roads through high mountain passes, alpine meadows, totally glorious scenery, living in the moment, exhilarated! Signs along the road describe the geological history of the rocks, some of which are dated as 2.4 billion years old. Finally, we're down the other side, and by day's end, we've driven across the state of Wyoming to arrive at Rapid City in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
This is our third visit to Rapid City, a great place with many interesting attractions, eg: Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake, Mt Rushmore (with four Presidents faces carved into the granite), Deadwood City, Black Hills of Dakota, the Badlands, plus wildlife up close at Bear Country. South Dakota is exceptionally green. Think "Little House on The Prairie" and "Dances With Wolves"!
Checking his lunch options The grand bighorn sheep
No worries!! Sylvan Lake, South Dakota
We are now heading East towards Michigan and are just about to cross the Mississippi at Davenport (eastern Iowa) when it is like, WHOA, WHOA. Red Light Alert! We've lost the air in our brakes! Parked on the side of the busy Interstate 80, Bob makes a few phones calls and our Good Sam Emergency Service quickly arranges recovery for us, and we are towed to a Freightliners repair facility that is fortunately quite nearby. A new air dryer is required, which has to come from a warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee, some 1000 km away, however the part arrives only 14 hours after it is ordered!! We boondock on their yard overnight (but fortunately not up on the hoist like certain friends of ours had to once upon a time!). And next day we're back bowling along the interstate, thanking our lucky stars that all turned out well.
Then we make a beeline for the adorable town of Petoskey in north NW Michigan and spend 18 days making new friends, golf, quilting and riding our bikes around their "French Riviera"! The Fourth of July parade at Harbor Springs is an exuberant and joyful celebration of the signing of their Declaration of Independence, a significant contrast to the somewhat doleful event our Waitangi Day has become.
Making Placemats in Petoskey Charming town of Charlevoix, MI
Fourth of July at Harbor Springs Entente Cordiale in Petoskey
And now in Ottawa, "This Is The Place" - with our loved ones! Anna is away in Europe with her soccer team (Colin is one of the accompanying Dads). The team has played in UK and now in Gothenburg, Sweden, and has won five games straight to reach the quarter finals (which they lost to USA). Exciting!
Isabel returns from Wilderness Camp on Saturday. Meanwhile, at home, Victoria, Toby and Georgia are avidly reading The Hobbit. Also we have great friends here in Ottawa who add to the mix.
Tor and Colin relax in Playtime Lunch at Elgin Street Diner
Georgia wins the ribbon for soccer shootout Riley greets us from Adelaide
Walking in the Gatineau Forest with Suzanne and Peter
Meeting new friends (deer and ibex) at Parc Omega in Quebec
Two years ago we and the Welburn family enjoyed a great week at the all-seasons resort of Mont Tremblant in Quebec, and now we have the opportunity to reprise that time. The Mont Tremblant Ironman competition will occur whilst we are there, so the town is packed with competitors preparing for the event.
Tent's up, so its party time Off to the Mont Tremblant Ironman!
Fine Dining! Evening relaxation in Playtime
Does life get better than this? A Canadian rite of passage
In Mont Tremblant National Park The Hobbits at Rivendell
The week of cycling, walking, canoeing, zip-lining, and riding the luge quickly passes, but everyone consoles themselves with the thought that they will be able to enjoy this same range of activities when, together with the Boyds and the Turnbulls, the family unites in Rotorua to jointly celebrate the coming Christmas/New Year.
All too soon it is time to pack up and for us to head off to Kansas City to put the vehicles into storage and fly back to NZ.
Driving through Toronto on Hwy 401 Fast lane for Immigration into USA!
We stop en route at Auburn, Indiana, where the head office of the Auburn Automobile Company is now a museum displaying a fascinating range of Duesenberg, Cord and Auburn cars they built here. There are several examples of the Duesenberg Model J, one of the most famous and expensive classic cars from that era.
The epitome of classic car style - the Duesenberg Model J
In 1930 a Model A Ford sold for $450, a Rolls Royce Silver Wraith cost $4,000, whilst the Duesenberg Model J cost upwards of $14,750 [approx $450,000 in todays terms].
Miss Daisy First pneumatic tyres
The building has been beautifully restored to its original and stylish Art Deco design, there was also a wide range of early vehicles from other manufacturers, plus a few later cars that have attained classic status. A really worthwhile visit.
Back in the 'furnace' of Kansas City we spend a week preparing the vehicles for storage and our return to NZ, with temperatures at 37-39 degrees C the whole time. Our aircon worked hard. The Zona Rosa Shopping Centre is a cool place for retail therapy with all the brands including Coldwater Creek where Margie had some success buying new ankle length pants.
On 5th September we depart LAX on NZ5, and enjoy the food, wine and comfort that the airline is renowned for, and are met by old friends at Auckland Int'l in the early hours of 7th September. Fly to Rotorua in the little pencil plane, met by friends who drive us home to Mokoia Road where the Spring is blooming gorgeous!
Old friends from Australia cruise in to share our little slice of heaven for a short while.
Springtime at Mokoia Road Sharing old memories and new views
Our beautiful granddaughter Kelly is getting married in Adelaide, so we are off to Australia. On our arrival [25 Sep 2014] we receive the exciting news of the birth in Adelaide of our second great grandson, Toby Alan Evitts to Amy and Joel. Enjoy a week with the Boyds in Melbourne, and marvel how much the boys have grown, then uplift a rental car and head off to Adelaide.
The Turnbulls, as always, have everything well organised, so the upcoming nuptials presents no last minute panic. Toby is the first centre of attention, then we focus on Kelly's wedding. She is marrying Bradley, with whom she has been going steady since they dated for their high school prom.
Paul shows of their new warehouse Lunch with the growing Turnbull Clan
Kelly and Bradley's big day!
Kelly and Bradley's Bridal Party Mr and Mrs Prosser - just wed!
We are utterly delighted that Christmas/New Year 2013/14 sees the Welburn and Boyd families join us at Mokoia Road, Rotorua. Sadly, an illness of a family member back in Adelaide precludes the Turnbulls from completing the picture.
Ethan fits a swing for the family Parents enjoy a catch up
Welburns discover the tennis court --- then the Lake
Christmas Day 2013
The kids find Xmas morning so exciting -------- whilst the progenitores pose
A time for both joy and reflection Then a walk through the Redwood Forest
On 27 Dec 2014 Bob's sister, Ellen Rose, plus daughter Paddy Ann, who is visiting from Dubai, and grandson Josh, visiting from Sydney, arrive for the day. Like us, all of Ellen Rose's children and grandchildren live overseas, so today gives us all a very special and rare opportunity for family bonding.
An international gathering The Welburn contingent [Canada]
The Boyd contingent [Australia] The Paku contingent [NZ/Dubai/Aust]
At Mokoia Road we love our home being 'peopled' with our own great family and the sound of fun and laughter is music to our ears! Thirteen of us fit in very well. We all enjoy a number of the many attractions that make Rotorua the premium tourist destination in NZ.
At the Waimangu Valley Thermal Area Evening is time for family games
New Year's Day 1 st Jan 2014
The descendant's of Margie's late father, Ross Argau Niederer, are scattered far and wide, with nearly half now residing outside New Zealand. By happy coincidence nearly all of this extended family, together with their spouses and children, are in New Zealand for this festive season. We therefore host a "Cousins Reunion" at Mokoia Road on New Year's Day, with 56 attending this unique, historic event. It will be long remembered, and we were especially delighted when our grandchildren declared it to be the highlight of their two-week stay with us.
Cousins Reunion, New Year's Day, 2014 Kayak 'Tiggy' about to commence
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