Northern Journeys Explorer

No walking today. Another Uber, which I thought expensive at NZ$40 for a 10 minute ride, but I didn’t want to schlep all our stuff to the train station by foot. Perhaps because it was 7:00 Sunday morning. We prevailed upon the sweet staff at the hotel to open the breakfast area early so we could have coffee and yogurt before we left. I would definitely use this hotel again.

By the time I’d made reservations, the pricier seats which included meals and better service were all booked. Not a big deal. There was a cafe on board, and we could bring whatever food we wanted to. All 3 cars had big glass windows so we could look see out well. 

For 8 hours, we rode through New Zealand countryside, mostly farmland. Sheep, lots of sheep. The new lambs were gamboling, as little lambs seem to do. It looked like more than half the dames had twins. Lots of sheep. Maybe half as many cattle. We saw a pair of llamas/alpacas on 2 farms, and a single at another. More sheep. One farm had red deer, and I saw 3 stags with big racks on a hillside. Only a few crops, likely green and red cabbage, and I think a berry farm. Probably too early to plant much else.

Birding was hard from the train, mostly because cell service came and went depending how close we were to a little town and a cell tower. I am so used to using my Merlin and eBird apps to help me identify birds I don’t know. Plus usually I’m in an area where I am familiar with the possibilities. I did figure out the ducks everywhere were Paradise shelducks and the black and white birds were Australian magpies. A swamp harrier soared over most every field when we were towards the northern part of the trip. A kelp gull flew along beside the train when we were right along the coast in the beginning. I saw many pukekos (swamp hens),  tui, maybe masked lapwings, blackbirds, and welcome swallows. 

All along the trip, I listened to commentary broadcast over a headset. A lot was about Māori and early settler history. Train buffs got their share, with details about overnight express, old lines, new trestles, etc. A highlight is the Raurimi Spiral that allows the train to make a tight circle around that has a manageable grade in a short area. We went to the open air observation car to watch and to hear the wheels scraping along the track. My dad, a train enthusiast, would have enjoyed it.

The weather came and went. We were able to see one set of higher mountains covered with snow, but by the time we got near the volcanos, clouds had set in and covered the mountain peaks.

Betsy and Keith picked us up at the Hamilton Station, and we drove to Rotorua, stopping at a Burger Fuel for dinner. Although the my burger and  kumera (sweet potato) fries were good, I’m over fast food. Plus Grant and I should have split a meal, especially after a day of no exercise, if we are to be on Team Thin. Hard to keep that thought in our frontal context when confronted with a restaurant menu.

We are staying in a little rental house 1 block from Lake Rotarua actually in the town of Ngongtua. Keith and his family moved here in 1966. His mom Ursala, 97 1/2, lives just down the block, but her tiny house is too small for all of us. 

Steps today: 2,599