Will it ever stop raining?

Taranaki to Wellington

Well the rain has caused a change in plans. Monday I was planning on taking the ferry to the South Island and then do a whale watch cruise today (Tuesday) and return to the North Island on Wednesday. However, very high winds, driving rain and storms led me to realize my whale watch cruise would not happen so I stayed put and explored a bit of the countryside from Taranaki to Wellington.

Mount Taranaki, the iconic volcano, remains shrouded in clouds, so I headed south down the coast to Wellington. THis drive reminded me a lot of Wales due tot he rolling green hills, cliffs to the sea, and hundreds of sheep everywhere you look. Oh, and just like in Wales, rugby pitches (fields) everywhere you look! But besides the typical rugby field and goalposts found in parks, at school grounds, etc, you also will find the town’s rugby club in the center of town. Complete with 3-4 pitches each, scrum sleds, locker rooms, grandstands, etc. Pretty cool.

Once you leave the Taranaki Region you encounter more trees, more mountains as opposed to rolling hills, and lots of picturesque bays and rivers. Wellington itself is similar to Seattle I thought.

After about a 5 hour drive, just as I was going to set off to find a good lunch spot....a huge thunderstorm rolled in with pelting hail, that progressively got larger. I grabbed a sandwch at a shop, and parked by the water, ate and just watched the storm blow through. All the while hoping that my rental car was not damaged by the pelting it was taking.

New Zealand Food

In this region at least, I have found less seafood and more lamb, pork and beef. Breakfast is always interesting as most towns have cafes that sell “baked beans on toast” as a staple breakfast sandwich. Also, lots of mince meat pastry for breakfast. In addition, you’ll find pastry with flaky crusts and eggs, ham or sausage inside. Another common sandwich is cheese and onion.

Another surprise happened at lunch, where I ordered a Caesar Salad. Well first off, it was field greens, not romaine, it did have croutons, bacon, ham and some sort of dressing. Oh, did I mention that it had a poached egg on top? So when you poked the egg, the yolk then poured out all over your salad. Sounds messy and gross, but was surprisingly good.

Finally, I discovered that most Kiwis love a local soft drink called L&P. Its Lemon & Paeroa and I have to admit it is good. Although I have not yet determined exactly what Paeroa is. They also drink Ginger Beer instead of Root Beer, and seems different from GingerAle to me....

Wednesday Plans

On Wednesday I plan on driving the “Forgotten Highway” which has no services, but cuts through spectacular scenery, provided that the clouds disperse. A portion is on unsealed road, but I have 4WD so I should be okay, unless there is snow and impassable. I don’t expect that even though the volcano still is snow-capped (so the lcoals tell me, since I have yet to see it due to the clouds and am beginning to think it does not exist). I promise to bring my camera to take photgraphic evidence of its existence.

If I make good headway, my drive will take me to Routorua which is about a 4 hr drive north. It is known for its sulfur smell due to the volcanic and geo-thermal features. I have tickets for the Samoa vs Namibia rugby match in Routura. It is an afternoon match which will give me plenty of time to drive back to New Plymouth for the night. Thursday evening is US vs Russia. This is the most winnable match for the US at this World Cup.

More photos for your enjoyment:

Rugby Opening Ceremonies

Rugby World Cup - New Zealand

New Zealand is a rugby-crazy country. Rugby is everywhere you look or watch or listen on the radio. Sports talk radio is all rugby, all the time. TV is all rugby, everywhere you look as you drive the countryside are rugby flags for the home team. Part of the New Zealand tradition for rugby is the incorporation of the Maori culture as well. This is evident in any match played by the All-Blacks (NZ home team) and their performance of the Haka. The Maori were also on display at the opening ceremonies held on September 9th in Auckland. Here is a video of highlights, starting with the Maori warrior calling the tribes together for the world cup:

USA vs Ireland

It is Sunday September 11, 2011. Game time has arrived. The venue is known as Yarrow Stadium, but for World Cup it is referred to as Taranaki Stadium in New Plymouth. The town is flooded with Irish nationals every where you look. The pubs are all overflowing with pre-match revelry. The trip from the city center to the stadium is made via shuttle bus as the stadium is 2 miles uphill from the city center on the coastline. The bus struggles to get up the hill as it is loaded with fans, all cheering....for the bus driver as we finally hit the crest of one particularly large hill.

I find my seat easily, along the sideline not too far from the action and tucked up under the overhang of the roof which came in handy moments later as a torrential downpour came crashing down as the stadium was filling up and throughout the game. I found myself seated next to an older irishman and his wife. He was from Belfast, the protestant north, and member of the UK. He talked endlessly about how rugby was the only real sport in ireland that both Northern Ireland and the catholic Republic of Ireland unite and compete simply as one united Ireland despite years of fighting. Ironically, the same sentiments had been expressed days earlier by the two lads from Dublin I had met at the Sydney airport and had several beers with while waiting for our flight. They were from the Catholic Republic of Ireland and proudly NOT a member of the UK, but an independent nation.

The United States rugby club had attended a memorial service in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attcks in NYC and Washington DC. The local Kiwi community had a very nice memorial service and the US team attended, as did the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the US Ambassador. The older Irishman next to me stated he had attended the service and said the US team captain said some very nice words at the memorial. It was televised across New Zealand on the local news.

The US Marine Band of the Pacific marched onto the field and entertained the crowd with Irish folk songs and patriotic american songs. A great atmosphere. Stirring national anthems for both the US and Ireland followed with the full crowd of 20,000 plus singing along. Then it was time for kick-off. Now, I should say that the crowd not only was vocal but was dressed for the party. Irish leprechans, US revolutionary costume, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Elvis, John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, etc. The crowd was fantastic. The Oregon State University Rugby team was present as they were touring New Zealand for both their own matches against college teams and to support the US team as spectators.

The match itself was very intense. The Americans played inspired rugby against a much better skilled Ireland side. The US played stellar defense and almost kept the irish to 3 points in the first half, an amazing feat, but the Irish scored on the last play of the half to take a 10-0 lead at halftime. The second half saw the US get on the scoreboard 10-3 but then the Irish put some room on the score, and in the final minute of play the Irish led 22-3. On the last possession of the game, the Irish could have run the clock out, but instead were trying to get one more score in an effort to earn a bonus point for scoring 4 or more tries. The US defense was setup an they intercepted a pass and ran untouched into the in-goal area for a score of there own. FInal score was 22-10 in favor of the Irish.

On my way out, I ran into the two irish lads from dublin (Andy and Adam). We talked for a bot about the match and they both agreed that the US was fantastic tonight in their defense. They asked me to go celebrate the match with them at the pub but I declined, although we agreed to meet in Auckland in a week or so when Ireland take on Australia. We all have tickets for that match and will tailgat prior to the match and after.

I have put together my own video of the match with highlights, but will have to wait to post them when I have a better internet connection.

Travel Highs and Lows, plus Day 1 in New Zealand

Well the long travel day is over, but not without some excitement. After getting to Los Angeles, I learned that one of my hotels in New Zealand had closed. They emailed me to say ‘sorry for the inconvenience but we have permanently closed the motel’. Wow! Really? The day I am flying to New Zealand, I now have to wonder about where to find a motel during the 3rd largest sporting event in the world (after the Olympics and Soccer World Cup). Luckily I found one in the same town that had a vacancy so no worries. A few hours later I learned that my upgrade to First Class on the LA to Sydney flight was accepted!

THE FLIGHT

Okay, so First Class was great for the 14+ hour flight. Got a solid 8 hours of sleep and the first class seat/bed was perfect. Had a great view of the full moon as I lay in bed over the Pacific Ocean at 38,000 feet. Nice smooth flight. The descent into Sydney at dawn was amazing, the dramatic coastline, the beautiful harbor, the famous bridge and Opera House were stunning at sunrise. Made me wish the Storm Rugby club was coming to Sydney in June 2012 for Bingham and not Manchester.

THE LAYOVER

I had a 5 hour layover in Sydney, and after settling in with a coffee and my iPad, I spotted a familiar face from Phoenix. Simon, the former assistant coach of my rugby club before I began was there at the table with Steve Parli, head coach of the Phoenix Rugby Club (div 2). I went over and said hello and we all grabbed a table and started talking. We made new friends with two guys, Andy and Adam, from Ireland, who were also on their way to Auckland for Rugby World Cup. We all passed the time telling rugby stories, having quite a few beers, and comparing travel plans. We agreed to try to meet up at some of the matches where we crossed paths. The first being this evening, Sunday 9/11/11 Ireland vs USA.

DAY 1 IN NZ

So after arriving in Auckland I passed through immigration and customs, got my rental car and headed south to Hamilton. I stayed at a chain hotel, nothing fancy, but very adequate. I awoke this morning to a good Kiwi breakfast of fresh ham, eggs, baked beans and hot cakes. Fresh fruit and muffins as well great coffee.

I then hit the road for the 3-4 hr drive to New Plymouth. The route was spectacular, rolling green hills with lots of dairy cows, sheep and goats. I then passed through some mountain passes, and suddenly was along the coast. A light rain just added to the scene. As i descended into the Taranaki region, the clouds obscured the iconic volcano that backdrops the city. A few kilometers outside of town is a small beach town called Oakura and that is where my motel is for the next 5 nights. As I checked in the owner informed me the room was not yet ready, so he invited me into the main house and brewed a pot of great tasting coffee for me. We sat and discussed rugby, the US and American football.

Twenty minutes later my room was ready. He asked how I was getting to the game? When I said that I was going to drive and park in town and walk the few miles to the stadium he said no. He had a stadium rd pass, and he would drive me and drop me off then pick me up after the match. When I said that was not necessary he said that of course it is. First off, Kiwis are extremely nice people, and secondly, by getting the ride I would be free to enjoy a beer or two at the match and enjoy my world cup experience without worries of driving back. Well, its 3.5 hours to game time and I’m not sure yet if I will accept the offer but chances are I will.

THE RUGBY

The World Cup is underway and some exciting matches have been played in the first 2 days. France had a tough test against Japan, Scotland barely survived a challenge from Romania, and England won UGLY against Argentina. Plenty of other matches are complete as well. Look at the standings by using the link on the upper left margin.

Tonight it is USA vs Ireland and it looks to be messy, wet and very windy! I'll brave the elements and maybe share some thoughts later tonight. Watch the game in the US on Sunday (1pm ET) on NBC in HD!!

A few photos from my drive earlier today are below.

Lake Taupo Region and Rotoura

The final 1/3 of my trip will be spent in the Lake Taupo Region of the North Island. Lake Taupo is located in the center of the North Island and will provide a good home base for me in the final days of my trip as I have matches in the cities of Routura, Napier and Hamilton.

The lake itself is one of the largest in all of New Zealand. It's lake bed is actually the giant caldera of a super volcano. Think Yellowstone. This super volcano, like Yellowstone's, is situated over a tremendous hot spot and its eruptions are cataclysmic events.  The lake was formed after an eruption event 26,500 years ago. One of the more explosive eruptions caused the sky over Rome and China (two inhabited areas in the northern hemisphere, to go red with ash and may have contributed tot he last major ice-age.


To the north lies Routura which is known for its geothermal activity. If you have ever been to Yellowstone here in the US then you have a good idea of the sights, and smells of Routura. Geysers, mud volcanoes and hot springs are scattered about the region.


To the east is Napier, a very distinct city on the east coast of New Zealand. Typically drier than the western coast, it looks very much like a Mediterranean city.

The last few days of my trip will be spent at Lake Taupo relaxing, doing some sightseeing, maybe a cruise on the lake or some kayaking. Hopefully the conclusion of a great rugby trip.


Here is a preview of some of the sights in this region.

Bay of Islands and Whangarei (pronounced 'fang-a-ray')

The second base I will establish in New Zealand is in the region known as Northland. It is in the very northern tip of New Zealand, north of Auckland. This will be in the second week of my visit, and will be spent up in the area known as the Bay of Islands, in the town of Paihia, as base. I will explore as much of the Northland Region as I can, including places with descriptive names such as: Hole in the Rock Island, Ninety-Mile Beach, Whangarei Heads, and Cape Reigna. The region is known for its sub-tropical climate, and is the spiritual home of the Maori people.

Speaking of the Maori, here is a brief video link that explains a little bit about the culture and rituals of the Maori such as The Haka. Rugby fans know that the polynesian island nations all have a form of Haka, including Hawaii and it's Hula. All are designed to tell stories, issue warnings or greetings. This video explains the reason for the Maori's use of facial expressions including use of the tongue and eyes. For example, the bug-eyed expression is to intimadate and cause fear. Like, 'hey, you look tasty, I'm going to eat you!' You think I am kidding? Didn't you ever watch Gilligan's Island growing up? Remember the 'head-hunters', the natives? The S.S. Minow was stranded on a south pacific isle, an uncharted isle. Could it have been the Maori that was always looking to cook poor old Gilligan in a stew? LOL

Maori Warriors and the Haka

Paihia is the hub of the Bay of Islands. This area of New Zealand is popular for fishing, sailing and other tourist activities such as dolphin encounters. The first European to visit this area was Captain Cook and was the first region of New Zealand to be settled by Europeans. This is the place where a treaty was signed, The Treaty of Waitangi, between the British who wished to establish a colony and the Maori. The treaty is still in effect today, however disputes repeatedly arise with regard to the translation between the Maori language copy and the English language copy with respect to land rights and sovereignty of the Maori. Most Maori tribes trace roots back to this region of New Zealand.

Also in the Northland Region is Cape Reigna with its famous lighthouse. This is the northern most point in New Zealand. The name of the cape comes from the Maori word ‘Reinga’ which means ‘Underworld’.  Another Maori name is ‘Te Rerenga Wairua’ which means ‘the leaping-off place of spirits’. Both refer to the Maori belief that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld.

During this brief stretch of my New Zealand trip I will only attend one rugby match and have the rest of the time as relaxation, sightseeing and activity time. The match will be played in the Northland city of Whangarei (pronounced fang-a-ray). The city of Whangarei is 160 km north of Auckland, and south of Paihia. The match I will attend in Whangarei is Tonga vs. Japan. The Tongan team is famous for its islander heritage and pre-match challenge thrown down to their opponent. The Japanese are known as the Brave Blossoms and are known for their speed and tenacity. Japan is a growing power in rugby and has been awarded the rights to host the Rugby World Cup in 2019. That gives me plenty of time to save up again as Japan is another country I'd love to visit.

I have added a few items to the right-hand side of the blog. I’ve moved the RSS news feed from Rugby World Cup to this section so the rugby fans amongst you can stay current on the news of the tournament; and I’ve added a Links section which right now contains links to the Tournament Standings, Video Highlights, and a map of New Zealand and the host cities for the World Cup. This map link is useful as it will very quickly give you an idea of the lay of the land as I reference various cities in my travels. As usual, I still have 3 polls active in this area as well, so please feel free to participate and I will be adding others going forward.

Attached are various pictures from this region of New Zealand as a preview, and as usual, I hope to share my own photos and videos from this portion of my trip