Photo: Pasture near Port Charles
July 22, 1978 Flew from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand. The next day traveled with Dr Sutton and his father to Port Charles where they had a vacation house. They primarily wanted to inspect the place for damage from a storm of a week ago. Fortunately damage was minimal to his buildings but a local fisherman lost most of his lobster pots. Resort beaches were also damaged. We stayed the night there and drove back to Auckland the next day. During our visit the older Mr Sutton commented that the greatest threat to the US was communism.
July 25, 1978 After confirming my return flight to the US, I took the bus to Rotorua. Hot pools and steam were in evidence all over the town. Houses were heated by thermal energy including the hostel where I stayed. With some Australian travelers, I went to a Mauri dance. On the way back to the hostel we were warned to be careful as people had fallen in the hot pools at night and drowned or were badly scalded.
July 26, 1978 Despite the rain I toured the main thermal area, a trout farm, and the Agrodome. At the Agrodome a demonstration was given of sheep shearing and the expertise of sheep work dogs. The dogs were controlled by the different whistles of their master.
Photo: Hot pools at Rotorua
Photo:Geysers at Rotorua
Photo: Beach at Waketane
July 27, 1978 I jogged 11 miles, then took a dip in the Polynesian Pools. The pools were sulphur hot baths of varying temperatures. I then took a bus to Waketane, a small coastal city and stayed at a hostel in a private home.
July 28, 1978 In the morning I walked to a nearby beach. An older gentleman of who I asked directions, asked me about Americas problems. He felt that America’s greatest problem was capitalism and that the only solution was to adopt a socio economic system modeled after the USSR. Later saw the sights of Waketane with Kay, an Aussie tourist.
Late in the afternoon, I took a long run from Waketane. I ran south along the river, crossing the river over a long single lane wood bridge. The bridge was used by both auto and train. At Pine Bush I turned north back to Waketane. On the way back I saw a prayer garden on someones front lawn that was a wild array of flowers and plants displayed as religious symbols and messages. The last 6 miles of the 20 mile run were in darkness and rain.
Photo: Waketane port
Photo: Coast near Waketane
Area Map
