Photo: Hang glider at Mt Maunganui
July 29, 1978 I hitched the 60 miles to Tauranga in 2 lifts. The 2nd ride was from an Auckland man who was interviewing for an accounting job in the Waketane hospital. I stayed at small hostel. The next day I hiked to Mt Maunganni and watched hang gliders on top.
July 31, 1978 I took a bus to Hamilton and toured the Waitomi Glowworm caves. I felt it wasn’t worth it.
Photo: Ocean view from Mt Maunganui
Photo:Hang glider preparing for flight
Photo: Hang glider taking off
Photo: Cow and newborn calf
August 1, 1978 I traveled by bus to Te Ahora, a small town on the edge of a mountain range. The hostel resident manager, Aussie Bob, took me to see a local dairy farm. The dairyman had 225 dairy cows on 200 acres. The rapidly growing grass was the only feed needed, even in winter. Later, I rode on the Catholic school bus, operated by Aussie Bob. For dinner that night Bob prepared bone marrow on toast for Mike (a local construction worker who stayed at the hostel) and I. The bone marrow was terrible.
August 2, 1978 I ran 15 miles in the morning then set out to climb Mt Te Ahora, 3000 feet up and 3 miles away. It was a rough trail, not very well maintained and difficult to follow. I eventually reached the top, but found an easier path back down.
That evening there was a meeting of community representatives at the hostel. They discussed and reviewed the cash flow and administration of the hostel. In the middle of the meeting Aussie Bob excused himself and took me to the hotel just before the 10 PM closing time. We bought 6 half gallon bottles of beer and carried them in on his motorcycle back to the hostel. We left them in his pack until after the local committee members left the hostel. Alcohol is forbidden in hostels.
Bob taught Wendy (a Canadien), Mike, and myself a drinking game called Pass Out. It was similar to Monopoly but involved the accumulation of Pink Elephant cards.
Photo: Downtown Auckland
August 3, 1978 I returned by bus to Auckland. I visited with Dr Sutton who had just had an arm operation and started a new accounting job.
August 4, 1978 I roamed around Auckland. Saw the movie “The Last Waltz.” I flew out on Pan Am that evening, returning to the US via Hawaii, LA and finally San Francisco.
Area Map
