Day 15 – Can The Worms! (29 Sept 2023)

As you may recall, the day started for our guide, Rod, at 4:00 a.m. with notification that our flight had been cancelled. He jumped on things, however, and was able to get us on the next flight from Queenstown to Auckland. Good thing, too, since the flight after that flight went awry as well!

Lynn and I were both surprised that somehow he had managed to get us all aisle seats! Queenstown airport is small enough that you don’t get screened and then go to gates – you are screened right before you go to your gate. There was some hassle with both Lynn and my carry-ons, but we finally got through screening after they took our bags apart. Funnily enough, my issue was a lighter that I carry in a bag with other “I might need these some time” things. They said I could carry it on – in my pocket! I thought that was odd until Lynn pointed out that if it started a fire in my pocket, I would be quicker to address it than if it did it in my backpack up in the baggage compartment!

Unfortunately, Rod said that while trying to “can the worms” “released” due to our flight cancellation, we weren’t going to be able to make the glowworm caves. He’d tried to get everything else re-arranged, but because of timing, that one bit the dust.

It was raining by the time we got to Auckland, but we were hurried into a van with a trailer for our luggage. Unfortunately, the seats were too close together for moi, so I was sitting with the top 1/2 of my body facing forward, and my legs out to the side into the aisle. David noticed my position after a couple hours like that and had me trade with him. He has always taken the farthest back “bench” seat, in the middle. There is no one in front of that seat – so no issue with my legs. Success!

There are some fun signs in New Zealand – I’ve mentioned this before. Here are a couple others:

Mark was kind enough to share his winnings (Whitaker’s chocolate) from answering the most questions correctly on Rod’s New Zealand quiz. This was a very nice one!

We drove and drove. And drove and drove and drove. Finally we got to Kawakawa – which was supposed to be a 10 minute “bio-break” but it was the Hundertwasser Toilets, which I had basically chosen this trip to see.

I had decided to place H’s last marble for this trip in the Toilets in some position or another.

I found a spot in a window on the Women’s side.

I think he would enjoy getting to see women come and go (as it were – ha ha) all day.

I took lots and lots of photos :-)

There were also Hundertwasser columns, walls, planters, a lamppost, etc. in various other parts of the little town, but there wasn’t time for exploring. I did take some long-range shots with my trusty cell phone!

I have to say, seeing all the architecture made me a bit maudlin. Herbert just loved Hundertwasser’s work and had been so excited to visit New Zealand to see where Hundertwasser had done the final works of his life.

Also, the countryside looks so much like home! So, lots of memories and all that . . .

Don and I talked some at dinner about Linda and Herbert. I like hearing stories about how people meet, their backstory, etc. How he and Linda originally met (in junior high) was a good one. :-)

Tomorrow – The Hole In The Rock, where Lynn gives Jim’s final marble she brought the “heave ho.” Unlike Herbert, who was not a great swimmer though he could snorkel for hours, Jim was a “water baby” and so Lynn feels this will be a great spot for him. The weather isn’t supposed to be great, so fingers crossed that we get out there in the boat!

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