Visit to Northwest Basecamp, Mazama, WA

Finally after a gentle push via a Christmas gift from the O's and Brooks and Molly we reserved a visit to Northwest Basecamp in Mazama, WA. This cozy lodge/inn is run by Kim and Steve Bondi. Steve is son of longtime friends Evey and John Bondi, whom we first met when they moved to Seattle and Evey was expecting Steven!
Mazama is snow country but the problem was this year there had been little snow. That is until a few days before we were scheduled to leave. The passes were iffy and winter storm warnings were posted. We almost cancelled.
We got an early start and headed for Steven's Pass with little company on the road.


Once over in eastern WA the roads were better until we approached the Methow Valley.
Nevertheless we made the trip in 5 hrs 15mins. Not bad for the conditions arriving at Basecamp midafternoon.





In the past few days they had received over 4' of snow. It was absolutely beautiful!
The first morning Steve took us snowshoeing around their 20 acres. The next day we drove to a trailhead and went by ourselves. Snow continued to fall throughout our stay.








Kim and Steve were super hosts making all their guests feel welcomed and comfortable. They are a super team and very busy running the lodge and parenting 9yr old Amelia and 6 yr old Emmett.


Kim is looking up a recipe and Steve is taking our muffins he just made for breakfast.


We had a super time at a cozy spot with tons of snow in beautiful country. We look forward to returning.

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Meat pies

One more thing! Al loved all the different kinds of meat pies available everywhere throughout the country. Sometimes he had one daily for lunch!


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Farewell to Auckland

We had a final few days in Auckland before heading home staying in Davenport, a charming colonial village across the harbor from the city accessible by ferry. ( Actually Maori first came here by canoe in the 14th century!)





We stayed at Peace and Plenty a delightful Bed and Breakfast built in 1888.


L








Yesterday we took another ferry to Waihike Island, a popular weekend destination now known for its vineyards and wineries. Our last few days have been very relaxing and enjoyable.

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NZ miscellany

Typical scene from our bus when it was time for the cows to come to the milking barn.

This is a NZ tree fern which grows very tall and very slowly. They are all over the north island and look a little prehistoric.


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For the most part food was very good, interesting and varied. Kiwis love their fish and chips and potatoes mashed and fried. Kumara or sweet potatoes are served all over as well. Baked beans served at almost every breakfast along with broiled tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms. We also tried lots of delicious new fish. Pavlova is the national dessert, a cake of meringue and cream with fresh fruit.


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Holy Trinity--the Auckland Anglican Cathedral

This is a beautiful Anglican Cathedral built in 2 stages many years apart. There is a nave for the old part and the you went down to the nave for the new part. This newer section also had a separate alter and could be used for community concerts as well.











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Look who we saw in Auckland

Standing on the platform when the train pulled in was Anne and Allan (Affleck). We had a fun hour together before their ship sailed and we had to catch a ferry. They will watch game today on ship and we have a "booking" at an Auckland pub to watch live. Go Hawks!





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Hiking along the Whakapapanui River

This area is frequently very windy as it was on our one full day to hike. The Whakapapanui River Trail was recommended as it was fairly sheltered from the wind. it was a lovely 5+ mile hike along the river through dense forest of beech (NZ beech is not really beech!), ferns and heather.















We crossed a long bog/wetland and encountered numerous spider nests. (See white spot in picture!) The spider builds these cacoon like nests. Thousands of spiders emerge with the spider returning again to the same nest to lay more eggs.


Another NZ phenomenon is these rodent traps which are found ALL over the countryside. Man brought mammals to NZ and these animals became predators for the native birds, many of which had become flightless due to lack of predators. These traps catch possum, weasel, ferrets, rats and stoats. School children build the traps and communities and park workers are all over the country check and rebait them. Poison is also left all over the bush. There are frequent warnings not to eat the pellets and keep dogs away!!!!!


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Chateau Tongariro

This grand old hotel is reminiscent of the famous Canadian Pacific Hotels served by CP railroad. It is popular in summer but most popular as a ski resort in winter.



The chateau is located in Whakapapa Village a very small resort village busy during ski season.
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All aboard Kiwi Rail's Northern Explorer

We boarded the train in Wellington for the scenic trip up the center of the northern island to Auckland. We will stop for 2 nights en rte at Mt Tongariro National Park, NZ's first and the world's 4th national park.





We crossed several large concrete viaducts as we travelled first along the coast, then farmlands and finally climbed into the mountains.



Mt Ruhapehu is the highest and most active of the park's volcanoes. Over the past few years it has had several eruptions.



The conical mtn is Mt Ngauruhoe, much younger than Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro to the multipeaked mountain to the left.






We are approaching National Park Station, our destination.


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