It is Penguin AWARENESS Day not Penguin APPRECIATION Day.
Because man is doing a lot of unhelpful stuff threatening penguins.
Melting ice and overfishing in Antarctica is crashing the food web the penguins depend upon. For specifics from an eye-witness, read Fraser’s Penguins: A Journey to the Future in Antarctica by Fen Montaigne.
People are doing a lot of good stuff to protect their habitat and make it to another generation. Like Dr. McSweeney in New Zealand.
Be aware. Do good stuff before they are gone.
This post “Happy Penguin Awareness Day!” is featured on blogs associated with On Your Radar Media Company.
Need inspiration for any creative act. Check out this photo essay from Vogue Knitting LIve NYC (January 16-18, 2015). Interested in experiencing VKL–Pasadena and Chicago–where creativity abounds. VogueKnittingLive.com
Vogue Knitting Live (VKL) is a showcase of all things knitting–without the sheep. It is full of opportunities to learn and be inspired from the “yarn tasting” area to two ballrooms full of shopping temptation. I am in New York City to visit a friend and to check out Vogue Knitting Live NYC. Last year I went to VKL in Seattle. I took a class and checked out the marketplace on a Friday when I was in Seattle. My Icelandic knitting class was terrific; however, this time I did not see a compelling class, so I focused on the marketplace.
Converse makes knit sneakers! Inspiration is everywhere including other knitters’ feet.
I am not sure if it is the Saturday crowd or New York City but the energy level was way higher than Seattle! It was like a sale in the basement of Barneys. People were having fun shopping, trying on garments, watching fashion shows. Plus everywhere you go in the 3 floors of the Marriott Marquis Hotel there are women knitting and talking to each other.
Knitter tries on Heidi & Lana’s sample shawl with cool buckle. Available in kit.
I promised myself that I was not going to buy yarn because I have a healthy stash at home and enough unfinished projects already. Besides there were plenty of other things to purchase like a t-shirt that says “Knitting is sexy” and patterns. Shout out to the Stella Lighting folks who are going to keep me from ruining my eyesight while stitching. My favorite logo was the Dancing Sheep. My favorite both decoration was Heidi & Lana.
Not many fashion shows feature socks! Rowan knits.The scarf is made in Knit Collage’s Gypsy Garden, Mermaid Cafe. “In Gypsy Garden, wool, mohair and sparkling polyester fibers called Angelina are handspun together with tiny flower trims, sequins and bits of lace & ribbons.”
Saturday offers fashion shows and I took in several. The DMC and Rowan shows were interesting and each had one or two garments that I was interested in creating. The crowds grew as the day advanced. At 2:15 the Stephen & Steven Spectacular! hit the stage. It was the funk version of fashion show with dancers and models dressed and draped in color and texture. Steven Be has groupies and they were there in force and some of them even went on stage to join the fun. It was like watching a George Clinton concert.
Rowan Knits featured a variety of patterns including including garments using Istek Lopi.Uptown funk at Vogue Knitting Live!
I got so caught up in the excitement that I bought a skein of yarn at Steven’s booth along with Stephen West and Steven Be’s Mixed Tape pattern book.
You can catch the last day of Vogue Knitting Live in New York City Sunday January 18 from 10 – 4. Marketplace entrance fee is $20. Do not miss it If you like to knit!
Here are some of my favorite products…
The “ewe clip” holds one or more needles and keeps your work from sliding off. http://www.purlyewe.comThis plastic ball protects your yarn on the go, or in my case from Lulu’s sharp teeth. theyarnit.com
The Otago Central Rail Trail is Grade 1 (easiest) most of the way with a little Grade 2.
My Off the Rails guide Nick arrived at my Queenstown hotel at 8 a.m. We were quickly on the road toward Cromwell. After about 45 minutes we pulled off the highway at the statue of supersize fruit. The original town of Cromwell was partially inundated by hydroelectric dam and reservoir. The project build a new town center and we stopped at the Tin Goose for a flat white.
We pulled into the parking lot at the Otago Central Rail Trailhead and Nick unloaded my bike and adjusted it for me. He put on a pannier and I loaded my backpack inside. I put my camera in the front “lunchbox”, and inserted my map. Nick had a snack and a water bottle for me to take along too. I was ready.
Lastly, he gave me my “passport” where I can collect stamps along the way. He explained that there are white kilometer markers along the way. I was ready to start my first 44 km of 150 km.
The railway was shut down in 1990 and then followed a period of construction. Between 100,000-120,000 people walk or ride on it each year—grinding up the rocks that make up the old rail bed. The trail started out flat and I found myself whizzing along stopping to take pictures as the landscape evolved from bucolic agriculture vineyards and paddocks to more open pasture and natural landscapes.
I stopped frequently to take pictures and drink in the beauty. Nick calls the trail “intensely scenic” and it is designated as an area of outstanding beauty, which is saying a lot in New Zealand where there are no ugly places.
It was 8 km to Alexandra, 7 km to Galloway, and 10 km to Chatto Creek. At each train station I stopped and stamped my passport and stopped to take pictures. Along the way Nick met me to make sure my bike was in good working order and that I was cycling without difficulty.
About the time my blood sugar was dropping I arrived at Chatto Creek pub and restaurant. I made the mistake of ordering the Bacon Buttie sandwich (bacon and brie). It was delicious and I ate almost all of it, which was fine until I got back on my bike and faced the hardest section of the day. I felt sluggish and heavy.
The first 8 km (of 12 km) on the way to Omakau is called Tiger Hill. None of the inclines are greater than 1:50; however, this section shifts direction so the wind from tail to the side. Plus it was 2 in the afternoon and had cooled considerably and the trail rocks were deeper and more difficult to maneuver through. At one point a beautiful egret was roused from the verge and flew overhead as a kind of encouragement.
I slogged up the hill and my reward was a nice downhill stretch for a couple of kilometers into Omakau. Then it was just 7 km to Lauder.
Nick met me and we loaded my bike. He dropped me at a lovely cottage built in 1906 in Ranfurly. It has two bedrooms, lounge, bathroom, dining room and kitchen. I have it all to myself this week because I am the only one booked on this tour. It feels a little odd but I am so tired that I am just glad to have a hot shower and comfortable bed.
On the first day of my Otago Central Rail Trail adventure, Nick, my Off the Rails guide, shared his enthusiasm for the local wines. As we passed through Cromwell he pointed out a really large tree in Cromwell that all the teenagers in town used to “park up” (or “make out” in America). When the farmer planted his vineyard he kept the tree and named his winery The Wooing Tree.
The Wooing Tree Vineyard in Cromwell, New Zealand.
We continued our drive along the Clutha River and stopped at a lookout for the hydroelectric plant. Looking toward the town of Clyde, Nick pointed out the actor Sam Neill’s vineyard and Two Paddocks winery. I felt like I let Nick down when I told him I was not much of a drinker.
He also gives guests a wine tour if they sign up for the 5 day tour with Off the Rails. Most of the area restaurants offer a selection of local wines and Central Otago boasts some very fine pinot noirs. You can find wine maps online to create your own tour.
The mansion known as Larnach Castle and its extensive gardens are open to the public. There is an admission charge unless you are staying overnight in the lodging. It is about 20-30 minutes on a narrow, windy road from the Dunedin City Centre, South Island, New Zealand. It is worth the effort.
Larnach Castle, Dunedin, New Zealand
It was built by William Larnach,who was a bit of a scoundrel, in 1871. It took over 15 years to build, finish the interiors and furnish. Larnach was a merchant and politician who ended a bankrupt suicide. The house fell into dereliction for years and then in 1967 the Barker family bought and restored it. Margaret Barker searched high and low for the original furnishings or photos to return the home and its gardens to its former glory.
The home is impressive. I am always more interested in the gardens and they are lovely.
Incomparable views of Dunedin.
Castle annex with cafe, toilets and plants for sale.
Not far from the Auckland Airport is a strawberry field and farmstand in Manukau. Sarah and Marcos discovered the best strawberry soft serve ice cream in the world.
The strawberries are crushed and mixed just before it goes into your cone. It is delicious! And ingenious.
I almost returned to the line and bought another. I wish some of our local strawberry farmers would import the machinery. There would be a line around the block and I would be in it. Yum!
Please do not feed the animals. Even though they beg!
Sometimes a zoo can be depressing, especially when the animals are kept in small cages and without any creativity. Other times, like our day at the Auckland Zoo, it can be fun and increase one’s appreciation for the animal kingdom. It begins with the pukeko birds greeting us on the lawn outside the gates. Their legs seem like they are on backward as they ungainly gambol toward anyone with potential bread.
The zookeepers feed the meerkats by putting their food in toys so they have to work to get it.
The Auckland Zoo is spacious for both visitors and animal inhabitants. It is laid out regions of the world. You can see all of the most interesting New Zealand native animals, including kea, kiwi and little blue penguins.
Some of our other favorite exhibits included the meerkats, and the African exhibits. And Burma the Asian elephant.
The Zoo is accessible and includes bright, creative and informative interpretative displays.
The Auckland Zoo is at Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland. Monday-Sunday 9:30-5:30 during Sunday. The Blue Circle bus of the Auckland Explorer does stop at the Zoo among other attractions.
Burma, the zoo’s Asian elephant takes walks around the zoo with her keepers.
I picked my mail up from the post office and what did I find? A surprise from Trek Travel. They put together a beautiful photobook of our Tour de France adventure in Yorkshire. It was very satisfying to go through the photos and see pictures of all of us riding our Trek bikes, meeting our favorite riders, standing on the podium in London, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, of course.
I loved my Trek Travel experience and this is just another example of how they surpassed my expectations.
P.S. Trek Travel has also added Jens Voigt to their team. He will be joining a handful of trips in 2015!
P.S.S. Read more about my Tour de France adventure–from Leeds to Paris–in my earlier posts.
Maybe your headline would say $100 or maybe your threshold is $300 or $400 a night. I thought about this a lot on my most recent trip to New Zealand because I splurged on a few nights at special venues.
When my Aunt and I travelled to Iowa we stayed at a Hampton Inn in West Des Moines. The staff was super friendly and provided great service. The room and beds were comfortable. The bathroom was extra clean and toiletries were provided. There was a mini fridge where we could store our leftovers from dinner and then forget them. All for a bargain price (thanks AARP and AAA) of about $100 a night. What more do you need? And is it worth paying for?
Sorry. You have to decide for yourself. Is it worth spending an additional $200 a night to have more space (a small apartment) at The Rees overlooking Lake Wakitipu? For my Mom and her friends. Hella yes!
When I was planning my most recent New Zealand trip I had Friday to Friday to plan on South Island. I started with a super ambitious agenda that included Christchurch. My Kiwi friends helped me get some perspective, yet I still bit off a little too much. (I will share what I will do next time at the end).
I finally landed in Queenstown, which is the closest airport to Haast and yet it is still a 3-3.5 hour drive to the Wilderness Lodge at Lake Moeraki. As you can tell by my Christmas post on the Fiordland Crested Penguins, I do not begrudge any of the time invested. It was a fantastic experience. It was (gulp) $499 NZ ($387 US) a night for a room that included dinner and breakfast. My room was very comfortable and had a super view of the river. The was the most expensive room I had ever booked and I only stayed one night in part because I had a hard time justifying the expense–even for penguins. Now I realize part of the room rate is because Gerry and Anne McSweeney invest so much in the habitat surrounding the lodge and in providing lodging in as sustainable a way as possible. If I had that trip to do over I would stay at least 2 nights.
I left about 1:00 p.m. to drive about 6 hours to Invercargill in the hopes of visiting Stewart Island. Then I turned around the next day, disappointed and tired without getting to the Island. My neck was torked from driving. I decided to return to Queenstown as quick as I could to enjoy my next splurge: The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel. In February a taxi driver pointed out the hotel and said it was consistently ranked number 1 on Trip Advisor. I was intrigued. The proprietors have taken an old “Dairy” or corner market and several other buildings and converted it to a first class hotel. I called ahead and asked Matt if he could arrange a massage for me in town. It was a Sunday so I thought it might not be possible. He made an appointment for me at the Body Sanctum spa just a few blocks into town from the hotel with Juliana. After the ill-fated massage in the Pyrenees I was hesitant. Wow–best massage I have had since my favorite masseuse Jackie moved away.
The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel is in the heart of Queenstown.
I arrived at the Dairy Hotel in time for afternoon tea. It was a very proper and delicious tea with cream scones and fruit (all prepared in their kitchen). The public rooms in the hotel are so comfortable I actually did make use of them. Other guests also read in front of the fire in the evening. My bed was super comfortable. The bathroom was well appointed except that I could not figure out the bath fixtures which made for a bit of contortion washing my hair. When I mentioned it to Paul he explained that I needed to push the button to start the shower before I turned the water on. Oh well. I only wish I could have stayed longer. Even at $465.00 NZ a night. Just to have Matt’s exquisite omelette again at breakfast. And to be referred to as Madame.
Larnach Castle, Dunedin, New Zealand
The thing about spending more on a hotel night is that it then makes the $290 NZ spent on Larnach Castle accommodation seem like a bargain. Again I justified it with the proximity to penguins. It is only 20-30 minutes from the Royal Albatross Centre–depending on your nerves driving on a windy road where one moment of daydreaming will have you swimming in the bay. The rooms are not in the Castle, which is a historic restored mansion open for tours. The hotel rooms are in specially built buildings and in the retrofitted stables. This price includes full breakfast the next morning but not dinner in the Castle. I pulled out my wallet for the $65 NZ for a 3 course meal with other guests. It includes ghost stories.
My view was impeccable. The windows run the length of the room including the bathroom. There is a short deck too. I could have stayed on the deck and enjoyed the view of Dunedin longer but the gardens were calling. I wandered around the various “rooms” of the garden until it was time to change for dinner. You do not have to dress for dinner. They said “come as you are.” I had packed some nicer clothes and I wanted to mark the occasion of the last night of a very special visit to New Zealand.
View from Room 18 at Larnach Castle lodging.
I still want to visit Stewart Island. And I have heard enough about the Catlins that I want to explore there as well. So driving from Dunedin to Invercargill is probably the best strategy. I do not recommend trying to squeeze Invercargill in as it takes some time to get there and then some flexibility needs to be built in on account of weather.
I have seen so much of New Zealand. Just when I think I have seen everything I learn about something else. Plus I have not done a Great Walk yet. I am looking forward to my next visit already. It helps to keep the “I’m not In New Zealand blues” away.
americanjulie.com 