Epilogue: A Wicked Wee Time

Thanks to old friends Tom Bishop and Rayna Ramsay for organising some functions for me in Auckland; Hamish Spencer for getting the ball rolling in Dunedin and to new friends Shinichi Nakagawa, Jenny Rock, Katie Brockie for organising the three lectures in Dunedin (for Zoology, Skeptics in the Pub called the Church, and Science Communication) and to Michael Edmonds for organising the talk in Christchurch (Skeptics in the Pub, but their pub has fallen down, so it was Skeptics at CPIT, with the pub for pizza and beer afterwards). To all those who attended my talks and demonstrated that they could think: congratulations. Continue reading

53. Akaroa – Tourist Drive – Little Akaroa – Christchurch

Graham S., Main South Rd, Riccarton, via airbnb
Wednesday, March 27: Cloudy at first, with fog in the hills, clearing during the afternoon

Not much left for breakfast this morning, so zipped across to the 4square and cornered a lukewarm egg & bacon pie to eat with the fruit juice and the coffee (pie could at least be subject to the microwave). Guy at the backpackers suggested taking the high road to Little River, which I did, as I had quite a bit of time on my hands. Continue reading

41. University of Otago & Skeptics in the Pub, Dunedin

Ben & Lucy’s
Friday, March 15: A drop of rain in the morning and cloudy all day
Caricature of Prof. James Flynn, University of Otago, Dunedin

Caricature of Prof. James Flynn, University of Otago, Dunedin

Was up fairly early and had the rest of my crumpets with vegemite for breakfast. Ben & Lucy were still getting up when I left for Flynn’s office. I had judged the distance and time pretty closely and only had to enquire at the Psychology Department where his building was and was there on the way to finding his office when I bumped into him.

He had forgotten his wallet at a petrol station and left me in his office while he retrieved it. A few piles of paper on the floor suggested he was doing his tax return and in the meantime I checked that my equipment was working and ready to go. Continue reading

40. Te Anau—Dunedin

Ben & Lucy, Haddon Place, Dunedin, via airbnb; $49/night for spacious double bedroom, wifi, shared facilities
Thursday, March 14: Sunny and windy along the road with cloud increasing towards evening, quite a hot day
Go back! Wong Way, Te Anau

Go back! Wong Way, Te Anau

Everything repacked quite nicely and I was able to deal with breakfast fairly quickly and get down the road to take the photos that I wanted and to get to the library for the internet. Katie has a place for us tomorrow night (Dunedin Skeptics in the Pub), and Ilona was chattable. Continue reading

Kiwi III, 2010

Sunset at Sunset Beach, 2010 (bracket of 47 exposures)

Sunset at Sunset Beach, 2010 (bracket of 47 exposures)

On the success of Kiwi II, I decided that a trip in early spring (August – October) might be the next goal, at least to explore the North Island more fully. I wanted to go to White Island, Cape Reinga, and do the remaining NI Great Walks. Auckland never seems to be cold, and while it was a little wet… It also very much brought back the Augusts and Septembers of fallen-in-love. Continue reading