New Zealand 11-21-08

Christchurch lives up to its reputation: I did an 11k run from the motel downtown and around the 2 large parks that form the western side of the area. The school kids are always learning cool outdor skills and involved in sports. Here is a practice rope swing to a ledge.

A cricket practice


The weather was cool and overcast. I wound up as I do when things are working right at major features, the museum of natural history -sounds like a sleeper right. They had some great scenes of Maoris killing the giant moa birds now extinct. There was a teacher who was explaining the early years of Maori and Europeans. The early settlers brought with them their animals including their bird’s cats and rabbits which fared well but did a lot of damage.
Later in the day we went back to the arts center - got so e free bikes and road the park, went to the botanical garden, road the river, back to the museum, dropped off the bikes, to the bar across the street and then back to the museum for some free wine and a band concert. All of the attractions with the exception of the bar were free. This city appreciates its inhabitants!!!



As usual we saw any kids with instructors learning how to ford rivers on a zip line, swing on ropes to cross obstacles and playing sports such as cricket, very cool. All of them had their school sport coats and ties on, shorts and long socks.