Nine lively cyclists from Auckland

Good company last evening - stalwart cyclists on their way to Stewart Island
- some can boast of past high achievements in sport, eg former world champ
life-saver, former national mountain bike champ, former national triathlon
champ. Weather for them this a.m. was extreme! High winds, driving rain.
They joke: "Pain is just Fear leaving the body"!

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NZ public debt: GDP ratio in 2008; and the public sector as % of GDP: almost lowest of all nations. A good result from H Clark govt

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1975 - Aswan - Margaret with three Czech mountaineers OTOKAR VOJTISEK, Jaroslav and Bernard. They had been in Ruwenzori, climbing. We had come overland from Juba with Finn Anderson of LWF, to Khartoum and thence by train to Lake Nasser and on to a brand new ferry.

Margaret settled in Nairobi, Bernard died in his own beloved mountains a few years later, Jaroslav is in Germany and Oto in Czech republic, travelling every year to Africa still - it's great to be in touch with you Oto!

Fortrose in Scotland: echoes of Black Isle beauty spots - the lovely place where I grew up

http://www.igougo.com/journal-j75094-Fortrose-Magic_light_and_breathtaking_v
iews.html

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4 C's 'conquered' the Routeburn Track.....

..No, The Routeburn Track 'allowed' us to pass through and over. Colin,
Christine, with Colin and Carolyn Campbell - yes two sticks each, needed
every step of the way.. it's not really a track, it's a boulder-strewn
stream bed with massive ups, downs and across shoulders of mountains. There
were dozens of people on the way, all cheerful as can be, remarkable
considering the full-on Fiordland rain. We had great company, excellent
tucker and comfy beds which kind of helped!

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two sticks each!

We had a three-hour tramp (Waipohatu Wilderness Track) to practise two poles
each for the Routeburn Track - helpful for older knees, especially on
downhill slopes! The Lions had been working there again so we could step
downwards gracefully to the waterfalls instead of mud-slithering. A
wonderful forest afternoon, enjoying the company of long time friends from
faraway.

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all our sympathies to Christchurch people

love and sympathy to all in Christchurch - how strong you are - you will
rebuild - we stand with you.

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