Summer in the City (brrrrrrr)

Queenstown-Wakatipu Lake

Hi All,

Friday 24th
We’re back in Queenstown after leaving the very attractive town of Wanaka. Both places are surrounded, joined, linked and separated by many mountains and large lakes. It’s a paradise for anyone with an affinity for mountaintops, bottoms and in-betweens. New Zealand, particularly the southern part, is very attractive. However, there are aspects of this land that are puzzling. The time change of twenty-one hours between it and the west coast of the USA takes getting used to, especially when conducting business between the two. One is always a day ahead or maybe behind, depending where you stand. Then there is the season business. Yes, we understand the hemisphere issue, summer in the south and winter in the north. What is the season in New Zealand when it is winter in America and cold in Kiwiland? Got you there. The weather has us flummoxed. One of the best kept secrets in this part of the world, we think, is: ‘When does summer begin?’
Summer in 'Dem Hills'
Our editor finally added her two bits: “It seems like there is a lot of wind in this region. What do you make of it?” she wanted to know. “Perhaps Antarctic?” she guessed.
“Could be something in the food,” we answered. We know that’s a dangerous comment to make to her but from time to time, we need to ‘chance’ our luck. Why we do that, we do not know. Go figure!
Ice-capped 'Hills'

We reached the peak of Mount Lovemore the other day. It was cold and very windy. There were three fellow hikers sitting on the summit, taking in the gorgeous view. We wished to be friendly and offer a greeting. Bear in mind, the jaw was cold and so it was not easy to form words. In a friendly tone, we managed to utter a greeting and add: “We’re very pleased it’s summer,” we shivered. “You want heat, take yourself off to the beach in Florida,” the woman retorted. We were most surprised at this outburst. We think she misses the spirit of the surrounding beauty or the climb was just too tough.

While sitting and gazing into the distance, doing our best to ignore the humorless hiker, we continued to pursue one of our favorite pastimes—pondering and thinking—in no particular order. We thought of our visit to the movies recently when we stayed in Point Loma, San Diego. By the way, it is very pretty in that area with a spectacular view of the lights of downtown San Diego. However, we are off point. We like stories and movies of endeavor, challenge and heroic actions. The problem with this film is that the director is not quite with it. Firstly, he omitted all ugly and foul language. Then he forgot to insert nude and sexual scenes. Finally, no violence. How he expects success is beyond us. Could this be kosher entertainment? Nevertheless, it’s our type of movie. To watch ‘Big Red’ run was an absolute thrill. It reminded us of another favorite, Seabiscuit. We enjoyed watching Secretariat gallop and confound the critics. A triple-crown winner has our respect.
Editor Returns
General MacArthur said ‘I’ll return and did not; Arnie the Terminator did and we are sorry for that; Jenni Laz returned after illness and hiked Thursday in Wanaka and Queenstown on Friday, both steep climbs. The ‘kid’ is back and ready for a four-day hike, the Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of New Zealand’s ‘great tramps’.

We’ll be back…we hope, N’H’.

Jenni and Jeffrey