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3/7/09
We are now on the road to Te Anau. The first stop is at Shotover river to go jet boating. I loved the 360 degree spin arounds they do but did not like getting so close to the canyon rocks. The boats where designed by a local NZ person and only need 10-15 cm of water to run. They pump out around 800 liters of water per second. The hand rails we where to hold during the ride where heated. It was so very nice. Most places where we stay also have heated towel racks that is also nice.
We are seeing more sheep in this part of the country but have been told that more cow farmers are coming. They get about
40 inches of rain in Lumsden. In the Five Rivers area of Lumsden is where I went for a ride in a glider. Here in the winter they get 6-8 inches of snow several times a season.
Bob's cousin has been soaring for 15 years and was very gracious to take me for a ride. It was different than hang gliding in that you go faster. Also the protection from the wind is nice.
I was a little more nervous doing the soaring but relaxed more once we where free of the tow plane. We had to do tight rturns to get the air drafts over the hills that where fun. There was a strip of wool taped to the windshield to tell us if we where flying level or not. The countryside is always so much more beautiful from the air.
Now onto Otautau where Bob and Annette's daughter lives. They have a Down Snydrome child that I am going to teach mom a few treatment ideas because they don't have a physical therapist there. The big hills are disappearing and the rolling hill are returning.
Oh, and Al says that the roads are straight and it is not so hard to drive on the left side of the road. That and the fact that oncoming cars are about 15 minutes apart.
I have been trying to upload pictures for three days with no success. I just read a note from Off Exploring that they are doing server maintenance, so maybe tomorrow?
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