Sunday, July 31 -Mark's second full week of work and our first week in our new home! Mark excelled in learning his work's technology networks. Swimming Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. Making lots of new friends. Hikes this week included several to the "Centre of New Zealand" right in Nelson; and a beautiful "tramp" on the Cable Bay Walk. New Zealand continues to amaze us with how positive and friendly people are! After our past couple of intense work years during Covid, this is a great place to be! Even the signs! "Great fun this way" for showing the way to the pool; "Trolleys - We'll take it from here!" for taking your shopping cart in the parking lot. Beautiful land, people, and way of life! (Mail is delivered on bike. Flat White coffees are very good. Caroline's my great hiking buddy. Saturday swims are followed by coffee at Lambrettas with fellow swimmers.)
Second week: Richmond, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand. Mark's colleague and his wife have been fantastic! We've bought a car, settled into a furnished home, rode a classic bike ride, took a short ferry, ate fish and chips, and went to our first swim practices with the Kiwis. The pool is 33 1/2 yards, so the sets had our heads spinning! The coach would say "10 Doubles" meaning 66 2/3 yards, or 2 lengths. The Riverside Pool is a beautiful old pool built in 1927 and very clean, clean water. Our bike ride on Saturday was a day long affair. Riding along the Great Taste Trail, we rode through town, forest, over inland sea waterways, and even on the beach. Mark has started working already and has been working hard learning all the new tech systems. His work partners had a "morning tea" to welcome Mark and me, but also to say good-bye to Richard and Caroline.
Arriving, first week. Caroline & Richard are our amazing hosts. Settled on a house; getting a car; explored Kaiteriteri Beach; and hiked Easby Trails.
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