Grannie Goodwill Ambassadors !

Ellen in front of a kauri tree near Tane Mahute.
see all photos »

Hi Everyone,

It is hard to believe that we have been in New Zealand for 5 months.  It has been an incredible trip so far with the beautiful landscapes, sea scapes, farm scenes, RAINBOWS, but most of all the people.  There is Antz who performed magic on the car by improvising a side mirror and saving us $260.00; Megan B., our travel agent, who arranged miracles of authentic cultural experiences for some of our side trips;  Dave, of the I-Site who came fishing with us and taught Ellen about the "global gossip " phone card and other very useful information; Rangi and Monique of the youth hostel and shop keepers who recognize us by name.  We can't tell you how nice it feels to be known in this town and to also know the town people.  We have become the Grannie Goodwill Ambassadors for the U.S. and  have dispelled so many negative myths about Americans especially when Cathy makes it a point to talk to everyone and shows a genuine interest in who they really are.

Boogie boarding on the giant sand dunes at Cape Reinga.
see all photos »

Paihia became our base from which we traveled while staying in the northland.  We had traveled to the "winterless north" in the hopes of getting warm during these winter months.  NOT!!!  Though closer to the equator, the northland continues to experience an unusual cold and wet winter.

After our last woof in Paihia we went south to Waipu to a womens lodge where we met Suzan of Clearwater, Florida.  She was such a natural comedian and had us laughing for 3 days as she told of her experiences in Bali.  The Women's Lodge is 2 miles up on the side of a mountain and overlooks the beautiful and spectacular Bream Bay.   On one of our day trips we went to the Kauri Museum where we saw how these ancient Kauri giants were sadly logged into extinction.  Their size is 2nd only to the California Redwoods which are the largest trees in the world.

Clamming on the 90 mile beach.
see all photos »

We returned to Paihia for a day trip to Cape Reinga.  This is the northern most point of New Zealand where the Tasman sea meets the Pacific Ocean.  It is at this point that the Maori believe the souls of their relatives  leaves the land as they pass over.  Ellen and I had climbed a steep hill (yes Ellen climbed a hill to protect me from falling) to see the power of these two bodies of water meet!

During the trip, Huey our guide, sang many beautiful Maori songs and shared his cultures stories.  Leaving the Cape he couldn't wait to get everyone to the giant sand dunes.  Everyone on the bus (except 4 old farts) climbed the dunes with their boogie boards and slid down with unabashed glee.  Boy did it look like fun!!!!!  Driving through a river bed, Huey brought us out onto the famous 90 Mile Beach and after about 20 miles he suddenly stopped the bus, grabbed a bucket and invited everyone to do a "little clamming" with him.  With his supper in hand, we continued on to the Ancient Kauri Kingdom for afternoon tea and a chance to see furniture that was made from the 45,000 yr. old swamp kauri.  Ellen climbed a staircase that was cut inside a tree stump at this stop.

Bone carving 101
see all photos »

Originally we were going to do our final wwoof further south but the universe had other plans for us.  An acquaintance of Ellen's (Dr. Jan) had mentioned in a conversation that if Ellen ever needed a place to  wwoof that she should contact her.  So that is exactly what we did.  Within 3 days the universe was sending us to Kaitaia .....to be with Annah and Cornelius at the Herb Shack and Clare and Allen at the Main Street Backpackers Lodge.  When the Waipu door closed the Kaitaia door opened wide and it was a win, win, win, situation.

Clare and Ellen in bone carving class.
see all photos »

Saying goodbye to Rangi, we headed northwest to the town of Kaitaia.  By the time we arrived, Ellen was sick with the flu so we went to a motel to get her warm and watch TV.  After 3 days she was having cabin fever so we moved to the Mainstreet Backpackers Lodge run by Allen and Clare.  While Ellen does her final recovering I take bone carving classes from Clare.  Ellen also takes classes the following week. Clare goes to Maori language class every Wednesday so she took Ellen one week.  Ellen was embarrassed to death when they asked her to sing a song....[little did they know that she needs a bucket to carry a tune!] Then if that wasn't enough...they asked her to close the evening with a prayer....Holy Mary Mother of grace.............. We took a day trip  to see one of the few remaining giant kauri that is sacred to the Maori...Tane Mahute.  This was the 2nd time that a " Oh My God" came out of my mouth.  The first being when I saw the icebergs in Iceland.  We stayed at the BBH until the following Sunday so as not to bring the flu into Annah's home.  When we finally met Annah she bent over backwards to make us feel  welcomed.

Cathy working on her carving.
see all photos »

Not really knowing how to best use us, Annah opened up her home and heart to us and talked about what she was trying to achieve with the Herb Shack.  It was about getting bottles sterilized and setting up a work space.  Annah, who is using her knowledge of native plants, coupled with her training in conventional herbal medicine, remembered her energy training and how to balance the energy in her "shack" and her life.  Ellen got a chance to explore herbal vs prescription medicine; met Peter [healer and Elder] with whom she had incredible spiritual discussions; Agnes who believes the Maori children need to learn the ways of the land instead of how to do the songs and dances; and with Clare learned bone carving and attended school.

Ellen in the staircase carved out of a Kauri tree trunk.
see all photos »

All my life I have wondered about the ancient cultures, the power of crystals, mythology, the planetary grids, the power of mass thoughts, the mind body connection, the ancient stories of the native american indians etc etc etc.  And into my life walks Cornelius[ Annah' husband] who has spent his entire life researching and experiencing all these things.   He is an expert on the crop circles of England, took part in the Harmonic Convergence, was the medical doctor on the ship the Rainbow Warrior of Greenpeace, spent a year in the Antarctic, is well known to the Hopi Indians of our southwest plus has performed many healing rituals at Mayan sites throughout Mexico.  He has written three books and in reading them, all the loose ends of my life thoughts are coming together. What a gift this man is to me.  Thank you Universe !!!!!!

Ellen climbing up the hill at Cape Reinga.
see all photos »

So as you all can see, this wwoof has been about gifts from the universe and the power of them has been very humbling for us.  To the Universe we say: Thank you, thank you , Thank you.