Feb 4

Sunday, February 4

We were up a 8 am this Sunday morning. We had breakfast with Anne and Ross instead of paying for brunch with the group (a smart move on our part since dinner the night before at Marbles was $68 or so...everyone else in our group qualified for either a senior discount or child's discount (Pauline) but we were stuck with full price). We packed up our bag and we dropped off Ross at the church, then Anne took us to the gates of the park where she told us we were >a lovely couple and were welcome back anytime. Especially, since Josh would like to talk at some of the five New Plymouth Rotary clubs when we come back to climb Mount Taranaki. Hugs and goodbye.

We found our way to the Tea House inside the park and sat outside watching the ducks before members of our Rotary group began to trickle in. Most had stayed at a motel or with family members nearby. Josh and I had water as everyone ate brunch. We saw postcards of Taranaki that we wanted to buy but we forgot to purchase them. We mainly spoke with Jon and Lyndsay during brunch since they would be driving us home.

After brunch, we loaded up in the car and headed the wrong way out of New Plymouth. I really just wanted to get home at this point. The trip was great and New Plymouth was great and we'd seen so much but I was ready to be home (sheesh, I've only been here a week and I spent two nights with the Collis's and two nights with the Smith's)! We got turned back the right way and it would have been a 3 hour return drive except we stopped to buy fresh produce from the side of the road and to have lunch across the street from Virginia Lake in Wanganui (popular place).

Well, we felt kind of awkward about lunch because Lyndsay offered to pay and we said no, so then she ordered first and told the girl at the counter to add ours to their order and Jon and Lyndsay only had quiche and coffee while Josh and I had fish and chips and a chicken burger but what can you do when someone is insistant upon paying? We said thanks many times.

So, after lunch we are really close to getting home but we detoured to view the Wanganui downtown area and library. Home at last around 5 pm, I've caught up on the journaling and I'm sleepy. I've uploaded all the pictures and am ready to really relax...except that the busy cycle continues tomorrow with an appointment to watch the Super Bowl with a Rotarian who likes American football in the morning and dinner with Josh's advisor, Dr. Openshaw, tomorrow night at 6.

We're just over one week in and everything is set up and operational....except the part about me having a job! Mail has already arrived in our name to our house. We mean to send a letter out to the states to see if it gets there!