Klawhap kopa hyas stone

Where in the World is Mr. Alford?

Long since departed from Slope Point, the southern most tip of the South Island of New Zealand, Mr. Alford and his fervent wife Jenny find themselves in a much more northern latitude.  A long journey including a rough sail across the Cook Strait brought them through the capital city of New Zealand and onto the island on which they now reside.  Along the way to their current location they hiked in the volcanic shadows of Tongariro National Park,  watched the Chiefs dismantle the Stormers in a match of Super 15 Rugby in Waikato, visited the Kiwi Fruit growing capital of the world, and found work picking grapes on the stunning Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

The bay in which Mr. Alford is currently floating was inhabited by Maori over 700 years before Captain James cook anchored his ship the Endeavour here in 1769 and claimed it for the British Crown.  It is in this very bay that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 bringing an end to many bloody years of conflict between the natives of Aotearoa and British colonists and joining the two as one nation.

The natural sea cave behind Mr. Alford has been carved by centuries of wind and waves crashing against the rock island and is considered one of the most beautiful natural sites in New Zealand.  The cave holds special cultural significance to the Maori, who know it as Moto Kokako.  Legend tells that warriors departing for battle would paddle their canoes though the cave seeking drops of water from the ceiling, a good omen for a victory.

Can you guess Where in the World is Mr. Alford?  The correct answer to this weeks quiz will name both the natural feature in the photo as well as the body of water in which it stands.  Submit your answers to the Where in the World is Mr. Alford box in the Brookside Library and Mr. Rodgers will soon be drawing a name for great prize.   This will be Mr. Alford's last post from The Land of the Long White Cloud, as tomorrow he and Jenny will board an airplane and continue their journey around the globe.   Mr. Alford would like to wish all of his students and colleagues well, and remind them exercise is not only good for the body, but the brain as well! 

Kloshe konaway
Kloshe nanitch

Mr. Alford

Aunt Barb and the beaches of Tauranga. 

 Jenny hiking in the shadow of Mount Ruapehu.

The near perfectly symmetrical Mount Nguaruhoe.

 Super 15 Rugby action!  Waikato Chiefs handling the South African Stormers!

 Intimidating waters of the Tasman Sean from the black rock beaches of Raglan, NZ.

 Sunrise from Rocky Bay, Waiheke Island.  Not a bad place to wake up!

 Mr. Alford hard at work in the vineyards of Waiheke Island.

 Mr. Alford explaining just how amazing the students of Brookside are to his cousin Brian. 

Strength is a genetic trait in Mr. Alford's family.  His cousin Terry was the 1987 New Zealand Lightweight Arm Wrestling Champion.

Mr. Alford was no match for his freakishly strong cousin Terry!

The city of Auckland reminds Mr. Alford a lot of Seattle; all except the lack of gray skies and constant drizzle that is!

Yes we certainly do!