Kah sun mitlite kopa sikum sun kopa Antartica.

Where in the World is Mr. Alford?

Safely down from the steep slopes of the Cascade Saddle Track of Mount Aspiring National Park, Mr. Alford and his keen wife Jenny have continued their exciting exploration of southern New Zealand. Adventures in the high mountain passes of the Kepler Track and deep cold waters of Milford Sound in  Fiordland National Park had Mr. Alford and Jenny longing for a hot shower and a warm bed.  Lucky to have kin spread throughout this great country, they headed east across Otago to the city of Dunedin and the embrace of Mr. Alford's cousin Paula, her husband Ben and their energetic boys Oliver & Henry.  After several days of rest, surfing and exploring the sandy remote beaches of the Otago Pennisula, Mr. Alford and Jenny went on a successful search in the Catlins  for the elusive Megadyptes antipodes and  Cephalorhynchus hector.  
This weeks mystery location finds Mr. Alford and Jenny standing approximately 5140 kilometers south of the equator and a frigid 4803 kilometers from the south pole.  While not technically the southern most point in this archipelago country,  Stewart Island is not considered part of the mainland of New Zealand.

Can you guess this weeks mystery location?  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 a great prize.
As always Mr. Alford would like to remind his students to get at least 60 minutes of exercise every day.    Being a healthy and fit individual creates many rich and rewarding opportunities in life.

Kloshe konaway
Kloshe nanitch

Mr. Alford

Jenny on the stunning Kepler Track in the Fiordland National Park. 

 The South arm of Lake Te Anau

 Kayaking on Milford Sound

Sheep outnumber the human inhabitants of New Zealand nearly 20 to 1! 

 The magnificent Saint Paul's Cathedral in Dunedin.

 Nugget Point Light House. 

These trees tell a tale of strong winds! 

Fish n' Chips in the van with the Schonthal Family.  Good times had by all! 

 Rainbows over Saint Clair.  

Phocarctos hookeri (male)

 Phocarctos hookeri (female)

 Where the Wild things Are!

 Megadytes antipodes

 Jenny know the importance of participating in muscular strength activities three to five times per week.  Playgrounds provide the perfect (and free) gymnasium for Mr. Alford and Jenny during their world travels.

Klatawa kopa Tititea

Where in the World is Mr. Alford?

If the brilliant students of Brookside Elementary have been paying attention, they will know that Mr. Alford and his inspiring wife Jenny are currently located on the South Island in the beautiful country of New Zealand.  However, they have moved a significant distance south out of the Abel Tasman National Park along the coast of the Tasman Sea.  To solve this mystery location, you will have to sharpen your geography skills and get out the map; you may find this weeks challenge a little more difficult to decipher.  To correctly identify the current Where in the World is Mr. Alford mystery, you must name the exact route in the National Park where Mr. Alford is located.

For a long time Mr. Alford has dreamed of having a good look at the mountain known as "Tititea" to the native Maori people of New Zealand.  With high "aspirations" for a view of the "Matterhorn of the South"  Mr. Alford and Jenny shouldered their heavy packs and began hiking up the deep valley of the West Matukituki River with the huge shimmering glaciers of Mount Maori towering to the distance in the east.

After eight kilometers of flat walking, Mr. Alford and Jenny turned to the east and began climbing steeply through the beech forest to exposed slopes of tussock high above the river valley below.  Under the hot afternoon sun they carefully picked their way higher along the craggy outcrops of friable schist rock as the jagged mountains of the Southern Alps grew visible all around them.  At the end of the day's journey they stood at 1524 meters looking west down into the Dart River with breathtaking views of the Southern Alps in every direction.  

Can you guess Where in the World is Mr. Alford?  Submit your answers to Mr. Rodgers in the Brookside library and he will soon be drawing a lucky name for a great prize.  Good luck Bluejays and remember to get at least 60 minutes of vigorous exercise each day.  Each day that goes by, Mr. Alford is more and more thankful for his and Jenny's investment in health and fitness.  They are able to have experiences in wild and rugged places only available because  of the ability to get themselves there under human power.

Kloshe konaway
Kloshe nanitch

Mr. Alford

Jenny starting the long walk up the West Matukituki Valley with the huge glaciers of Mount Maori glowing in the morning sun.  

A side trip up the Rob Roy Stream offered exceptional views of the Rob Roy Glacier.

 Jenny with Mount Barff and the Matukituki Saddle in the distance.

 Jenny, hiking high above the West Mutukituki River in the sub-alpine tussock grass of New Zealand.

A spectacular view of Tititea from the headwaters of Cascade Creek.

Mr. Alford with the Dart Glacier in the distance.

 Jenny knows the importance of proper nutrition while exercising and makes sure Mr. Alford is well fed during all outdoor excursions.  

Kia ora Aotearoa

Mr. Alford currently finds himself standing on the southern island of the archipelago country known by its' native people as Aotearoa and basking in the summer sun of the southern hemisphere.

In 1642, near this very spot, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman anchored his vessels Heemskerck & Zeehan just offshore.  On the shore, they spotted smoke from a fire and later in the day two canoes filled with natives of this island approached his ships.  Men from these canoes called out in a loud voice and blew a horn that echoed across the waters of the is bay lined with golden beaches.  An officer from the Zeehean replied with his own trumpet and this strange communication continued until nightfall when the canoes departed for shore.

Early in the morning, the Zeehaen's dingy rowed across to the Heemskerck to allow the ships' officers to confer.  Upon its' return to the Zeehaen,  the two canoes raced from the shore and attacked the boat, killing four of the seven crew.  The three survivors jumped into the water and swam to the safety of the Zeehan as a barrage of gunfire erupted from the decks of the ship and sent the attackers paddling back to shore.  Captain Tasman pulled anchor feeling sure that opportunity for friendship with these people had closed and named the bay "Moordenaers" (Murderers') for the events that occurred there on that day.

Three hundred years later this land was proclaimed a National Park and today boasts one of the most beautiful and historic 'Great Walks' of the Country in which Mr. Alford now resides.
Can you guess where in the World is Mr. Alford?  Name the Country, Island and National Park in which Mr. Alford now stands and submit it to the Where in the World is Mr. Alford Box in the Brookside Library.  Mr. Rodgers will soon be drawing a lucky name for a great prize.

Mr. Alford would like to remind all of his students and colleagues to find a way to celebrate their personal level of fitness that bring them a sense of joy and satisfaction and that physical fitness opens the door to wonderful opportunities in life!

Kloshe konaway
Kloshe nanitch

Mr. Alford

 Where in the World would Mr. Alford and Jenny spot a Blue Penguin?

Kopet mamook klatawa

Where in the World is Mr. Alford

Chinook Wawa

kopet - stop, end

mamook - make, to do

klatawa - journey, travel

Over the Apalachicola River, into the eastern time zone and through the city of Chattahoochee, FL Mr. Alford and his illustrious wife Jenny continued their adventure through the Alligator State into the lands claimed by Juan Ponce de Leon for the Spanish Crown in the year 1512.

Through the town where the legendary musician Ray Charles called home,  Mr. Alford and Jenny pedaled against the waning sunlight of short days and over the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway with great anticipation of reaching the Ocean that covers 20% of the World's surface.

Mr. Alford currently stands near gates made of coquina that contain the oldest European settlement in the United States and the city that served as the capital of Spanish Florida for over two hundred years.  Mr. Alford and Jenny have packed their bags and will soon be flying south into the summer of the southern hemisphere.

Can you guess Where in the World is Mr. Alford?  Submit your answers at the Brookside Library and Mr. Rodgers will soon be drawing a name for a great prize.  As always, Mr. Alford would like to remind his students and colleagues to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day as physical fitness opens your life to a rich and wonderful variety of experiences!

Kloshe konaway
Kloshe nanitch

Mr. Alford  

 "Share the Road" has a little different meaning in Florida!

 Mr. Alford hanging out with the legendary Ray Charles in the town that he called home.

Do you like kale?  Mr. Alford likes kale.  Lots and lots of kale!

Mr. Alford not being a very good nutritional role model.  Banana Cream Pie for lunch! 

 Mr. Alford and Jenny are very happy about reaching their goal!