The last 5 days in reveiw

         

What a trip it’s been so far! 

Today as we write we have our first official workshops behind us.

Let us fill in some gaps in time….

After a delayed departure from LAX we boarded a double decker bound for Nadi, Fiji.

Upon our arrival in Fiji we were told our connecting flight was delayed but that was the limit of the information we could seem to get.  We were told we needed to go thru customs to get a hotel voucher.  Going thru customs was funny- Scratcher brought a bag of food that was supposed to feed us healthy snacks but here at the Fiji Airport we found ourselves scarfing down all our fruit, veggie, and meat products so they wouldn’t get quarantined.   Once we were full we made our way past one very long line and into the next to get our hotel voucher.  We realized after having numerous conversations with official looking airport employees that no single airline worker in Fiji has the same answer to our questions about when our flight was departing.  Nonetheless we were happy to be stuck in Fiji for an undetermined length of time.  We caught a shuttle to the hotel Trans International (this was Mangles’ first experience with left-lane roads) , where we were greeted warmly and offered free breakfast while our room was being prepared.  We gladly accepted the beautiful spread of coffee and fresh fruits and Mel’s new favorite breakfast cereal Weetabix.  We met a nice couple at the hotel who were interested in sharing a taxi with us to the nearest beach.  So we went, our taxi driver telling us that if we wished to stay longer he would take us out on his boat to a remote island for surfing.  Due to time restrictions we were unable to accept his offer.  We had heard varying rumors and stories about our flight times being between 4-5pm.  We enjoyed beachcombing for seashells and trash, got our feet wet in the warm water, and took off for a stroll down the beach just as a rainstorm was approaching.  We had a few beers at a local beach hut and by the time we met back up with our taxi driver we were soaking wet.   He returned us safely to our hotel in time for a fabulous fish lunch.  We then followed the recommendations of the hotel staff on when to return to the airport.  Stood in two lines for a few more hours and then without prompting a line formed and the plane was boarded right on “island time”.

Our journey from Fiji to Auckland was aboard our new favorite airline Air New Zealand and was different and better in every way from Air Pacific.  The in flight safety video featured Richard Simmons, the All Blacks (New Zealand’s national rugby team), a 90 year old woman streaking, and flight attendants in latex body suits.  This was all shown on fully functional touch-screen TVs in the head rests.  The TVs were full of selections but the favorite was a 2011 Rugby World Cup highlight real during which we agreed that Rugby is freakin awesome.  Once we landed in Auckland we had missed our connecting flight to Christchurch and so for a second day in a row we were housed and fed for free.  This time we enjoyed a 3 course meal for dinner, and a hot breakfast that included whole poached plums in wine (delicious).

Flying in to Christchurch the next day on time was a special treat, and we were greeted by the Otuathi Roller Derby League’s contact Da-Rollin.  She sped us off to the luxurious private resort of Casa de Donna (her mother in law’s house).  We drank beers, walked on the beach (looks just like Oregon), met up with some of the skaters for a casual skate on the netball courts, and rested.    Our sleep was interrupted that night at 1:30 am by a 5.3 Earthquake.  Being waked from a dead sleep by a shake gets your adrenaline going real fast, so falling back to sleep is a challenge.  The following day (Saturday to us and Friday in the states) we started our first boot camp.  Many leagues in attendance from Richter City in Wellington, Dunedin Roller Derby, and Dead End Derby (another Christchurch league) and even Splatterpuss visiting from Victoria Roller Derby in Melbourne.  We experienced a 3.2 earthquake during the camp that shook things up a bit.  We covered intermediate skills and introduced some blocking and teamwork concepts.  We were amazed at how quickly the ladies absorbed and applied the instruction that they were given.  These ladies were hungry for derby and we couldn’t feed them fast enough!  We truly enjoyed how coachable they all were and at the end of the day awarded Wahine Disaster with a WOJ t-shirt for her amazing improvements.  Strangely enough it was also her birthday.  It was decided that there was going to be a barbeque at Donna’s house that evening.  That afternoon we shuffled about town piecing together groceries from different shops.  We found an organic market whose shelves were all but empty, but we got what we could.  Then went off to a produce market and stocked up on avocados, lettuces, and beets to make a salad.  We got delicious lamb sausages, free-range chicken, spicy cured meats and cheeses and the best damn crackers we’ve ever eaten.  The barbeque was everything we needed and more.  Spunky Bruiser showed up with Cassels beer a local craft brewed beer.  This was the time during our trip that the ladies began to inquire about the business side of derby and politics therein.  We shared with them how our league structure worked and encouraged them to expand their relationships with WFTDA leagues. 

The second day of boot camps was the best.  We advanced on to more challenging skills, concepts, and strategies.  I was no surprise that, just as the day before, the ladies absorbed everything like a sponge.  We were truly impressed with the potential that exists here on the south Island. The most improved skater this day was Little Yellow Jacket.  LYJ had an interesting short plate mount on her bont boots, making her rear wheels be far in front of her heel.  We had never seen such a setup but she made it work well and we were impressed. We ended the day feeling quite sore and wishing to be outdoors.  That wish was granted in the most amazing way. Connie Knoxville and her partner Greer invited us to go for a sail on their boat “bluegrass” around Lyttleton harbor.  We spotted many seabirds, and just around sunset laid eyes on a rare species of Hector's Dolphin.  We ended the day at a fish shop overlooking the harbor eating fresh seafood and enjoying the colorful sunset.

Something of an unfortunate side note to all the previous experiences is that in every town, on every road, and in every way the earthquakes’ damages are obvious and sometimes very sad.  For instance the entire downtown portion of Chrischurch is gated off and looks like it was the sight of a bombing.  Also in Lyttleton, many of the historic building have fallen.  It seems to be the trend that brick building were the least likely to survive the ‘shakes’ as the locals call them.  The damage is also evident in the locals’ behavior, fear, and anxiety about when and if another large and devastating quake will come.  Everyone lives prepared. check out their newpaper here at the press website.

 We are writing this from Kiwi Rail’s costal pacific railway.  We have enjoyed stunning vista’s of sheep, seals, the Pacific Ocean, and salt flats. We will transfer to a ferry in Picton bound for Wellington on the north island... and then hopefully be able to provide more fun tales of our travels!