Today was an uneventful day of travel mostly on the road from Auckland southwest to the coastal town of New Plymouth. We got a late start after clearing the cobwebs from a long day of celbrating and enjoying the festivities from opening day of the RWC. Chris had to get up a bit earlier and get his boy to the last soccer match of the season. Those of you who know New Zeland and their passion for rugby may be surpised to find a Kiwi and former rugby player promoting such a puffer sport like soccer to his own offspring. However, Calum is only 5, and already big for his age....he still pales in comparison to the maorys or other polinesion kids that start out in ripper rugby at ages 4 and 5. Even at an early age the gene effect of the islanders is very prominant and can scare kids away from the sport of rugby for good if laden with bad memories of getting pumbled by dense legged indigenous boys. Chris said it is even to the point that some parents will move back to the south island, like in Christ Church and enrol their kids in the myriad of private schools there, so that their sons can learn, play and develop the neccessary skills of the game while developing at their own normal rate so as to one day be at the elite level. Things tend to even out once the kids get to highschool and onto college. So he explains, he thought he'd let Calum play soccer and have fun get the footwork in and maybe a little taste for the competitiveness until he gets bigger and stronger, then see if he likes and wants to get into the game of rugby. Since the area they currently live in is predominately filled with English ex-pats its no wonder they have a soccer league....much to the shigrin of the neighboring townships who call it a puffer sport like Chris' dad did when he found out Calum had decided to forgo the ripper season to play soccer.
As we got out on the road after picking up our tickets at the mall... you could witness the complete and total love affair with rugby and their All Blacks. The National Pride is on display everywhere, and coming from a person who enjoyed the sport as a fringe game in the states... I never get tired of seeing the support and only hope a small portion of that is able to flourish in the US one day. I think its most like the olympic sports or atheletes that participate in various sports. Imagine just one sport and everyone captivated by it and pulling for all it's players like mad hero's. I guess the 1980 Men's US Men's hockey team is the only thing briefly that can compare or get one thinking in the realm of magnitude with which these players are idolized.... well okay, maybe a college or pro team of choice operating like a natioal olympic team is a better way to put it....regardless it is cool as hell and makes for the olympics every week of the year.
The drive took quite a bit of time since most of it was on two lane country roads which actually comprises most of the roadway in NZ. The scenery was nice a change from the city streets of Auckland. The gently rolling hills spattered with houses in the suburps gave way to the farmland and lush green scenery that becomes etched in your vision and the norm throughout 95% of NZ. Its not hard to realize how easy it is to take for granted and become rather blaize about it when its all you ever see, day in and day out. The mall provided more proof and conversation to the high cost of living here and how it among many other things differ not only in the states but now across the world as we become more interconnected in a global economy. New Zealand has remained pretty stedfast in its ways and true to its low key non "flash" roots, which keeps it unique from the rest of the world and even its closest neighbor Australia.
Chris wife and family used to live raleigh and moved to NZ due to job opportunities and a chance to raise his family in a different more low key environment. His love for America and time spent there allows for good conversation and comparitives on how things are here as compared to the states and how ironic some things are... Like how Dairy farmers here are the Nuevo Rich with yaghts in the harbor not the tech wizzards of silicon valley or the SEC Prostitutes of Wall Street. There has been on individual to copycat an idea from the states (ebay) and turn it into a multi million dollar buyout from an investment house based out of Austraila....but for the most part big money here is still based in Exportable goods, and the thing that NZ does well is Farming! China has provided the demand....whether its food products like powdered milk, beef (from cattle, sheep, or Deer) or natural resources like timber, marble or textiles from the sheep....a Billion Chineese provide the profits to make a country of 5 million very very rich....well at least a few that have the right connections....After all some things NEVER change no matter where you are in the world.
With the ratio of Sheep to People at nearly 12 to 1 the countryside is litered with furry little animals that seem to endless eat grass nonstop and dot the horizon for as far as the eye can see. The landscape so closely resembles the green Isles of Ireland that it's no wonder so many ex-pat Irish call NZ home. I am looking forward to partying it up with them as they will surely turn out in Droves to see their national team play USA.
As the 6 hour trip draws to an end, the gently rolling hills turn more abrupt and Kreggy as the coastal volcanic rock starts to show its self and presents some spectacular mountain switch back views of where we have traveled...then before you can blink the fauna turns lush and think with the presence of the fern and the national symbol for the All Blacks. Dense forests of palms and other jungle looking trees now make you realize you are getting close to the coast.....then you pop out and a amazing view of the black sand beaches presents itself with a dominant Mount Tarinaki that seems to almost float in the Tazman Sea. I only wish it was clear and not so over cast and rainy... the pics would have been post card worthy. As it is... I only get one that is muddled with clouds as the sun starts to fall off into the horizon.
The amount of carivans and other cars on the road clearly shows that there is something going on...and if you had no idea where you were...you would think the circus had come to town.
We find our motel for the evening covered up with Irish and caravans like something out of a "Pikey" convention in the movie Snatch! Its all good, tho as most of them are as happy as us...just glad to be off the road and ready for few jars while watching the evenings full slate of rugby matches.
We caught the second half of the Japan / France match and were entertained to an almost wonderful upset of the frenchies. Japan with their amazing effort has quickly become the darling of the tournament and in classic Kiwi fashion the favorite non all black team. That only got people warmed up for the other hated world power England who was to square off against the inferior and for centuries well dominated people of Argentinia. Its nice to see that NZ is no different than most places around the world with their Distane towards these two Old World countries. They never clap or hardley recognize the effort by either team during the match....its a welcoming sound of crickets to a surpising contrast of celebration from the team on the television. But much like the French...the English prevailed...but only less scattered, as their controversial black kits were falling with their numbers tatered and barely recognizable by games end. You see the All Blacks oF New Zealand are just that....and Icon... they are the NY Yankees of Rugby. You don't say pinstrips when referring to other teams in Baseball...because there are only one set of Pinstrips. So goes the all black attire of the Kiwi's and their uniforms. So when England unveiled their non home/travel kit to be all black....naturally their was a stir down here that was downplayed by most....but you know subconsiously, its standard douchebaggery as usual from the limey yanks that makes for good write ups and jar talk at the pubs.
Both games much like the earlier days matches were "pearlers" or beauties and had everyone amped up to see about town what was up for the offering.
Unfortunately much of our gas much like the car's tank went out the tailpipe during the roadtrip and with a long day a head of us tomorrow, we decided against it and headed back to the motel to get some rest.
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