In my hometown, Douglastown, Gaspe in March

It has been a busy time since my last post, a time of change and healing. In March I travelled to my hometown on the Gape to visit with Mom and family. Somehow that visit was an overall health turning point, even though it included two snowstorms and a gastrointestinal flu. There is nothing more grounding than being encircled in Mom-hugs, playing with Stella’s grandkids, visiting with grade school friends, having dinners with family, spending time with my nephew-godson Kevin, and walking the Douglastown beach – even in winter.

YHRB board members at a social dinner, Whitehorse, Yukon

In April, I travelled to the other end of the country, the Yukon, where after six years, I participated in my last Yukon Heritage Resources Board  meetings. It is the most cohesive board I’ve ever served on, leaving me with a feeling of completion and fulfillment.

A few days after I returned, Ed and Jonathan took flight in Jonathan’s Beech aircraft to the Sun ‘N Fun air show in Florida. There another pilot friend joined them and they winged their way further south to compete in the Governor General’s Cup Caribbean Air Rally. Ed has had few breaks in taking care of me for the last eighteen months. I am as delighted for him that he’s off having fun as I am for me to be staying on my own looking after Yukon! It’s so fabulous to be independent again.

Ed and Jonathan head off to Florida and the Caribbean

Last week, I had my follow-up appointment regarding the colon cancer surgery performed on January 31, 2013.

The surgeon penciled a chart illustrating the physical healing process of the intestine after surgery. Apparently the seams – can’t think of the medical term for the location where they sew the intestine back together – heals about 50% in the four weeks after surgery. Then it heals slowly to its full post-surgery strength up to 12 weeks. He says the intestine does not regain 100% strength of what it was post-surgery but up to 80-85% of its original natural whole strength. Once healed, the intestine is plenty strong to withstand all types of physical activity.

Family in Douglastown, clockwise: Judy, Claire, Paul, Stella, Mom

I’M BACK!!

As for energy level, he said that is often slower to rebound than the physical healing. It can take up to six months for people to feel ‘normal’ – but my energy is back NOW!

He did a physical exam and was pleased with what he felt. That post-surgery sensitive area feels almost normal and he explained the little bump I feel under my skin is a knot of surgical thread. It will dissolve but it can take up to a year for that to happen. There is no hernia and very little scarring.

He concluded that my inner tissue has healed and is strong. It will not pull apart internally from normal to strenuous physical activity. He said I could do anything I like, certainly to go ahead with hiking, biking, canoeing, yard work. Jostling in a small plane won’t be a problem. And I quote, “Do anything. Don’t worry about anything pulling apart. Have fun.”

My medical treatment going forward: For three years, every three months a blood test for CEA levels (has to do with analyzing inflammation), and a physical exam follow-up with my family doctor. At six months after surgery, a CT scan. At three years, a colonoscopy. After three years, the blood test and exam every six months for another two years. After five years — YAHOO!!

Park Forillion peninsula, Gaspe

Photo Guenter Hoerning

Our destination: Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, just 20 minutes south of Penticton.

The provincial park is a world-class rockclimbing destination. The north access area contains three parallel canyons renown for recreational climbing. Sheer rock walls made of coarse-grained gneiss tower up to 30 meters above the rocky canyon floors.

Walking through pine forest. Photo Guenter Hoerning

We passed more than 20 climbers in various stages of climbing on different rock faces with as many companions below. Most were climbing with ropes but a few were free-climbers.

After one particularly rocky traverse, those in front waited for the rest of the group under an overhanging wall; more than one person felt intimidated under its shadow. We hiked up one canyon and traversed into the next two, stopping for lunch at a fantastic viewpoint with Okanagan Lake in the distance.

The hike was pretty rough going, lots of rock scrambling….but very interesting.  Two male California Bighorn Sheep, one with a full curl, crested a ridge opposite us and quickly ran down the uneven terrain and disappeared around a knoll. A lone mule deer was startled by our voices and galloped off through the pine trees.

In the last canyon, shouts of climbers and bird song echoed off the rock walls. Although we couldn’t spot the birds, our expert Nick identified it as the song of the tiny canyon wren.  I’d never heard that song before – magical!

Bird song and rock climbers

There were lots of flowers: pink shooting stars, yellow narrow leafed wild parsley, white snowdrops, and bright yellow balsamroot, commonly known as the Okanagan sunflower. The Saskatoon bushes are in full bloom.

The morning was overcast, rain threatened around noon and a few sprinkles fell but the clouds moved on and we ended our hike in sunshine.

Skaha Bluffs circuit hikers, April 20, 2013. Photo Guenter Hoerning

The 7-km circuit took leader Gunther and sweep Andree three hours when they did the recon, but with 25 participants on the hike yesterday, the same route took four hours and fifteen minutes.

It is so very wonderful to be back hiking with friends!!!

Looking towards the east while walking on Marsh Lake, Yukon

Since my colon cancer surgery on January 31, 2013, I have been going through a hard time. There was this inexplicable bump above the surgery incision. It hurt and the swelling went down so slowly; it’s still not completely back to normal. I had a terrible cold for two solid weeks, maybe longer. Emotionally, I was a wreck – really fragile. Dealing with a third cancer is just over a year was simply too much; I really struggled.

Although my surgeon knew the surgery had gone well, he sent my case for a review by the GI (gastrointestinal) Conference, a team of oncologists who meet once a week in Kelowna. I phoned every week, but did not hear back from them. No appointment was forthcoming.

I was scared. I was frustrated. I was hopeful. I tried to be steadfast. Even though I rested and read and meditated to heal well, I was waiting, waiting, always waiting.

My Yukon walking buddy, Dale on Marsh Lake

A trip to the Yukon for heritage meetings and to visit with a few friends was not only a welcome diversion, it made me feel stronger.

Stick gambling at the Yukon Heritage Resources Board open house

Then, Ed and I drove to Silver Star resort for four nights to meet up with more Yukon friends down for some spring alpine skiing. Ed flew down the runs while I rested in between working on business for the Yukon heritage board and the creative nonfiction collective conference. We both enjoyed the après-ski evenings. We had a really pleasant time.

But that waiting…. I did my best not to let it eat away at me, but I have to admit it took a nibble out of me.

Silver Star resort village with one of the ski hills in the background.

On March 11, I had an appointment with my family doctor, ostensibly to have a tetanus shot, which is required to build the immune system about six months after a stem cell transplant. But honestly, I wanted to ask her all sorts of questions about when I’d get a follow-up oncology appointment for the colon cancer, arranging for a heavy-metal test, where to access credible information about dietary cancer prevention, and so on.

Kids ski school – ready to go!

She is a very patient doctor but when a knock came on her door, she was annoyed. Her displeasure quickly transformed into interest when the clerk handed her a letter from the BC Cancer Agency GI (gastrointestinal) oncology group outlining their recommendations for my case.

It was a most beautiful letter written in incomprehensible medical jargon that translates into, “The GI oncologists have decided there is no need for further treatment for the colon cancer. It’s been successfully removed by the surgery. However, given your history, they recommend colon cancer surveillance for five years.”

In addition to the colon cancer letter, she looked on the BC digital shared files for the results of my latest blood tests related to the multiple myeloma.

Also good news, “It is clear that the multiple myeloma is in remission – all your blood levels are in the normal range.”

You cannot imagine the relief that flooded through my body. I felt numb. Then, there was a sensation inside me like turning on a tap. Tears in my eyes, muscles that I hadn’t realized had been clenched for weeks loosened. I felt weak. And then — jubilation and joy flowed through every vein!

Today Ed and I went to Kelowna for my six-month follow-up with the multiple myeloma oncologist. She confirmed everything my family doctor told me. I am feeling oh…. so ….. grateful.

Hallelujha!!!!

With the Altherr family (except Annina, dedicated UVic student) at Bugaboos Bakery

Here I am – post colon cancer surgery (January 31), and mending well.

Don’t read the rest if you’re squeamish!

To remove a cancerous growth from my colon, I had to have surgery. I was admitted to Penticton Regional Hospital at 6:30 am and went into surgery around 8:00. Ed was told the procedure would take two to three hours.

The surgeon preformed a laparoscopic colon section abstraction followed by a resection. He made four small incisions in my abdomen and a 10-cm incision hidden in the pubic hair. All incisions are already healing well and the pain and discomfort is ebbing.

My surgeon was very pleased with the procedure: there was only one growth in the intestine and the lymph nodes look normal. He removed the cancerous area with good margins and an adequate number of lymph nodes to determine the stage of the cancer. That tissue is sent off for a pathology analysis, which is a microscopic review of the removed tissue. The pathology report is conclusive in determining whether the lymph nodes have any cancerous invasion at the microscopic level. When that report comes back, I’ll know for sure whether the cancer has been completely removed or that it has invaded the lymph nodes. The pathology report will be available the middle of February.

The thing that really brought me low was my reaction to the anesthetic. I had severe nausea when I came out of the anesthetic and that can be very dangerous for pulling apart the resection. If that happens, the entire body cavity can be contaminated and that can be fatal.

It was important for the anesthesiologist to stop the nausea so she tried various meds but they were not working…so she kept trying. Finally, the meds worked…but they also halted my automatic breathing response. I remember this alarm beeping to the right above my head and the nurses calling to me, “Claire, wake up…you have to breathe. Take a few deep breaths. Good.” Again and again. Hour after hour. I was very drugged I didn’t remember much; it was all jumbled.

They kept me in the recovery room for five hours then wheeled me to the ward. The ward nurse took a long look at me and said, “No way, she’s not ready – I can’t monitor her every minute. You have to take her back.” They wheeled me back to the recovery room and thankfully the movement brought me to a higher level of consciousness that kick-started my automatic breathing in a strong way. After another hour of one-on-one monitoring, I was admitted to the ward. The worst was over.

The only other hick-up I had was a temperature spike on day two so the doctor decided to keep me in the hospital another night for observation.

February 3 came around and it was time for me to go home. I felt anxious about leaving the hospital.

I left anyway when Ed came for me and it was a big relief to get back home, up the mountain. We chatted for a few minutes and I went for a rest. When I came back out, Ed had arranged fresh flowers in a vase on the table and a fire was crackling in the fireplace.

It was time for a shower. I stood under the water with my eyes closed and the water pouring over me imagining all the stress and hospital smell and residual drugs being washed away. Ohh..it flet good.

Suddenly, an image surfaced in my mind’s eye: the anesthesiologist standing in front of me wringing her hands with a look of utter distress, saying, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.’

Fear coursed through my body. I stood there shaking. The whole recovery room scene played itself out again while I shuddered.

It took me the better part of that afternoon and evening to calm myself, cry, be held by Ed, talk with my sister Ellen, and reconstruct what happened in the recovery room. I couldn’t get a clear picture of the level of danger I had been in – the anesthesiologist had been so upset and the nurses had been so calm and persistent.

Next morning I phoned my nurse sister-in-law Lynn. She explained I had been hooked up to a pulse oximeter – that is what had been beeping. She also explained I never been in danger of dying and my reaction to anesthetic, although not common, does happen. She said it sounds like the crew did everything they should have done to monitor me and keep me safe. Later that same day, I had an appointment with my family doctor, who confirmed Lynn’s assessment.

However, there is another danger – I may have inhaled into my lungs some liquid or solid from my stomach when I was vomiting. If so, it may take days or weeks for the tissue in the lungs to react and develop a very ugly type of pneumonia. My doctor listened to my lungs; they were clear but I had a sore throat and a cough so she issued an antibiotic prescription as a precaution.

I’m taking it slow but sure – I know that way is best overall. No jumping or running for me for a while, but very easy walking a few times a day; it’s important to keep moving.

My experience in the recovery room with the anesthetic has really shaken me. I’ll be gentle with myself and allow the healing to take place on the emotional level – it will come.

It feels so totally good to be back up the mountain – the peace of the pine trees is balm for my soul.

We did have two nice sunsets at home in December!

Reflections – 2012 was a tough year for Ed and I as we dealt with getting through the ordeal of my having cancer. It was a year of survival – it’s like a dream now: double mastectomy in January 2012 and the all clear for breast cancer in February. Diagnosis of multiple myeloma a week later with four months of chemo followed by the stem cell transplant in July. I was so weak and depleted; recovery came in stages.

The one thing that would signify a return to health and having control of our lives was planning and taking a trip.

Our house in the distance.

In October I had my follow-up appointment with the multiple myeloma oncologist. I was responding extremely well and all indications were positive. I felt well and my stamina was returning. He gave us the all clear to resume normal activities. A trip was in the offing!

White caped waves on Tauranga Beach, New Zealand

To celebrate we’d go to New Zealand, a new place for the both of us. We have friends there and it would be summer, we’d experience a different environment and another culture and we’d plan lots of time in Nature.

Ed and I outside a Hobbit hole, Hobbiton

Six weeks, we figured, would be good. We wanted to be active but not rushed so we decided to go to the North Island only. We planned the first three weeks loosely around visiting friends at the beginning in Tauranga, then touring to the north. Our only set dates were Masterton for an air show on January 19-20 and the Tora Coastal Walk from January 22-25. For the remaining three weeks, we wouldn’t make any definite plans; we’d just play it by ear.

The clouds cleared briefly, giving us a glimpse of Mt. Ngauruhoe, Tangareo

Two days before we left I received the results of a colonoscopy biopsy confirming a cancerous growth in my colon. The diagnosis is early stage, invasive, but no indication of lymphatic/visceral invasion. The liver is clear. I feel just fine; there are no symptoms so that is good. Ironically, we didn’t have to cancel our plans – we just had to have the courage to go anyway! I’m so happy we did.

Near Limestone Hill summit, Tora Coastal Walk

This is my final New Zealand post covering the Tora Coastal Walk (TCW) in the Wairarapa region. It’s a remote, a three-day hike through private hill country coastal farms, river valleys, native bush and along ridge-tops, meandering creeks and spectacular Tora coastline.

Kiri introducing the group to the Tora Coastal Walk

The TCW provides excellent food, comfortable clean beds in interesting accommodations, walking with minimal weight, and a diverse landscape to experience. You bring along a daypack for hiking and another bag with everything else. Each morning, you pack the additional bag and leave it for the postman to deliver to your next destination. It’s one of the most popular private walks in New Zealand. We’d talk with Kiwis about going on it and invariably they were approving, even envious.

Manurewa Point

About twenty years ago, three farmers’ wives came up with the concept and brought it to life during a time when farming was slow and they wanted an additional source of income. The women have deservingly received a national rural woman’s award in entrepreneurship for their business.

We were paired up with others to form a group of 11: a New Zealand couple from Feilding and a group of seven including six ex-pat Brits. It was a good group.

Our group – Tora Coastal Walk

We arrived the first night at WhakapataCottage. The dinner menu was sitting on the table in the cottage next to a delicious home made lemon cake. In the fridge there was a platter of wild venison, a fresh green salad, a bean salad and a pot of potatoes ready to be boiled. Desert was apple tart with cream. For breakfast the next morning: fresh fruit, cereals, breads, jams and spreads. For breakfast or lunch: eggs, sliced meats, fruit, Anzec cookies.

Diverse landscapes

Around 6:00, Kiri, one of the original three entrepreneurs, welcomed us, handed out day maps, gave us a brief overview of the walk and told us a few stories. Afterwards our group cooked the meal and cleaned up the kitchen together. The meal routine repeated itself the next two nights. We had fresh-caught fish on night two and fresh lamb on the third. The food was really, really good.

Native flora, Day 3

Each morning, we placed our baggage in the designated spot and set off. Here is the description of the walk from the TCW website: http://www.toracoastalwalk.co.nz

Day One: Whakapata Cottage to The Cookhouse

Degree of difficulty: moderate / difficult?

Distance: 15.5km or 6 – 7hrs.

Crossing stiles

After a gentle start across rolling open pastures begin the climb up Limestone Hill. This is the highest point of your three days at 355 metres above sea level. Limestone Hill is a magnificent vantage point with sweeping views to the Haurangi Ranges and ahead to the Pacific Ocean and is a perfect lunch spot (on a good day!). Descend to No Name Creek via the Tora Bush. This DOC Reserve is a wonderful example of original native bush in our area and provides a welcome respite in hot weather. Your second main climb is up Tim’s Hill and takes you to The Lookout. Take in the breathtaking expanse of coastline below you before descending to historic Tora Station. Steeped in history, the original “Cookhouse” will transport you back in time as you relax after a hard days graft – as generations of shepherd, shearers and fencers have done before you.

Day Two: The Cook House to The Shearers Quarters

Degree of difficulty: easy?

Distance: 8km – 11kms

The Cookhouse on the right

Linger over breakfast before setting off on the shortest and easiest of your three days. Meander along the coast taking time to enjoy this remote and unique slice of New Zealand. Visit the historic Opua Shipwreck if you wish, take in the seals at Manurewa Point, visit Shirley’s Garden or simply beach comb for treasures to take home with you. Jenny and Chris will be on hand to greet you on arrival at The Shearers Quarters where you can have a break and drop your back pack before heading up to The Trig. A gut-busting climb will be rewarded with unsurpassed views out across the ocean.

With your appetite restored after the day’s activities Jenny will present you with your sumptuous evening meal. Chris has a keen interest in the local history, and enjoys sharing his wide-ranging knowledge and answering any questions you may have.

Day Three: The Shearers Quarters to Whakapata Cottage

Degree of difficulty: moderate?

Distance: 11 – 13kms – 3.5 – 4hrs

Sunrise, Day 3

Begin your day ambling alongside the tranquil Oterei River. Upon reaching Bush Gate begin your climb through lush native flora, where over 50 species have been labelled. Take a one-hour detour up “The Bugler “ if time and weather permit before emerging into open farmland once more to begin your final climb. Pass through the magnificent stand of “old man” Kowhai trees on your way to the ridge which will lead you back to your day one starting point, Whakapata Cottage – and the prospect of your return to the real world!

During the walk, I went through the “why” stage of processing this third-time cancer diagnosis, knowing full well it is a question that cannot be answered. I connected with one of the British ladies who lost her seventeen-year old daughter (only child) in a car accident four years ago. Her sorrow is still very raw. But she and her husband have started a new life in New Zealand, which has opened their lives in many ways. She has a quiet wisdom and some of her peace flowed into my heart. We can’t be certain of anything. There is no answer to why or what if…there is just the great gift of each day.

Life just is: having cancer is beyond my control. All I can control is my response to the cancer.

Tomorrow, I will undergo surgery with all the attendant risks. I know what I’m facing and it’s not easy…but maintaining a positive attitude works wonders for me. I am afraid of many things but remind myself that right now, I’m ok and my fear dissipates. In hospital I expect to  have pain and be weak. I’ll feel vulnerable and angry once in a while too. There will even be humerous times and intimate moments of bonding with caregivers, Ed, friends, family. I’ve learned from my two previous operations that pain means the body is healing; it means life. Pain has a positive side.

I know I have done everything I can. The shock has been absorbed; it is time for endurance, acceptance, and letting go. Now I’m in the doctor’s and God’s hands.

Standing next to a cabbage tree

When I come out of that anesthetic, I’ll get back on my feet and do my best to get better, and this time I know slowly is faster. In my mind, I envision a full recovery from surgery through the next two weeks of intensive healing and beyond.

On Limestone Hill summit

I have many great memories to draw on from the hike and the trip – being in New Zealand was good for my soul. It gave me confidence and made me realize I really am in good shape. Having Ed as my partner and knowing that so many people care sustains me. I feel connected and loved. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

The land of long white clouds

Tora Coastal Walk

Lambs grazing on golden hillsides, in green hallows

Abalone shells on volcanic black sand

Yellow-brown limestone, gray bedrock, leather seaweed

Wind gusts blowing sea spray off pounding waves

Long white clouds against the blue sky

Tana looking like a ‘good girl’

We came to Masterton a day earlier than we’d planned, booking an extra night at the Moata B&B. Our hosts Ross and Ngaire own the beautiful heritage house and maintain the five-acre property with a garden and 12 head of cattle.

Moata B&B

But the most time consuming and demanding aspect of their enterprise if Tana the Dog. Ross has a dry sense of humour, which exasperates Ngaire but also keeps her young.

The ONLY operating Mosquito aircraft in the world

Our purpose for coming to Masterton was the Air Show. Ed originally planned to go only one day, but I convinced him to take in two of the three days. Friday planes arrived all afternoon and that evening I went with Ed to see the ‘preliminary show” a two-hour preview of the next two days. That was perfect for me.

So, while Ed went off to the Masterton Air Show for two full days, I stayed two full days at the B&B, writing in the mornings, taking Tana for a walk each day and enjoying the peacefulness of the place. It was a true pleasure to be here in the countryside.

We highly recommend the Moata B&B. Here’s the link to their website:

http://www.moata.co.nz/

The Cosmopolitan Club in Masterton, pilots always have LOTS to talk about!

Rotorua infomation centre

Rotoria is the town known for geothermal activity: bubbling mud pools, thermal pools, geysers.  We stopped there for lunch and a tour of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley Geothermal Centre. It is owned and managed by Moari and is a centre where Moari come to learn the traditional ways of carving and weaving. It was an interesting tour.

But we were in this area to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of the most best known tracks in the world. Situated in the Tongariro National Park, the track is 19 kilometres through active volcanic country.

Alpine landscape

All hikers must purchase admission to enter the Park and arrive on a tour bus. That is a prudent rule – the conditions can be severe in the alpine. Honestly, down in the New Zealand valleys in their summertime, it is hard to image how quickly and extremely the conditions can become.  In addition, most tourists simply do not come prepared for winter conditions, which happen in a flash up in the volcanic country.

Unfortunately for us, since Ruapahe volcano erupted in November and almost half of the track has been closed due to the danger of flying rocks and other volcanic activity like highly heated air venting out of the mountains when they erupt. So we would hike approximately six to seven kilometers to Emerald Lake and return the same way.

Not that it would have made much difference the two days we were there.  The weather was really severe. Tours were allowed in the day we hiked, but not the next.

Tongariro summit

When we left the drop-off point fog was hugging the mountain and we knew would see very little.  As the trail climbed, the clouds came down, the temperature dropped to just above zero, and the wind blew in fierce gusts.

It was miserable! Winds up to 50 km driving  the rain sideways. We were soaked through and very, very cold. We decided to turn around at the 6km marker.

We went to an alpine hut to have our lunch, get out of the cold and to wait there before descending to the trail head for our pick-up at 3:00.

Great Barrier Island swimming cove

Flying was only part of what makes this trip to New Zealand so special. At Great Barrier Island, a lady at our Backpacker lodge took us along with her for a swim. She went to a sheltered cove known only to locals. Two little girls were swinging on a rope from the limb of a giant pohutukawa tree in the brilliant sunshine. The water was warm; the swim refreshing.

Warm water beach and beautiful cove, GBI

Next day, a Sunday, our flight plans to the west coast were changed due to low clouds. We diverted to Whangerai, the service town for the region. It is very interesting landscape with mangroves and a big river delta.

Whangarei delta

We went in to the airport to phone for a rental car. The rental desk showed Avis, Budget, Tilden and Thrifty. There was a courtesy phone – how nice. But two of the companies were sold out, the third answered in Australia and said it was not possible to rent a vehicle that day and the fourth was no longer operating in Whangerai.

We didn’t have any better luck with accommodation….or connecting with taxis. After forty-five minutes of trying to make ANY kind of arrangement, Ed went out to look around for information on busses to town.

A local man asked Ed if he’d had any luck and Ed said “None whatsoever!” This man was picking up his wife and son who had just flown in from Great Barrier Island. They talked briefly with each other and just as I joined them outside the airport, he said, “Why don’t you come home with us? You could spend the night – we have an extra room.”

The view from Michelle and Glen’s deck, Ngunguru

Ed and I looked at each other and back at them. “Really?”

The couple answered in unison, “Really. It’s no bother.”

We gratefully accepted.

Michelle, Glen and Alexander

Glenn, Michelle and Alexander are gracious and delightful hosts. They live in a beautiful spot in Ngunuru Bay. We ate an antipasto lunch on the deck, then Ed and I walked down the beach and had a nap in the shade. For supper we ate cockles (or pipi as they call them) delivered by a friend, fresh picked off the beach that afternoon, followed by Michelle’s chicken curry.

Glen and Alexander, eating cockles or clams, or pipi – whatever you call them! Ngunguru

We showed them photos sent that afternoon from my brother Dwyer ice fishing at a remote lake with his Cessna 170B in the background; they felt quite content with the New Zealand style of fishing.

Michelle, Glenn and Alexander recently hiked in the Himalayas and want to go back. So do we. It was so easy to talk with them; we have much in common. We really enjoyed spending the afternoon and evening with them.  We hope they come to visit us in the Okanagan.

The view from Michelle and Glen’s deck, Ngunguru

Grass strip Panauai

Flying the North Island coast of New Zealand is awesome!

Ed wanted to fly while in NZ and to do that he needed to obtain a validation of his Canadian private pilots license. He prepared all the paperwork before we travelled here and then only had to do his Biannual Flying Review. He flew with a local instructor for an hour, passed the test and discussed with him some of the many differences in air law, radio procedures etc. Within an hour (!!!) he received the validation and was good to go.

Ed at Great Barrier Island

We rented a Cessna 172 for three days and flew to the north of the North Island, landed at some small strips and spent two nights away from Tauranga.

My captain

Here’s how Ed sums up the trip:

It was a fairly short trip flying-wise with only 6.6 hours of flying, but we had a blast. If we go back another time I will do it again and will try to fly around on the South Island. I do recommend this to anyone who visits NZ – just ask me for information on how to go about getting the necessary paperwork done.