Blackout Warning

I will be on break in Waitomo and Hamilton for the weekend and then it will be out to Leigh and Poor-Knights Islands for the week to study Marine Reserves. I may have a chance to check back on emails Sun afternoon, but you won't be seeing an account of my adventures until sometime next weekend, the earliest. Hope you can manage. Cheers!

Lunar eclipse

Thought you might like to know we were thinging of you last night when we, (your mom and me), yes mom too, were watching the lunar eclipse and realized that from where you are you could not see it. We called Fran and left a message on her phone. I told your mother we should take a picture to send to you, but it did'nt happen. Maybe you will see the next one in 2012. Nothing else new at this time. Will write again soon. Stay Well --- Love --- Dad

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better…

This last week was spent in Opoutere. A small coastal town on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, remember the Pinnacles, it is home to the magnificent Wharakawa Harbor and estuary. We stayed at a Youth Hostel across the road from the field site. Class time this week was dedicated to producing a map of vegetation along the mean high water spring mark, a.k.a. average high tide. To do this thoroughly a few high vantage points and up-close observations were necessary for scale and resolution. In other words I hiked to the top of two hills overlooking the estuary and spent the rest of the week in a kayak, checking out the mangroves and beach scenes. Needless to say, I was in my element.




Wharakawa Harbor is protected by a sand-spit that continues on to become a beach accessible through sand dunes. An endemic bird, the Dotterel, has a sanctuary on the spit. There are only 1,500 left and I was within three meters of four of the little beauties. I felt like a little boy getting excited for an ice cream after a day at the beach.




That is not the only childish thing I have done in the past week. We were given an hour on the beach to essentially build a sand castle. How much are you jealous? But of course, it wasn’t actually a sand castle. It was an island built to scale from a topographic map, an extension of our map-making tool kit. But I still got to play in the sand.

We also had some time in the evening to go for a stroll in the dark. Not only is it empowering to realize if you give yourself a chance, you can walk quite successfully at night, but you are also able to see the glowworms. The larva of some fly, the glow worm lets down a silken fishing line from its abdomen and lights up to attract it’s meal. Looking into the bush looked no different that looking up at the stars.

That was the class portion of the week. From Fri afternoon through Sun evening I was on my own to do what I pleased on the stunning Coromandel Peninsula. A van-full of us were dropped off at Whangamata (accent on the final syllable), a small surf town at the southern reaches, mainland side, of the peninsula. We spent a few hours at jollification for the beginning of our weekend, then walked the main strip, the only truly public place in town. Then, of course, a few hours were spent on the beach, just watching and swimming in the surf.



Although each day was spent with just a few of us at a time, the thumbers, each night was spent with all 26 of the EcoQuesters (yes, it’s a janky name). The night at Whangmata was spent at a motor camp where a few of us met Patricia and Ivan, a pair of middle-aged mothers who were out-of-town for the weekend. Talking life with these two Auklanders began the culture dive that I would take this weekend and I hope to take every time I travel to a new place.

Saturday morning around 10a the six of us thumbers separated once again from the main group, who had rented vans. I was teamed up with James. Destination: Hahei Store. We did make it there eventually. Our first driver, just outside of town was a nice couple in a truck just going down the road a piece to a neighboring town. We rode in the truck bed with the cutest little dog ever. Next was a man in a sedan on a joy ride up the peninsula to Tairua, about a third of the way up State-Highway 25, the main road to our destination. He was a Catholic Priest, who had just finished marrying a couple in Whagamata. This is where the world becomes a small place. He was in Michigan for a brief trip and remembered it quite well. Outside of Tairua we were picked up in another truck by Amy and Max, fellow students who had hitched a ride from a forester named Phil.

Phil was not going to Hahei, but was going home to another town on the other side of the bay from Hahei, Whitianga. As we were planning on seeing Whitianga sometime over the weekend, this was not a bad opportunity to follow Phil home. We spent and hour and a half at his place at the top of a hill overlooking the bay, one of the best views I have ever seen from a residential area. He was extremely passionate about the dropping of 1080 pellets onto ridgelines to control the invasive Australian possum population. Essentially Agent Orange, 1080 not only kills possum, but whatever happens to get a bite of the shiny blue pellet. After a bit more of “green” semantics, Phil suggested the ferry to get across the bay, which he dropped us off at.

The ferry only took about 5 minutes to cross and put us in a place called Ferry Landing, simply a residential area. The roads were under construction, so paths were created off the road to walk. This was not suitable for hitchhiking at all. James and I stopped a bit passed the ferry parking lot just before the walking path split from the road. There we were picked up by a nice young lady by the name of Kara. As we had done so each time we met someone new, we exchanged a few questions. “Where are you from? What are you doing? Where have you been?” Well, when she heard we were just in Whitianga she was obliged to ask us, “With whom?” Phil was not only a friend of hers, but he has been her ex-boyfriend for three months. James, Kara, and myself were in hysterics for quite a while finding out “how short” the world is. Kara dropped us off at Hahei store.

After meeting up with the rest of the thumbers at Hahei Beach, we hiked over the hills to Cathedral Cove. From there we tamped under the natural arch and headed over a rocky embankment, which traveled more like a boulder field. At the other end was the secret beach, our destination for the night. Firewood was gathered and a ring set up to contain the flames. Surprisingly the main group made it to us around dusk, just as surprised to see us. I will not chance to describe the scene, but simply include the pictures from the walk and destination. No short of fun was had that evening in complete solitude and serenity.





Sunday was not as easy a trip to travel back to Kaiaua, but we still met some awesome people on the way. I am sure I will be telling stories of this weekend for many years to come, you will just have to wait to see me to get the storytellers flare in person. I am sure I will have a hefty repertoire of stories by that time.

Until that time, my best.

Family Post by Dad

Hello Zack
It was very good to hear your voice!! I was able to get on without a problem, so, you don't need to invite me to join. I will do some thing a little more involved at a latter date. Stay well --- Love Dad.

Photo Op w/ Auntie Helen

This is the photo taken with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. She has no true authority outside of being the highest ranked politician in her party, subsequently representing the majority in Parliament. However, she is recognized for being responsible for many noteworthy changes in New Zealand in her 9 years in office, so far. For this, the locals call her Auntie Helen. As she acted entirely interested in what a group of American students were doing in her country, she seems to be a top rung politician. For now, I approve. (From left to right in the photo: Eric, Marissa, Kelsey, Sarah, Auntie Helen, Me, James (squeezed in), Ian)

If should should care to send me something...

Zack Brym
c/- EcoQuest
1204 East Coast Rd.
R.D. 3, Pokeno, New Zealand

As much as you'd like to surprise me. Please tell me so I can keep an eye on the in box. Yay!

I have only been here a week

This first week has been nothing short of the ride of my life. I can’t imagine the awesomeness that awaits me in the next fourteen that I will be here. What better way to start my description of this week than describing some of the amazing people that I have the pleasure to be with. Basically, think of how you might describe my demeanor and zest for the outdoors, multiply it by 26 and then add a factor of some measure to incorporate the added energy from all of us interacting together. We have not stopped laughing and sharing our skills and experiences since we arrived. From left to right in the picture of “the best van ever,” at least for that day: James, Ben, Lauren, Marissa, Amy, Max, and Heidi. Max and James are from Michigan. I have no idea why I haven’t met those two, yet in my college career.

For our first trip away from EcoQuest campus, we went south around the Firth of Thames, through the city of Thames where we later stopped for supplies (pronounced Tims) to a part of the Coromandel Range at the Kauaeranga Valley.






We hiked 650m vertical and about 5km out to the Pinnacles, my first mountain summit ever.












This is my victory photo and the view from the top. Notice it is a bit dark and foggy. We got up at 5a in order to get watch the sun rise from the summit, which didn't happen because of the blanket of clouds.












Pictured here are two of our field leaders, John and Sally. Both have a wealth of information and experiences to share. Each could serve as the ideal icon for the quintessential mountain man and woman. The lesson of the weekend was the skill of thought. How do you make observations and then formulate a well-stated conclusion without any assumptions or jumps in logic?





This is a collection of pictures from the hike. The tree shown here is the Kauri tree. It was the perfect tree for harvesting, growing almost vertical with no extra branches along the trunk. Note the scandisk card on the stump for some reference of size. And this is a relatively small tree. Emily and Tom are in the picture with one of the awesome views available during the hike. The last photo is the view from the watering hole we swam at during lunch.



















Although I don’t have pictures of the last few days of the week, or rather Tuesday and Wednesday, the days were surely notable nonetheless. Tuesday the Ecoquest students were invited to the maurae, sacred land, of the local iwi, or tribe, the Nati Pawa. There we were a part of the powhiri (remembet “wh” sounds like an “f”) ceremony where we were welcomed as one of them. This is an extremely significant and momentous occasion as very few pakeha, or non-maori , are welcomes onto the maurae let alone welcomed into the tribe. We even learned a song, a waiata, in Te reo, the language of the maori, to sing to give power to our elder’s speech. Johno, the general manager of EcoQuest spoke on behalf of all of us students. After the ceremony before tea we were given a chance to speak freely. I was the only student to have the gumption to say a few words of what the occasion meant to me, but I completely messed up the maori tradition of speaking and even forgot a waiata of my own. No one seemed to care and most of the students thanked me for my effort, but I hope to follow the right protocol next time we are at the maurae.

A whara nui is the meeting house on a maurae. It is also the home of the elders. Most maori are able to recite their ancestral line to include about a thousand names. The whara nui houses carvings and depictions of the ancestors of the iwi. Because of this tradition one of the main points of the powhiri is to recognize those close to the manuhiri (visitors to be welcomed) who had recently deceased. This truly struck me as Roy Watrous's "Muster" was in my head on the way to the mauri. My thoughts are with you Lucia.

Wednesday was Waitangi Day. It celebrated the signing of a treaty that gave rights to the mauri people from the crown, Britain. However, at first the Crown disregarded this treaty and mistreated the indigenous people of Aoteareo. Recently, the Crown has redressed theses issues and this day of celebration has become one of identity for the mauri. The Prime Minister Helen Clark spoke where we were at Manukau City and then walked around the event greeting people. I got to shake her hand and tell her a bit about what I was in the country for. We even got a picture. I will certainly post it when it gets to me. Her counsil was quick to mention the proximity with which we might get to George Bush, even as American citizens.

Well that is it for now. I am sure y’all will have many questions. Ask and I will do the best I can to get back to you. I am thinking of you all. Cheers!

Campus Orientation

Of all the places that I will be during my stay in NZ, it is a wonder how easy it is to find beauty in this largely undeveloped country. That is not to say that it is not part of the first world, but its advancements are reserved for the cities. In Whakatiwai, (Fa-ka-tea-why) where the EcoQuest camp resides most residents get their water from their roofs, drained from the gutter into a water tank filtered and then pumped into the house. However, we are facing the regions largest drought in over thirty years. It is not estimated to rain until April. For better or worse, this has forced us Americans to truly evaluate what it is to be resource conscious. The campus has it’s own bore system, what we would call a well, so we won’t be without water, but showers and laundry have become a ritual that receives a hard thought before its under taking.

Without further ado, I will briefly take you around campus, my home for the next three months. My stuff finds it’s home in the cabin called Mangrove Front. Apparently when the site was established five years ago, this cabin housed all gentlemen. Just south of it, right in the picture, is the climbing wall. Following that path to the right, slightly turning around are the remaining cabins. You can see, however, that a number of my peers choose to set of their tents to sleep outside. I have not had this urge yet, as the mattress they provide us is significantly more comfortable than the ground and the room is quite circulated with the windows and door open. Beyond the budding fruit trees, producing a plethora of sweet treats throughout the season, is “Granny’s House.” This is the student hangout. Couches, a television, goodies from students-past, and some study place make the area very homey, not that the rest of campus is anything less. Next to granny’s is the staff office, the computer hub, and library.

What you see in front is the campus garden. Time during the program will be designated to working the land to produce a number of vegetables and herbs that we can consume freely. The garden was not as large a I had anticipated, and even smaller now under the pressure of the drought, but almost all of the meat and produce come from farms and local gardens within the immediate region. Next of importance is the Wharakai, (Far-a-k-eye), the eating-house. In here is the kitchen and a room that will constitute the dining room in inclement weather and the classroom. The porch also works for these things in the beautiful weather we have had.


The grounds around the camp are fairly vast, a few acres at least, plenty of room for games of soccer, rugby, volleyball, ultimate, or really anything we want to play at the moment. Some of this area is also a sacred place of the local Maori tribe, a wahi tapu. Although not specifically marked some of this area is more specifically an ancient burial ground, a urupa. Beyond the wahi tapu is the Firth of Thames and the Coromandel. We will hiking the Pinnacle within the Coromandel tomorrow. To finish this orientation I present you with a picture of the region park across the road from campus.

I plan on spending much of my free time here…Please don’t be jelous.


Next will be a story of my tramp (or hike) on the Coromandel.