World Rowing Championships

We took Tot out to Rotary Park and although it was sunny there was a chilly wind blowing.

We went for coffee in Greerton before setting off to Lake Karapiro. They had a park and ride system set up so we were directed onto a road we don't know and which took us round the back of the lake and through some lovely scenery, typical of NZ, rolling green hills with lots of sheep. We were expecting lots of traffic but there was none. When we arrived at the car park there were only 15 cars there!

We were first to arrive at the gates and had to wait for three minutes as they would not let people in till noon so we were first past the post! For such a major event it was really quiet and not many people around. As it had been so sunny and warm when we left and we remembered our hats today, I had forgotten to put a fleece in the car and down by the lake it was very windy and as I was so cold we went into the merchandise shop and I bought a pink rowing championship rugby shirt to keep warm. It is very nice and I am really happy with it and it kept me warm. Jon bought a T shirt.

We bought lunch, rolls with hot wild roast pork and venison and salad, very nice. We walked around the stands but there was not much going on so after an ice cream we went up to the stand and our seats. We had paid for the best seats on offer for the opening but they were awful. We were a long way from the stage and undercover which would have been fine if it was really hot or raining but it was cold and windy and we needed to be in the sun!! The stand seats 10,000 and we could see there was no way it was going to be full so while we waited we sat down in the sunny seats before deciding to move along so that we were in front of the stage with the intention of moving if someone came to claim the seats but nobody did.

Unfortunately, the sun moved over the back of the stand during the opening and so we got colder and had to move down a few rows into the sun again. The opening was all pretty boring really. It was mostly in Maori and nobody explained what was happening and people were bored. The Haka was impressive as it was one of the biggest held in NZ but we couldn't see much of it as it was all done on the lakeside which was not all visible from the stands. They had the 'Royal Fleet' out on the lake which was pretty impressive as I have never seen those huge canoes out on water and they seat a lot of men.

When the canoes had passed by most people got up and left as they thought it was the end. A commentary would have been helpful. They then had the mayor of Cambridge on (that is the local town to Karapiro) and then the president of the games and he declared them open and the flags were raised, the NZ anthem sung and lots of streamers shot out of big boxes followed by lots of coloured balloons which was pretty good. Unfortunately, most people missed the best parts. I have seen much better performances by Maori singers than they put on today so it was a bit of a disappointment. As one man sitting next to Jon said "They (Maori) don't know when to bloody well stop" which summed it up nicely.

A pop group, Op Shop, then started to perform on the big stage up at the end of the stand which was very nice for the young people but far too loud for us so we went to get the bus back to the car park.

On our way home we stopped at a park in Hora Hora which was at the top end of the lake a long way from all the action. I have been wanting to have my photo taken on a little wooden pier, they have around lakes in NZ, since I got here. Ideally I would like the sunset in the background! Well you can't have everything but at least the pier was there so off I went to stand on it. Unfortunately, it was in the shade but I told Jon to take it anyway. Just next to it was another pier, much narrower and in the sun so he made me walk out on that to have a photo taken!!! Scary!

We were home much earlier than we thought and stopped at the supermarket to buy something for dinner (we were going to pick up a pizza if we had been late). Being totally lazy we decided on a ready cooked chicken which were two for $18. We only wanted one and a lady was looking at them and she also only wanted one so we decided to share. She gave us $9 and we paid at the checkout and left it at Customer Services so we both got what we wanted.

Tot was in the garage when we got back as Kim had not closed the door through to the house but she looked happy enough and I think she had only come downstairs when she heard the car.


A good day but a bit of a disappointment. I hope they do better for the Rugby World Cup!


WEATHER
Sunny but with a cold wind across the lake 18 degrees