We rode to Palmerston North with the conference team. It was a pleasant drive through the mountains to our destination, which is a town with a population around 75,000. We had less than a day there before we had to head out to the next city, but I still got to see plenty.
I met a terrific lady named Yvonne through the Pattern Review messageboards, and she was kind enough to show me around. We had coffee in a small cafe, then hit up a knitting and fabric store. We drove around the city and saw some of the local sights, then she took me out to a wind farm.
You really have no concept how huge these turbines are until you get underneath one. Oh, and the tiny white dots on all these pictures are sheep (which are pretty much omnipresent in New Zealand). The scenery was gorgeous up here, I couldn’t get enough of the greens and blues.
After that we drove back through a gorge to her home. I got to meet her husband and see their woodturning studio and workshop, which is how they make a living. The whole experience was so wonderful, and I loved the insight into an ordinary New Zealander’s life. Thank you Yvonne!
This might give you a little idea of the scale of the wind turbines. Next stop, New Plymouth!
About the Author
When CC worked at Ginormous Enterprises, he was responsible for one of the small widgets involved in those turbines. Also, I did not know what a turbine was, and when they’re in little pieces, it’s hard to tell. So I had a breakdown during the plant tour about how I was a horrible girlfriend.
So I just sent him an e-mail with a link to your post going “SEE! I know what you used to make at your old job!”
Then he replied that it was GAS turbines, not WIND turbines. (I’m confused again :S)
Beautiful photos!
I have always wanted to get up close to those wind turbines but have never had the opportunity. They look stunning along the hilltops. Some people are all upset by the visual pollution but I think they are quite beautiful. Very sleek.
god those pics are lovely!
they remind me of california funnily enough, near where i grew up, i think in the san bernadino valley.
I havent commented before amber, I just wanted to say i really enjoy your website, i used to live in yorktown and ran around with the some of the punkrock crowd in va beach and norfolk back in the day… it’s nice to see the hampton roads area has some nice crafty people left ( i never knew any in high school back in 94-2001).
I hope readjusting to being home is going ok!