Starting to try out some new interests this year. Panorama Astrophotography. This is hard to get good at. I've been at it a few months now, and still haven't been able to capture something I'm truly happy with, but I guess that's where the satisfaction will be! These collection of images aren't good, they're just showing where I am now.

"Waiuta was once a thriving gold mining town located in a remote area on the West Coast of New Zealand. Established in the early 1900s following the discovery of gold at the Blackwater Mine, it grew into a significant community with homes, shops, and facilities. However, when the Blackwater Mine suddenly closed after a rockfall in 1956, the town was largely abandoned, quickly becoming a ghost town. Today, managed as a historic reserve by the Department of Conservation, Waiuta offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into this vanished era of West Coast mining history, with remnants of buildings, machinery, and interpreted walking tracks amidst the reclaiming forest."

On this beautiful West Coast summers arvo, I decided to have a yonder around Waiuta. I have some family connections there as my Grandfather, Derek French, grew up there as a kid. This is a beautiful ghost town these days. The grounds are well maintained and well worth a look if you're in the area. Heaps of historical things to look at! The old Blackwater School is such a stunning location.

"​Dunedin is a major city located on the southeast coast of the South Island, renowned for its strong Scottish heritage which is reflected in its architecture and character. It serves as a vibrant university city, home to the University of Otago, giving it a lively student population and a dynamic cultural scene. The city is famous for its remarkably well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture, seen in grand buildings like the iconic Railway Station and numerous churches, and it also offers easy access to the scenic Otago Peninsula, known for unique wildlife such as albatross and penguins. Combined with landmarks like the world's steepest street, Baldwin Street, Dunedin offers a rich blend of history, culture, natural beauty, and academic energy."

The trip to Dunedin was a full one. Absolutely fitting as much into 4 days as absolutely possible. From visiting the Otago Museum, to the albatross, to the old cheese factory by Karitane, to virtual golf. This is a trip we will hold close to us, as when we got back to Christchurch, my partner Nicole was diagnosed with her brain tumor again, after 3 resections, she was booked in for her 4th, with radiation and chemotherapy to follow up. Her PLNTY brain tumor had turned malignant, and was given only 10 years to live. Apparently only 1 other case in the world where a PLNTY tumor has acted this way. Sometimes its the way the cookie crumbles. This is the start of the a fairly lengthy break for us. We have shut down shop to focus on Nicole and her needs. Peace x

"Oamaru is a distinctive town located on the coast of North Otago in New Zealand's South Island, renowned for its remarkably well-preserved Victorian architecture, much of it built from the local limestone. This strong sense of history is creatively complemented by Oamaru's enthusiastic adoption of the Steampunk aesthetic, particularly vibrant in the harbour area with unique contraptions and themed attractions. Visitors are drawn to wander the atmospheric Victorian Precinct, explore the quirky Steampunk Playground and HQ, and also visit the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony nearby, making Oamaru a fascinating blend of heritage, eccentric creativity, and natural wildlife."

Oamaru is one of them simply breath taking towns. From its natural beauty to the buildings, and leaning right into the SteamPunk culture. It has the wild, the weird and the wonderful. Absolutely a must visit for anyone going through. We wished we'd had more time to spend here. Just feels nice.

"Around May 10-11, 2024, Earth experienced a series of powerful solar storms. These storms originated from a large, active sunspot cluster on the sun, which emitted multiple strong solar flares and subsequent Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) directed towards our planet. When these CMEs reached Earth's magnetic field, they triggered a severe to extreme (G4-G5) geomagnetic storm, the most powerful observed since 2003. The most notable effect was the widespread and stunning appearance of auroras (Northern and Southern Lights), which were visible in many regions much further from the poles than usual, although there were also minor concerns about potential impacts on satellite communications and power grids."

We had the 7th strongest geomagnetic storm in modern history hit earth! I thought it would be a good time to bring them out to document the night. 
Some stats from the night:

• Solar Wind Speed: 1000km/s
• Solar Wind Density: 56p/cm3
• IMF Bt (total energy): 56nT
• IMF Bz (Orientation): -50nT
• Glendale Substorm: -4200nT
• KP Index: 9 G5 (KP8 or higher storming for 33 hours in a row)

Unfortunately nearly everywhere I went that night, was plagued with clouds. Comment below your photos!

"​Karamea is a small, remote village located at the very northern end of State Highway 67 on the West Coast of the South Island. Often described as the "end of the road," it is primarily known as the gateway to the stunning northern reaches of Kahurangi National Park, particularly serving as the finishing point for the popular Heaphy Track Great Walk. Surrounded by lush native forest and rugged coastline, Karamea offers a sense of isolation and a strong focus on nature, attracting trampers, cavers exploring the nearby Oparara Basin arches, and those seeking a tranquil escape amidst dramatic natural beauty."

Karamea is just one of them places that make you appreciate New Zealand. The locals are all friendly, the beer is good and the food is fresh and hot! The scenery is unmatched, with Karamea lagoon, a wonder around there in golden hour is something I'll never forget. The lush forestry, who can forget about the Te Nikau's everywhere, the further north you go. And the mountainscapes including the obvious Oparara Arches! The road up there is not for the car sick friendlies!