McCrain's
in Middle Earth
A travel dialogue of our adventures
in New Zealand
In February 2004, Jim and Kathy McCrain began a five month oddessy in New Zealand. Kathy was transferred to Auckland for a temporary work assignment, and Jim followed her for moral support. (Isn't he just the greatest husband?) What follows is Jim's account of this adventure.
A Dream Come True.
July 30, 2004
Today
we headed back to Auckland, just in time to repack all of our belongings,
get a good nights rest, and fly back to the United States tomorrow.
But before I could have that nice, easy, last night, I had to do just ONE more thing. I had been trying for several months to arrange an interview with a very important Man. I have spoken with him on the phone, talked to both his wife several times and his daughter once, and tried to get our schedules to coincide. Every time I was available, he was busy, and visa versa. Well, today, with only 10 minutes to spare before I got on the plane to Auckland, our schedules collided.
In
just a few hours, I would be meeting and interviewing
Sir Edmund Hillary!
We
chatted like old friends for several minutes before the interview began,
and then again after the interview was over. He is a very gracious man,
and still gets a sparkle in his eyes when he talks about climbing Mt.
Everest and all the other Himalayan peaks that he pioneered. One quick
quote I can give you from him is about climbing in the mountains. (Of
course!) “I have seen the big ones and the little
ones, and enjoyed them all!” As I was getting ready
to leave his home in Auckland, he very graciously consented to autograph
a hard-back copy of his memoirs for me. I then reluctantly said good-bye
to this living mountaineering legend and his wonderful wife, and walked
away.
What a way to end my stay in New Zealand!
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