Sunday, Mar 10th, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Greetings!

If you had asked me if today we would witness attempts at the egg-throwing and catching world record, I would probably have thought for just a minute, and then said not probably.  I mean this is New Zealand.  But sure enough, Palmerston North hosted the Rural Games today in the Town Park.  Championship cow-milking also was held, with a cow machine built for competition.  Fifty-five meters was the winning throw (by the world champs),  who also tried and failed to best last year's world record of 93 meters.

But the day started out very differently, and also not so predictably.  My cousin, Norm Miller, will be pleased to learn that 232 Norwegian farmers arrived in 1872, and founded the town of Norsewood.  The town had a celebration today next door to NZ Natural Clothing as a fundraiser for the Wop-Wop Wildlife Park (complete with fresh-water eels).  Though the names of the first passengers are prominently listed in posters, monuments, and books being sold, I couldn't find any closely-connected relatives of ours.  It is hard, though, because Larsens and Olsens are in every Norwegian's family trees.

Norsewood is a great little town, and not just because it's full of Norwegians.  It also has the best hot chocolate I've ever had.  Do stop into the Cafe Norsewood on Main Street, just down from the Museum. 

To see the rest of the photos taken today (especially the egg-throwing an catching), click on: Sunday, Mar 10th, Palmerston North, New Zealand.