Our trip to the Rain Forest with the Senior Couples

Two weeks ago we along with Several of the Area Office Senior Missionaries took the Rain Forest Express. We really had no idea what it was, we knew it would be a train ride through the Waitakere Mountain range through 10 tunnels and ending up at the Nihotupu Dam which is the drinking water for the region. It was a three hour round trip through a beautiful rain forest. The railroad was built in the early 20th century before heavy equipment. The train is really a maintenance train for the water pipe which is laid above ground. Since the tunnels were dug with pick and shovel, the tunnels are about 5 feet in diameter, just large enough for the pipe and a very small train. Each car holds two people facing each other, with very little leg room. Two of the tunnels had glow worms, but it's impossible to take a picture of them, since you can't put a finger out of the car without losing it. Our group is made up of the Carlson's, Mangrums, Pferdeners, McLaughlins, Fuller's, Nances, Sorenson's and us.

Jacobson Depot

Elder Nance, a Ute fan.

Liz Mangrum

Our 1st look at the train

We're all wondering if we'll fit!

Rain enjoying the moment

Rosie and Stan Nance

The big water pipe

Some strange wildlife in the tunnel

The modern equipment

A stop on one of the wooden bridges

Elder & Sister McLaghlin

Rain and Gary & Janet Carlson

A view of one of the tunnels

Finally to the dam

Dennis Mangrum

A group picture after lunch

Stan and Rosie Nance

After the big train ride we took the Carlson's and Fuller's to meet the wood carver. They have about 30 new chick's, which of course they won't ever eat. They're more of their pets.

The sheep which also are pets.

Chicken's can fly

The artist at work

Elder and Sister Carlson admiring their new Kiwi! Gary's my golf buddy. The

Elder and Sister Fuller. He's the Area Doctor. They're enjoying their new Kiwi carving