Final Post from NZ

Okay bat fans, I submit humbly to you the last of our blogs from New Zealand.  I believe that this makes a whopping three.  Considering it takes 35 minutes to download 5 photos to this stupid program, don't be thinking that we are lazy.  No, this was just a real pain out here in NZ.  We shall see if my mood towards blogger improves when I am at home.  Now on to the good stuff.

Since last writing we have hiked below a cliff hanging glacier, walked on a glacier, met the alpine parrot called the Kea, hiked one of the best hikes in the world (according to Nat Geo), toured a brewery, and found ourselves 5 feet or less away from the worlds most endangered penguin.  Yes, it was in the wild although they have set up fences to keep people a short distance from the birds.   Later that night we went to a functioning blue penguin colony just up the beach and watched as 178 penguins jumped out of the ocean to go to their nests to feed the chicks.  Penguins, simply stated, are awesome.

The trip has been amazing.   All three of you reading this blog are welcome to see all of our pictures any time.  We will get to work on an album and online album when we get home asap.

So, from New Zealand, this is Graham signing off.  If you get the chance.  Come here and stay as long as you can.

Exeunt

More pics

Additional Pics

Kayaking in Abel Tasman, among other things

Howdy faithful blog readers.  Since our last post, the trip has continued to be a blast.  From Kaikoura and the dolphins, we headed north to the Marlborough Sound region around the town of Picton.  We drove out the Queen Charlotte scenic drive and stayed in the Momorangi campground with a family of ducks before heading further north to the town of French Pass.  This drive was along a gravel road about 1000 feet above the ocean.  Went from NZ tropical like forest to the Scottish Highlands with sheep farms.  It was beautiful.  French Pass was smaller than Olga WA, and was quite a find.  We also had our first encounter with the Weka.  A sort of NZ wild chicken that is not afraid of humans and loves camps.  We shared a pint and talked politics before it headed back to the nest.

After leaving Marlborough, we drove up to Abel Tasman for some hiking and kayaking.  The park is dotted with yellow beaches, fur seals, and a hiking track.  We took a water taxi halfway up the park the first day for an easy 2 hour hike.  Day two we joined with Abel Tasman kayaks and our guide, Hamish, to paddle from the north end of the park.  The paddle trip was very fun even though Laurie and I were the only people with kayaking experience.  On day two, we were split up to help strengthen the teams a little.  

Hamish was a riot and knew a great deal of Maori history making the trip that much more interesting.  He was also a great cook.  Sweet and sour chicken, sponge cake with sherry and berries, french toast, fried bananas, bacon, sandwiches, cold beer, and wine.  This is why that part of the trip cost more than our plane tickets.  I am officially back to my playing weight.  Playing vids, drinking beer, and eating fried cheese weight...

We pushed on south after the paddle towards Nelson Lakes and treated ourselves to a night in a hotel room with a real bed.  Alpine Lodge on Lake Rotoiti.  Slept like a log and ate like a man who would die if he did not eat pork.  Dinner included a sausage, steak, beef patty, bacon, and two fried eggs.  Yes, the eggs were an easy sell.  I think that there was some salad under the fries.  Anyhoo, the lake was very scenic and home to large freshwater eels.  We were able to hand feed them.  Hiked to the top of Mt. Robert after that and had an amazing view of the NZ mountains.  Did not see any Keas though.  They are an alpine parrot that will eat the rubber on your car.  Would have liked to have seen that.

Now we are trapped in our van getting poured on.  First bad weather of the trip so we can't complain.  Tomorrow on to the Fox Glacier then down to Queenstown for the Routeburn Trek.  I will probably hurl myself off a bridge if time allows.  Laurie says hi. 

Will post more pics immediately following.

Dusky Dolphins are Freaking Cool

Honestly, swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura was about the most amazing experience I have ever had.  Besides the mince meat pie and pint I had after of course.  All kidding aside, they put you in a wetsuit, stick you on the back of the boat, and shove you off when they get right in the middle of a pod of 300+ dolphins.  Durn things swim right up to you and swim around ya, jump over you, everything.  Wonderful creatures.

Apart from the dolphins, you can see our van and our first campsite.  The van is

 pretty cool and Laurie has gotten it organized very well so that we can live in it very comfortably.  Nice to be unpacked.

We are having a great time.  Weather is really nice today in Picton.  Beautiful area that sort of reminds me of the North Sound.  

Final pic of Laurie and I having a corona moment...