Wow, what a ride!

Went riding on the Deans Bank Track today. Soo much fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuAs6OARIVU&feature=player_embedded#t=0s
Met up with a couple of folks from Boulder Colorado that have been here for a bit and they showed us around some. Had some of the best pizza and garlic bread of my life last night. Mmmmm.
There is this big beautiful blue lake outside our tent that we woke up to this morning and sat and drank coffee to the misty clouds hanging over the lake as the sun rose through the valley burning off to another beautiful day.
Thank goodness for a good tent last night as the rain was intense. Hear that rain may set in for tomorrow, hoping for the best so we'll see. May scrub biking again for a good hike or a lounging in front of the coffee shop.
Will be staying here for a few more nights probably before our flight on Wednesday. Looking forward to a good mountain bike shuttle ride downhill at the Queenstown Mountain Bike park.
We're both looking forward to coming home and seeing the kitties, our friends, and a sleeping surface that is more than 0.75 inches thick.
What a trip it's been. Hard to add pictures at these internet kiosks.
More soon!

In Wanaka

Just a quick update.
Wow.
Kayaking in Abel Tasman. Wow.
Camping and overnight backpacking in Arthurs Pass. Wow.
More backpacking around, here and there.
Lots of day hikes. Seals, birds singing songs we've never heard. Lots of beauty all around.
Now in Wanaka for 4 days of mountain biking and more hiking.
Oh, and lots of great baked goods.
The timers running out now. More soon!

North to South

After peaceful tramping around Great Barrier Island we were thrown back in the busy-ness of Auckland, a bit of a culture shock. We did what we could to get our rental car and get out of the city. It was a bit nerve-wracking driving on the wrong side of the road, another reason to get out of the city. We were warned Kiwi drivers were crazy, so decided for the extra insurance. Dennis focused on driving on the left side of road, blinker on the right. I was his extra pair of eyes and ears and navigator. Every intersection or stop...LEFT. Around roundabouts...I wait for you, you wait for me....

We took our time making our way down to Wellington over the next four days. We stopped at every little town for a baked good, a flat white and an icecream cone. Played a round of Pitch 'n Putt. We officially realized that we are lollygaggers.

We went to the NZ desert and tramped the Tongariro Crossing, what is known as the best day hike in NZ. 20 km up to a volcano, down to the most beautiful emerald lakes where we had lunch, coffee and a nap.  Did some fishing on Lake Taupo, unsuccessfully, continued to make our way south.

More baked goods on MJ's birthday then we hopped on the ferry to the South Island, dinner and wine riding off into the sunset.

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Today we just got back from a 3 day tramp on the Queen Charlotte Track. The sounds were beautiful! 1 short day and 1 long day of hiking (22 km), and 1 day of mountain biking (26km), where MJ got her butt kicked. Some more unsuccessful fishing too.  We had baked goods and flat whites at the little resorts along the way. MJ tried some of the local beer. We realized that you don't really have to rough it when you come to NZ.

Planned to do some kyaking today, but after the rain storm last night (thank goodness for our excellent REI waterproof tent - thanks ED), we opted to take the ferry off the Queen Charlotte sound and get on the road.

Now we are Nelson bound where we hope to do some kayaking at Abel Tasman National Park, check out some wineries via bicycle, and just kinda kick back and relax. Eat some more baked goods and flat whites. Maybe a salad. Maybe.

Till next time!

Resting after tramping Paradise

So we started off last Thursday morning riding into the sunrise after motorcycling on auto pilot all night and taking a nap at a wayward rest stop.
Note to self: As the crow flies does not mean actual distance.
Got the moto returned and hitched a ride to the Ferry to boat us to the Great Barrier Island for 5 days of tramping and backpacking.
We scored a ride from our friend Tim who we met in Auckland our first day and ran into on the ferry, and set up camp on Medlands Beach on the island.
To recover from our sea sickness after the four hour ferry ride, we took a nap on the most ultimate of grassy knolls over looking the sunset.  Full accommodation upon 32 inch high soft luscious grass.
Mmmmmmmmmm....

Kiwi's know how to build trail accommodations, that's for sure, but they could use some assistance with track routing.  Straight up and straight down does not make a trail.  The staircase however through Windy Canyon, was incredible, up and down Mount Hobson and Mount Heal.  Maybe 500 steps.
Up...
Then maybe, what, 700?
Down.
Ow.
Our legs were 'Thumper'.
The views, the scenery, the remoteness, the wonderful people and conversations.  The radio interview...
Yes, radio interview representing the NW!
The list goes on.  Can't forget the hot springs and multiple river crossings.  Thankfully, no unnecessary swimming.
Almost lost our tent down the beach at night in a wind gust.  "Dennis, what was that sound?"
"SHIT!"
Full sprint in darkness with a head lamp after our only shelter.  Ok, good. Catastrophe averted.
20 Minutes later over dinner, "Mary Jane, where's our sleeping bags?"
"SHIT!"

Imagine wrapping up about 20 romance novels and putting them all into 5 days.  That's what we had.
The grand finally being a hammock strung across a overhanging tree branch in the bay, napping, awaiting the ferry off into the sunset.

Now off to the south end of the North Island!

Sunday morning started with a great breakfast the Hendersons cooked for us before our trek to the Max line. Walked down the driveway away from the magical kingdom atop Powell Butte into the belly of Portland's transportation system. Observed a fight almost erupt by a drunken who just wanted a 'Forty'. Followed by incredibly unhelpful and grumpy airline personnel.
Damn Americans.
So after an interesting tramp around San Francisco's ghetto looking for a bite to eat away from the airport, we hopped aboard our 12 hour flight.
Arrived yesterday morning, and was greeted by the most friendly beagle at the airport. He decide he wanted our jerky and the customs official gave it to him. Darn beagle.
12 hour flight, and all we wanted was jerky. Jerky...
Took the shuttle taxi to my friend Suzy's and was welcomed with open arms. Great home base for the day while we we walked around Westmere in Auckland.
3 cups of 'Flat White'
A nap on the beach
2 Meat pies
3 double ice cream cones
An attempted nap at Suzy's
And dinner at the 'Food Hole'
All is well.

Up this morning early and our clocks are reset. After breakfast Suzy's motobike friend Chris gave us a ride to the motorbike hire. We were off North to the Bay of Islands after Dennis figured out how to drive on the wrong side of road. After every intersection, every light, every stop, every bridge...."Left". Left side of the road!

Our first stop was at a gourmet roach coach out in the middle of nowhere, where a chef made his own bread (best bread we've ever had) from scratch baked right in the coach. We had a "buttie" BLT and a homemade beef pasty. Mmm! Once we got off the highway we drove along some of the most beautiful roads we had seen. Big, green rolling hills as far as the eye could see. Cows. Thick forest of broccoli looking trees and fern-like palms. An interesting blend of tropical and Oregon coastal foliage.

Turns turns turns over 100 miles of turns. What a ride, puts anything in oregon to shame. Costant state of awe as the ocean opened up before us and more turns greeted our wheels.

Timer is running out, more later, and more pictures to come.

Packing and thinking and repacking and forgetting.

Ironing patches onto packs and geeking out on backpacking gear. Hmmm, OH! TP. That's what we forgot. The 3 am brain clicks of list items that can't be forgotten. The numerous trips to the stores knowing that there were in fact 3 items on our list but not knowing what they were. Because they were forgotten.

The final touches of stuff. Laughing at ourselves as we're over thinking and over thinking but enjoying every second.

Looking forward to leaving this 30 degree weather to the warm 75 degree days of NZ, and returning to this beautiful country in the spring.

It'll be just like hitting the bathroom after giving your order at a restaurant only to return to a magically transformed table of food.

Four days!

Welcome family and friends! Finally--the day is near. This Sunday we will walk off the magical kingdom atop Powell Butte with our packs on our backs and begin our month long epic adventure to the land Down Under Down Under...Middle Earth. We've spent the last 3 months researching, gathering gear, networking, planning, and training and now we are antsy to immerse ourselves in the experience.

We are flying into Auckland and out of Queenstown, with plans of taking a motorcycle up to the Bay of Islands, tramping around the Great Barrier Island, and possibly kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking the Queen Charlotte Track on the South Island. We are leaving a lot of room for the trip to unfold naturally, our only goal being to enjoy and embrace each and every day! We will update with stories and pictures when we can find an internet cafe, so keep posted!

Thanks again to all those folks who purchased holiday gift baskets from me over Christmas, it has helped make this happen!