jb's Trip Page

Well who would ever of throught, all those months ago when Ellie (alias Hathi) sat up all night wiith Kotare and I showing two very untechy people how to set up ICQ, that we would be now heading off to the Airport to pick her and her son up to tour the South Island with us.

I had no doubt in my mind that we would recognise them althrough a little birdy had told me she had changed her hair colour with out telling me rofl. Well it was as if we had all know each other for ever.

For the next few days we looked around Auckland and the highlight of those first days for me was Ellie meeting Kotuku some thing you should all do when you visit our country.

Wednesday night we went and picked up the twelve seater van we had hired for our trip and headed off the next morning only two hours late.

We stopped in at Orini to introduce Ellie to Willow and her family and to meet the calves she had named after several scoutlink members. From there we headed to Wellington pasing through Taupo on the way This is a very magical place and well worth a visit.

Reaching Wellington several hours early we were able to catch a early ferry to cross to the South Island a three hour crossing (no sick bags needed :) Every one settled in and slept their way across waking to get back in the van and slip back into sleep while Kotare drove on through the night.

We awoke to find our selves passing along the coast near Kaikoura and seeing seals frollicking on the beach wow i could waffle on here for ever but I will go to the shortened version for you and just tell you the highlights.

jb and tick at Craters of the Moon (near Taupo)

My Highlights

1 Tenting all the way around the South Island in winter with snow on the mountains.

2 Cooking breakfast on the side of the road.

3 Christchurch Cathedral and lighting a candle there for absent friends.

4 The huge carrot and seeing the millenium bug on the side of the road.

5 Lake Tekapo and attending a service in the chapel on the shores of the lake.

6 Dunedin the camping ground was great and i can recommend the spa. :)

7 Seeing a boat called Kotare.

8 The fence hung with shoes at Wanaka.

9 Our stay at Owhango (pronounced Oh Fango) brought on cause a keewee ran over a boulder although some still call it a rock and breaking the gear box thingy.

1 0 Learning to drive a five speed van. (way cool)

quick on the draw or quick on the keyboard.