Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
So we're now in New Zealand and have collected the Strawson sisters on our way. First stop was Auckland where we joined Lydia and despite the lack of 3 nights sleep and horrenduous jet lag head out for our first experience of a kiwi Rugby match in which (according to the rugby fan, that is matt) some guy who could run faster than a cheeter was playing.....very impressive. So after a very interesting night in dorm invoving a snoring naked man who didn't like bed sheets, we picked up camper van number 1....a retired Japenese ambulance covered in camo paint so we could hide in farmers fields at night without being spotted (we hoped)! We filled it with enough food to feed a Japenese hospital and enough leaflets and free vouchers to destroy half the Amazon and set off. The next 8 days involved a whistle stop tour of stunning beaches, dolphin swimming, grade 5 whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, ski diving, sunsets, spectacular lakes, the most incredible trek on earth involving half the Lord of the Rings set, hot springs, volcanic sulphur, being kicked out of a farmers field whilst trying to cook baked beans in the rain, mad dashes out of car parks at 7am to avoid traffic warden fines for not paying, obsessive van locking at night after hearing stroies of being gased and robbed, sleeping with our heads next to badly washed pans emitting tuna smells, endless pasta and tomato sauce, a lot of naked Matt and a distinct lack of toilets and showers resulting in a newly found love of nature!
Next was the South Island where we picked up camper number 2..."Nozmo" the spaceship (every "Spaceship" has its own name) with a pod....essentially tent on top of the car for Lydia and Phoebe to sleep in. We initially headed north to Kaikaura for a spot of whale watching. We saw one Sperm whale from a distance which turned out to be decidedly boring compared to the much more entertaining dusky dolphins. That night was spent out in wine country in a spot we though to be in the middle of nowhere but turned out to be next to a huge vine harvesting operation which continued throughout the course of the night. Since then we have swam in numerous (very cold) lakes in order to keep hygienic but unfortunately involving a few angry ducks! Phoebe has also since joined the pack and brought a new dimension with her love for drink after being deprived of any form of alcohol for the last 3 months. We have enjoyed a day out on the Golden Bay kayaking, the actual kayaking bit being rather boring although greatly enhanced by a very special rendition of Titanic by the Strawson sisters when their attention was diverted by some cute seals swimming round their boat resulting in a collision with a rock, a kayak filled with water, a loss of everything from the boat and another broken camera…that now leaves 1 camera between the 4 of us (mine!). After a full day of driving in the rain, a lot of singing, some more of Matt getting naked, cooking dinner in a gale by driving our spaceship onto a train platform (for shelter), being bitten to death by sand flies and drinking away into the early hours of the morning in order to satisfy Phoebe, we are now at Fox Glacier preparing ourselves for a trek up the ice. Until next time xxxx
- comments