Hello,

So we finally left Canada after 14 weeks and a 10 day trip around Vancouver Island, we will miss the mountains but were ready for the next part of our trip, here's a wee roundup of our time in Whistler;

Guests = 20
Babies = 1 and half
Weeks in Whistler = 14
Total snow fallen 14 meters
Days on snow = James 89 Mary 49
Snowboards bought = 2
Jackets bought = 5
Host Injuries = 0
Guest Injuries = 8 (minor)
Days worked at Subway = 52
Number of Après Sessions attended = Lost count
Jager Bombs drunk (Jagermeister & Redbull) = allot
Hot Tubs had  = allot
Number of meals cooked at home = 5
Bears seen = 3
Whales seen = 1

Were now in chilly New Zealand after a few days in Oregon and San Fran. Were travelling around the South Island in a clapped out camper van called errrrm..... Herpie. It seems to be the thing to do here, lots of wacky painted campers everywhere you look. We spent the first night in it Thursday and we were very cold.....We drove to Mount Cook yesterday and left the lights on whilst we were parked up so had to jump start the old girl before we could get going again. We then drove to beautiful Queenstown and checked in to our first backpackers!!!! We treated ourselves to a double room but still had to share the facilities with 8 others. The afternoon was spent bar hopping and exploring - we like it allot here, lake life surrounded by mountains! We had an early night, we were quite tired after a rough nights sleep in the van the night before, we were woken at midnight by 2 of our fellow packers knocking on the door as they had forgotten there key, then were woken again about 2am to the sound of one of them vomiting, nice! So this is backpacking (we seem to be the oldest people here.) That aside we are enjoying the experience very much and its all good fun, we like being on the road and having the freedom to stop where we like. We're heading to a town called Wanaka this afternoon and then on to the Glaciers Sunday. Mel and Bridge the weather is too bad for Milford Sound!!!

We have left the world of the Mac behind and are now using internet Cafes so better go before we spend too much money!!!

Thanks for all your emails/messages its great to hear from home, don't forget to check ourwebsite www.offexploring.com/lordlong

Maz and James
xxxxx