WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE ANGIE AND JOHNNY

WE HAVE RE ENTRY!

2005-12-15T07:59:00.000-10:00

As we settled into our seats on New Zealand Airlines and prepared for the short flight from Christchurch to Auckland, we were a bit sad to be leaving New Zealand, but extremely grateful that we had the opportunity to spend so much time in this beautiful place. As we flew over the South Island, looking out the window, we were able to see another perspective of this awesome place. This beautiful island of snow covered peaks, lush green pasture, and golden prairie land surrounded by a beautiful blue ocean.

As we reached the North Island, I had been giving my neck a rest, when Johnny asked me if I could see Mount Egmont. Thank goodness he said something, because when I looked out the window, there she was! The perfect peak of a beautiful snow covered volcano, sitting high above a heavy blanket of clouds. It was fantastic! The Big Dog came through once again!

As we were flying north across the equator, it was sunset, and Johnny pointed out the window to show me how the evening light was bending around the earth. What a wonderful and peaceful way to say good night to the beautiful land down under.

Air New Zealand took us back to the U.S. in style. Enjoying a lovely dinner, New Zealand wine, and 2 movies. We arrived in Honolulu at 10:30p.m. and took a bus to our hotel in Waikiki Beach.

We spent the next 2 days relaxing, boogie boarding and swimming in the warm water. I enjoyed an art and music festival in the park while Johnny watched a women's volley ball competition at the beach. (you go big dog) Not knowing what to expect, we were both pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed Waikiki Beach. What a nice way to de-compress after the long flight.

We arrived in Colorado to a record snow year! We have not had this much snow in the Colorado Rockies in over 10 years! Yippie! The base at the ski areas is far above normal for this time of year, and the forecast is looking good for more snow! It has been bitter cold! -20 F at night and not getting above 0 F in the day time! Ouch! We are hoping that a long cold spell will kill off the Pine Beetles that have taken so many of our trees in the past several years.

After being home for a couple of weeks, we have had time to reflect on our incredible trip. We are very thankful that we were able to spend so much time in beautiful New Zealand. The people are genuine, kind, caring, hard working and honest. It is obvious that family and environment are very high on their priority list. It was like the U.S. must have been back in the 1950's. Nearly Everywhere we went, there were "honesty boxes" where you could pay for oranges along the road, or pull into a holiday park after hours, put your $20 kiwi dollars in a yogurt cup and have a restful night of sleep, what a wonderful world!

The New Zealand landscapes are magnificent! And we enjoyed every nook and cranny that we explored! Every little town and larger city was fun and had something to offer. We highly recommend New Zealand to other travelers, and we hope some day we may return again to bask once again, in the beauty of this great land.

I guess the epiphany we brought home from our travel, is that, we Americans place too much value on material things. We had everything we needed and more, in our little camper van. Luxury can be as simple as, one pair of jeans, a rain coat a pair of gum boots,a sunny day, a warm smile, a beautiful flower, a meat pie, a handle of beer,good conversation, people who really care about each other, a rich fertile environment to raise animals, fruits and vegetables, a simple life and protecting the precious environment that supports all of these treasures.

In the mean time, we are home, and wake up each glorious day in Dillon, Colorado, with an amazing playground in our back yard! The Rocky Mountains!

Although disenchanted with some of the realities of re-entry. We are happy to have a warm home to come back to. And very thankful for our family, friends and the beauty of this beautiful place we call home.

To Quote a very wise, elderly woman who was a tenant, in an apartment building where we once lived.

"Life is good, wild and sweet"

That pretty much sums it up!

Cheers!

Photo of Views From Arthurs Pass

2005-11-17T11:51:00.000-10:00

Photo of Sail Boats in Akaroa

2005-11-17T11:49:00.000-10:00

Photo of Waikuku Beach

2005-11-17T11:43:00.000-10:00

Photo of 3 Babes at Waikuku Beach

2005-11-17T11:38:00.000-10:00

Photo fo View From Campervan in Akaroa,Banks Peninsula

2005-11-17T11:36:00.000-10:00

Photo of The Lovely Hokulani

2005-11-17T11:34:00.000-10:00

SMELL THE ROSES

2005-11-15T11:22:00.000-10:00

The sun was shining through a canopy of limbs and leaves, casting playful shadows on the road to Lewis Pass. A thick forest of moss covered trees lined the roadway, sometimes so lush and thick it was like passing through a tunnel of trees. Wild Lupine in yellow, pink and purple, were in full bloom along the roadway. Ribbons of water weaved through the orange lichen covered rocks that lay in the wide river bed. It felt as though we were driving through a painting and the artist was picking up colors from a pallet and artfully dabbing them in just the right places. As we made our decent toward Hanmer Springs, the scenery opened up to a wide river valley flanked by hillsides carpeted with yellow blooms. Arriving in Hanmer Springs, the weather was better than “fine” it was fantastic! The sky was blue with a few fluffy clouds, and the temperature was a balmy 80+ degrees. Perfect for a day at the pools! The main attraction in Hanmer Springs is a beautiful Thermal Reserve. The resort is beautifully landscaped with gardens and large boulders forming many inviting pools of varying temperatures. Enormous redwood trees outline the perimeter, providing shade and a home for a variety of song birds. After a nice single track mountain bike ride, we slipped into the steaming pools of mineral rich waters. I enjoyed a wonderful massage, and then back to the pools for another soak, before heading off to dinner. Enjoying the springs and the summer like weather, we ended up spending 4 nights in Hanmer Springs. It was positively heavenly!

Having time for some more do-overs, Johnny decided he would like to see Cape Farewell again. We drove back up to Golden Bay, spent the night in Takaka where we had dinner and enjoyed an excellent English film called “Queen of Sheba's Pearls”. Takaka looks much different today than it did a month ago. The roses are in full bloom and they are everywhere! Crawling up trellises, dripping from archways, and even growing up the side of building with nothing but asphalt at its roots. The sweet fragrance filled the air as we walked through town.

Making our way up to Cape Farewell, once again, we hiked down to the beautiful beach, enjoying the magnificent caves and rock formations. Driving back down past the lovely Golden and Tasman Bays, we spent the night in Havelock and enjoyed a Guinness at the Scottish Pub. Cheers!

Heading south down the east coast, we stopped along the coast near Kiakora, where we watched a large pod of Dusky Dolphin feeding. There must have been 50 of them. One frisky feller was showing off jumping straight out of the water. Making his way down the beach, we counted him jump more than 30 times in row. It was quite an enjoyable show.

Waikuku Beach is a beautiful beach just north of Christchurch. Not the typical tourist holiday park, this was a camping spot where local families camped on the weekends and holiday. The park was filled with caravans, tents, children everywhere, riding bikes, and enjoying the playground, while their parents were happily sipping a cold one, firing up the BBQ and having a laugh with their mates. We were thoroughly entertained by the site of a little red headed toddler, maybe 1 ½ - 2 years old who was climbing the latter and laughing as she slid down the slide all by herself. Occasionally her brother would come by and play with her, but for the most part, unsupervised and having a ball. When he father did come by to put her in the swing, he pulled it up as high as it would go and she squealed with excitement. Meanwhile on the beach, three little girls, about 7 years old, stripped off their clothes down to their undies and ran into the freezing cold ocean to play in the waves. Not a parent in sight, just 3 buddies having a fun afternoon at the beach. It reminded us of our childhood days when things were much more laid back where child raising was concerned.

Our next stop was Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula. A picturesque French town, with charming Victorian houses, white picket fences, and beautiful gardens. By now the roses are in bloom everywhere we go, and Akaroa was no exception. We had a nice time wandering through the town. It was a cool, windy day, and it was fun to watch a regatta of Sail boats coming about one after the next. Since the weather was not particularly fine, we decided to head back to Hanmer Springs, to see if we could find some more of that lovely sunshine and soak in the pools again. It was delightful!

It is now Tuesday November 15th and our Camper Van is due back in Christchurch by 4:00 in the afternoon. I spent the morning packing and organizing, while Johnny rode his bike. Arriving in Christchurch, Johnny dropped me off at the Bed and Breakfast with the luggage, returned the Camper Van, and rode the bicycle back into the city. By time he arrived a couple of hours later, I had the Bicycle sold to the owner of the Bed and Breakfast! Cheers! Now we can enjoy the next 3 days enjoying the city.

This is our first experience at a Bed and Breakfast, and I have to admit that it is wonderful! We are staying at the “Orari” a lovely turn of the century home. The location is perfect. Directly across the street from the beautiful new art museum, the arts center with galleries, Beautiful Hagley Park with Botanic Gardens, and the pretty Avon River running through the park and into the city center. Although the camper van was very comfortable and we loved every minute of it, it is nice to have the luxury of a little extra personal space. Our fantastic journey is coming to a close, however I am trying not to think about it right now. Just enjoying the last few days of holiday bliss.

Photo of Golden Bay

2005-11-06T13:02:00.000-10:00

Photo of Mount Cook

2005-11-06T12:52:00.000-10:00

Photo of Penguin!!!!

2005-11-06T12:39:00.000-10:00

Photo of Rainbow, The Far North

2005-11-05T13:07:00.000-10:00

PICTURE TIME

2005-11-05T12:36:00.000-10:00

I was finally able to upload lots of photos, so check them out. They are in random order and you may have to look in archives, as only 7 posts will appear in a page. It you double click on the image it will enlarge to full screen. Thank you all for your comments. I look forward to reading them. It makes me feel like home is not that far away.

Cheers

DO OVERS

2005-11-05T12:14:00.000-10:00

It is great turning 45 at 45 degrees south. You get to celebrate twice! On my Kiwi Birthday, we left Mount Cook and scooted over to Lake Ohau where I took a little single track mountain bike ride. Johnny dropped me off at the bottom of a steep road that lead to a ski field. High above the beautiful lake, I rode a very technical track, through pasture land, over steep rocky hills and through a deep rocky river. Wading through an icy river and carrying the bike up a steep hill. It was a little more than I had bargained for, but really fun none the less. Having plenty of time on our hands, we decided to re trace our steps and go back to some of our favorite places. Do-overs if you will. Wanaka was high on our list, so we headed back to get another taste. Mount Aspiring Holiday Park is by far the most deluxe place we have stayed. Two hot tubs and a sauna, sparkling clean, in a park like setting on a hillside with lake and mountain views. It was so nice we stayed two nights. On my US birthday we had dinner at Ambrosia, a fine dining restaurant by the Golf Course in Wanaka. It was a lovely meal in a beautiful setting. 45 is not so bad! Cheers! The next night we had a fun experience at the local movie theatre, which is a tourist attraction in itself. Entering a small café where Jim Morrison is playing on the stereo, you can order dinner off of the black board menu, which includes gourmet pizza and other tasty things, get your self a glass of wine or a beer, and take it with you into the movie room. Have a seat in one of many old vintage couches, chairs or even an old Morris Minor automobile. Sinking into our olive green and harvest gold chairs, we enjoyed a 2.5 hour movie and it seemed like we were only there for about 15 minutes. What a kick! Having only done a quick drive through Queenstown, (the adrenaline capital of NZ where all of the activities are extreme) we decided to give it a fair chance. Just outside of Queenstown, in a pretty river gorge, we stopped to watch a bungee jumping operation from an old suspension bridge. It was fun to watch. Some people just got up there and dove off like birds, and others could not take the step and chickened out. We goofed around in town looking at art galleries and taking in all of the adventure advertisements. Looking a little shaggy, I decided to see about a hair cut. Asking for just a trim, I got a Queenstown “extreme cut” Wash and wear is good for the camper van thing, but I sort of felt like I had been sheared. No worries it will grow back. The great thing about NZ and especially the South Island is that you can get from the east coast to the west coast over a mountain pass in just a few hours! From Queenstown we headed to the southern most part of the Island, Invercargill, and Bluff. We spent a lovely afternoon in the lovely Queens Park enjoying the sunshine, flowers, an aviary, and just relaxing. No trip to New Zealand would be complete without a trip to Stewart Island. Curious about this rare treasure with its unspoilt beauty and ecological importance, we signed up to take the one hour ferry ride across the Foveaux Straight, and spend two nights on the Island. The ride across to the straight to the Island was relatively calm, occasional large swells that rocked the boat. Our skipper, who looked like a young Elvis in his aviator sun glasses, looked very relaxed as he negotiated the large swells. The island itself was pretty, however we felt like it was more of the same things we had already seen. We took a nice 3 hour hike, rode the bike around the few roads on the Island, and had dinner in the pub, where all of the locals hang out. It was interesting to talk to the locals who live a fairly simple life on the somewhat isolated island. It seems that drinking in the pub is the main social activity . That evening, the weather became increasingly cloudy and the south west winds picked up and were gusting hard all night long. We were scheduled on the 6:00 pm ferry which had been cancelled do the weather. The 3:00 ferry was still scheduled to run back to the main land, however after talking to the passengers who had just arrived, who described the ride as “extreme” with more than half the boat using their sick bags, we promptly decided to stay another night and hope the weather improved for the crossing the next day. I guess I have earned back my reputation as Chicken of the Sea. We boarded the 8:00 a.m. ferry. With the weather improving and the tide in our favor, the skipper was not sure what the ride would be like, however he did not expect it to be too bad. By time we go to the middle of the straight we were in 9-10 foot swells. Sitting very still with my eyes glued to the horizon, I only felt more than a wee bit of motion sickness coming over me. Johnny on the other hand enjoyed the adventure. The ride was pretty intense, but we make it ashore with only one sick passenger and it was not me, thank goodness. For most of that morning I felt pretty green around the gills. Later I found out that the Foveaux Straight has the reputation of being one of the top ten roughest crossing anywhere! Check that one off my list! They say you are what you eat. If this is the case, then Johnny is beginning to resemble a wheel of Camembert Cheese, and myself a Crumbed Blue Cod. Rewind….back to the Rail Trail….. With the intension of working off some of our "spare” tires, rather than the bike tires this time. We hit the rail trail, the other direction this time and peddled quite a few kilos until the weather turned bad. Wee twig in helmet, I was loading my bike into the van after a successful ride with no magpie attacks, when out of the sky, came the bloody bugger! I am quite certain they are out to get me! Heading up the east coast to the seaside towns of Omaru and Timaru we spent most of the day checking out the interesting architecture and enjoyed a beautiful art gallery in a turn of the century home. Heading west again, we took the inland scenic route toward Arthur’s Pass. It was a beautiful drive, through a variety of landscape from semi arid planes to lush blue green river gorges, and limestone rock outcroppings. We stopped at a limestone cave deep underground with a river running through it. With a torch and some sturdy boots, you are welcome to make the hour long journey, unguided, with a few brief suggestions and the warning that you will be navigating waist deepwater in the darkness, climbing waterfalls, and may encounter an occasional eel. I think not! It was interesting to see Arthur’s pass from the east. Almost a month ago we came up the west side of the pass and there had been a snowfall the night before. It is amazing how your impression of a place can change depending on the weather. Rewind again….back to Hokatika. A beautiful seaside town on the west coast. Being the greenstone (jade) capital of N.Z., I decided to try my hand at carving a traditional Maori pendant called a tiki. They are very popular with the locals and tourists alike and I have been admiring them for some time now. After choosing a design, Gordon, carved the piece with the tools of his trade and then set me down at a table where for the next 4 hours, I sanded and sanded with 6 grades of paper, working out all of the fine tool marks until the stone was smooth. How tedious was that! It sure gave me an appreciation for the time that goes into each piece. I now have my own tiki, polished with my own hands, a Koru design symbolizing growth, life, harmony, and new beginnings.

Photo of Water Falls at Franz Josef Glacier

2005-11-04T23:49:00.000-10:00

Photo of Ponga Fern

2005-11-04T23:39:00.000-10:00

Sunset at Pohara Beach Takaka S. Island

2005-11-04T23:28:00.000-10:00

Photo of Lake Matheson

2005-11-04T23:21:00.000-10:00

Photo of Blue Pools Hasst Pass

2005-11-04T23:13:00.000-10:00

Photo of Miranda Lake Hike

2005-11-04T23:05:00.000-10:00

Photo of Johnny at Franz Josef Glacier

2005-11-04T22:54:00.000-10:00

Photo of Gecko on Ponga Leaf

2005-11-04T22:47:00.000-10:00

Photo of Katie, Hokulani and Rick

2005-11-03T23:45:00.000-10:00

Photo of Haast Pass

2005-11-03T23:36:00.000-10:00

Track to Miranda Lake

2005-11-03T23:27:00.000-10:00

Lake Miranda near Hollyford Track

2005-11-03T23:20:00.000-10:00

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound

2005-11-03T22:54:00.000-10:00

ZAP! POW! BAM! WOW!

2005-10-24T17:22:00.000-10:00

Well, it took a while to come down from our natural high and wipe the massive grins off of our faces. After the Doubtful Sound, it is hard to imagine anything could compete, but we decided to give Milford Sound a shot. The drive up from Te Anau to Milford in itself was beautiful. As we approached the mountain range leading to the sound, we traveled through beautiful golden meadows, and soon, we were in a valley, encased with rugged, sheer cliffs, covered with glaciers. Waterfalls draping the walls of the mountains, at every turn. The closer we got, the more massive the mountains became and the smaller we felt. It was difficult to see the tops of mountains without craning your head out the window or practially laying on the floor to get the view. The only way to get the true picture, was to get out of the van and look straight up. As we approached the top of the range, we came to the Homer Tunnel. A long, dark, dank, one lane tunnel that appeared as though it was inviting you in as it's next meal. We waited our turn to enter the mouth of the beast. Many dreadful thoughts ran through our minds as we drove along, anticipating the light at the other end. Alas! A beautiful sight to behold! Again, large beautiful mountains looming above us. The weather was fine, sunshine and large fluffy clouds accentuated the alpine skyline. As we dropped down over the mountains into Milford, there she was, Miter Peak, bathing in the sunshine and blue waters of the sound. The next morning she was beautiful! With the early sun lighting up her snowy crown, and a low clouds gently covering her shoulders. Unlike the quite calm of Doubtful, Milford Sound has the feeling of power and grandeur. Each emits a unique mood, and each one worthy of it's reputation. On our way up and over the pass, we stopped and took a hike near the Hollyford Track. The trail followed a river raging with wild whitewater. Large moss covered rocks and peaty pools of water made for a picturesque scene. We climbed the steep, narrow trail using rocks and tree roots for foot holds, tramped through a valley of waist high ferns and over a boulder field that carried us to the high alpine glacial lake. We sat at the shore gazing up at the glaciers and staring at the crystal clear reflections in the water. Waterfalls made their way down the valleys to the lake basin and we could hear the sound of the water and rocks crashing down the mountains as they gave way to the pounding water. What can I say, except Holy Cow!The evening found us down south at the beach side town of Riverton, where we spent quite a bit of time with our heads in the sand picking up more polished rocks. These rocks, I will have to say, are far more colorful and special that others I have picked up, so I will have to do some sorting out before we board the plane, or there may be news of an airline going down in the Tasman Sea. Heading east, we drove through the beautiful countryside of the Catlins and camped at the quiet beach of Hina Hina. The next day we made our way out to the Otago peninsula, to Portobello. The peninsula is home to many rare and endangered species including albatross and yellow eyed Penguin. We heard word of Sandfly Beach, where the DOC has a hide set up for Penguin viewing, so we grabbed an early dinner, and at dusk, we headed out the beach. It took about 30 minutes just to reach the beach. We hiked and slid down steep sandy dunes, wishing we had our skis on. Once on the beach, the blind was another 15 minute walk, it was getting late, and there was already many Penguin footprints leading from the water to the dunes. Fearing that we had missed the action, I picked up the pace. While marching down the beach with my eyes focused on the far end, trying to spot the blind, I nearly stumbled over a sea lion laying in the sand. He was blocking the path to the blind and since sea lions are known to be aggressive, backing up slowly and quietly, we headed up a seep dune. From the top of the dune, I spotted 2 Penguin's playing in the surf! They rode the waves for several minutes and then they slowly waddled out of the water, across the beach and into the dunes. We quietly followed their path with our camera lens, and got a few good shots, until they disappeared into long grass. It was getting dark, so started to headed back unsure of how we were going to climb the steep dunes that carried us down to the beach. As we looked up, Johnny was pretty sure it was going to take a helicopter rescue to get us out. We took one step at a time, slipping back, and sinking in every step. We had to rest several times and catch our breath before we reached the top of the trail,by then our shoes were packed with sand and we had shed every jacket we had on, sweating like it was high noon in the middle of summer. The next morning we said so long to Rick, Katie and Hokulani. It was a sad day for us, as we really enjoyed traveling with them. Both Johnny and I had gotten pretty attached to little Hoku, the sweetest, and most well behaved 2 year old we have ever had the pleasure of knowing. After touring around the Otago Peninsula, we headed into Dunden to see "The Worlds Fastest Indian" It was really fun, since it is about a Kiwi, and was filmed in NZ. As we headed up to Central Otago, we decided to see if we could wear some of the rubber off of those bike tires. We rode a wonderful 150 kilometer rail trail that gently climbs through vast open high plains, across pasture land, over bridges and river valleys, and through tunnels. It was beautiful! Johnny and I leap frogged along taking turns riding and driving every 12k to 25k, stopping in little one horse towns that had nothing more than a pub and sometimes a small historic hotel. It was strange feeling riding along in the middle of nowhere, all alone, with only the sound of singing birds. It was nice to have some much time to take in the scenery that you can not see from the highways. Daydreaming about the old gold rush days, and imagining the trains that used to run along the route, I was peddling along without a care in the world, when that familiar sound....Flap,flap, flap...zeeeee. A bloody magpie was after me again! After the bugger made about 20 attempts at my head, I made it into a small town where I asked a Kiwi gentleman if he could offer any advice. "a wee twig in your helmet should help, however the only real answer is to shoot the bloody pests" I found a large stick thinking large would be better than wee,I lodged it into the top of myhelmut and off I went back down the trail. A fine example of Kiwi ingenuity! I think it helped, there were only two more brief attempts were made by the buggers and then I was home free! The ride ended at the quaint little town of Clyde where old stone building from the 1860's lined the old main street. With aching knees and sore rumps, we headed up to see Mount Cook. The turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki looked like a carpet rolled out before her majesty, with the massive Mount Cook at the throne. The color of the water was so bright it made the sky seem dull. The closer we came to the base of the mountain, the more impressive it became. We enjoyed a fantastic buffet dinner at the Hermitage Lodge, with Mount Cook filling the picture widow like a painting. Camping at the base of Mt Cook where there is no development to speak of, that night I woke to a cloudless black sky, filled with a gazillion stars! I woke up Johnny to see the sight, and there in front of us was the southern cross! Life Is Good!

EYE CANDY

2005-10-15T10:33:00.000-10:00

So much has happened since our last update! Continuing South down the west coast from Greymouth, we headed up Arthur Pass. It had snowed the night before, and the roads had been closed, with the roads now open, we ventured up the pass. It was an amazing sight to see! Snow covered mountains jetting out of the sky with ferns and palms growing on the hillsides, Waterfalls tumbling down the hillsides and parrots hanging out hoping for a small donation. What a weird thing to see, parrots sitting in snow, surrounded by ferns and a ski area just around the corner. Our next destination was back to the west coast to Hokitika. We crossed a long one lane bridge over the river that had rail road tracks running right down the center of the bridge! We were happy that the train was not running , as we were already on the bridge when we noticed it. We spent two nights in Hokitika where we took a day off from vacation. Katie and I took a 2 hour beach run/walk and went into town to see a movie. Johnny took a bike ride and then settled in to watch T.V. in the community room. Once again, the weather was rainy and cold. A gentleman we met referred to the weather as "GHASTLY!" and that summed it up pretty well. I think Mother nature must have been listening, and decided to give us a break. As we headed down the coast from Hokitika, the rain eased up and the sun was peeking through the clouds. We reached Franz Josef in the afternoon and took a hike up to see the Glacier. It was something to see! A massive hunk of blue ice lay on the mountain side drooping down into the valley. We were able to walk right up to the base of it and feel the cold hard ice in our hands. That evening we had dinner at a pub called "The Alice May" After dinner while walking back to camp, I shared with our friends, "The Cremation of Sam McGee" A long poem about a gold miner in the cold and snow of the Arctic who cremated his friend in an old ship called the Alice May. The next day Rick took a guided hike up the glacier, and said he thought about the poem all day. The next day the sun was shining and the sky was blue! Taking advantage of the fine weather, we got started early and drove down to Fox Glacier. In the morning we hiked up to see the glacier and then headed out to lake Matheson. The beautiful calm lake held a mirror image of the snow covered Southern alps in the background. After a walk around the lake, I jumped on the bike and headed toward the coast to Gillespies Beach. It was a wonderful ride along a quiet country road lined with pasture, that eventually turned to dirt, and wound it's way up and up through a Forest of trees and eventually dropping down to the coast where the Tasman Sea was shining under the blue sky, and framed on three sides by a towering snow covered mountain range. While Johnny took his turn on the bike, I took a nice walk down the beach and soaked in the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the day. Our next destination took us south and then inland to Mount Aspiring National Park. The drive along the coast and then over Haast pass was gorgeous. The Haast river has clawed out a deep valley with lush rain Forest and enormous moss covered boulders blanketing the river bank. A large slab of rock the size of our campervan had broken loose from the steep canyon wall, and lay on the side of the road. Every turn along the road was like candy for the eyes. We took a nice hike trough the Forest across a swinging bridge and down to the river where we gazed into beautiful blue pools of water tucked in a sheltered cove along the river bank. There were many picturesque scenes that looked like something out of a glossy travel brochure. We followed the Hasst river to its final destination into the beautiful Lake Wanaka. Wanaka is a resort town that sits at the southern end of the lake and has the feeling of Frisco Colorado. Such a lovely place that we spent 2 nights enjoying the atmosphere. Johnny and I played golf at the Wanaka Golf club. Every tee box offered a splendid view of the lake and snow covered peaks. The next day, Katie and I enjoyed a round of golf while Johnny rode the bike around the lake. Much to my surprise, when I returned from my golf outing, Johnny whisked me off to a winery along the lake. He laid out fine New Zealand Cheese and apples and a nice bottle of chardonnay on a picnic table and we spent the afternoon enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and incredible view. Reluctantly, we left Wanaka, heading south to QueensTown, where we did a "Drive Through" Stopping briefly at an art gallery. From there our destination was Te Anau and the gateway to Fiordland. Katie and I had been planning a surprise for the boys. Saturday morning we told them to pack an overnight bag, we were boarding the Navigator for an overnight cruise through Doubtful Sound. Our incredible journey started with a boat ride across the deep and lovely lake Manapouri. Sunshine and blue skies prevailed and we were carried across the lake with a backdrop of snow covered peaks. At the west end of the lake we boarded a bus that took us over Wilmont Pass and to a small harbor where we embarked on the Navigator. The ship was beautiful!. As the captain started the engine, and eased into the sound, we knew this was going to be fantastic! I am at a loss of words to describe the experience. If Mother Nature is your God, then the Doubtful Sound is heaven on earth! The scenery and silence was so pure, you felt guilty uttering a word. The awesome scale of the landscape and the unspoiled wilderness left us speechless. The captain guided us through hidden coves and waterways. Clouds hung low in the sky and the air was thick with humidity the mood was so calm and quiet it was almost Eire. Being the only boat in the sound, made us feel like Captain Cook and the original explorers who first discovered fiordland back in the 1700's. We cruised gently through the sound and out to the Tasman sea where I heard our nature guide, "Dolphin Dave" say the magic word...PENGUIN! Totally unprepared, I ran, grabbed the cabin key from Johnny and dashed down the stairs to our cabin to get the telephoto lens for the camera. Tripping on the threshold, I went flying into the cabin head first. Picking myself up off the bed, I grabbed the lens, and ran up to the bow of the boat at lightning speed. Johnny scrambled to get the bulky lens attached to the camera and at Last! Our eyes were fixed on a beautiful and rare crested Penguin nesting on a small rocky island at the mouth of the sound. We were even able to capture the moment on film. I am sure that Johnny and I were almost as entertaining as the wildlife. Imagine Jane Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillys, loaded down with gear, straps strangling her neck, moving around the boat with the anxious anticipation of a wildlife sighting. After an afternoon of cruising the sound, watching dolphin jumping and playing along the gentle wake of the boat, and absorbing the commentary of our nature guide, we were served some hot soup and prepared for a kayak paddle. Sliding into our plastic vessel's, we gripped our paddles, and began quietly slipping through the water with the Forest and waterfalls looming over our heads. For the next hour we enjoyed the peace, and the feel of the calm still waters of the sound under our bodies. The chef prepared a beautiful dinner and we slept like babies in the deafening silence of the night. The sky was inky black and the darkness was unreal until the full moon rose above the Forrest and lit up the night sky. In the morning we were served a beautiful breakfast and Captain Dave,( who was a spitting image of Humphrey Bogart in the African Queen) treated us to a up close and personal view of a thundering waterfall. That afternoon as the trip was coming to a close, a feeling of sadness came over us. The experience was so incredible it seemed like we were waking up from a wonderful dream when all you want to do is go back to sleep and hope it will last forever. Like a fine wine, we are trying to sip slowly and enjoy every taste of it's bouquet. We have become intoxicated with the stunning beauty of New Zealand.

Coromandel Peninsula N. Island

2005-10-08T23:22:00.000-10:00

Cape Farewell

2005-10-08T15:42:00.000-10:00

Farewell Spit and Tasman Sea

2005-10-08T03:07:00.000-10:00

Maurahau, Golden Bay

2005-10-08T00:20:00.000-10:00

PENGUIN CROSSING

2005-10-07T20:45:00.000-10:00

Last Friday morning we woke to a beautiful sunny day. The term here for sunny, warm weather is "FINE" and fine it was! Perfect for a morning at the Farmers Market in Nelson. I filled my back pack with fresh kiwi fruit, local produce and some fun sauces. The market was filled with local crafts people selling hand made arts and crafts, and the air was filled with wonderful aromas from fun and fabulous foods. We had a wee bit to eat at an Asian stand where we enjoyed a delicious curry roll. Having our fill of culture in Nelson, we headed north up Tasman Bay to the Able Tasman National Park. Once again we were in awe of the beauty. We spent the night in Marahau which is at the south end of the National Park. From there, if you want to go north, you can only do so by tramping, kayaking or taking a water taxi. I was very keen on the kayak idea, however, the weather was grey and chilly, so we decided on a water taxi ride. We boarded the boat in a car park, on a trailer, attached to a large tractor. The tractor pulled us out to the beach and we drove out a long way on the wet sand and into the shallow water, where we were released from the trailer into the bay. Our able captain navigated the low tide and steered us safely out to tour the beautiful world of water and rocks. Although the sky was a bit grey, the water was green and clear. As we went skipping and gliding across the water, wind in our hair, and smiles on our faces, we took in the fresh sea air, and the awesome scenery. We glided past one golden sand beach after another, and each one was as pretty as the last. It was a real treat to see the coast line from the water, unspoiled beauty from another perspective. The tides in the bays can range from 8 to 15 feet. It is a wild thing to see the water lapping on the banks of the shore with sail boats bobbing in the water, and then several hours later, there is a large body of sand separating the shore and the sea, and sail boats resting on their hulls, with the appearance of being beached and abandoned. From Able Tasman, we headed north again to the Golden Bay. We navigated a small mountain pass, with outstanding vistas from the summit. The valley below was filled with apple trees beginning to bud with pink and white blooms. Beautiful trees with clusters of large purple trumpet flowers, lined the highway. A short walk through "The Grove" was a real highlight. There was a thick jungle of trees and native bush growing out of a rock outcroping in the middle of a valley. It felt like we had walked into a far away world. We stopped at pupu springs where you can gaze into the clearest water in the world, without being in Antarctica, and clear it was! Our reflection never looked so good! We stopped in Takaka, a super fun little artsy town with great food and lots of fun art, where bare foot kiwis live an alternative lifestyle. We had been thinking about purchasing a mountain bike, and found a great bike for a good price at the local bike shop. We paid for the goods, and then, on with the helmet and up with the pant legs, off I went down the road following the Kiwi Condo along the road to the camp ground. As I peddled along the country roads I could not only see the sheep and lambs, but I could hear them baaa, baaaa, and even smell the clean rich smell of the fertile fields! What a cool way to get a little closer to nature and really entrenched in the experience. That evening, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the beach. The sky filled with orange and pink so bright that it lit up the wet pools of water on the sand to create a beautiful mosaic on the beach. The next day took us up to the very top of Golden Bay to Cape Farewell. We are still traveling with Rick, Katie and Hokulani, so off we all went, on a tramp thorough the rolling green fields of sheep and lambs, and down to Wharariki Beach. It was low tide, so we were able to enjoy the wonders of nature at it's finest! Large rock formations jetting up from the sea, have been caressed and sculpted into large caves and arches that welcome visitors to wander through and marvel at their grandeur. Our friend Rick, who is a big fan of mussels, harvested a large bag from the rocks and promised that after dinner that night, we too would be mussel fans. I was skeptical, but he is a wonderful cook and indeed, has changed my mind about our green lipped friends. That night it rained HARD! Sleep was difficult between the gale force winds, buckets of rain, sheep baaaaaaing and big dog snoring. No worriers, the next morning the sun was out again and we took a quick hike up to view the Farewell Spit. A large long strip of sand bar that curves around the top of the Golden Bay. It is a sight to behold. From the spit, there was no where to go but south, so south it was. Straight down to the Nelson Lakes National Park, where we were greeted that evening with a triple rainbow at lake Rotoiti. The next morning we woke to a hard frost. The wooden boat dock looked like a skating rink. The lake was cold and calm reflecting the snow covered peaks in the distance, framed by green and golden hills and a clear blue sky. I headed off on the mountain bike for a wee ride up the road where the view was magnified with every gain in elevation. Johnny also enjoyed a nice bike ride, and then we headed west. The Buller River Gorge escorted us to the west coast in style. We followed the river through mountains and valley's winding our way through lush Forrest and green pastures, and then along the coast to Punakaiki. This is where I saw a Penguin Crossing sign and got extremely excited! For the next hour, I was on the edge of my seat looking intently and hoping desperately to see one of the cute little creatures. Sadly, the road sign was the closest I came, and Johnny was good enough to stop and let me take a photo. Pancake rocks were just around the corner, so we parked our Kiwi Condo and headed out to see the show. As we walked around the cliffs high above the sea, the ground trembled and shook as waves crashed into the rocks and shoreline. Sea spray was hissing up through cracks in the rocks like an ancient sea monster from a Maori legend. It was fantastic! The rain began to fall harder and harder until it was coming down in buckets with the wind blowing it sideways. By the time we got to our camp ground , the sun was shining and we enjoyed another gorgeous sunset on the beach. Oh yea, the beach, did I mention, there are the most beautiful rocks on the beaches. I have picked up so many tumbled, soft, colorful, special rocks. My friend Katie has promised to show me how to hide them from Johnny so I can make it home with them before he finds them and gives them back to the sea. I am afraid I may end up like Lucy in the Long, Long Trailer, and have to throw them from the camper van so we can make it up the next mountain pass. Rain, Rain Go away! The guide book said "A Hard Rain Is Gonna Fall" as fall it has! In spite of it, we did two hikes today. By the end of it, we were in the running for the new soggy bottom boys. Still smiling, we shook off our outerwear, dried out our underwear and snuggled in for the night. Looking forward to another amazing day down under!

OFF THE GRID?

2005-10-01T07:22:00.000-10:00

So, I am sure you are thinking, they must have been swallowed up by a mud pool in Rotorua! Or perhaps they were thrown into a volcano for a cultural sacrifice. No worries, we are alive and well in spite of some very cold and wet weather. We got to enjoy the first September snow in 10 years! Aren't we lucky! The weather had been rainy, and very cold for about 5 days After we left Rotarua. We headed to Whakapapa to see the ski area that is on a volcano! Unfortunately, we were not able to see anything but a very thick mountain of fog. Word has it the mountain is beautiful. We had a nice chat with a local ski area employees, who filled us in on the details of the area over a handle and rugby match. It seems that the ski bums are the same wherever you go, what fun! It got us jazzed about ski season at home! We headed down the mountain and off to a glow worm cave, however, it seems that glow worms are not in my future. With bad weather, narrow windy road and heavy Sunday ski area traffic, things were a little tense, so we ended up heading south to New Plymouth. It was so cold and damp when we arrived, we found an outdoor store and purchased fleece hats and rain pants. Coming from Hawaii, we were not prepared for such cold and wet weather. Once again we were hoping to see a snow covered volcano, but it was hiding behind a large cloud and thick fog. So off we went down the south coast. The Tasman sea was very angry from the large storm that was upon the island. The beach was covered with large logs and various debris that had been thrown up on the shore. That evening we ended up at a small beach town called Kai Iwi. It was raining hard, sleeting and hailing. The hail was so hard it covered the road like a blanket of snow. We pulled into the only place along the road which was a local pub with a warm fire. The night was very windy and rough in the camper van, however the next morning gave way to some sun shine. We headed south to Foxton where we enjoyed a visit with Ruth, a friend of the family. She took us out to a very nice dinner and we had a delightful evening. That night was very cold and we woke up feeling like kiwi popsicles. Looking for warmer weather, we headed off to the pacific coast to see Napier. How sweet it was. The weather was fine, and the city was beautiful. The Marine Parade (coastal road) was lined with giant pines, and huge royal palms lined the main streets in town. We enjoyed a tasting at the ESK winery and celebrated our 15th anniversary in the camper van enjoying cheese, crackers and wine. How perfect! From Napier we headed south toward Wellington. We met our friends Rick and Katie and Hokulani, from Hawaii, and have been traveling with them for the past week. Wellington offered us a cable car ride up a steep hillside to a beautiful botanical garden were we spent the day before heading back to the city for dinner. The next day, we caught the ferry over to the South Island. Although the journey across the cook straight is known to be very rough at times, our crossing was very calm. Again the weather was cloudy and rainy, so sadly, we were not welcomed to the amazing colorful seas that put on a show when the sun is shining. The town of Picton was very quaint and quiet. That evening we walked into town to have some dinner, and at 7:00 everything was closed down except for the local Irish pub. Luck would have it that they could serve us some Guinness pie and as a bonus, it was local music drop in night. There were about 7 local and tourist musicians having a bit of a jam session and sing along. It was a blast! The next morning we headed down south toward Kaikoura, I was determined to see some whales and the weather promised to be better a bit south. Holy Cow! The sun was peeking out and the sea was amazing! An incredible aqua marine, azul, see through, color that is hard to describe or even imagine. We drove along the coast line, amazed at the beauty! We stopped at a beach that had thousands of male fur seals basking among the warm rocks along the shore, waiting for the ladies to arrive. This is described as the area where the mountains meet the sea, and all I can say is, it is incredible! As we looked inland from the coastline, popping out form a layer of cloud was a big beautiful snow covered mountain range. What a sight to see! That evening we landed at a 5500 acre ranch, where, we were the only campers, in a beautiful valley surrounded by snow covered peaks, and a few cows and sheep for company. Since the weather was not shaping up for whale watching, we decided to head back up north toward the Nelson. We took the scenic route along the Queen Charlotte sound. As we wound around the very steep and narrow road along the coast, we could see the fingers of the sound all dressed out with native bush, fern palms and yellow blooms covered the hills and the steep cliffs plunged into the turquoise sea. We drove on up to fairly remote Elaine Bay and enjoyed a quite camp spot on a beach that was so calm it felt more like a large lake than an ocean. We enjoyed a beautiful hike through a pine Forrest and native bush along the coast line. Once again marveling at the color of the sea. It it so beautiful it almost seems fake. The next day we were off to Nelson to take in some art! Nelson claims to be the art capital of the country. Once again it is rainy and cool, so we put on our rain coats and headed in to the city center to check out the galleries. There really are some very talented kiwi artists. Today is the Saturday market in Nelson and the sun is shining! So we will head into town and enjoy the art, fresh fruit and veggies and then head up north to the Tasman Bay and the Able Tasman National Park. We left the North Island with a calm and serene feeling. The landscape was very relaxing, rolling hills dotted with sheep and dairy cows, beautiful farm houses and lovely gardens. The South island on the other hand, is the Drama Queen! Everything we have experienced so far has been pumped up like it is on steroids. We can't wait to see more of this beautiful place! Until next time....Good Day Mate!

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!

2005-09-16T12:23:00.000-10:00

It is Saturday the 17th of September and it is Election day in NZ. This past week we spent touring the Coromandel Peninsula. From Miranda we took a scenic highway up to Thames and headed north up to the very tip of the Peninsula. We spent the first night at a DOC campground in Port Jackson. Besides some cows that wandered through the camp,we were the only campers at a beautiful beach side camp ground. Again we slept like babies begin lulled to sleep by the pounding surf. Once again the stars where big and bright. Still trying to find the Southern Cross. The next morning we drove only 7 kilometers up to the next DOC campground, Fletcher Bay. We took a beautiful hike around the coastal walkway. We hiked over rolling hills of open pasture land surrounded by a beautiful coastline of bays and islands. The sheep were grazing with their lambs and everything about the day was so peaceful and tranquil. And then suddenly! The lovely experience turned into a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock's "THE BIRDS"! Out of nowhere, came an Australian magpie shooting down out of the sky and make an attempt for my head. The darn thing came after me several times. I was scared to death, and Johnny was trying hard to get an action shot with his camera! I was cowering down at his feet trying to make myself small while he bravely attemped to get the perfect shot! After that excitement we headed back to camp where we enjoyed a lazy afternoon relaxing at our beautiful camp site in the bay. The next day we headed down the east coast of the Coromandel. So far the roads have been very narrow with no shoulder, so Johnny has done all of the driving. Today I was behind the wheel! Did very well! Johnny only gained a few more grey hairs, hardly noticeable. We stopped at Hot Water Beach where I was hoping to dig a whole in the sand and enjoy a natural hot tub, but our timing was off by several hours. You can only enjoy the hot water 2 hours either side of low tide. We enjoyed a very inspiring art gallery and then headed off to Hahei, where we settled in for the night. The next morning we took a awesome hike through native bush, a fern forest, that wound down to the sea to Cathedral Cove. It was amazing! The sea has carved out a natural arch way on the beach! The hike back to the car park was up hill all the way, so we got a nice bit of exercise. When we go the to Camper Van a "cloud burst" opened up, and it started to pour! Good Timing! That afternoon we drove down to Waihi Beach and looked up Huon and Beverly Gray, some friends of my Father. Although we had never met them, they greeted us like we were old friends. We had a delightful afternoon sipping tea and eating toast and cookies. That evening they took us to dinner at the local RSA where Huon is a member. We had a delightful time. Such sweet and lovely people! The next day we drove to Rotorura, where we enjoyed the Polynesian Spa, soaked in the hot pools and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. Today we are heading down to Lake Taupo. I have not worked out how to post our photos to the site, but I am still working on it. Right now you will have to take our word for it, IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Until next time! Gud Dai Mai!

UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS!

2005-09-07T16:17:00.000-10:00

We have arrived Down Under!

We have been here for one week, now and finally have a chance to check in.

After a 2 hour delay in Honolulu, we boarded the plane to Auckland at 2:00 in the morning. The flight was fine other than the symphony of snores that prevented us from getting any sleep. We arrived in Auckland an headed off to pick up our camper van and a couple of hours later, we were a bundle of nerves heading down the wrong side of the road, with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the vehicle, navigating round about's and pretty much freaking out! What was to be our home for the next 2.5 months, was a monster! A Mitsubishi 4 Berth Motor Home, that was more like a tank than a campervan. It was very new and roomy inside, but a bear drive. As we learch, grumbled and groaned through the city, I was sure we were going to run off the road of take out several highway signs at least! We made it about an hour north of Auckland and stayed at a delightful holiday park right on the sea. We immediately had a cocktail to settle our nerves and considered the vessel in which we were going to be touring and living, in for the next 2.5 months. Without too much thought, we decided to drive back to Auckland and trade it in for a smaller model. Our new model a 2 berth Fiat, is a dream! Much easier to drive, and very comfortable in every way.

So..... Off we go again...North of Auckland to Uratiti Bay. That's right...U-r-a-titi. It was beautiful! We had a much needed night of sleep and awoke to a rainbow over the campervan! The beach was a very long white sand beach, very scenic!

From there we traveled north to Whangarie, tried to explore some glow worm caves, but were lacking a torch so we were unable to go farther than the opening. We had a nice tramp through the countryside sharing the trail with sheep and it was delightful. That evening we ended up at Teal Bay, after taking a side road to check out the local scenery. We talked to a local couple walking the beach who said there were 8 people who lived there year round, and no one would mind if we camped by the boat launch. What a treat that was, a private beach! Quiet and beautiful!

From Teal Bay we traveled north to Russell in the the Bay of Islands. What a quaint and quiet town. We fell in love with an original watercolors of two penguin's and had it shipped home.

That evening we enjoyed a handle of beer at the local RSA, like our VFW, it was fun to talk to the local chaps! The Mayor of the town invited us to his table and said he could pull some strings if we wanted to move to NZ. We nearly took him up on it!

The next day we enjoyed a nice lunch and a stroll around the Treaty Grounds. Very interesting and beautiful. That night we stayed at Tauranag Bay, another beautiful beachside Holiday Park! Had homemade calm chowder in Mangonui at Douubtless Bay. Got a bit turned around and spent an hour on a road that went to no where. Stopped at a road side stop and had a handle enjoyed a Chat with some colorful locals. Went to the Kauri Forest to see the largest Kauri Trees, camped in the forest and shared our campervan with some hungry mosquito's.

After goofing around for an entire week in the far north, we rose early and drove all the way down, south of Auckland and are taking the scenic highway to Comorandel Bay. Tonight we are at another delightful Camper Van Site in Miranda, with a beautiful hot spring pool.

Our impression of this country so far is absolutely positive! The people are amazingly friendly and caring. We have been taken back by the beauty of the fluorescent green,rolling hills, with wild calla lilies, and daffodils, blooming everywhere. Spring time brings new life everywhere, baby lamb, and cows are abundant. The beauty of the sea, and the tropical vegetation is very similar to tropical Hawaii, however the weather is cool and comfortable. We are loving the whole experience so far, and the Big Dog keeps talking about buying a camper van!

WE ARE HAVING A BALL! XXOO

SAILING HO' OKIPA

2005-09-02T10:13:00.000-10:00

Another good windsurfing trip comes to an end. Out of a month, there were probably 5 no wind days. Average winds were light, 5.3 for me, water was smoothest early. We sailed 5 good days at kihea, I got up the courage to sail HO'OKIPA two days and the rest at kanaha. Got to see Matt Pritchard and Ben vanderSteen (pro's, very impressive) I saw turtles every day I sailed and beautiful blue rolling water. This is the BEST! Johnny :)

AS THE SUN GOES DOWN ON MAUI

2005-09-01T13:30:00.000-10:00

It is hard to believe, but we have been on Maui for a month and it is already time to go. It is amazing how fast time goes by! I was sitting at kanaha beach after a big wind day, and feeling a little sad that it was our last day of windsurfing. And then I thought to myself, gee wiz Ang, you get to go to New Zealand from here, what are you sad about! The reality of our next trip has not completly sunk in, until just now. I was lying in bed last night thinking that the campervan we will be living in for the next 2 1/2 months, is about 1/3 the size of the bedroom in the condo we are staying in. Having never experienced an extended stay in a camper or trailer, it will be interesting to experience the cozy atomosphere. After all these years, John and I may learn a little more about each other for better or worse. I have not seen my turtle this trip, so I got up early this morning and headed out to little beach, no turtle, but a beautiful day and a nice way to say Aloha to Maui.

Has she Snapped a Twig?

2005-08-30T21:46:00.000-10:00

Johnny and I are off on a Big Adventure, We are going to travel to NEW ZEALAND for 2 1/2 months straight from Hawaii! I know you are thinking WHAT? Angie Page? Indian name "Works-a-Lot",responsible,Dedicated, Angie Page? Maybe Johnny..master of relaxation and vacation..But Angie..WOW! Well, as we see it, the runway is not getting any shorter, so it's time to lift that nose and take off to experience some new horizons. Join us as we share our journey to this magical land.

MAY DAY MAY DAY...SOUTH BEACH MAUI

2005-08-30T20:30:00.000-10:00

Hot Dog! Look at that Big Dog Go!
I have large aspiration's of obtaining the skill and finesse in which this salty dog graces the wind and sea. He is truly an inspiration. This past week we sailed on the south shore as the trade winds were light and the north shore was calm. I was the wind dummy and went out on a 5.3 meter sail at about 12:00. On the reach out, a good sized wave broke over the reef and I popped right over it!. Adrenaline rush... But pretty fun! Caught it twice and survived both passes! HUGE! When it was time to turn the rig over to Big, there was a mayday alert on the beach. Two windsurfers where in trouble drifting out to sea with a broken down rig. Rescue Dog sailed down wind to check check on the situation. A woman had rigged her sail incorrectly and the sail had slid off the top of the mast while she was sailing. She was in a total panic, scared to death and flailing. Her gentleman friend gave her his rig and took hers. She sailed to safety, while he tried to de-rig the sail in the ocean and swim back to the beach. When Rescue Dog arrived, the gentleman was as bit clueless as to what kind of danger he was in. He was very far from shore, downwind and being pulled out to sea by the currents. Rescue Dog helped him gather his gear and began to tow him in to shore. The victim was a bit clumbsy and made it a very difficult rescue. Rescue Dog was doing his best to windsurf in light wind with what amounted to a nearly 200 pound anchor. Muscles aching, and tensions rising, Rescue Dog was able to make steady but gradual progress to the shoreline. Rescue Dog was wearing down, feeling the pain of the heavy load and hoping that he had the strength to make it to the beach, when the coast guard arrived! Rescue Dog sailed into the beach down wind a good distance from where he launched and walked his trusty rig up the beach to his original launch.

Kai Whakini, formerly...aka Chicken of the Sea...aka....Angie...Faithful and devoted spouse.... In the mean time, had taken a nice beach walk, at the encouragement of Rescue Dog, and was unaware of the entire situation, which in retrospect is good thing. Rescue Dog found Kai Whakini, relaxing in the shade of a palm tree reading a book and sipping fresh ice water from a bottle, when he arrive on the beach, dog tired, thirsty and with no hero's welcome what so ever!

After about 10 minutes, he casually told Kai Whakini about his Rescue Dog adventure. More disappointed that he had missed out on over an hour of windsurfing, than he was excited to tell the story of his heroic rescue.

The victim; delivered safely on the beach, still unaware of his imminent danger less than an hour earlier, approached Rescue Dog on the beach to thank him for his heroic actions. He was making arrangements for a buddy to go to the store and pick up a couple of six packs to celebrate this good fortune, however it seems that his buddy locked his keys in the car, so the beer never arrived.

No worries... Just another day in the life of a pretty cool guy, Rescue Dog, ready, willing and able, with no hesitation to help a brother in need.

That is my Big Dog! aka...Johnny Page, after nearly 20 years I keep falling in love with him! :)

COUNTDOWN

2005-08-27T11:14:00.000-10:00

It is Saturday August 27th, and we have less than a week before we are off on our Big Adventure.

The past week has been busy getting ready for the trip and making the most of our windsurfing vacation on Maui.

The wind has been great this trip. Fairly light compared to years past, which is great for me. I think I am slowly graduating from "Chicken of the Sea" to "Kai Wahine"
(Sea Woman) Johnny has recovered from his sinus infection and has been sailing nearly every day.

We did take advantage of a "no wind" day and headed up to the Haleakala crater, and drove through "Up Country" (the hillside on the way up to the crater) I love up country. If we lived on Maui we would definately live there. After touring around all day, stopping at art galleries and other attractions along the way, we stopped at a lavender farm. It was beautful! They grow over 30 types of lavender. We enjoyed a lavender scone with a cup of lavender tea, on a deck overlooking the sugar cane fields and coastlines of the island. It was very relaxing. We also purchased some lavender oil for the long plane ride to New Zealand. It really is amazing how the lavender has such a calming quality about it.

Another no wind day we took a trip over to Hana. It is a beautiful drive and as always, we enjoyed the dramatic scenery of lush forests, waterfalls and cliffs dropping down to a sea so big and blue it can make our every day worries seem small. The size and power of the ocean really puts things into perspective for me.

With the help of a few friends and my lovely neighbor Karen Bailey, our New Zealand trip preparations are nearly completed. Karen shipped me a package with jackets and binoculars. Airline tickets are purchased and we have secured a 4 berth campervan for the tour. I have notifed work of my sabbatical, and set all of our bills up on autopay. I think the only thing we have left is to ship our windsurfers back home and we will be ready to lift off!

MAJOR CHANGE OF PLANS

2005-08-24T21:11:00.000-10:00

So, we are on Maui for a 4 week windsurfing vacation, when 3 weeks into the trip…MAJOR change of plans!

Have you ever felt like you needed to do something really big? Shake things up a bit, go out on a limb? We all have our definition of what “going out on a limb” is, but for me, a fairly cautious, serious, gal, who’s idea of adventure is parking in a no parking zone or breaking a rule of any kind, taking a sabbatical from work for 3 months and traveling New Zealand in a campervan is a BIG DEAL! I often dream of adventure, but generally do not take any risks. But, for some reason, I have this uncanny feeling that this is something we need to do right now. When we look into the mirror these days, it seems like there is someone else looking back. Someone who is wiser yet a bit softer, gently used, nicely broken in, and seasoned with a little salt and pepper. Some call it middle age, I prefer to see it as your favorite pair of jeans. Just worn enough to be comfortable, but not too old to wear in public. I guess we better get some use out of these jeans before they wear out and have to be retired.