Better late than never.

I have now been home for over a week, and have still yet to post the pictures from out last hurrah in NZ. So I made a video of our tour around the South Island, beware it is long. We started in Christchurch and traveled to Greymouth, Franz Joseph, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Dunedin and Lake Tekapo. We spent 11 days just doing whatever we pleased. On the plane back Candace made a list of all the things that we had done. So in a joint blogging effort, here is her list and my video.



flew in plane – rode in a shuttle – went to Coachman’s hostel – walked all over Christchurch – got lost, a lot – ate kebabs and french fries – watched street performers – canoed on the Avon river – ate sushi – played bull shit with Peuce – slept in a hostel – rode on a beautiful train – met Jon… - ate tuna – trekking in the bush – shopping – pizza – big hunks – slept in a penguin hostel – Easter! – boarded the magic bus – jade/greenstone/pounamu – met a goat – hiked to a glacier – hiked closer to a glacier – hiked even closer to a glacier – trekked back to town – got lost – got scared – got lucky – ate pizza – bar… - slept in a hostel – boarded the tragic bus – saw where a glacier should be – sat in a café for two hours – played bull shit with Tim – boarded bus number two – got off bus number 2 – boarded bus number three– southern comfort – Fergburger – Lick – slept in a hostel – jumped off a bridge – luged down a hill – free soup – lick – slept in a hostel – boarded a bus – MILFORD SOUND – wished we were trekking – mexican food – patagonia – slept in a hostel with a German boy – boarded Keith’s magic bus – Cadbury chocolate – walking – Baldwin street – walked – Mcdonald’s lime shakes – internet – slept in a nice hostel – boarded a bus – went crazy on the bus – hiked to Mount John – ate pizza – hot pools – slept in a hostel – boarded our last bus – stayed in a witch hostel – tried to go to church – spent all our money – watched movies – flew home

3,2,1...5,4,3,2,1

Well I realize that I kind of left everyone hangin' with my last post. Good news is.... I AM ALIVE!! I was scared out of my mind but I jumped and I survived. When I got to the top of the bridge my biggest fear was that I would chicken out ... or my legs would break ... or the bungy would snap or I would get tangled as I fell... Okay I had a lot of fears. I got to the edge, said some things I won't repeat, then heard the counting. I felt like Andy on The Office when Dwight starts counting down to make Andy do things. The man just started counting before I was ready and all of the sudden... I jumped. I felt real graceful for about 3 seconds just falling freely, then I turned into a rag doll and was tossed around. It was very cool and I even touched the river below with my hands.

The beeper just told me I only have two minutes left. Hurry... hurry. I am pretty sure this week I have been to the most beautiful places in the world. We went to Milford Sound this week and I think God was showing off when he created it because WOW!!! I think I would like to be a bird that lives there all year. I am loving it and can't believe it is almost over. Candace and I are already planning our next trip back.

We tried to go to church for the second time today. We got up early, showered, got bikes, rode a couple miles only to find locked gates. I guess church was cancelled today. I think it was because General Conf. is watched later here? I guess going to church in New Zealand was just not meant to be. We did however go to a sermon at Christchurch Cathedral. It was interesting.

Sorry no pics, I always hate posts without pics, so just imagine me sitting in a corner of a room on an outdated computer, with a tired look on my face wearing a brown sweatshirt.

Free, free fallin'

Well we have started our 11 day trip around the South Island and it is GORGEOUS! I expect to see Frodo and Sam around every corner. We have been to Cathedrals, lakes, oceans, The Southern Alps, glaciers, etc. It has been lovely.

We are in Queenstown for a couple days and have some interesting adventures planned. In about an hour I am going to jump off of a perfectly good bridge. Why? I don't really know. You know the saying "if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you?" Well apparently I would, because I am. This is where bungy jumping was first invented and we are jumping from the bridge it started on. I hope I survive. If not, I love you all.



This is how I feel right now. Scared and a little apprehensive. This photo doesn't really show it because there are people watching me, waiting for the computer.

My New Zealand Love Affair

Yes you heard me correctly. Today I got flowers, well a flower, from a very handsome Maori boy. He might seem a little younger than expected but still very sweet.


This little boy is so dang cute. He runs in every morning to talk to me. He is always bringing things in. Yesterday he brought me a Fejoa (a fruit here) that he found on the ground. Today he brought me a flower. Averil just cracks up about how much he likes me so she has been snapping pictures when he brings me things. As you can tell I am very interested in what he is telling me.

If you want to be free, be free. If you want to sing out, sing out.

Well words can't really express this weekend. It was one to remember that is for sure. We spent the weekend in Whangamata, where Averil and Stewart have a holiday home. It was a beautiful place, right by the beach. Saturday Stewart and his friend Keith took out fishing. It was a bumpy and fast boat ride. We didn't catch much. One girl caught a spikey orange thing (pretty sure that is it's scientific name) but that is all.

I don't think that I am holding the pole properly. Dad would be disappointed, even though this wasn't his type of fishing. And yes I wear this shirt all the time, don't worry about it. It is the only long sleeve shirt I brought.


Stewart's big catch of the day was his hat, which blew off into the ocean. He LOVES it when I take his picture, can you tell. Usually he ducks out of it, or looks away, but on a boat he had nowhere to hide. He is actually one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He cleans, does dishes, makes and brings us hot drinks and cookies, and when Averil jokingly talks bad about us he always defends us and says how much he likes us.

Everyone hanging on for dear life during the bumpy ride. I swear we were catching air jumping over the waves.

We had tea at one of their friends house. She built this gorgeous house right on the beach front. It was amazing. A friend of their friend came as well and to our delight brought her guitar and singing voice as well. They say a picture says a 1,000 words. I will let you choose those words yourself.Being so close to the beach we thought that we should probably go swimming...... in the pitch black......in our birthday suits. Of course we returned to find our clothes missing, but we managed to scrummage up enough to take a memorable photo.

Candace and I also tried surfing. We thought about doing lessons, but thought "nah, you just paddle and jump up". WRONG! You don't just paddle and jump up anywhere. It was incredibly harder than I imagined. After an hour of drinking salt water we ended up laying out on the beach and getting sunburned. That turned out to be much easier than surfing. This picture was taken from the porch of the Averil's friend's house. I wasn't kidding when I said it was beach front.


"If you want to be free, be free. If you want to sing out, sing out. There's a million things to be, you know that there are."