Having a hell of a time
Updating the blog, that is! Internet is not easy to come by out here on the West Coast of the South Island…also, having a hell of a time. Will post pics as soon as i can.
South Island Wedding Adventures and Stuff
Arrived in Pohara late last night after a ferry ride between islands and a really curvy drive from Picton to Pohara, which is at the north side of the Abel Tasman National Park at the western top of the South Island. (http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=23.875,57.630033&ll=37.0625,-95.677068&spn=36.178967,79.013672&z=4). We actually stayed up past midnight for the first time since we arrived in New Zealand…a $78-dollar 12-pack deserves some late-night appreciation, i guess. Slept in past 6:30 a.m. today, too :-)
Today was Heather and Scott’s wedding day (the Horsmiths are official!). Anily and James fulfilled their duties as flower girl and ring bearer very well; the ceremony was sweet and— as you can see from the pictures — the bride was beautiful and the setting amazing. It definitely adds a special significance to this trip that we were able to be present and part of the occasion.
We’ll spend the next few days in this area, chasing after the surf and maybe doing some wine and kayak tours…remains to be seen, but will try to post about the adventures that occur!
Blog Update (by James)
We went to the museum of New Zealand’s history. I liked the rides. I liked the exhibits. I got a rugby jersey and a rugby ball; the jersey team is the All Blacks. I learned that there are two different kinds of rugby. Also the rugby world cup will be in NZ this year. Bye!
(Not Very) Deep Thoughts (by Ashley)
Since we haven’t started surfing yet, we’ve been spending our days in cities and towns; feels like we’ve been down the slides of every playground on the North Island (though we certainly haven’t). It’s amazing how fast a day can go when you’re “doing nothing” with your kids. They finally stopped complaining about how much I work, but I don’t think they’re sick of me yet. I should probably appreciate this phase while it lasts.
Time has been spent with lots of leisurely breakfasts, lots of coffees and snacks, dinners and drinks, cooking at the campgrounds, a few museums, a hike, a cave tour, and a soccer game and yoga class here and there. We’ve walked across Wellington a few times in the last couple days as the weather went from hot and sunny to gray and windy within minutes; we visited Te Papa, a huge museum where Jason and I learned a lot about the history and geography of the country and the kids argued over which hydraulic learning ride was superior (it was the first one with the stunning rugby hit that sent us flying in our seats, of course). We’re on our way to catch a ferry to the South Island this afternoon…let the surfing begin!
Out and about in Wellington…tramps of a different variety and museums and other cultural pursuits.
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