Kiwi's are more then just great fruits! We love you New Zealand- We're moving here!

Just arrived!

 Dragon Diary back again:  Just one week ago we were in Sydney, posing gorgeously in front of the Sydney Opera House.   The days since then have brought us yet more new experiences and all of the visual delights of New Zealand’s stunning natural endowments.

Upon arriving in Christchurch, New Zealand, we hooked up with our car and headed to the Wilderness Lodge, a high country sheep farm near Arthur’s Pass on the main road between Christchurch and the West Coast of NZ.  The 100 or so mile drive was scenic and to Sheila’s distress, I pushed her out into the mountain air a few times in order to get some snapshots.  She’s still shivering.


Early morning brisk walk

 Loving the unknown and unexpected, we arrived just before 5 pm to discover that we shared our farm with 5000 sheep, the merino kind that gives us those oh-so-toasty sweaters.  Our general orientation to the farm and the delights of the high country consisted of taking several hikes on our own, a couple of walks with the lodge owner who has a PhD in Botany and shared some of his insights on the native flora.  Muy interessante!!  Then, off to watch the Border Collie, Sheila’s new best friend, round up the sheepies for some shearing.  We never knew that the object of shearing was to remove the entire coat in one piece.  Neither did we know that the lambsies liked getting 20 pounds of wool off of them…a full coat truly does become that heavy when it gets wet.  As for me and the farm animals, I preferred to just cuddle the littlest ones.

The welcome reception at wilderness lodge!

The view from our room was right out of the movies…flat river valley bordered by snow-capped mountains.  Beautiful weather topped off a very cozy stay at the Wilderness.



Several observations…who would believe rain forest flora in NZ?  Is it possible that we could be overwhelmed with excitement at a supermarket sighting??  Two buttons for every toilet, what for?  One for half a flush, and one for a full one.  Not a bad idea, America and Mexico. 

OK- The coats don't work, but they will look fab in Rome!



Our last morning in those mountains, we took a 6:30 AM kayaking jaunt on a most-tranquil high country lake.  Very nippy, but a midway shoreside campfire toasted our tootsies and bolstered our courage for the paddle back to the far shore.  We sometimes amaze ourselves…camper girls!!!



6:30 am kayak and cold and wonderful and memorable!























Nothing like 3 miles before a country breakfast!

Nanci and her cuddly companion



Everyone likes a haircut...and these guys are no different



Hmmm, I feel good, and look so pretty!

 

I am bringing him home Allison!!!




Then, in the car for the 100+ miles drive to the West Coast and down the Coast to Fox Township and the Fox Glacier area.  There, the focus was on heli-hiking, and heli-hike we did.  Heavy boots, crampons, hiking sticks, and a guide…good to go!  For three hours we tramped on the glacier…up, down, across…peering down aqua-blue holes of water fed by sub-ice streamlets, and looking through ice passages.  Sheila braved going through the ice tunnels…I passed on the opportunity, content to watch as she emerged victorious on the other side.

Each of us was exhilarated by both the experience of hiking on a glacier and by the knowledge that we just plain did it.  Love those “firsts” in life.

Sheila here writing:  What you are about to see is a little bit of an exercise for me.  I like to embrace the fear that wells up within me, grab my footing and move through it. I know exactly where I get that urge from. 

This ice cave trekking was NOT easy for me, if anyone thinks it was,  then they don't know me! 

Easy for me would have been sitting outside the cave and meeting the others at the other opening. Once inside, I felt I needed more strength.  I  felt my knees shaking and my pants getting wet from the melting ice around me.

I knew as I felt my pant legs drench, that I better I move faster. If the water was melting on the inside, then for sure it was melting on the outside .....above my head. 

I am not going to write much more, instead I will  just use some pictures to convey what I was feeling and how proud I am of Nanci, who at 70 still nurtures her curiosity most days.



Here we go!




Another Adventure!!!!




Looks Easy Enough, don't you think?

If I live, I promise...isn't that how it goes????



"A little perspective--that would be us"



 

Head towards the light!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Going Home




More memories as we travel around New Zealand.



From Sheila

This, this NZ  is not to be compared.  This is big, bold and broad. These Kiwis’s as they love to call themselves, they are New Zealanders. They make mouth watering wine wonderful wool sweaters and wake up early in the morning.  They are hearty men and women.  Nanci eats lamb every day, while I eat the freshest of fish with wonderful Chardonnay’s.

1000's of people leave notes on a beach

We left our beach note

Note from Sheila to Sheila so I remember this moment:

Big Bold Broad Land

This is for you Brother Bill, 100 plus years and still sailing



Now that is one big tree!

Talk about a fork in the road!!!!

Albatross or Seagull???????

Albatross's having fun!

Big Vistas on our hunt to find the Royal Albatross