Home to Canada

Almost home to our town........

After a bumpy, but safe flight we made it to Vancouver! Thank goodness the weather was sunny and warm (for a Canadian winter) The kids were great for the flight and managed to sleep quite a bit. Keith and I did not sleep at all- so after 36 hours of being awake Keith and I were slurring our words. Keith kept on calling his cousin the wrong name.... We were tired!

Today we drove to the interior of BC to see my sister and we drove through SNOW!!!! At least it is mostly on the mountains- although my sister's yard is still very WHITE! The plan is to find some warm clothes as soon as we can and hope spring comes good and early. Maybe we brought some sun with us?????

The NZ adventure is almost over and I'm so glad we have all the pictures! I now ask myself "did we really go there?" It feels like a bit of a dream now- hopefully the tan will not fade too fast! Luke finally gave up wearing his flip flops- too cold! Megan and Ellie went to bed tonight with socks on and 4 blankets over them- BRRRR! We have some winter to experience......

In a couple days we will drive the rest of the way home and finally get to hug some grandparents. The kids are so excited. Megan is keen to be the official 9 year old on the 25th too.

Now onto the next Canadian adventure- whatever that may be......

Last few days in NZ.....

2 more sleeps before we get on the big plane and fly to Canada! The kids are really excited to see home. I think they forget what cold and snow feels like. I'm planning to bring some sunshine with us! Too bad I couldn't bring the beach too...

We have been on the goodbye to NZ tour! It has been tough to say goodbye to NZ family and friends- there has been quite a few tears and hugs. I'm glad we had the time to see everyone once more and catch up. We've been through Ohope, Whakatane, KatiKati, Mount Maunganui and back to Hamilton. So busy and so fun! We loved the last time with Mr. G's family- we went swimming in the ocean- that was a treat!

The buzz wagon went to its new owner today. That was too easy and we are quite thankful to have that one done with. Tomorrow we will drive to Raglan beach in a rented car and see the water one last time- so sad!

Brad and Megan's house has been transformed into a packing disaster that will have to fix itself by Friday. I think we'll fit it all in! Keith is not keen on buying more luggage. I think we'll do just fine! Luke and the girls have collected a few treasures along the way....

All of the kids are now complaining about their shoes not fitting and their pants being too short- must be time to come home! Ellie tried to make me feel better by saying that when she wears her runners her pants don't look as short! At least the NZ patches are holding out and winter footwear will be on sale at home. It is quite funny really- but the shoes are pricey over here and all I have bought for the kids is flip flops (jandles) - which will not do in the SNOW!

Thank you for all your prayers and love. Will be home to Canada pretty quick!

Back to the North Island...

Oh are we ever nuts!  Today we woke at 5 am to catch the Picton-Wellington ferry- that was a 2.5 hr drive!  After the ferry we drove another 4.5 hours in the POURING rain to Taupo!  Thank goodness for iPods, COFFEE and bubble-gum!  I hope we sleep tonight!

For the last few nights we have stayed in Motueka (good luck saying that one!) near Nelson.  The house we rented was on the harbour so the kids could kayak and puddle about in the water.  It managed to be HOT for the 4 days and we all have minor sunburns to show for it!  The kids had a hard time falling asleep at night as it was quite humid too.

We visited a few beaches- the Abel Tasman has lovely beaches and clear water.  At Kaiteriteri beach we were in the water for 10 minutes and then we had to get out!  The whole beach was cleared- shark attack at the beach nearby!  It was quite the experience to see the police and wardens come by and clear everyone out!  As it turned out it was really a sting-ray attack, but the fellow was hurt quite badly and could not say what hurt him until he was stabilized.  Quite the Kiwi experience!

We visited Mr. G's sister and the vineyard she helps her husband manage- the kids got yet another "field trip" experience!  She also treated our 3 to yummy ice cream at the Mapua wharf- lucky kids!  

The kids are counting down the days until we fly home and I think the grandparents and cousins are too! 

Queenstown and Fox Glacier

Wow- are we tired!  If you look at a NZ map you will se how far we've travelled since Monday!  Keith is a little under the weather and I hope we will all stay healthy enough!  

Now Keith was not too sick to- BUNGEE JUMP!  It took very little prompting from the kids for daddy to be keen to leap off the platform, down 43 metres and plunge into the river below!  It was fun to watch- it just didn't last very long!  Keith now has the groovy t-shirt and his kids' awe!  

Queenstown was a busy place for young people to have lots of fun!  The kids liked watching the jet boats and para-gliders.  The lake was so clear- it seems like all the water here is clear.  We were surprised to see that most of the hills around Q-town did not have many trees.  Looked a little like the interior of BC.

Today we drove ALL the way to Greymouth- a really long way to go in one shot!  The kids were really good.  Keith bought them bubble gum and Luke practised his bubbles most of the way!  He's pretty good at it now!  We stopped at the Fox Glacier for a short hike and look-see.  A few weeks ago 2 tourists were killed by getting too close to the falling ice.  Luke has remarked several times that he learned to stay behind the ropes at the glacier!  I'm hoping he has learned a few other things too!  

The kids are asleep and tired after today- 9 hours of driving, swimming in the pool, riding the flying fox (zip line) and watching the sunset- well their parents watched the sunset while Luke used drift wood as light sabres, Megan made a beach decoration and Ellie batted rocks into the ocean with drift wood bats!  The sunset was perfect.

Invercargill, Te Anau and Milford Sound

So many things to see and so little time to see it all!

We are in Te Anau- a quaint little town on a lake in Fjordland.  The scenery here is breathtaking and immense- huge mountains that are almost a straight vertical slope.  There is as much rock below the water as there is above the water.  Being B.C. people we are even impressed!   

The trip here from Dunedin was long and the kids did great.  We drove along the southern scenic route all the way to Te Anau- which meant a longer drive and more stops!  (it was 10 hours of travel)  The ocean side along the south coast was green and lush.  We are amazed at how often the terrain changes as we drive and all the SHEEP!  So many SHEEP!  We stopped in Bluff- the south most town in NZ.   Keith managed to find the steepest hike to get to the lookout point- it was good to get the exercise and wear Luke out!    It also conveniently stopped raining long enough for us to complete the hike- imagine that!  

Today we went on the Milford Sound cruise.  The sound is actually a fjord- we all know the difference now!  The waterfalls and views were spectacular- even in the mist and clouds.  We did see a couple penguins in the water- but they were shy and did not stay around for long!  It is worthwhile to look up Milford sound online and look at pictures- but as always no photo does it justice!

Tomorrow we are on the road again.  The kids are getting really good at packing up suitcases and cleaning out the buzz wagon.  One could only hope these skills of efficiency will last when we get home!