Suspended in Time

Two significant stops today:
Buller Gorge swing bridge, 110 meters long, which spans the Buller River. We passed on the option to take the zip line back across, mostly because of the cost--seriously.

On the west coast we stopped at the Paparoa National Park to see the Pancake Rocks which are known for their unusual formations and the tremendous power of the blowholes at high tide.

It was fascinating to see these incredibly unusual formations as a result of the forces of time and nature.

Trail Mix

Another day afforded an opportunity for divergent activities, as Allan was eager to once again try his hand at fishing the New Zealand rivers. Since I'm not one to sit in the car for 8 hours, I took a water taxi from the coastal town of Kaiteriteri into Abel Tasman National Park. New Zealand's smallest national park was named after the man who first visited these shores in 1642. Despite the clouds (although sun was predicted all day), the ride along the Golden Bay past Split Apple Rock and Seal Rock was very enjoyable. I was dropped off at one beach and walked a 4 km trail through the forested hills to another beach where I was picked up 3 hrs later. Michael W. Smith and Matt Redmon accompanied me on my walk, so it was a very contemplative and enjoyable time. (If those names are unfamiliar---those guys are praise singers, not trail guides.) I returned to the harbor with two hours to kill before Allan was due back, so I relaxed with a book and ordered a lamb pizza which was absolutely delicious. As for the fish, Allan said they're safe for another day.

A Shocking Idea

Fiddling with all the different plug sizes, shapes, adapters, hertz and converters in each different country is a bit bothersome. So I ask you---why couldn't all the electric guys from all the countries of the world get together and vote on what kind, shape and voltage worked the best and stick with that? It sure would have made traveling a bit easier and burned out fewer appliances over time, right Paula Brady? But perhaps that is just too easy--after all, that was back in a time when men ruled the world and women didn't have a vote. While we're at it, maybe we could all decide which side of the road we want to drive on. Can't we just have a do over?

Show Me Your Mussels

Today we stopped for lunch at The Mussel Pot in Havelock, New Zealand, which (in case you didn't know) is the green lip mussel capital of the world. They had more interesting preparations for mussels than I have ever seen. I sure enjoyed my grilled cheese/bacon and garlic/herb mussels. Yum!

A Ferry Tale

Friday we took the Inter Island ferry from the north island of New Zealand to the South Island. Being veteran ferry riders from Washington State, we weren't sure what more to expect, but it was awesomely beautiful as well. The day was perfect for the 3-1/2 hour ride---aquamarine water set under a sky of blue. We arrived in Picton, a picturesque little town off the Queen Charlotte Sound in time to check into our B&B and walk to town for a bowl of seafood chowder.

Free Falling

The Huka Falls are a set of waterfalls on the Waikato River that drains Lake Taupo in New Zealand, spewing 220,000 liters of water per second, enough to fill 5 Olympic sized swimming pools every minute. It was awesome to see the power and volume of the falls which quickly channel water from 100 meters across to 15 meters across.

Separate But Equal

Can you believe that Allan and I have been together 24/7 for the past 33 days? So yesterday was the first day we've spent apart, as he was anxious for a day of fishing New Zealand's rivers and I was looking forward to a round of golf. Sure doesn't sound like fun to me to walk around in a stream in wet tennis shoes for 10 hours hoping to hook fish that you aren't going to keep anyway, but then some of you might not think that chasing a small white ball around for four hours isn't any fun either. But I also had time for a dip in the thermal pool, a nap, amd some reading. I must say, we both enjoyed our chosen activities and the time apart was a good thing. This picture shows one of the few nice greens on the course, as most of the fairways were completely brown since New Zealand is experiencing a drought. I'd attach a picture of the two fish Allan landed, but they refused to be photographed fearing they would end up in a post on Facebook.