Back in Canada, almost home

The last legs of this journey are pretty boring. So you can skip this if you want. But you never know...


In the Auckland airport, I had a couple of hours to watch the rain, orrr.... I could have a little snack. Typical of this blog, and as people who know me know, this meant food. My brother asked if I could attach pictures of some of the wonderful food I've been eating in NZ, and it was something I hadn't really thought of. Fish and chips on the beach didn't seem interesting enough, so my camera had been left in the car. But I managed one last little meal, and this one definitely met the criteria for a photo opp.


Now, I realize that the presentation lacked a little something, and the water wasn't exactly vintage (although it was New Zealand's finest spring mineral water). But the sandwich was darn near gourmet. Chicken, (roast, not processed), brie and cranberry on whole grain bread. And the banana was perfect, no blemishes anywhere and exactly the right ripeness. So what if the atmosphere was a little, uh, bright? The view was of the rainy runway, and I was watching planes taking off and landing, definitely rivalling some of the finest harbour and mountain views of the past couple of weeks. ;)

Finally we get the boarding call, and it's off to Vancouver. Too bad that there isn't much to see between Auckland and Vancouver other than water and cloud. Good time to sleep.
So now I'm back in Canada, and after a good long walk and some sushi, it's time for more sleep.
Having explored another country so far from home has given me a much different perspective on what is accessible, what is adventure, and how much there is to explore right here at home. Especially after seeing the Rockies under sunny skies today, instead of the rain I had the last time I was here, only days ago. I tried an Okanagan Merlot tonight, probably not the best one, but I'm sure that there's the possibility of a wine country tour in the works for BC in my future.
After all, I don't have room in my luggage for any more wine this trip. A couple of bottles snuck in there from Marlborough, NZ...

Farewell Auckland

My final day here in NZ dawned warm and sunny - the best day yet for weather. Couldn't believe it, as I'm sure that in a couple of days, it won't be that nice. I finally get the full tour of Westview, and a superb lesson in wine growing and the NZ wine industry. The more I learn, the more I'm curious - I never realized there was so much involved in making wine. Westview grows grapes, which are used by other wineries to make wines. Bridget and Gary take me to each different grape and clone, and I get a chance to taste each grape, and see how close they are to the taste of the wine. The grapes are almost ready for harvest, especially the Pinot Noir.

Bridget has put together a beautiful lunch on the patio, which we enjoy thoroughly - cheddar muffins, fresh veggies, and some lovely Sauvignon Blanc that was made from their grapes.

Then I get a mini tour of a couple of other local vineyards, and try about 15 different wines - talk about a learning experience! Now I know what a Pinot Noir is supposed to taste like, a good Savvy from a not so good one, and what makes each one different.

Then it's my final goodbyes to my wonderful, generous, interesting and fun friends as I board the plane in Blenheim that will take me here to Auckland. The flight over Marlborough Sounds is absolutely beautiful, but the whole North Island is clouded over, and we arrive in Auckland in the rain. It has waited my entire time here to get yucky, so it will be easy to sleep on my way to Vancouver. See you soon!

Seals and Whales

Yesterday I left my camera at home, and had a real tourist vacation day - I went shopping with Bridget. I think I managed to get enough souvenirs without going over my weight limit on the way back. There are so many things here that are unique to this place, that it would be quite silly to go home without at least a sample.

New Zealand is a land of many wonders. Geologic oddities, flora and fauna that is found nowhere else, and one of the few places in the world where some species can be found all year round. I've learned so much, and have so much more to learn. I hope that in some small way I can bridge the 12000 km gap between home and here by sharing my adventures of the past few days. There is still so much more that could be written here, so far this has been such a brief synopsis. Let me know if you want to see more.

Today my friends took me back to Kaikoura - I passed through here on the scenic train last week - so that I could go swimming with the seals. The weather had not been cooperating the past few days, with strong sou'westerly winds, cold and rain. But today, the forecast is for calmer winds, even though there has been a very early snow on the mountaintops. We decide to go for it, so Bridget packs a lovely picnic lunch and off we go. Along the way, we can see that the sea is indeed fairly calm, but with a bit of swell. There are surfers out close to Ohau. Although the waves are not really high, they do curl, and it's a thrill to see this, a new experience for me.

Disappointment hits when we get to Kaikoura and learn that the seal swim is cancelled today due to the high seas. There are lots of other options however, and we decide to go on the whale watch, which is still going on, albeit with seasickness warnings. No worries. We have a few hours to kill before our tour at 3:30, so back up the coast we drive to see a seal rookery that we had passed earlier. If I can't swim with them, I can at least get a few shots.

We're in luck, there are at least a hundred fur seals laying on the rocks sunning themselves. Mom and Dad seals are mostly sleeping, and the pups are playing in the pools formed by the rocks and waves, or chasing each other about like little children do. We see two little pups chasing each other in circles, just like puppies. The surf crashes over the rocks around them, and it's a scene from National Geographic.

Bridget knows of a walking track close by that will take us to the top of a cliff looking out over the ocean, where Gary and I can get lots of pictures of surf breaking over the rocks. The walk itself is not long, but it starts going up the cliff at a very steep rate, and the sights of the harbour below, the low tide baring interesting shist formations, and are those penguins on that rock?, mean that it takes us about 40 minutes instead of the estimated 25 to get to the top on the other side of the peninsula. We see a perfectly formed lenticular cloud, which is only found near mountains. And stunning vistas of surf and rock.

The hike down takes about 15 minutes, so we have time to stop and see some trees that I haven't seen before, but we're not sure what they are. Gary has heard this is a Norfolk pine, but I admit I would need to look it up to be sure.

The boat for the whale watch starts off having a bit of trouble with kelp in the jets. But eventually they clean it out and off we go to find a whale. On the way, we see terns, albatrosses, and shearwaters. Albatrosses? Wow, that was a bonus. Two different kinds even. Off in the distance is a pod of Dusky dolphins, and they seem to be moving our way. Then we hear the call that a whale has been spotted and we will move in for a closer look. It is huge - a sperm whale that is about the same size as our boat and it's sister ship, just off to our left. All we can see for the most part is the dorsal fin and the spout, especially since the swells are quite high. It stays floating close to the surface for a few minutes, then goes for another deep dive, with the fluke giving us a final wave.

Just as the whale dives, the dolphins reach us, and start swimming around very close to the boat. They jump and somersault and put on a real show for us. It's hard to get pictures there are so many, at least 50. They're beautiful, with markings similar to orcas, and seem very friendly. They swim close to the boat for at least 15 - 20 minutes, then it's time to go back. What an experience to have seen all these amazing creatures in their natural habitat - no trainers, or glass walls of an aquarium, or cage bars at a zoo.

We finish the afternoon with a large order of fish and chips (sorry, no pics) and take it down to the beach to eat while we watch the sunset. The wind has died, it's nice and warm, and the seagulls surround us, hoping for an easy snack. Sorry, none left. Best fish and chips I've had in years.

The final piece de resistance is a cloudless, moonless night when we get back to Westview, and the night sky is brilliant with stars out here where there is no light pollution. Gary shows me the Southern Cross, and the Magellanic clouds - two things you can't see in the sky in the northern hemisphere. It's easy to imagine how the early explorers could navigate using the stars - they could actually see them. I notice Orion (here it's the Tipping Pot because he's upside down), and see three stars in the constellation I've never see before. Gary explains this is Orion's scabbard. What a way to end an amazing day!

Flying and Sailing

Wow, the time is just flying by - and Monday (NZT) sees me boarding a plane back up north to Wellington to meet with my friends again and hopefully see a tiny bit of the capital while I'm here. Now that I can see Queenstown airport without the mist and rain, I'm in awe that I flew in on an Airbus A320 on a runway that sits neatly between two mountain ranges. This little plane took off just moments before I took this shot.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Bridget and Gary again, and meeting some of their musical friends (and watching a top 10 international chorus rehearsal). But even before that, the flight to Wellington itself turns out to be incredible. Miles and miles of remote mountains and wilderness, which I find out later is created due to a fault line. After landing, I hear that that there was a small (5.5) earthquake in Fjordland the day before, which I likely didn't feel because I was either in the gondola or on the luge.

One of the things I had hoped to do while here was to see Mt. Cook, which I had from a distance a few days ago. Since then, it has not been completely visible from ground level, due to the clouds. But the flight from Queenstown goes right over the mountain. The captain announces that we are flying at 21000 feet, and the height of Mt. Cook is 12000 ft (plus), and as we pass over it feels very much like we could just reach out and touch the Tasman glacier on top. New Zealand has over 3500 glaciers, and while we can see several of them as we fly over this mountain range, the Tasman is the largest. I couldn't fit it all in this frame of the summit. After seeing this incredible sight, the rest of the flight seems markedly anti-climatic.

After my friends picked me up from the airport, we have a few hours before the chorus rehearsal. The day has turned out to be absolutely beautiful, sunny with a light breeze, and very warm. I'm glad I wore shorts. We find a little cafe (this whole country is full of them, and the coffee here beats Starbucks and Timmy's by a few hundred miles), and have gelato, cake, and coffee till it's time to pick up our hostess for the night - Joan. Very relaxing, sitting by the Wellington harbour, watching the rowing club move sculls around, and sipping a flat white. Wellington is a real artisan town, and already I know that I will need to come back and spend more time here. The New Zealand School for the Fine Arts is just down the pier, and Joan's house is full of local artists' works.

We find another cafe for supper, then it's off to rehearsal. What an incredible chorus! This group of about 45 young men (mostly collegiate and college age, some not old enough to shave) have an incredible sound, blend of voices, work ethic, and ability to pick up everything Gary gives them to work with. I get goosebumps listening to them, and now my list includes going to the next BHS international contest to hear these young gents perform.

Tuesday morning arrives way too early, and it starts by walking down to the beach (2 min. from Joan's house) and getting our coffee from a wagon on the beach. It's divine. Our first stop is Te Papa, an amazing cultural museum that includes the only colossal squid on display in the world (and it is colossal!), and an earthquake experience (you enter a small house and an "earthquake" hits it, very interesting!). Today, they have a "Taste of Treasures Tour", which includes a guided tour of some of the Maori artifacts and a small taste of traditional Maori food. Perfect! Our guide turns out to be Maori, and several of the artifacts are from her family. She is delightful, and very knowledgeable, and the tour is very complete with descriptions of everything from the facial tattooing (moko) to the meeting houses, and finally, a taste. The tea (of course I bought some) is an herb that is said to be so strong in nutrients and anti-oxidants you should only drink it twice a week, is flavoured with ginger and lemongrass. The bread, which is made from potato flour, all that was available during the depression, is served with a pesto paste and pine nuts. The biscuit is served with makura honey - different from any other honey I've tasted. What a treat!

Unfortunately, we can't stay any longer, as we have to walk several blocks to the train station, where we board the shuttle to the ferry. The Interislander is considered to be one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world, and will take us from the North Island to Picton, on the South Island. It's an incredibly windy day to cross Cook Strait, and the boat lists to one side for most of the way (significantly listing) until we reach the Marlborough Sounds. For a long time, it seems as though the ship will just keep going until it crashes into the hillside, and then, off to the left, we can see an opening - narrow, but an opening all the same. It's soon apparent why this ride has the reputation it does. The water is blue-green, the hillsides are green and yellow, and the sky is sapphire blue. Sailboats dot the area, along with salmon and mussel farms. Occaisionally we see houses, but they are dwarfed by the hills around them.

From Picton, it's an easy 20 minute drive back to Westview, where my adventure began. I've convinced G&B to let me take them somewhere nice for dinner, and wow, do they find a nice place. As everywhere here in NZ the wine is superb, and the food and service here is 5 star. Entrees included crayfish ravioli with scallops (including their roe - another new experience!), and antipasti plate full of wonderful taste treats and a few other goodies. I chose the veal and risotto for my main - incredible. And dessert was a selection of apricot treats - mousse, sorbet, meringue and tart. I really need to come back here again!

Lord of the Rings Day - and more

This was an unplanned day, waking without any real sense of plan. I decided to browse the local activity guide for things that really jumped out. Bridget and Gary had recommended the gondola ride to the top of a nearby mountain, and the luge ride at the top. Sounds like a blast. But that will only take an hour or so. Then something caught my eye. A few minutes and a quick call later, and I'm booked for an afternoon in an off-road vehicle touring some of the remote locations they used to film Lord of the Rings.

But first, to the top of the mountain. And there I found the ideal tool for the navigationally challenged. I'm only 5000 km from the South Pole? Wow. The luge track is cement, not ice, and the luge sleds have wheels and brakes. But it's still a lot of fun to go ripping down the mountainside, doing hairpin turns, ducking through tunnels and trying to do belly-floppers on the bumps.

Next, it's the Kiwi Bird Sanctuary, which was at the bottom of the gondola ride. Although you can't get pics of the rare kiwis, you can sort of see them in the red light of the darkened buildings in which they're housed. They really are amazing. Hopefully, they will be able to get rid of all the stoats, rats and possums here and the kiwi and other flightless birds on the islands can make a real comeback. As a bonus, there are a number of other rare birds at the sanctuary, like this duck with an attitude.

The weather couldn't be better for the safari ride, and Fran is a wonderful guide. She takes 5 of us in the Safari 4WD up to Glenorchy, a small town of about 300 about 45 km from Queenstown. Not far from there the road becomes a gravel track, and we enter Mount Arising National Park. There are still a few houses, and the Dart Stables, which is the most expensive real estate in New Zealand - dozens of movie scenes and commercials have been filmed here, and there's a crew here today.

But most interesting is the sign that says "Cattle Stop". I ask if this is where passengers wait for their ride to the rest of the tour, since buses can't get up this road. Not that cattle are the easiest things to ride. Fran chortles and asks if she can use that one on other groups (the Kiwi sense of humour is very Canadian). Then we see the real reason for the sign.

And of course, we have to stop.

Fran points out glaciers as well, noting that it's very easy to see the blue in them today. That, and the fact that you can see the edge of the glacier and how thick it is, is how you can tell if it's a glacier or just snow on the mountain. These are definitely glaciers.

Many of the filming locations for LOTR were so remote that the main actors had to be flown in by helicopter. Like Mt. Pluto, which was used as Zirak-zigil, where Gandalf finally smote the Balrog. We also see Ithilien, and parts of Amon Hen. Of course, there were 163 sites, and we can only see a few of them today. But the highlight of the trip is having our afternoon tea in Lothlorien.

Now that I have an official LOTR Location Guidebook, I can also pick out places I've seen in the past few days that were used in the movie(s). And I find myself this evening dining on the patio of Pier 19, right on the harbour, bluff oysters on the half shell and rack of lamb with fig sauce and dukkah spice, and looking at the Mountains of Mordor.

I have to get ready to fly to Wellington tomorrow. Right after I stop to enjoy this fabulous sunset over the Misty Mountains.

Day 5 - already? Queenstown...

There was fresh snow on the mountaintops this morning, and the air was fresh - a typical autumn day for me weather-wise, but the locals were shivering, saying it was way too early for this cold weather. However, I had promised myself a couple of days ago that I would take my time driving back up to Queenstown, and take in the incredible view, especially north of Kingston, and this seems the perfect weather for that. The road is one of the few that I've seen that actually hugs the mountainside, with rocks on one side and Lake Wakatipu on the other. This is a main highway, yet it's made primarily of tar and chip, and is only two lanes (one on the bridges). In some places, the speed limit is 35 kph, rather than the standard 100. As you can see, it's probably warranted.

I finally arrive in Queenstown, a couple of hundred pictures later, and find myself in a place that seems somewhat European, with narrow, winding, steep streets, and "No Vacancy" signs everywhere, especially along the most scenic areas. I find a reasonable place (a hotel suite, complete with kitchen and within easy walking distance of the core, for a very reasonable rate, and what the heck, I'm on vacation, I deserve a couple of nights with a jacuzzi tub!), and book it for two nights. There is so much to explore here, so I better get going! It's already after 1 p.m.

As I drive out of Queenstown to explore the countryside, I happen across one of the little one-lane bridges that are so common here. Crossing the bridge, I notice how high up it is, and the beautiful blue water in the gorge below. The parking lot on the other side of the bridge is for one of the many jet-boat adventures I'd heard about. I walk over to the bridge and take a few shots, noting how narrow the gorge is, and yet how shallow the water. Then I realize that this is the water that the jet boats are skimming along at very high speeds. I simply must check this out after watching one do a 360 almost right beneath the bridge. http://www.shotoverjet.com/

And now that the weather has warmed up and the sun is out, it seems like the perfect time. What a blast! We scoot along at about 35-50 knots in some places, and the boats are designed to be able to stop almost as quickly as they accelerate, using impulsion (instead of propulsion) technology. We spin around inches from the rock walls, and in less than a couple of feet of water. I have a video that I'll post to Facebook but if you click the link above, and then click the video right on the home page, you'll see what it's like.

After the ride, I decide to head up to Arrowtown, a small, historic village that was recommended to me, especially for the drive. Passing signs like "Alpaca Poo $2.00/bag", I finally find the village, and it is crawling with people. Cars line both sides of every street, all the way to the edge of town. People are walking or cycling everywhere, and I decide it's not worth it to find a parking spot, but can return tomorrow. I find out later that there's a special cycling race going through there today, and the village will be empty tomorrow. One of many things to put on the list.

On the way back to Queenstown, I find a great spot to shoot "The Remarkables", a range of mountains that is exceptionally beautiful for their ruggedness. The highest peaks are over 2300 meters high. It's the darkest range in this shot.

OK, time for tea (or dinner). I check in to the hotel, and then grab my camera to explore the town itself. The walk to the town centre is short and all downhill, but I question my sanity when I look back up at where I've come from. I have to walk back again, after all. But it's worth it. Downtown Queenstown is a happening place, and if I wasn't so tired, I would consider joining one of the bar crawls. But for now, I just want to eat, then go back to my room. Uphill. As I overheard one person say, "In Queenstown, everything is uphill". Well, everything except the harbour I suppose. But that's for tomorrow.

Doubtful Sound - no doubt

This was a day of new perspectives. Almost a paradigm shift. Seeing a part of the world that hasn't changed really since it was first discovered by the Europeans (Cook - the Maori didn't bother with this area as it was too cold and too hard to get to), was quite an eye-opener. Doubtful Sound, other than the odd tour boat, remains untouched by man, and always will due to the fact that it is a National Park and thus protected. Let me start at the beginning of the day.

The sound of pouring rain woke me before the alarm, so I laid in bed a little longer. By the time I had my shower and was ready to leave for Manapouri to pick up the ferry, the sun was out. It was quite cool (8 C) and the wind chill was probably closer to 0 C. A bit of low cloud over the mountains, which will hopefully burn off, but might make the light interesting for taking pictures.

Driving along the road to Manapouri, I find myself having to remember to breathe, as each curve in the road reveals a bigger, more beautiful scene. It seems impossible not to believe in a higher power when faced with such evidence.

We board the ferry that will take us across Lake Manapouri, about a 45 minute ride, to West Arm. This is the site of the Manapouri power station, which we will tour later, and that's a story in itself. From the West Arm landing, buses will take us across Wilmot Pass and down the other side of the mountain to the top end of Doubtful Sound. Another, larger boat, will take us through the Sound and out to the Tasman Sea.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Day 2 and 3

Weird, it's Thursday evening here, but I know at home it's only Wednesday. And not only did I skip a day by crossing the date line, but my situation last evening meant that I was unable to connect and post my day's adventures. So, here goes...

Day 2

The fog of jet lag #1 has faded, and the view from the window when I waken removes all doubt that it really is New Zealand that will be home for the next few days. Row upon row of grape vines stretch across the valley, and the sky is bright and clear over the mountains (oops, hills here). The morning starts with a lazy breakfast and is topped with a flat white - the perfect blend of espresso coffee and steamed milk. Then it's off to catch the scenic train to Christchurch.

This is a definite must for anyone who comes to NZ. (And yes, it's Enn Zed, not Zee). The carriages (not cars) are about half windows, and there is even an open observation car, for a full view of the incredible scenery. The trek from Belnheim to Christchurch follows the eastern coastline for much of the way, and we are treated to huge tidal splashes against the rocks, mountainous terrain, and fur seals sunning themselves.

But the real treat was the variety of terrain. Flat farmland gave way to huge hills where sheep and alpaca, cattle and deer grazed. And each tunnel through a mountain was a doorway to a new world - the end of the tunnel revealed a completely different scene from the entrance to the tunnel.

Day 3

An early morning saw me board a plane to Queenstown from Christchurch. My heart sank when I found that I was seated in the middle of the row of seats - fore of the wing but not close to the window. And it was cloudy. And it appeared that I would miss what many had told me would be a fabulous view of much of the south island, including Mount Cook.

The wonderful lady (thanks again Polly!) who was booked in the window seat graciously traded seats with me (poor schmuck Canuck), and then when the sun broke through the clouds, pointed out the various landmarks. So I got to see Mount Cook after all. Boy, that's going to be another week the next time I visit this country, it's absolutely spectacular. Even this time of year (end of summer), the top half of the mountain is covered in snow. Very much like the Rockies that I saw only a couple of days ago. And of course, I had left my camera in the overhead, in behind three other people's bags.

Queenstown airport is tucked between two mountain ranges, and passengers are warned that the pilot has to get pretty close to the mountains in order to turn around and line up for the runway. After landing, this becomes even more noticeable. And the signs really bring home the fact that everything here seems upside down and backwards.

It's rainy and chilly, so different from yesterday. Perfect day to do a bit of driving and go down to Te Anau. Perhaps I'll have enough time today to see the glow worm caves. It doesn't take long to figure out the the car is backwards, but not upside down, and off I go south on what they actually call a highway here. More like a country road back home, but that's ok. It's wide enough that the hairpin turns don't really seem all that dangerous. I promise myself that the trip back will take several hours longer so that I can stop and take pictures.

Te Anau, although very small, has lots to offer for food, and I find a small cafe that serves torpedoes and salad for lunch. It's very chilly here for this time of year, about 8 C., although it's no longer raining as it was for much of the drive. I get a boarding pass for the tour to the caves, and find a place to stay for a couple of nights.

The boat ride up Lake Te Anau reveals just how stark and unspoiled this country is, although really, the side of the lake on which I focus is part of Fjordlands National Park.

The caves are an experience like none other, there are no cameras allowed, not because of the darkness, but because the noise would scare the glow worms. We hike part way into the cave, then a dozen or so at a time get into very tiny boats, all light is extinguished, and we must be very quiet so as not to disturb the worms. Their tiny little lights spread across the "ceiline" of the caves, and we silently coast along the cave river to the dark grotto that is home to several thousand of these little larvae.

The effect is quite surreal, and reminds me that we could just as easily be looking up at a night sky full of stars.

When we emerge from the caves, the sun has broken through and the air is a little warmer. When we get back to the dock, I decide to do a little exploring, and just a brief drive through the area reveals a beautiful little wildlife sanctuary, where I find a Kekeru (both a wild one, as well as a protected one), and another protected area that hosts a beautiful Takahe.

So, now with my tummy full of lamb (yes again), wine (of course) and pavlova with blueberries, I need to catch some sleep, as I must be in Manapouri by 9 a.m. tomorrow to catch the tour to Doubtful Sound. More later!

Finally here!

I arrived in Auckland this morning before it was light out, so my first impression of this island country was of a lighted runway only. But it wasn't long before the sun came up, and I started the final leg of my journey to Blenheim in a small Q300. At first, it seemed there was nothing out of the ordinary. What I saw was mostly farmland, cattle grazing and the end-of-the-season barren fields. But it wasn't long before the view, even from 20,000 ft, was spectacular. These rivers of clouds filled in the deep impressions between the hills, and the early morning sun accentuated the landscape.








Flying along the west coast of the North Island showed increasingly high hills, but it was difficult to gauge the height of the hills until we approached the south island. The cloud cover had still not dissipated, and my first glimpse of the south island were these fabulous cliffs that dropped directly into the ocean.

Getting off the plane, the first thing I noticed was that there were hills all around, and driving along the "highway" to the home of my hosts, besides the hills (I thought they were mountains), were palm trees and logging trucks. And vineyards, everywhere. Being in the middle of the Marlborough region, which is quickly becoming known worldwide for it's wonderful Sauvignon Blanc wines, is an experience like none other. Huge expanses of grape vines, surrounded by these huge hills and palm trees.

When we reached the home of my friends, with whom I'll be staying for a couple of days, I was quite impressed with the view from their patio.

Later, while dining on lamb and sipping some lovely wine on the same patio, we watched the sun dance across the top of the hills, sending rays of light skyward from behind the trees and vines and hills as it sank to it's bed. Sitting here in my shorts and t-shirt and hearing nothing but a light breeze and the ducks splashing about on the pond, I know that I've made the right choice for vacation. It's beautiful and peaceful here.

Starts with a single step...

Wow. They say that every journey starts with a single step, and as I flew towards Calgary with the brilliant morning sun behind us shining on the Rockies it seemed as though my first step was one of several hundred miles. Helped by a jet of course. But looking at those mountains, glistening with snow and ice and rising out of the landscape like a giant wall, I had to think that the pioneers of this big country must have looked at that and, as they got close enough to see how huge they were, thought "Oh crap".

We now have the advantage of being able to fly over them, but those mountains are huge, and even from the air, seem impassable. How fortunate that there were people of such great fortitude and strength to explore and conquer them. As the gentleman in the seat behind me said "I bet there are still a few skeletons down there".

We left the sun behind and flew into clouds about halfway across BC, and landing in Vancouver was quite surreal. Typical Vancouver weather greeted us and it was gray and rainy all day. Still is. Not to be deterred, I quickly procured a day pass for the public transit system and hopped aboard the new Canada Line from the 4th level of CYVR airport. It only took about 35 minutes to get downtown Vancouver and see things like BC Place:

And the cherry blossoms blooming.

Now, back at the airport, drying off from being soaked (thank goodness I remembered that umbrella), and actually looking forward to being off my feet for a few hours, I'm looking at the Boeing 747 that will carry me across the Pacific for my second step of this journey. It will take me from this early spring of western Canada to the early autumn that is arriving in the sourthern hemisphere. I'm hoping that I'll maybe see a few colored leaves in the deep south. It's finally starting to seem real.

One more sleep...

Wow, now that it's this close, I'm getting as excited as a little kid the night before going to the circus. I'm pretty sure I won't see elephants and tigers this time around, but I know I'll see things I've never seen before.
So, one more sleep? Well, one more sleep before I leave, but it's likely that there will be a few sleeps between now and the time I reach my final destination for the beginning of my first, big, new adventure. New Zealand. It seems very unreal, even though I have all my plane e-ticket receipts, everything is looked after, I've packed well, and oops, I forgot my umbrella, hang on...
OK, now my list is complete. I think. Still can't believe it. In a couple of days, I'll be on the other side of the world, sitting on the side of a mountain, having a glass of sauvignon blanc and enjoying the laughter of friends.
Then, it will be a few days of exploring a little corner of the world, about the furthest corner imaginable.
Come along with me! I can't fit you all in my suitcase, but I'll try to put a little bit of my trip here so you can share until I get back.
See you soon.

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, what else?

When the news came recently that the massive earthquake in Chile caused tsunamis across the Pacific, it was horrifying to think of the destruction that must have meant. I know no one in Chile, although my prayers are with all who have been impacted there. However, the news was that tsunamis had been seen as far away as New Zealand - and where there is one earthquake there are usually more. So I wrote to my friends and queried what the impact had been to them. Fortunately, the waves were nothing more than what I've seen on Lake Huron during a summer storm, about 4-5 feet high. They cleared people off the beaches until the wave passed, and there was no damage.

Because New Zealand is so mountainous, it would take a tsunami the size that hit Indonesia a couple of years ago to cause much more than shoreline damage. But I did a little reading and learned that there is volcanic activity, including an eruption as recently as 2000, on the north island around Rotorua. And that they have occasional tremors there, similar to California. So it is possible that I could experience a force of nature that I am unaccustomed to, in the next few weeks.

Since most of my time will be spent on the south island however, I anticipate that my biggest challenge will be learning how to drive on the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car. As Bridget says "your feet are the same" - I'm hoping she meant the gas pedal and brake are where I'm used to having them, as that would totally mess me up if they were backwards too. Although maybe she meant that my actual feet were the same. How did she know that I have 2 left feet? Oh dear, this could be interesting.

A New Adventure

At some point in my younger days, someone within my circle (I think it was Deb C.), introduced me to the phrase "Hey, got my Peter pan Getaway Boots on!". Whoever said this usually looked down at their feet, but what they were actually wearing there was meaningless. The phrase really referred to the fact that the owner of the Getaway Boots was ready for a new adventure, a trip, a new experience, some physical activity, or just getting out of the current space.

I loved the expression, it really suited me, and I've used it occasionally when the opportunity arose. It seems however, that in the past few years, those opportunities were not as frequent as I would have liked. It is difficult to have adventures when you are completely encased in that middle-of-your-life cocoon called "family". Unless of course, you have the means to include the family and all break out of the cocoon together, which unfortunately, I did not.

Finally, I find myself in the glorious position of being able to once again brush off, and put on my Peter Pan Getaway Boots, and skedaddle off into new adventures, excursions, experiences, activities, whatever opportunities present themselves or that I create. It's not that my family has disappeared, the members have just morphed into beautiful butterflies and the cocoon is no longer required. This blog will detail and journal my adventures, and sometimes it will include the adventures of others. It's a way for me to share with my network the crazy things I do, interesting situations I get into, amazing people that I meet.

It would be fun to know that I was bringing a tiny bit of the world to anyone interested. Share if you like, or not. Read if you like, or not.

K, gotta go get ready for my first stop, New Zealand. I mean really, if you're gonna go, go as far as you can right? So here in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, I have six more sleeps till I put on my Peter Pan Getaway Boots.