Thursday January 1st, 2009

This week we’ve gone to Waitangi to see the large Maori waka ama and walked around the treaty grounds, went to the Cavali Islands, dove a shipwreck, went shell collecting on a beach covered in abalone, went on numerous beautiful hikes, headed north to Whangarea (another stellar forested bay in the north), and made it back to Russel to celebrate the new year with a Casino Royale themed party. The trip just keeps getting better and better. Wishing everyone back home health, happiness, and lots of love in the year ahead.

Sunday, December 28th, 2008

On Friday we completed what Stormy calls a ‘surf and turf.’ With numerous water toys (waka ama, kayaks, and stand up paddle boards), we each paddled across the bay to the town of Russel, put our hiking shoes on and hiked to the mountain top before paddling back for lunch. We moved the big boat on Saturday to the island of Moturoa and went for a three hour hike across the entire island. The views were breathtaking, the hills covered with grazing sheep, and the coastline as rugged and beautiful as any I’ve ever seen. That afternoon the boys had another successful dive returning with over 250 green-lipped mussels that became our dinner. We said our goodbyes to grandma on Sunday, glad to have heard all her amazing stories and thankful for the time we got to spend with her. We all have had a great time.

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Christmas Eve was another beautiful and fun day. The boys got surf while the girls took an epic hike in Paihia and was finished off with a successful scallop dive. The water was pretty cold as you can see by the thick wetsuits and hoods, but worth every minute for a dinner of 52 legal size scallops. We moved the big boat up the coast a ways to an Island called Urupukapuka and Seonagh treated us to an amazing turkey dinner and our first experience of traditional British pudding, delicious and heavy with brandy. The 10 of us spent Christmas morning leisurely drinking champagne, having brunch and enjoying each other’s company. The clouds parted in time for an unbelievable hike to the top of Urupukapuka with breathtaking panoramic views and that afternoon we headed back to Russell to have Christmas dinner with Stormy, Cindy, and Lauren. We are still counting our blessings.

Sunday December 21st, 2008

After flying all night, grandma and I met up with Lilly and Orion in the Auckland airport early Sunday morning. The reason it took them so long to get thru customs was that my derelict brother was caught and fined for trying to sneak three football sized avocados, grown on their land in Hawaii, into the country. Not only was he so excited about the size and flavor of these fruits that he conveniently ‘forgot’ to claim them, but after paying a $200 ticket, he was asked to reenact the whole incident for a New Zealand television show about immigration and customs. Harmless, entertaining, and typical. Eventually we found our way to Al and Cindy Pagel’s house in the bay of islands with Kauhale Kai anchored in the bay directly in front of the house between the towns of Russell and Paihia. That night was the most spectacular sunset of the trip so far. The girls went hiking along the coast on Monday while the boys went lobster diving and came back with 4 giant lobsters that made for delicious dinner. We all went for another hike that afternoon to a nearby homestead. The quality of the hiking trails in New Zealand is impressive with clearly marked trails, sturdy bridges, and lush green ferns and giant trees. Tuesday was a rainy day of last minute Christmas shopping and another surf mission for the boys.