More Adventures....

Hello boys and girls! Thanks for stopping by. I know it has been a while since we've sent electronic signals through the internets (do you really think there's only one?) to you, but we've been busy trying this 'adventure' thing. It takes up a lot of time, so get off my back, geez.

Since the last update....

Fiordland
No, this is not Norway, nor does it look anything like it, not that I've been there. I'm just guesing. Fiordland is freakin amazing, and is also the site of the yearlong sandfly convention. They just love it there, thousands of them...everywhere...biting. We stayed a while until they drove us mad. Here's a sweet pic:

My beautiful bride took that while I was in the car eating my 2 Minute Noodles. Those sandflies were freakin relentless! Either they really love instant noodles or biting the life out of my legs. Either way was no good for me.

Hokonui Moonshine Festival
We made our way through a couple of other cities on our way to this bad boy. It was an entire day celebrating the life and work of moonshiners in the Southland Region. Quite a reason to party. It was a day full of folk/bluegrass music, great food (things like rabbit sausages and deer bacon! Mmmmm) And there were some beverages for sale....no word on what was actually consumed, however. What happens in New Zealand at moonshine festivals, stays in New Zealand at moonshine festivals. Kind of like Vegas.
That is a picture of Emily holding someone else's glass of wine, I swear!

The Catlins
This is probably our most fun stop yet. We decided to stay and work for a fun couple. She is originally from San Francisco, but they moved back a few years ago. Anyway, they were loads of fun and went at about 90 miles/hour everyday. Needless to say, we were not lacking for excitement. They were in the process of opening a holiday park, with everything from tent sites to a self contained cottage, and we painted everything in sight. Emily got to use a paint sprayer, which she really loved, as you can see.

Our hosts, Paul and Lynn, made sure that we worked hard and played hard. Most days, we would finish up painting and don the wet suits for a dip in the Pacific ocean with the boogie boards. This was excitement like we didn't expect, and it was only 5 minutes away from the homestead, so we could be back in time for Happy Hour.

We also experienced an 'At your own risk' ropes course. Certainly like nothing you'd see in America. There were plenty of chances to fall about 20 feet and break something important. But we didn't, cause were awesome.

This is our only serious picture from the Catlins, cause that course was zero joke. Emily was a champ, and did everything except elements that didnt present a flattering view of her. The birds overhead had a very critical voice.
We're thinking about taking mom through it when she comes. Yeah right....

The Catlins could be the most beautiful place that we've been yet. It is certainly the most undisturbed and pristine environment we've seen. It was beach, rainforest, rolling hills all in the same place. I'll leave you with some scenery. All we thought was, "Wow!" It was stunning.

McLean Falls, just up the road from where we stayed.

Cathedral Caves. Only accessible at low tide. Amazing.

Sunset from the back deck.

Possum Hunting: I shot that sucker, right out of a tree.