In 14 hours we embark on a Cathay Pacific plane destined for Hong Kong.
That means we have a 4.30am date with the 24hr international airport of Auckland.
We leave behind New Zealand.
A dream I have had for over a decade.
A country thoroughly travelled. A back country greatly enjoyed.
When I see a picture of the south island mountain chains, my heart still leaps. Clearly my tramping days are not over. I long to be back in the huts at night admiring the remarkable landscapes of untouched beauty under a clear night's sky filled with the southern hemisphere's constellations. Sparkling. Quiet. The night belongs to the Rurus who call out to one another.
This trip was amazing.
There was so much that we wanted to say before leaving Auckland, but time quickly escaped us as we hastely planned the next stages of our trip. So, it will have to wait until we get home.
Hong Kong.
A polar opposite world both in population and pace. Vibrant colours, created more so by the culture and the neon lights doning chinese characters along the building sides. The beautiful bustling world of Hong Kong.
To have the opportunity to travel throughout the world is a wonderful gift. The world was created for us to discover. We are so blessed to have been able to spend such a dedicated amount of time exploring New Zealand.
This trip is only the beginning of a lifetime of discovery.
Kia Ora New Zealand. It's been fun.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
That was fun
Nine days from now, we embark on a new adventure. Hong Kong. Which is an entirely different adventure from the hiking in New Zealand.
Unfortunately, for those who actually do follow this blog, I'm about five months behind in blogging. That's due to a lack of a laptop or internet access at a steady interval. That's where my wonderful journal steps in and captures parts of my thoughts. When we return, that's when I'll actually have time to recap our hiking adventures in New Zealand from January to the end. It was amazing, and if I was asked to say only one thing about New Zealand, it would be how fantastic their hiking is. The system put into place by the DOC is superb and something I wish we had back home in Canada.
A bonus about being at home while blogging will be that I can actually post pictures at the same time! :)
Anyway. So we're in Auckland now. Completely unplanned. We should actually be enjoying life on a beautiful sheep farm in the Waikato district. Unfortunately, on the way out of Rotorua yesterday, Sgt. McClaughwd had a heart attack. I guess that might be the best way to put it for a car. On the busiest street through Rotorua, right smack dab in the fast lane in the middle of traffic.
Kaput.
Since we were blocking traffic when we placed the AA call, it was marked as an urgent callout. Luckily, a kind gentleman pulled over to help us push the car out of the way. The side of the road...where we spent almost six hours that day.
The first AA representative was a mechanic who was sent out to assess the situation.
Two words we didn't want to ever hear again.
CAM BELT
You've got to be joking me. It felt like we were about to relive the entire Owaka garage experience all over again. Our cam belt had seized.
And so began our long wait for the tow truck driver to arrive from Auckland. This gave us the perfect opportunity to clean out the car and sort ourselves out. But then came the biggest decision we would have to face...the decision to save Sgt. McClaughwd or to let him go.
So close to the end of the trip. Is he worth saving at this point? A solid little car with, albeit surprisingly, a lot of life left in him. But is he worth the cost to us?
Decisions we had to discuss once we arrived in the city.
Feeling closer to home then ever before, we sit and ponder the current situation and the changes we are now facing.
Sadly, this setback means no more farms, and no more sheepies.
My heart is broken.
Unfortunately, for those who actually do follow this blog, I'm about five months behind in blogging. That's due to a lack of a laptop or internet access at a steady interval. That's where my wonderful journal steps in and captures parts of my thoughts. When we return, that's when I'll actually have time to recap our hiking adventures in New Zealand from January to the end. It was amazing, and if I was asked to say only one thing about New Zealand, it would be how fantastic their hiking is. The system put into place by the DOC is superb and something I wish we had back home in Canada.
A bonus about being at home while blogging will be that I can actually post pictures at the same time! :)
Anyway. So we're in Auckland now. Completely unplanned. We should actually be enjoying life on a beautiful sheep farm in the Waikato district. Unfortunately, on the way out of Rotorua yesterday, Sgt. McClaughwd had a heart attack. I guess that might be the best way to put it for a car. On the busiest street through Rotorua, right smack dab in the fast lane in the middle of traffic.
Kaput.
Since we were blocking traffic when we placed the AA call, it was marked as an urgent callout. Luckily, a kind gentleman pulled over to help us push the car out of the way. The side of the road...where we spent almost six hours that day.
The first AA representative was a mechanic who was sent out to assess the situation.
Two words we didn't want to ever hear again.
CAM BELT
You've got to be joking me. It felt like we were about to relive the entire Owaka garage experience all over again. Our cam belt had seized.
Having bought the 'extension' package with AA (we have AA plus), we were allowed a few key perks. One of which being that we could be towed anywhere in NZ as long as it wasn't further then towing it to your home address in NZ. Our home address in NZ is in New Plymouth, which was 299km from our breakdown. The car's medical condition meant that plans were changing, so we requested to be towed to Auckland to deal with the car and I guess just get ready to fly home. Auckland = 235kms away. Bingo!
And so began our long wait for the tow truck driver to arrive from Auckland. This gave us the perfect opportunity to clean out the car and sort ourselves out. But then came the biggest decision we would have to face...the decision to save Sgt. McClaughwd or to let him go.
So close to the end of the trip. Is he worth saving at this point? A solid little car with, albeit surprisingly, a lot of life left in him. But is he worth the cost to us?
Decisions we had to discuss once we arrived in the city.
Feeling closer to home then ever before, we sit and ponder the current situation and the changes we are now facing.
Sadly, this setback means no more farms, and no more sheepies.
My heart is broken.
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