And then there were four.

Sir Huntington III.

We introduced Claude to the new member of our troop once we got on the road. On the wrong side of the road none the less. It's really strange to drive on the left side of the road. New Zealand is like England with their roads - round abouts everywhere!! They also have very strange regulations at intersections, but I get to learn all about them over the next year.

We bought a car. A 1999 Kia Mentor. Wine red colour. Scratched to hell. Dented a bunch. And once we got on the open road, we realized, it is a car with the most GHETTO spedometer. Once you get past 60km/hr - the spedometer's gage fluctuates up and down about 10kms/hr. Wow. I never knew how fast we were going on the open road (highways).

Mom, Dad - don't worry. It's all good. :)

Our new friend. The car. And it probably is the best thing we could have done (aside from actually walking the entire country). We will now spend the next year seeing the country. That first day of walking - neither of us enjoyed. You were so busy working at the actual trecking (cause it was so heavy) that you didn't find a single moment to enjoy the environment. True, not the best environment between Auckland and Manakau, but still. What would have happened later in the trip? We couldn't even imagine what it would have been like to add food weight to our packs!!!

Instead, we will drive to the cities/towns and get ourselves out to the parks so that we can walk the tracks with lighter packs (hopefully around 20lbs each). Enjoy the country. See the country. Not kill ourselves.

I read that exhaustion can lead to hypothermia. Picture it more in a mountain setting with little ol' me packing out with 50lbs on my back. I would die.

Better to live and see the country, no? :)

We drove to Raglan last night. I didn't really like the thought of driving on the left side of the road, on winding roads, while the sun was setting, but we did it. And without detailed maps to help guide us, we ended up at a great backpacker lodge on the water front. Raglan backpackers and waterfront lodge. Great little hostel that hosts about 15 rooms, open courtyard in the centre, a beautiful view of Mt. Karioi across an inlet of water. Beautiful.

We ate at a local fish and chips shop last night. Yum. I can't remember the fish we ordered, but it was so nice to eat protein. :) The great thing about hostels is that there are communal kitchens - so we were able to buy food and cook it in Hamilton, and are doing the same here in Raglan. Comforts of home almost.

Today we decided to stay an extra night in Raglan so that we could sort out our junk and enjoy a nice day trip. We went to Bridal Veil Falls in the morning - a 55m high waterfall that is nestled in the forest. The DOC has created a trail that allows you to walk right down the bottom with an unobstructed platform. It was beautiful.

I couldn't walk to the edge of the top look out (don't worry - that was fenced in). It jet out over the falls and let you see the rushing water from an amazing point of view. So I sent Brent to take the pictures. He's braver then me. :)

We spent the afternoon hunting for the right roads to lead us to Pirongia Forest Park. The road ends at a farmer's field. The first part of the tracks leads you through a working farm. We spoke to the farm lady before setting out on the trails. "Just turn right once you get to the cows, and you'll be on your way", she says joyfully.

You literally walk right beside sheep (well they run away, but you could touch them if you snuck up behind them) and through herds of cows to get to the mountain path.

We were a little hesitant around the cows. They just stop and stare at you. I didn't trust them to not charge at us. They didn't, but they could have.

I kept touching the fence wires as I walked along. I don't advise anyone else do that - they are electrified. I was reminded every single time I was zapped. Not so pleasant.

The walk to the peak of Mt. Karioi is through dense bush and tropical like forest. Maybe we just think its tropical as its mostly fern and palm trees. Its surreal. Tramping in the winter is probably not advisable, and not only because of the constant rain - but more so because of the amount of water that does fall and what it does to the ground. Parts of the trail were sinking mud puddles. Thick, wet and slick. Walking up hill on steep inclines, you didn't know how you were going to get down once you had to turn around.

Then came the ladders drilled into the rock at the top of the peak. Personally, not a fan of the ladders. Add to that the fact that they are drilled into rock and that stepping off of the ladder was petrifying as the rock steps were slick and one wrong move would send you tumbling down a few boulders, and when the clouds would clear, you could see how high up the mountain you were.

The view was beautiful, but short lived. Another stormy cloud rolled through - literally right through us as it was rolling over the mountain top. We only saw the beautiful view on the first ladder going up. At the top, it was foggy and raining.

One peak conquered. Pirongia Forest Park was a nice start.

The route back to Raglan took us on some bumpy gravel roads that probably hurt SHIII a little too much. The car looks more like it's been mud bogging then anything else.

Magali - you will laugh when you see this car. I thought of you when we bought it!!

Dinner at the hostel. A bag of candy from the local store. Pizza night is underway for all the backpackers.

Tomorrow, we're off on a new adventure.

Buying the car saved the trip. We'll be able to see more of the country and have access to some beautiful remote areas that the buses don't frequent.

A new type of trip. With all the tramping in the parks that I wanted to do. A new found freedom. We're excited for new ideas - like work that we will be able to do - fruit picking and working on a sheep farm in the spring!!! We are going to learn how to sheer sheep!!!

No more blistered hips.

Open roads ahead.