Update on our trip

This is an exert from facebook....

In Karamea now.... Finally I have an internet connection for the night. Two weeks of either no signal or wifi that costs CRAZY $$$. It hasn't been worth paying for the connection. I also found out that the power converter we bought doesn't work for long with my laptop until it over heats.

Anywho. The trip thus far has been great. Lots of beautiful scenery and lots of wonderful nature. A bit more rain then we expected. Lots of pictures taken and lots more to be had.

We are currently sitting in a (who knows how old) (organic/self sustaining) hippy backpackers hostel. Maybe 20 people staying here tonight from many different nationalities (we may be the only ones here with English as a first language).

Completed the Milford track (4 day/33.5 mile backpacking trip) a few days ago and in a couple days from now we will be doing the Able Tasman backpacking hike.

.... Power converter just over heated again, so I am signing off for now.

Prayers for our Trip

I know God will be with us as we journey through New Zealand, but I would like all of you to keep up in your prayers as well. There is no such thing as praying too much, a person can always use more!

I pray that our traveling goes well, both to and from the airport, while in the air and as we are driving around NZ. I pray for good health, both physical and mental. I pray for the safety of our house & cats, and our friends who will be staying there to keep an eye on things. And wonderful Emma who will also be watching "my kids" while I am away. And for the kid's family who are so gracious to allow me to take the time off and have my friend watch their children in my absence.

And I pray for all of you who will all be celebrating a wonderful Christmas with friends & family as well. I hope that you all have safe travels too & that you cherish every moment of this wonderful time of year. May you all stay warm and be full of cheer!

New Zealand Approaches

Here we go, counting down; time is on the wire.

Our "to do" list shortens. Laundry is done & house is clean. Our bags are almost packed. Cars have been fixed up (oil changed, etc). Gone through a lot of our back up food so we can start with fresh stuff when we get back. And our friends that are house sitting have been prepped with all the info.

We will be making a drive down to Southern Cali to fly out of LAX. We will have a lay over in Hawaii. When we land in Auckland, we will be renting a car. **woot! woot! for driving in the opposite side of the car, on the opposite side of the road**

Stop 1 - Tongariro National Park - Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (volcanic wonders!)

Stop 2 - Wellington ferry to go to Picton

Stop 3 - Kaikoura

Stop 4 - Christchurch

Stop 5 - Dunedin (PENGUINS!!!!!)

Stop 6 - Te Anau (Milford Track & Sound)

Stop 7 - Queenstown

Stop 8 - Wanaka (Mount Aspiring National Park)

Stop 9 - Fox Glacier (Westland National Park)

Stop 10 - Westport (Paparoa National Park, Punakaiki & Westport Brewery)

Stop 11 - Karamea (Oparara Basin & Kahuranhi National Park)

Stop 12 - Motueka (Abel Tasman National Park & Coast Track)

Stop 13 - Picton (ferry to go to Wellington)

Stop 14 - Wellington (all the city sights and museums)

Stop 15 - Lake Taupo (Maori Rock Carvings)

Stop 16 - Rotorua (Volcanic activity galore!)

Stop 17 - Matamata (Hobbiton)

Stop 18 - Auckland (flying back home)