Hokitika to Charleston

I think I've mustered the energy to make another posting. So here we go. From Trace and Phil's place in Hokitika we started our two and half week road trip around the northern part of the south island.

Six of us piled into their Nissan Vanette (yes, it is as small as the name implies) plus adult and child toys, camping gear and food. It was tight, but somehow there was always room.

We spent a day paddling down a nice canal from Lake Mahinapua to Hokitika

Sunset out the back of Trace and Phil's

I paddle once every 10 years or so

Where's Waldo? Phil and Poppy on our hike to a high point

Band album cover

Somewhere below the vegetation is a trail

Punakaiki

Wild ocean here, you can see people on the horizon for scale

The Vanette, disembowled

Flax

Tobin and Ann-Marie on the hike to Cape Foulwind

Another Visit with Grampa Allan

"you missed a spot right here, grandson"

On to the South!

So now we're onto the south island. We flew from Auckland to Christchurch where we were met by Colonel and Mrs Sanders and their daughter:

Trace, Phil and Poppy picked us up in the Vanette and started their amazing hosting extravaganza, first with some fish and chips by the ocean then onward towards Arthur's Pass. The next day we hit Castle Hill for a bit of a walk and a tiny bit of bouldering. Could have spent much time here. What an amazing place!!! The battle scene from Chronicles of Narnia was filmed here.

Trace and Ann-Marie climbed Avalanche Peak with their two in utero travellers

A kea just before it stole Ann-Marie's cookie

The belly

Ladies on top!

The beach at Hokitika, Trace and Phil's yard backs onto this beach

Phil manning the barbeque, the beach is just past the greenhouse

"mom, my omelette is looking at me". Whitebait patties, a local delicacy.


The house and the sleep-out. These guys are 50cent millionaires

Amusing Toddler-Speak

Tobin has started addressing us more often with 'hey dad' or 'hey mom' in a tone that makes you think something really cool is happening, like a helicopter just landed on the lawn or a moose is standing on the doorstep. But usually the conversation goes something like this:

Tobin: "Hey dad, hey dad?!"
Me: "yes Tobin?"
Tobin: "The horse is sleeping in the barn." or another favorite "the horse is putting the chicken's fingers in his mouth!"

Almost off the North Island

More... Jumping around a little. I'm blogxausted.

Hahei again

More chickens, Tobin unsure what to think....

...Definately terrifying. I like how this video starts with him warning the chicken to 'watch out for the hole' and ends with him screaming and running away from them.

Kirsten getting in the spirit

Nana and her boys

"these fowl are pleasing to me."

Mom and Paul's house in Cambridge

A 'yama' according to Tobin.

I think I snapped shortly after this picture and yelled "get these children off of me!!!!!"

C'mon boys, let's go sit on the tractor. Boys?