New Zealand is Amazing

As promised, some pictures from Sydney.
The Opera House (and us) during the day:



And, at night:


One afternoon in Sydney is really not enough, but when this is what is waiting for you on the other end of the plane ride, who would stay in Sydney any longer than necessary?
That shot was our first glimpse of New Zealand, taken from the airplane.

We spent an afternoon and night in Christchurch before picking up our campervan and heading to the open road. We have no real itinerary, just going where the wind blows us. Our first night we pulled into a camper park at Lake Tekapo in the dark, and awoke to this:

Actually, we awoke at 0630 to the pitch black of night - this photo was taken at 0800 or so.

We hiked by Lake Tekapo to the Mt John Observatory, famous for Stargazing and astronomical research. The views were amazing, especially the clouds over the distant mountains. I could not get enough of those clouds, which I dubbed pilleated lenticular clouds:

In case you need a closer shot:


Here we are at the summit of Mt. John. I love my camera timer.

Tonight we are staying in Wanaka - I am actually posting this from the campervan. Tomorrow we ski!!

I found out tonight that my Grandmother passed away, please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. I will be remembering her everywhere I look in this gorgeous place, and as much as I wish I could be with my family at this time, I know she would want us to stay and enjoy where we are. As Tom reminded me tonight, Gram loved to travel and spoke often and fondly of her trip to Hawaii. I love you Gram, and I will miss you very very much.

Sydney to Christchurch

We had a lovely afternoon in Sydney two days ago, then flew yesterday to Christchurch - I have some nice pictures, but can not post them up right now because I am in an internet cafe on their computer - just wanted to give a quick update. More pictures to come soon!

Katoomba "Bushwalking"

Today we did a five mile hike in the Australian Grand Canyon. The picture below is of rock formation in the canyon known as the "Three Sisters":


The conditions could not have been more perfect - clear blue skies, cool, but not cold and barely any other people around at all. The hike started at the top of the canyon:


The trail (and us on it) descended down, down, down many steps and switchbacks, through a beautiful Fern Glen and then traveled across the top of the valley (right where the sheer rock walls meet the forest in the picture above) to a series of waterfalls:



We climbed back out for the most spectacular views of all. That is Katoomba falls in the background:



Needless to say, I was just about in heaven. AND we saw wild cockatiels (I have no idea if I spelled that correctly). I took lots of pictures, but I will just share this one.


We are staying in an old 1920's style guest house in Katoomba, and it is charming. I like this town, it reminds me of Brattleboro, VT for anyone who is familiar with that town.

Tomorrow we leave for one night in Sydney, then on to New Zealand for the remainder of our time south of the Equator.
Cheers!

First Stop, Cairns, Australia

This is me on the Esplanade in Cairns.

We arrived in Cairns late last night and spent the morning today walking on the Esplanade and having a nice breakfast before heading the the airport for our flight to Sydney.

We leave for Sydney in about an hour, then board a train for the town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. So far, so good, we brought the computer (obviously) so I will try to do periodic updates here.

A-traveling We Go!

After a month of being displaced out of our house, a million loose ends to wrap up and all of the other things that go along with moving around the world again we are finally heading out on our way for DC (via Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, of course).

Tom and I depart tonight for Cairns, Australia, then on to Sydney for a few days before flying over to the South Island of New Zealand for 11 days of adventure in a camper van. Sounds amazing, doesn't it? We are both very excited about the trip.

We'll try to do some updates here, but we are not taking the computer (at least that is the decision at this moment) so we will be at the mercy of internet cafes.

Adios Guam!