Thursday, November 15th
After a few challenges, I've finally completed the summary video for New Zealand. The link is: https://vimeo.com/53644689. I'll always think of this trip with great memories. It's an excellent country and one that I would recommend to all.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
New Zealand 2012 - Day #17
Monday, November 5th
While Sunday October 21st didn't really happen for us on the way to New Zealand - Monday, November 5th is a marathon day. I'm currently writing this blog from Gate #84 of LAX - awaiting my 6:55pm flight to Denver (arrival at 10:13pm).
I like to write down the times of travel -- because after years pass -- I want to make sure I can remember days like today.
Today started in Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand. We got up around 8:30am, grabbed some breakfast and did some Christmas shopping for a couple hours. We boarded a bus for the airport at 11:45am - we were set for a 2:30pm departure from Queenstown to Auckland, NZ. We board our flight and begin to taxi down the runway. The pilot makes an announcement: "We want to let you know that we will be going back to the gate, as we are hearing some strange noises on the plane". Not so great --- so we deboard and await our next announcement. They let us know they are doing "test runs" down the runway to determine if our jet is OK or not. WHAT?? After 1.5 hours of delay, we board the same jet again bound for Auckland. I'm feeling less than great about the flight --- but, we did make it to Auckland safely around 6pm local time.
We had to go through some painful baggage manipulation to effectively check our bags. We could only have 1 carry on at 7kg (around 15 lbs) and could only have 1 checked bag at 22kg (around 43-44 lbs). Greg was able to make the limits -- just by the number. I was over. I ended up needing to check 2 bags - the second one at a cost of $115 New Zealand dollars. I was not pleased with this. We did not have to pay any additional baggage fees on the way down. Only good thing -- after a bit of discussion - I was upgraded to a Skycouch seat (meaning I had 3 seats to myself in a row - and each seat had a footrest that pulled up to make a simulated bed).
The international flight from Auckland to LAX went well. The flight was 11 hours and 50 minutes in length. I watched the movie: "It's a Wonderful Like" (one of my all-time favorites), then had some dinner and then laid out on my couch for a 7 hour siesta. I didn't sleep great -- but was able to get some rest. I awoke in the morning to some breakfast and then watched the movie: "Ted". The plane was less than a 1/3 full. The plane was also very nice - one of the best I've ever been on within my international travels.
We arrived into LAX around 2pm local time on Monday, November 5th (more than 8 hours earlier than when we left). We grabbed our bags, went through customs and then walked over to our appropriate domestic terminals within LAX. Greg met me at Terminal 7 for a conclusion lunch/dinner.
I'm semi-alert right now and bummed that the trip is over and I have to work tomorrow. It's back to reality. I just don't always like reality. I know I like to travel because of the feeling I get upon return.
I know I'm very lucky to get the chance to take some of these trips. This one was really great. I can't say enough goods things about New Zealand. I'm lucky to have the health and friends to travel with. I have some pictures picked out and will plan to post a little video of the trip over the weekend.
I look forward to the next adventure. I don't currently have any trips planned until April 2014 - the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa (the 7th and final marathoned continent - and it's an ultramarathon at 34.8 miles in length). I hope to check in more on the blog with some other activites. Until then -- stay strong, keep the faith, and just keep making it happen.
While Sunday October 21st didn't really happen for us on the way to New Zealand - Monday, November 5th is a marathon day. I'm currently writing this blog from Gate #84 of LAX - awaiting my 6:55pm flight to Denver (arrival at 10:13pm).
I like to write down the times of travel -- because after years pass -- I want to make sure I can remember days like today.
Today started in Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand. We got up around 8:30am, grabbed some breakfast and did some Christmas shopping for a couple hours. We boarded a bus for the airport at 11:45am - we were set for a 2:30pm departure from Queenstown to Auckland, NZ. We board our flight and begin to taxi down the runway. The pilot makes an announcement: "We want to let you know that we will be going back to the gate, as we are hearing some strange noises on the plane". Not so great --- so we deboard and await our next announcement. They let us know they are doing "test runs" down the runway to determine if our jet is OK or not. WHAT?? After 1.5 hours of delay, we board the same jet again bound for Auckland. I'm feeling less than great about the flight --- but, we did make it to Auckland safely around 6pm local time.
We had to go through some painful baggage manipulation to effectively check our bags. We could only have 1 carry on at 7kg (around 15 lbs) and could only have 1 checked bag at 22kg (around 43-44 lbs). Greg was able to make the limits -- just by the number. I was over. I ended up needing to check 2 bags - the second one at a cost of $115 New Zealand dollars. I was not pleased with this. We did not have to pay any additional baggage fees on the way down. Only good thing -- after a bit of discussion - I was upgraded to a Skycouch seat (meaning I had 3 seats to myself in a row - and each seat had a footrest that pulled up to make a simulated bed).
The international flight from Auckland to LAX went well. The flight was 11 hours and 50 minutes in length. I watched the movie: "It's a Wonderful Like" (one of my all-time favorites), then had some dinner and then laid out on my couch for a 7 hour siesta. I didn't sleep great -- but was able to get some rest. I awoke in the morning to some breakfast and then watched the movie: "Ted". The plane was less than a 1/3 full. The plane was also very nice - one of the best I've ever been on within my international travels.
We arrived into LAX around 2pm local time on Monday, November 5th (more than 8 hours earlier than when we left). We grabbed our bags, went through customs and then walked over to our appropriate domestic terminals within LAX. Greg met me at Terminal 7 for a conclusion lunch/dinner.
I'm semi-alert right now and bummed that the trip is over and I have to work tomorrow. It's back to reality. I just don't always like reality. I know I like to travel because of the feeling I get upon return.
I know I'm very lucky to get the chance to take some of these trips. This one was really great. I can't say enough goods things about New Zealand. I'm lucky to have the health and friends to travel with. I have some pictures picked out and will plan to post a little video of the trip over the weekend.
I look forward to the next adventure. I don't currently have any trips planned until April 2014 - the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa (the 7th and final marathoned continent - and it's an ultramarathon at 34.8 miles in length). I hope to check in more on the blog with some other activites. Until then -- stay strong, keep the faith, and just keep making it happen.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
New Zealand 2012 - Day #16
Sunday, November 4th
This morning we awoke to a bright, sunny day in Mt. Cook Village. We got out of the hotel and caught our first glimpses of the mountain range that surrounded the hotel. Great scenery. It's amazing how much a person can miss when the sun doesn't shine.
We grabbed a cup of coffee and looked out at the scenery while we waited for the breakfast cafe to open. After breakfast, we toured around the Edmund Hillary museum and watched a documentary on his life and his summit conquest of Mt. Everest. Interesting stuff.
We next made our final drive of the trip. We worked our way south into Queenstown for a late afternoon arrival - stopping periodically for pictures along some of the scenic lakes, etc. Once into Queenstown, we booked a hotel at a downtown hostel. This is probably one of the best hostels I've ever stayed. We have a 4 dorm to ourselves - we're located 50 yards from the waterfront.
We had a great dinner and a couple drinks as a final farewell to New Zealand. This place is outstanding. I know sometimes things may seem better than they are when it's fresh in your mind. That's not the case here -- the country is as good as advertised. It's a Top 5 country in my books. If ever you get the chance -- make this place a reality.
Tomorrow is a massive travel day. We get it going at 2pm with a flight back to Auckland. Then, a flight from Auckland to LAX, then LAX to Denver. I'm set to get home about the same time I leave here. I'll do a conclusion blog and hope to do a little video as well ---- it just may not happen right away. Thanks again for joining me.
This morning we awoke to a bright, sunny day in Mt. Cook Village. We got out of the hotel and caught our first glimpses of the mountain range that surrounded the hotel. Great scenery. It's amazing how much a person can miss when the sun doesn't shine.
We grabbed a cup of coffee and looked out at the scenery while we waited for the breakfast cafe to open. After breakfast, we toured around the Edmund Hillary museum and watched a documentary on his life and his summit conquest of Mt. Everest. Interesting stuff.
We next made our final drive of the trip. We worked our way south into Queenstown for a late afternoon arrival - stopping periodically for pictures along some of the scenic lakes, etc. Once into Queenstown, we booked a hotel at a downtown hostel. This is probably one of the best hostels I've ever stayed. We have a 4 dorm to ourselves - we're located 50 yards from the waterfront.
We had a great dinner and a couple drinks as a final farewell to New Zealand. This place is outstanding. I know sometimes things may seem better than they are when it's fresh in your mind. That's not the case here -- the country is as good as advertised. It's a Top 5 country in my books. If ever you get the chance -- make this place a reality.
Tomorrow is a massive travel day. We get it going at 2pm with a flight back to Auckland. Then, a flight from Auckland to LAX, then LAX to Denver. I'm set to get home about the same time I leave here. I'll do a conclusion blog and hope to do a little video as well ---- it just may not happen right away. Thanks again for joining me.
Mt. Cook range
View over coffee
Lake leading into Mt. Cook Village
Scenery on drive to Queenstown
Scenery on drive to Queenstown
Saturday, November 3, 2012
New Zealand 2012 - Day #15
Saturday, November 3rd
Today we drove from Christchurch to Mt. Cook. Pretty dreary day today --not much sun. Mt. Cook is the highest mountain in the country of New Zealand at 12,313ft. Sir Edmund Hillary (the first man to ever summit Mt. Everest) did his training on this mountain.
We arrived into town early afternoon. We walked around the visitor center, had some lunch, and then hit one of the local trails. We did a 3 hour hike on the Hooker Valley Track. The trail included 2 swing bridges and ended at a huge glacier lake. Pretty great scenery.
Ready to wrap up the trip tomorrow. 1 day left on Sunday and then a big travel day on Monday -- it's gone by too fast.
Today we drove from Christchurch to Mt. Cook. Pretty dreary day today --not much sun. Mt. Cook is the highest mountain in the country of New Zealand at 12,313ft. Sir Edmund Hillary (the first man to ever summit Mt. Everest) did his training on this mountain.
We arrived into town early afternoon. We walked around the visitor center, had some lunch, and then hit one of the local trails. We did a 3 hour hike on the Hooker Valley Track. The trail included 2 swing bridges and ended at a huge glacier lake. Pretty great scenery.
Ready to wrap up the trip tomorrow. 1 day left on Sunday and then a big travel day on Monday -- it's gone by too fast.
A clear blue lake on the drive to Mt. Cook
1st swing bridge on Hooker Valley Track.
A view walking across bridge
Glacial stream
See the ice formations in the lake
Glacial lake
Ice formations in the glacial lake
2nd swing bridge
Friday, November 2, 2012
New Zealand 2012 - Day #14
Friday, November 2nd
This morning we started out from Franz Josef. I drove for the first time today on the opposite side of the road. I don't have the experience that Greg has (several trips to England driving with his work)- so it took me a bit to give this a go. Not so bad -- it definitely takes a little while to feel comfortable, but it was OK. We were in a pretty rural area so I didn't get into heavy traffic. I drove for the first 3 hours of the day and then Greg took over as we approached Christchurch.
The day started off overcast and rainy. Not much scenery until after lunch. We got lucky and the sun came out just as we came upon Arthur's Pass. We went to the Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Conservation Area. Fantastic place -- highly recommended. There was a 1/2 mile trail leading to a hillside of these giant limestone boulders. Great. If you like to rock climb or boulder -- this is the place for you. We scaled a few of these rocks and were able to capture some classic New Zealand photos.
After our hike, we proceeded east into the city of Christchurch (this is where I am this evening). Christchurch has recently been devastated by severe earthquakes that took a big part of the city. We drove around the devastated areas. Really sad to see. The draw card and symbol of Christchurch - the cathedral (located in the middle of the city) has been destroyed. We ran into a local couple while taking pictures. They told us there have been hundreds of smaller earthquakes over the past 2 years. The quake that led to the most destruction in the city center occurred on February 22, 2011. I remember this because I was on my trip to Antarctica during that time frame. I remember sitting on a plane with a couple from Christchurch that had just learned of the earthquake on their trip. Luckily, their home was saved. Today, the bulk of the city center was fenced off and excavation machinery was scattered though out the city.
After our tour, we found a hotel and went out for dinner (Indian food). I'm a big fan of Indian food -- it's a rare treat for me -- but I really like it. Back in the room now just catching up. Tomorrow we head south again to Mt. Cook National Park for some hiking. Until then -- good night from the southern hemisphere.
This morning we started out from Franz Josef. I drove for the first time today on the opposite side of the road. I don't have the experience that Greg has (several trips to England driving with his work)- so it took me a bit to give this a go. Not so bad -- it definitely takes a little while to feel comfortable, but it was OK. We were in a pretty rural area so I didn't get into heavy traffic. I drove for the first 3 hours of the day and then Greg took over as we approached Christchurch.
The day started off overcast and rainy. Not much scenery until after lunch. We got lucky and the sun came out just as we came upon Arthur's Pass. We went to the Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Conservation Area. Fantastic place -- highly recommended. There was a 1/2 mile trail leading to a hillside of these giant limestone boulders. Great. If you like to rock climb or boulder -- this is the place for you. We scaled a few of these rocks and were able to capture some classic New Zealand photos.
After our hike, we proceeded east into the city of Christchurch (this is where I am this evening). Christchurch has recently been devastated by severe earthquakes that took a big part of the city. We drove around the devastated areas. Really sad to see. The draw card and symbol of Christchurch - the cathedral (located in the middle of the city) has been destroyed. We ran into a local couple while taking pictures. They told us there have been hundreds of smaller earthquakes over the past 2 years. The quake that led to the most destruction in the city center occurred on February 22, 2011. I remember this because I was on my trip to Antarctica during that time frame. I remember sitting on a plane with a couple from Christchurch that had just learned of the earthquake on their trip. Luckily, their home was saved. Today, the bulk of the city center was fenced off and excavation machinery was scattered though out the city.
After our tour, we found a hotel and went out for dinner (Indian food). I'm a big fan of Indian food -- it's a rare treat for me -- but I really like it. Back in the room now just catching up. Tomorrow we head south again to Mt. Cook National Park for some hiking. Until then -- good night from the southern hemisphere.
Devastation in Christchurch
Devastation in Christchurch
Cathedral damage in Christchurch
Arthur's Pass
Boulder Field in Arthur's Pass
Boulder Field
Mountains through the rocks
Incredible farm
Incredible farm
New Zealand at its best
Bouldering in New Zealand
Thursday, November 1, 2012
New Zealand 2012 - Day #13
Thursday, November 1st
After our adrenaline filled Halloween, we checked out of our hotel in Queenstown this morning and set out on a 4-day drive/tour of the central section of the South Island.
We walked into town and rented a car around 8am. After some breakfast, we loaded our gear from the hotel and set out for our destination today -- the glaciers of the western coast of the Southern Alps.
The first couple hours of the drive provided unbelievable scenery. Endless picture opportunities as we passed between mountain ranges, lakes, and rivers ---- all mixed in with the green country side littered with sheep, cattle, and deer.
We had lunch in a town called Haast - an extremely small town right on the Tasman Sea. After a great beef stew, we continued on for another 1.5 hours until we reached the town of Fox Glacier. We took an hour hike out to one of the very few glaciers in the world to be found within a rain forest zone. By this time of the day, clouds had moved in and it started raining. Although the pictures weren't fantastic of the glacier --it was still incredible to see how the glacier is slowly melting and creating runoff in the valley. There were posted signs leading to the trailhead that gave date ranges which signified the location of the glacier in specific years. Crazy to see the movement over time.
We continued north to the town of Franz Josef. This is where we are staying tonight. This is another glacier town -- similar to the Fox Glacier. We had a great pasta dinner, drove out to the glacier site, walked around town a bit and called it a day.
Tomorrow we head over Arthur's Pass to the town of Christchurch. Good night.
After our adrenaline filled Halloween, we checked out of our hotel in Queenstown this morning and set out on a 4-day drive/tour of the central section of the South Island.
We walked into town and rented a car around 8am. After some breakfast, we loaded our gear from the hotel and set out for our destination today -- the glaciers of the western coast of the Southern Alps.
The first couple hours of the drive provided unbelievable scenery. Endless picture opportunities as we passed between mountain ranges, lakes, and rivers ---- all mixed in with the green country side littered with sheep, cattle, and deer.
We had lunch in a town called Haast - an extremely small town right on the Tasman Sea. After a great beef stew, we continued on for another 1.5 hours until we reached the town of Fox Glacier. We took an hour hike out to one of the very few glaciers in the world to be found within a rain forest zone. By this time of the day, clouds had moved in and it started raining. Although the pictures weren't fantastic of the glacier --it was still incredible to see how the glacier is slowly melting and creating runoff in the valley. There were posted signs leading to the trailhead that gave date ranges which signified the location of the glacier in specific years. Crazy to see the movement over time.
We continued north to the town of Franz Josef. This is where we are staying tonight. This is another glacier town -- similar to the Fox Glacier. We had a great pasta dinner, drove out to the glacier site, walked around town a bit and called it a day.
Tomorrow we head over Arthur's Pass to the town of Christchurch. Good night.
Drive to western coastline
Amazing scenery
Lakes on the western coastline of South Island
All good
Very nice
Couldn't stop taking pictures
Great clouds today
Excellent
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