Cleared for Departure

We left the warm company of Chad’s family and headed northward on our own towards Mt. Cook. Continue …

After putting it off for days, we finally went wine tasting today. These people know how to make a Pinot Noir. Continue …

We started the day touring an abandoned gold mining town whose heyday was around 1871 and, later, Queenstown. Continue …

If you Google “Wanaka Tree” you get back a specific tree growing in Lake Wanaka.  It dumbfounds the locals, who do not understand why this particular tree has gained such notoriety. We decided to see for ourselves. Continue …

Today started early. After a few hours sleep we were off to the airport to visit Milford Sound.  Rather than bus we chartered a six seater Cessna to fly us there and back. Continue …

You can imagine my annoyance when I fell ass over tea kettle into the lake, camera and all. Continue …

We stayed close to home today. The clouds cleared finally and the typical, glorious New Zealand summer day presented itself just in time for the solstice. Continue …

When I asked Pete, the family patriarch, if what we were about to do was legal, I was pretty sure no matter his answer we wouldn’t get in trouble. Continue …

We have arrived. Continue …