God Bless America...

...land of BIG things, starting of with a BIG breakfast...we made an embarrassingly pathetic attempt at eating our way through a pile of pancakes as high as the Golden Gate Bridge... we'll try again tomorrow.

Arrived yesterday after a long flight with only a few bumpy episodes, sailed through immigration in only an hour and a half ('our customer care motto... we are the welcoming face of America'..hmmm) Seems like only tomorrow we were in New Zealand. (We crossed the date line) Caught a cab to Fisherman's Wharf and shared it with an English guy who went to Horsell School and lived in Horsell Rise, and whose parents now live in Looe! Spooky. He works for Google Earth so Oli and he had a good old chat about that. Hotel adequate but we went straight out and explored Fisherman's Wharf where a representative of every race colour and culture within the human race is to be found, and quite a few in the animal kingdom too. Oliver and Sophie were taught some magic tricks and we had some supersize American food.

Managed to stay awake until 9pm and slept all night- we've got this jetlag thing nailed!

This morning caught a boat to the infamous Alcatraz Island, US State Penitentiary until the early 1960s. Lovely boat trip there with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Apparently it is painted in 'International Orange'. Sorry, that's the only thing I can remember about it.

A surprisingly interesting tour, especially the bits about the escape attempts. Children keen to try out the cells.....

We then caught a cab to Union Square; our cab driver cracked a joke about Pres. Bush....'what phobia does Bush suffer from- 'Iraqnophobia'!! I said we didn' think we'd hear jokes like that in the States; but apparently San Franciscans are not Dubya's greatest fans. Knew there was a reason we came here.

Feeling very footsore tonight and really ready to head for home tomorrow.

See you all soon!

Last words from New Zealand

Tree Hugging at the Kauri Grove. 600 years old! We visited one of the last remaining stands of Kauri in the Coromandel. The oldest recorded was 4000 years old with a trunk diameter of 20m. These were mere babies. Captain Cook and those who came after him plundered the forests for masts and spars for the British Navy...now large scale replanting schemes are taking place.

Potukahawa- the New Zealand Christmas Tree

Very mixed feelings as we prepare to say goodbye to New Zealand. We feel we could stay longer....much longer....but also ready to return home- via San Francisco, of course, which will be a culture shock and a half! Apparently it's winter in San Fran, so maybe that will help us to acclimatise ourselves before landing at Heathrow. Trying to think positive ...

Anyway here are a few more photos that sum up our last couple of days here. Children with happy smiling faces (well I wouldn't post the pictures where they look miserable would I?!) Grown ups growing plump on Carrot Cake and Sauvignon Blanc. Oh and a few of the landscape too. Lastly, the amazing Driving Creek Villa. Hopefully we'll be back some day.

Goodbye from New Zealand, see you in San Francisco!

Coromandel views...

Well I have stirred myself from langour to write something on the blog as I know you're all waiting out there with baited breath....
Maybe it's the geography of the place- very few roads, lots of big hills and water and not much else..or maybe it's because we're so relaxed in our heavenly surroundings, but we're finding it very difficut to get aout and about and DO anything this week! We did take a trip to the eastern side of the peninsula on the infamous 309 Road , an 'unsealed' (i.e. gravel) road, as always twisting and turning and the beautiful views synonymous with sheer drops in these parts...
On the way we stopped at the 'unusual' Waiou Waterworks, a shrine to a kiwi couple's creativity (OK, they're clearly bonkers!) with some fantastic heath robinsonesque sculptures and inventions mostly involving water and mostly interactive which was great fun for big and little kids alike. We got wet= had fun! Flying foxes and big swings, brilliant.

Also a trip to a glorious beach at Whangapoua, silky sand, wide blue sky and a howling wind which meant we didn't realise we were close to burning...just about got away with it.
Lots of nice walks, fossicking in the stream, stick insect hunting, cafe visiting...one more full day then we need to rouse ourselves for the final stages of our trip.

New Year's Eve

Last leg in the camper from Hamilton to Auckland, then had to muck it out and cram our stuff into an estate car- which seems tiny- then off to Coromandel. It doesn't look very far on the map but we drove through a torrential rainstorm which made it hard going. By the time we arrived on the peninsula the sun had come out again and we drove up the western coast- and I mean literally on the water's edge with a hair's breadth between me in the passenger seat and the crashing waves...I gave Richard lots of advice on his driving...The coastline is known as the Potokuhawa Coast because of the 'New Zealand Christmas Trees' that grow there, with bright red flowers in December/ January. Very much a holiday area with many holidaying kiwis- when I say many it's all relative- there are actually very few people around! Lots of people boating and fishing. We arrived at Coromandel Town which is full of cafes and art shops, shops selling tackle and bait and lots of slightly bohemian / hippy types. We had a bite to eat and then found our home for the next week- Driving Creek Villa. Those of a jealous disposition turn away now. It's fab! Timber and glass, posh colonial style, veranda, Japanese Hot Tub, set in the bush, sound of Tuis Bellbirds and Fantails singing in the garden, babbling creek at the end of the garden.... I won't go on. Apparently this is where gold was first found in NZ 150 years ago. David our 'host' gave the children a pan and sent them off down to the creek. They havn't come back yet...apparently there are eels in there...

We saw in the New Year sitting in the hot tub under the bright moon and stars. Beats a noisy drunken party any day!

Happy New Year Everyone. xxx

South to North...

Another wonderful ferry trip through the Marlborough Sounds and across the Cook Strait- don't think I'd ever get tired of this boat trip- then hammered up State Highway 1 (two lanes in some places!) with a quick stop at a farm to feed some deer- then somewhat further north we rounded a bend to see Mt Ruapehu rising up ahead and for a while- before clouds descended- we could see its snow clad summit. We camped at Ohakune at the foot of the mountain and looked forward to a beautiful view and maybe a walk in the morning BUT when we woke we could hear rain drumming on the roof. So stayed in bed a bit longer than usual, then drove to the 'base camp' (which in the winter is a ski resort) and it was FREEZING! and lots of warnings at the visitors' centre about hypothermia and drastic weather conditions- so we didn't bother going for a walk and hit the road again. We had a lovely drive up through 'King Country' which we've decided is our favourite landscape and stopped for a picnic and vertiginous climb up a knobbly hill to a memorial to a missionary called 'Miller'! Apparently he had back scruffy hair with a curl on his forehead. Although the Maori called him Mira 'cos they couldn't say it properly.
Arrived in Hamilton at tea time, a really nice leafy university city, but feels like we're just passing through- which of course we are... Feeling a bit sad and end of holidayish 'cos we've 'only' got a week left and we have to say bye to the campervan tomorrow (a mixed blessing- we have enjoyed it a lot but R's back is a bit achy) but we're really looking forward to the Coromandel and a change of pace.

Christchurch to Kaikora

27/28th December
Even though the sheep population has halved over the last few years they still outnumber the population here by 1 million;1 or thereabouts- you would expect the odd hamlet or village between centres of population like Christchurch and Kaikora, and then up to Blenheim, but no, nothing. Which makes it a little unnerving when you think you're about to run out of deisel. But we managed OK in the end, fortunately. On the way we found a sheep shearing shed where Paul Daniel's twin brother showed us how it was all done and we all collectivley wondered why anyone still runs sheep when a fleece fetches only 37p. Apparently venison and vineyards are the new sheep, and you can see why. A lot less pooey for one thing.
Arrived at kaikora earlyish, which is a small town in a perfect physical setting, with the Southern Alps as a backdrop and pacific ocean in front. Unfortunately the town is a bit tripperish and tacky, unlike almost all the other places we've seen, but we managed to find a nice restaurant and reduced the crayfish population by 1 and a half. Afterwards we played on the lovely pebbly beach until sundown. Great fun trying to balance tall towers of pebbles.
In the morning those rugged Hawes menfolk went off whale hunting while the lily livered womenfolk lay on the beach. No more boat trips for us! After the second sperm whale Oli was apparently unimpressed- went back to his Lord of the Rings book- but Richard got some good shots of the Whale's Tail... and then about 100 dolphins escorted the boat back to shore.
This afternoon we travelled through marlborough country- or wine territory for those 'ingenues' amongst you. There are 48 wine producers in Blenheim alone- we didn't quite manage to get round them all but had a jolly good time none the less. Actually I think the children were a bit bored, but hey ho.
Tonight we're in Picton before the ferry back to the North Island and civilisation! Two heavy days of travelling before we get to the Coromandel where we will spend our last week. So you may not hear form us for a while... love to all...

Two Fat Kiwis -44! Happy Birthday Richard

Another little session of pressie opening this morning as we celebrated R's 44th. Who would believe it. The children are calling Mr Badger because of the pepper and salt stubble now decorating his face- he has pledged not to shave until he is 45...we'll se about that. Actually he looks quite rugged and not at all like an insolvency accountant!

We drove out to Akaroa which is an old volcano, with a harbour filling in the middle. 'Swimming with Dolphins' was the planned activity, in a 'calm and sheltered harbour'. Needless to say the dolphins had gone on their boxing day holidays so we had to leave the calm and sheltered harbour for the swelly and churning open water. Unfortunately M and S had left their sea legs back on shore and couldn't fully appreciate the company of the beautiful hector's dolphins that did come and swim alongide. But we did have a good swim and enjoyed the trip anyway. But very glad to get back to shore.