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pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee, a cold beer or a delicious glass of wine

cheers to new adventures!

Jul 28, 2014 | , , ,

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… i started writing a post yesterday morning – or at least what i think translates to yesterday morning at this point – but it didn’t get very far. i spent most of yesterday running around completely nutso. i got up nice and early to bake muffins for my coworkers who seem to appreciate my baking. i then took my completely packed pack and started repacking it, i think just to make my brain even more fried. and all of this was through waves of tears and sadness mixed with laughing and popping out to the warm New Zealand sunshine for a few last moments. then more goodbyes, more ‘last’ things and then the FINAL goodbyes. these were also accompanied with the same waves of tears, sadness, excitement and laughter. however after a favorite beer at the greatest pub i ever went to, the attacks of tears were a little more sporadic. i was thankful for that.

 

And now as i write the actual post that i started yesterday, i am 22 hours into my day of travel, feeling pretty dingy, pretty tired and pretty much on auto-pilot. I’m sitting at LAX waiting for my last and final flight before i get to snuggle the girls, hug my dad, have a Minnesotan beer and try to figure out how to combat this sort of jet lag. 

I feel like this post isn’t doing my final thoughts justice. but i’m also not positive how i’d do that. and maybe i just need more time. so let’s go with that. consider this a current set of feelings and not yet a reflection of my life for the last 10 months. i think once i get back into the swing of walking on the right side of the sidewalk, saying ‘to go’ instead of ‘take away’ and asking about ‘trash cans’ instead of ‘rubbish bins’ then i might be in a better place to think about my so-amazing-i-wouldn’t-change-a-thing life that i’ve lived for 10 months 1/2 way around the world. 

but for now, how about we just cheers to new adventures, whatever they are and where they may lead. 

clouds

Jul 13, 2014 | ,

i have turned into a real lover of clouds on this adventure … and today was the perfect day for another dose. the rain cleared. the tide was out. and the clouds were both delicate and burly, which is my favorite combination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

with only 2 weeks left in this magical place, i’m starting to do things for the last time.

and that sucks.

never ending greatness

Jun 22, 2014 | ,

there is so much i COULD write but not really sure what i SHOULD write, so bear with me as i ramble … it’s nearly the end of June. i’ve [somewhat] started counting down to my return to the states. i leave 5 weeks from tomorrow. it’s colder than last month so i now live in long underwear. work is relaxing, hard, mind numbing and rewarding all in the same day. and last month i managed to walk nearly 100k on some of New Zealand’s amazing tracks. i’m pleased with what i accomplished but i was silly to think it would make me feel satiated. i am itching for another summer in New Zealand to pack my trusty pack, concoct more amazing backpacking meals and bear the weight of beer and whiskey far further than anyone in their right mind should.
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but for now, here are some photos of the various places i’ve been in the last month …
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Nelson Lakes … i went there in part because i am a Nelson and in part because it’s absolutely stunning.
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the Heaphy Track … having heard that this track is the longest of the Great Walks and that the terrain changes more than on any other walk, i decided though it might be a logistical nightmare, this would be the BIG walk i’d do. absolutely no regrets. it was fantastic. more fantastic than i can put into words. the scenery was stunning. the solitude was therapeutic. the people were kind. and the accomplishment was blissful.
 
        

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i ended up staying at 4 of the huts which was a great way to do it. folks say you can do it in 3 nights/4 days, but if anyone reading this is thinking about it, i’d encourage the extra night/day. if you are a lover of all the things i value, it’s so worth it to take your time.
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the New Zealand bush

Apr 30, 2014 | ,

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pssssst. i’m still in New Zealand!

… and i’m really thankful i am able to say that!

 

after much thinking, debating, discussing and number crunching, i decided to prolong this amazing adventure a few more months.

so right now, instead of snuggling with the girls crowded on my lap, in a house filled with the smells of home, my dad, the heaps of boxes i left in Minnesota and the sounds of spring wafting in the windows, i’m sitting in Mapua, New Zealand, looking out the window at the fall colors, the estuary at high tide, the snow on the Richmond ranges in the distance and the smell of peanut butter + chocolate muffins baking in the oven.

when i set out i had this grand plan of going from summer to summer to another summer. sounds pretty amazing, right?? the BEST kind of snowbird there is! but with my change of plans, i will have a bit of winter before i land back in what will likely be the balmy, sticky, sweaty and all around HOT summer in minnesota. i certainly didn’t pack for any kind of winter, so my solution is to wear everything i brought with me. all at one time. ha. i am certainly creating fashion trends.

but in this new time i have acquired, i’m also on a mission. a mission to explore more of the bush and sleep in some of New Zealand’s amazing backcountry huts. i’m sad [and slightly embarrassed!] to say that i’ve only stayed in one hut the entire time i’ve been here. and that was back in October. i settled into a nice life here – i had 2 jobs, then i had 1 job, then i had friends, then i had books to read, photos to take, beer and wine to drink, people to travel with and then i had those friends again.

[by the way, ‘the bush’ can be defined as “rural, undeveloped land or country area” and in New Zealand, it’s the bulk of the country.]

so i’ve calculated i have the month of May to really get out and get lost. not literally because that could be dangerous, but figuratively, following trails, sleeping in huts, getting cold, wet, muddy and stinky. i’m pumped. though i’m running into some problems … the 2 or so weeks of virtually nonstop rain, rain and more rain has either washed out necessary roads, bridges and trails or has knocked down so many trees that trails are impassible. besides that, fall is here and winter is coming. many of the trails i want to do are alpine trails and i am certainly not the “experienced parties” the DOC people mention, who would be prepared for this: “snow craft experience is required and equipment taken should include at least an ice axe. Weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly and icy snow conditions can be experienced at any time of the year.” yikes. so the sky isn’t quite the limit that it once was, but i’m still determined to get back to my earthly roots.

now just because i haven’t stayed in many of the huts doesn’t mean i haven’t seen the bush. the bulk of this island is magical, beautiful and virtually untouched bush [which is pretty stinkin amazing, if you ask me] and with the land being so wild, you can see an amazing amount from the highways alone. i’m sure my dad + aunt and uncle would agree with this thought …

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and when you are on the road and sleep in your car, you can sleep in places like this…
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this was simply magical.

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i was insanely fortunate to have family join me in both December and March, but beyond that i’ve made some great friends who have helped me suss out the best of the best in NZ beer, exciting jobs, living arrangements that are so outside my experiences, wine that is top notch and outdoor adventures that keep me amazed AND they have [really!] helped me in all walks of life here in this foreign land.
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one of my biggest regrets of my trip is that i passed up the opportunity to take photos with a BIG number of the people i’ve met here… i’ve learned my lesson and i’ll know better for the rest of this adventure and of course, for my next one. and if you are one of those folks, THANK YOU and i hope the day comes when i can take that awkward self portrait of us with something remotely cool [or maybe rather mundane] in the background.
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anyways, the internet is calling me. it’s May 1st and i have some walking to plan!