Abel Tasman Birthday Hike



Last weekend Blaine and I took a hiking trip up to the north end of the island. Although we drove through snow to get there, it was sunny and warm for the most part! We even got to see our first penguin. The area, Golden Bay, is known for its turquoise waters, orange beaches and tropical weather. Here are most of our pics from the long weekend.

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IN 3 days I will be home!!! Hopefully I will be able to see lots of you while I am home!!!!

Happy Father's Day





Once again we are missing a holiday/celebration that we wish we were home for!!! Happy Father's Day to DB and Paw-Paw! We miss you! What would we do without our Dads??? Love you!

Peel Forest






Blaine and I decided we would take a drive and a day hike down to Peel Forest last Saturday. It was a beautiful drive through the Rakaia Gorge past snow-capped mountains to an area where several scenes of Lord of the Rings was filmed. Peel Forest is an "off the beaten path" forest with some great hikes. We stopped at the visitor's center/post office/grocery store/coffee shop (we WERE in the middle of no where) to get info/suggestions on a good day hike. They suggested Emily Falls which was only 1 1/2 hours. We had lunch by a little stream and then made the ascent through the forest, stopping for some beautiful overlooks. It is so nice to get out of the city and noise into the quiet wilderness with bellbirds chirping and clean air. We also took a short hike to a 1,000 year Totara tree (pic above). We plan on going back to do some longer hikes and camp out as well. We came back that night for a birthday party for our British friend Andy; we had steaks and went and danced to an Irish band--such fun!

sidenote: 3 weeks until I come home!!!!