A further word on Dolphins

I thought I'd just mention dolphins again because it was such a great experience and cos I didn't give much detail last time. These were dusky dolphins that inhabit the deep waters just off Kaikoura on the east coast. They can reach up to 2 metres long, but alot of them seemed to be about the same size as me, and perhaps not so far off in age- they can live to 25 years! The boat we went out in has a strict limit on the number of people that can swim each day & they aren't allowed to do anything to entice the dolphins. They come and check out the human swimmers entirely of their own volition. They don't always show up- sometimes they're busy. Sometimes they're playful, sometimes not. We were lucky in that there were lots of them around - maybe 40 at a time and they were in a very playful mood, doing acrobatics and swimming us round in ever decreasing circles. We went out in the early morning (crikey the sea was cold) as they have to be left alone later in the day to have their siesta (really). Lee got some great shots from the boat, as you can see. He said they swim alongside the boat and turn their bodies side on to check out the people on the boat who are watching them.

Aaaarharrrr birthday ahoy

Here's Lee getting into the sprirt of his birthday. I gave him a pirate costume and turns out it's just what he always wanted.

Happy Birthday Lee (even though it was a while ago now)

Swimming with Dolphins in Kaikoura

Sorry it's taken us so long to get these photos up. Lots of you have asked about the dolphins and here they are. It was such an incredible day- I'll never forget the feeling of swimming along and a dolphin swooping up beside me to have a closer look at me. They take you round in circles as a game and then dart away into the open sea. We were told that if we sang down our snorkels they'd come and check out the noise. I sang my heart out down that snorkel and it worked- they came and looked at me as if to say what's this crazy animal saying? I can see now why people say it's a spiritual experience swimming with dolphins. I wouldn't put it quite that way, but there was certainly some kind of communication going on between the people and the dolphins- some sort of understanding. Beautiful, elegant and so fast- what amazing creatures. We also saw a humpback whale who came up to breathe for a while and give his back a good scratch on our boat. A 'baby'apprently, at 8 metres!

Lee & Em go bush

We drove as far north as we could until the road ran out and stayed ina hostel in the Abel Tasman national park. The next day we caught a water taxi up the coast to this beautiful bay and walked back along the stunning coastal track. It took about 5 hours & included such sights as the crystal clear Torrent river below. One of those unforgettable days.

Wwoof wwoof

Here's Lee doing some manly work on the organic farm. If we never see another blinkin gorse bush again it'll be too soon. The family was great but the work was, er, otherwise. We liked being just outside the rather bohemian town of Nelson though, which was nice to potter around on our afternoons off. Great coffee shops, as always in NZ. You can go to a tiny outpost town with a population of 5 people and a small sheep still find a place to get a perfect latte.

North of the South

Em Hanging around in Picton. A couple of solid days of rain stopped play for a while but then we got to walk some of the beautiful Queen Charlotte Track.

Then on to stay with a family who live just outside of Nelson for another session of organic farming.

Crossing Cook Strait

A view from the ferry from Welli to Picton, our last view of the North Island (where the seals live- see below). We spent a few days in Picton and walked a bit of the famous Queen Charlotte track. Off now to Marlborough to sample some vino.

Ah, this is the life

A group of seals were settling in nicely to enjoy the afternoon sunshine on the southernmost tip of the North Island. They looked so relaxed on some pretty rugged rocks- they just snuggled down to find a good spot.

Outer Shire

Another amazing LOTR location and you can see why! This really is an incredible place.

It's our last day in Welli and we've had a great time but it's time to keep moving on. We catch the ferry at luchtime tomorrow accross to Picton on the south Island where we're stopping for a few days to do some walks then we'll be wwoofing on a farm for a week planting veggies. The adventure continues...

Emma flees the Nazgul (wellington)

Emma hides from Lee, erm I mean the Nazgul. This is the actual location of the 'outer shire' flight scene, but there weren't any scary predators today. (present company excluded) There are several locations just 5 mins from where we staying on mount Victoria, central Welli. Lindsay, a friend of a friend has offered some top notch kiwi hospitality and let us stay while we explore Welliwood. A fantastic city and windy, as its reputation suggests. (resisting temptation for cheap laugh). Like San Francisco but friendlier & more manageable. Next plan is to hop over to the south.

A week Roamin' & Letting off steam

Here's Lady Knox Geyser doing her thing just outside Rotorua, as she does every day. This is at Wai-o-Tipu, an area of intense geo-thermal activities. There were sulphur lakes, boiling mud pools, steam rising from the ground an vast array of unfeasably brightly coloured rocks. Enough to melt the heart of even the most un-geologically minded person. truly a wonder of the world.

Working on Maggie's farm

We spent a fantastic week wwoofing on John and Maggies organic farm in the Coromandel region east of Auckland. You see me here with Poppy and daisy who seemed to like having us around.

We loved learning about organic things & self-sufficiency (Maggie is a wealth of information) & Lee learnt lots about digging holes. Very inspiring.

Back in Auckland to buy a car

We came back to Auckland on Sunday. It was Em's birthday on Monday and we ate at the Skytower, which revolves 360 degrees every 60 minutes, and we were right at the top, so we got some incredible views over the city. It's higher than the Eiffel Tower!

Have just bought a Nissan Bluebird to do some exploring in, and we're going to stop on a farm next week near Coromandel and do some work in return for food and accommodation. Only got to work 4 hours a day though, this is supposed to be a holiday!

Happy Birthday Emma! x

Beautiful bay where Emma went paddling...

And further into an inlet. We're now in Paihia again for a couple of nights.

Whangerai, Kaitia and the northern tip!

We stayed in Whangerai (pronounced fungedaye) for a couple of nights, this is Whangerai Head waterfall.









We took a trip along 90-Mile beach from Kaitia. It's a state highway! Have to be aware of the tides though or you end up like this.

Auckland

This is the sky tower, and me drinking coffee from a huge bowl! We stayed for 5 nights in the end.

Lovely Auckland

We're enjoying having a good old wander around Auckland which is a really chilled out, pleasant city. We keep forgetting to take the camera hence the lack of photos. I think we've just got over the jet lag now and are starting to feel properly excited about the next few months. Lee has talked Emma into going to see 'The Dark Knight' on the Imax cinema. Emma says she's going to creep out if it's too scary.
We've decided to get out of the city and explore for a bit so we're headed to Whangarei on Monday. never heard of it? Nor have we. But it looks beautiful and there's a waterfall and the possibility of touching a live kiwi. Yay!
Pics to follow soon!
xxxx

Sealions basking on Pier 39

They make so much noise!

Iconic San Francisco

Lombard Street - the crookedest street in the world...

Alcatraz - where sadly they let Emma out ha ha...

San Fran Baby!!!

Hey everyone
We're here in San Francisco having an amazing time and seeing some incredible views. We've been spoiled by John (Lee's uncle)and Lynn (thanks so much!) but sadly they've gone home to Texas. Now we're staying in crazy Haight Ashbury where the hippy movement supposedly started- and is still going very strong. Well, sun's over the yard arm here so we're off for an evening wander. Much love to all and we'll blog again soon when we get a connection.

View from Coit tower over city roofs.

A Week in Charente

Back in London after a week in France where we relaxed, ate lots of cheese, drank wine, and learned to juggle.


We visited the great town of Angouleme, where they hold an annual graphic novel and comic convention. As a result it has lots of cartoon art painted onto the sides of buildings, and sometimes it's hard to tell where the paintings end and reality begins...

My two favourite are this one:


and number one has to be:

Can you spot the join?

Wandering along the Thames

Sunny Kew

Here we are in sunny Kew Gardens, London, on a delightful English August day. We spent a wonderful week in Nottingham being pampered and catching up with family (Hello Ben!!!). We then had a great couple of days with Tim in Hammersmith. Red Onion curry (Hammersmith) out of this world!
Now in France so another update is imminent. It seems the adventure has officially begun.

Introducing Lee

By popular demand, a picture of lee.

My hero

Two months and counting

It's 2 months to go and we're just biding our time in Lincoln. Em is sorting things out and Lee is scraping through the work day like a kid desperate for the summer hols. We're looking forward to breaking the cycle of 9to5 for a while and see if there isn't another way of doing things that we didn't think of before. Admittedly we'll be blowing a whole decades worth of carbon footprint but after that it'll be strictly back to local turnips and walking everywhere. First stop will be San Fran- then it's New Zealand where we'll be dreaming of new ways to run our lives from 30 onwards (on a whim and a shoestring). Not a bad way to spend our first married year.