Shanti's comic strip

Time for reflection

Rachel's staff felt they needed to have a retreat. So a boat was hired, an old homestead booked, home baking made and we all found ourselves at the far end of the Abel Tasman National Park at Totaranui.
Steve and Rachel took their toys.
Shortly after the paddling pool Rachel ventured into deeper waters to play with seals at Separation Point. We managed to return together.

Summer is nearly over

After a Summer that has lasted since last May in the UK to now, you'd think we'd be OK with the changing temperatures. Not at all, it's time to get out and get busy before we get the winter's fire burning. We're in the right place for it, we were a bit slack with the summer festival here but did make it to the Lake Rotoiti boat show. Look at that view and stunning boats and classic cars to match.





We signed up for a glider flight on the day. The gliders were on a winch system, a long line pulled us up into the sky. We stayed up about 15 mins each. Katies friend was up there when the line on the winch broke and the next flight was blocking the runway, he was up for 40 mins and had a good flight back over the Lake. The picture is Steve’s flight taking off. It was a fantastic day out.



Last weekend I had my first open sea kayaking experience. It was really calm last week. Here’s another picture. It’s my new Kayak. It’s made of strips of NZ cedar covered in fibreglass. All hand made by an ex builder/boat builder it took him 230 hours to make and won the classic boat non powered section two years ago. Shanti took this piccy the island isn’t really wonky.



Steve has his glass over ply kayak and now after a few training trips, and if the weather allows, we can go 'kayak touring' in the Marlborough Sounds.

Shanti's North Island Action Adventures

Shanti and Katie (hereafter refered to as KK) being young and stout of heart (?) saw their duty quite clearly, to keep all enterprising Kiwi's who provide quick thrills for tourists in business for another year. View here all the delightful shots of Zorbing, Freefalling and Swoosh. No pictures of the lovely Kombi though or Shanti's grazed knees after falling off the Luge! Please feel free to add your own sound effects and comments.

The Wild West

Somehow, somewhere Xmas has been and gone, and I can't find the piccys. So first a road trip. Stevie and I went on one of the top ten road trips in the world!! It goes from Nelson on State Highway 6 to the West Coast and down. (Shanti is on the same road trip as we speak and says it's awesome.)
First Westport where there be seals, north of there is a place called Dennison which we just had to visit cos there's a really exciting old coal mine. (Shanti skipped the coal mine in favour of surfing lessons!)

This is the same Dennison of the 'Denniston Rose' book and the incline is everybit as steep and scary as the book describes. As it was incredibly misty that day it really had the feel of a ghost town.

Undeterred by the mist, and the fact he was about to descend 600metres in 5km, on a bridlepath built a century ago and used only by trampers the last 50, Stevie sets off on his bike. By the end muddy and shaky he says that's a ride to boast of but not to repeat. There's steep drops and waterfalls to cross apparently. I left the bike on top of the car and met him at the bottom.



I've sent these piccys of the Fox river and the Ballroom Overhang to the UK before. But they're worth including as our first overnight tramp and our first sleep out in the open. It's a stunning walk and includes limestone caves to explore, many river crossings, beautiful swimming holes and the best natural bivouac in New Zealand. Look how teeny tiny Stevie is below the overhang!

I nearly missed this piccy and it's a classic Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.




Last stop on our tour south was the Franz Joseph Glacier (Shanti's there now) obviously a place that takes your safety seriously. We only got as far as the danger signs but will definitely do a glacier walk next time cos it looks like fun.