Tauranga, the tramp and Taranaki!!!

Hey everyone! SO sorry this update is a little behind schedule. That's what living in a van does to you. Regardless, we miss you all like crazy and we're looking forward to catching up in 3 months with all of you and making new memories. Before I start singing a sappy love song, I'll say toodles and don't forget to drop us a line. Here are some pictures that really don't do this country's beauty justice.

1. Ailie, Shane and I snagging avocados from the neighbour's yard in Tauranga...

2. Just strolling along the main beach at Mount Maunganui...

3. The guy with the camera has been picking kiwifruit too long...I think his hand is still twitching! But don't our outfits look 'choice'?

4. Just before the storm came we walked along the beach and grabbed some shells...

5. Look at all those kiwis! I just want to pick them all! Pick pick pick pick...

6. On the west coast just outside of New Plymouth are these cute little islands called 'Sugarloaf Islands'...I would have called them 'The Gumdrops'...mmm...

7. If Shane keeps eating those chips he's gonna look like the guy in the background!

8. We took a nature walk on Mt. Taranaki and Shane couldn't stay on the trail...

9. Mount Manuganui and its main beach in all its glory...(we spend a lot of time here!)

10. Mt Taranaki, also called Mt Egmont, was the mountain they used in The Last Samurai to represent Mt Fuji. I can't wait to see it covered in snow!

11. After the tramp my last name should have been 'Payne'! I know, I'm a wimp...whatever...

12. On the last day of our tramp, even the weather couldn't take away from the views! Incredible!

13. From way up high on the Queen Charlotte Track, you can see forever! How beautiful!

14. Some farmer is lucky enough to live here...

15. Shane and big tree...that's all...

16. Shane feeding a tame local New Zealand bird called a Weka...he really liked scroggin (trail mix)...

17. Guess what we're having for dinner...MUSSELS!!! and lots of 'em!

18. I know I look super-imposed in this pic, but I was there! Honest!

19. And maybe in this one, too, but we were really there...and we have blisters to prove it!

20. Can you believe the colour of that water? The forest we walked through felt almost tropical with palm trees every once in a while and the mountains were so amazing!

21. Aphra and I on the ferry from Wellington to Picton to start the tramp. Over 3 hours, $120 each and not nearly as nice as BC Ferries. I will never complain again!

22. Shane looks way to happy to be waiting for our little boat to take us from Picton to Ship's Cove.

23. Jacob and Aphra being their usual silly selves! Catch anything, Jacob?

24. A gorgeous sunset at Foxton Beach northwest of Wellington.

25. The unknowing happy couple awaits their 4-day grueling tramp in Marlborough Sounds. Will they make it out alive? Yes, but with injuries and wounds to remind them of their adventures.

30,000 Kiwifruit

Hey everyone!

It's almost been 2 whole months that we've been gone and we miss you all like crazy! Even though we talk about home a lot, we are not forgetting to pay attention to our experiences down here. One in particular that I would like to forget, though, is kiwifruit picking in Te Puke. I can't even believe how hard fruit picking is...neither can my arms! They are so tired I could barely paddle out this morning! Regardless, "work will make this trip all the better" is what I keep telling myself. We're heading down to the south island for our 4-day tramp over Easter weekend so we'll post some phenomenal pictures for you after that. Thanks for all the notes and emails keeping us updated down here. We'll see you in a few months!