We drove South today for several hours, to arrive back at Auckland, by way of Omaha bay, on the Eastern shore. In Omaha, we had a lunch of “mussels” (which I would have called clams) plucked fresh from the Omaha bay by our hosts, Karen and Tony. Karen used to Read more…
Another day in Kauri forest, but today it was more of a rainforest rather than temperate woods. It seemed damper and mossier. There were a number of Kauri with fused trunks. Stan said there were more active measures being taken against possums. We saw trees set upon by fungi and Read more…
Hard to talk about beginnings without reflecting back on everything that has come before, but the Maori tell us not to rush, for we are already exactly where we need to be. I spoke at length with Stan on one of our getting lost rambles about this idea. Why is Read more…
So long 2012. I feel like I should sum up the year, but I won’t. Because my only New Year’s resolution is to do more of what I know I must, rather than sweating what I suspect I should. Today I saw one of the oldest living creatures on the Read more…
The sounds of this place. Really, the birds. And so much green. The farm land is so beautiful—though it has taken over what was once prairie. Today, we drove north from Auckland toward the northwest coast and the great Kauri trees of the Waipoua forest. These trees can grow for Read more…
So, one of the girls in our group was fined $400 for trying to bring a banana into the country. This is a true thing that happened. She forgot it was in the bottom of her backpack, did not declare it, and when it was discovered via x-ray she had Read more…
I may understand intellectually how it is that I just lost a whole day, but I don’t get it. We left Laramie at 9 am on Thursday morning and now it is Saturday morning. Friday: poof. No good travel writing starts at the airport or on the plane. As with Read more…
The Turtle Rock trail is rated easy. It’s a short drive from Laramie, and it’s just crazy I hadn’t hiked until this week. It was a Wednesday. It was finals week, and I didn’t see a single other soul on the trail. In snow, it isn’t always easy to see Read more…
It is winter in Laramie again, which means I’m planning another overseas trip. This year I’m headed to New Zealand. I’ll be documenting the trip here, wifi permitting. More soon
Two days ago I left Phoenix with all of my earthly belongings piled into the back of a Budget truck and began a slow trek north. This morning finds me in a Homewood Suites in Colorado Springs, CO with only a few hours left to my destination: Laramie WY. Until Read more…