I woke up as late as I could, which turned out to be eleven. I’m still struggling with jetlag, and keep popping awake at 3 am–here’s hopping I’m cured. Before I mention what I saw today, here are the things I ate: Breakfast: two slices of fresh wheat sourdough, a Read more…
I woke up almost early at an anonymous motel in Moab. Now I am sitting in my parents’ dining room. At times it felt like I was not traveling, so much as hurtling. The desert exploded red around a bend early in the day and I made a sort of Read more…
I didn’t make it to the top of Taranaki. I didn’t even make it to the sub-summit that several members of the group made it to. But I got to the cloudline and above the treeline and had incredible views. Early on the trail, there were two women, both “nearly Read more…
I am going to rant now, and when I’m done, I’ll be done. It was too cold and windy for most of the group today. So we didn’t get to hike up Mt. Ruapehu (also known as “Mt. Doom” to Peter Jackson film fans). Too cold and windy! These kids Read more…
Rangitoto is a shield cone volcano that emerged from the sea off the coast of what is now Auckland, only 600 years ago. We took a ferry to the island today, and hiked from the wharf to a kidney fern forest, then the summit, and finally through some lava caves. Read more…