ROAD TRIP!!!

Sam and I toodled off on my first New Zealand road trip day before yesterday! I had been getting a little restless, and sam had the day off, so I looked into places that we could skip over to and explore for a day. Alexandra was our first stop, and after driving though a landscape that was very similar to Kamloops BC for about an hour, it was a welcome sight to find a green town. The entire way we drove alongside a large, very blue, very calm, river. So pretty! But I couldn't figure out why, being so close to water, that the landscape was so barren. Sam explained that, for some reason, when Cptn. Cook came to the island, the entire area was covered with very dense vegetation. So thick that you couldn't even walk through it! Then the Maoris came down and started a controlled burn... something about wanting to hunt the area (Sam couldn't remember the exact reason, so don't quote us on it just yet) and eventually burned down so much of the south island that it's hard to believe it wasn't always desert! There's only about on inch to two inches of top soil everywhere, so when then dirt mixed with the ash of the burn, the wind just blew it away! Now pretty much nothing grows there except weeds. So sad!

Anyways, Alexandra is just like any other small, tidy town. It thrives on the orchards that surround it. We drove through that countryside, and the orchards are like bandaids on the dry soil. Everything's brown, and then you have a patch of green that says "It's okay, the land's not dead yet! We've got it covered!" Sam and I stopped in the middle of town to take pictures of the rock supports for the old town bridge (pictures on Facebook), climb a tree to cross a back water, and found a rope swing. We found out that the rope swing was definitely NOT made to just sit and swing on (it really hurt our butts), but we didn't have our bathing suits with us so we didn't exactly want to drop off into the water, what with the rest of our roadie still ahead of us.

Next stop... LAKE WANAKA!!!! Auntie Linda's favorite spot! It was beautiful. Of course, we were dumb and didn't bring our bathing suits! And it was so hot! We went for a wade in the water after lunch (which was delicious, and fantastic sitting on a lake facing terrace!) and shopping! I didn't buy anything though. I really want a piece of jewellery from here - paua shell specifically - but the cool stuff is so expensive! I could get a ten dollor piece, but I don't want to be wearing the same necklace as all the other tourists. Blah. So, it has to be exactly right :) I've decided I'm going back there on a later day with my bathing suit and towel.

After Wanaka, I took the wheel! So much fun! We took a different route back. Through the gorge! Very steep, lots of switch backs, and sometimes (not often, I promise mom) no gaurd rails. Teeheehee. It was such a fun adventure!

After we came home we had a Furgburger. They are an experience in themselves! I guess this guy started the business in his van, and people loved the burgers so much that he had to move to an actual building. They are delicious! And HUGE! I only had a quarter of Sam's. On a regular day I could probably eat half in one sitting, no problem, but I was still full from that wonderfully fantastic lunch in Wanaka.

Then, movie in the park! Couches are optional! We opted not to bring one. We watched the New Zealand screening af Larse and the Real Girl. Haha! It's sitting on my shelf back home in Canada, so I thought it was pretty funny that we were going to its screening. I love that movie! Another brilliant performance by Ryan Gosling!

Wow, this is getting long! But I guess that's what happens when I have an adventure packed day! Phew! I gotta wipe the sweat off my brow after that typing marathon!

Kay, just a little bit more. Hang in there! Next day, very uneventful. I painted trays. Yup, work found me. Thirteen dollars an hour baby! Nice and hot outside too. The hotel that Sam works at needed there room service trays painted white, so I buckled down. For a full four hours I slaved under the unwavering New Zealand sun! Sunscreen slathered everywhere (I still don't have a tan, just so you know), and my brow dripping with sweat. It was a tough days work, but somebody had to do it!

Lol, so after yesterday's grueling labour, I rewarded myself this morning by going parasailing with Sam, and then coming down with a nasty sore throught. But I guess that's the price I'll just have to pay for having so much fun!

Okay everyone, I'm off to slay this cold with a nap and lots of fluids! Happy wintering over there!

Deanna