I had a birthday and to celebrate the occasion Reed took me on a dolphin swimming cruise. The morning of was drizzly and cold but we decided to go anyway, reasoning dolphins probably don’t care about the rain. It turned out to be good decision; our boat was small (for the most intimate dolphin experience) and only had room for four people on the viewing deck, because of the weather Reed and I were almost the only people who wanted on it. You could lie on your belly and stick you head out under the hand rail putting you face two feet above the dolphins. And I did. The dolphins were amazing. They would swim under the boat, moving in the same direction and just in front, then roll over on their sides so they could look up into our faces as we lay on the viewing deck. We couldn’t swim with them because they had young but looking into their faces was more than enough for one day. My favourite part was hearing the sound dolphins make when they exhale at the surface. I’ll never forget the first time I hear the “phhffts” of a dolphin pod. They have to consciously think about breathing, how amazing is that? It was a great day.
I have fallen madly in love with the family of quails living around the Love Shack. They are so sweet! Papa Quail is always keeping a careful watch as Mama and the babies look for lunch. We see them frequently throughout the day and hear them almost always. When the babies first appeared they were barely the size of golf balls. So cute. Do you think Quails could live in the Robson Valley?
-erin
Tomorrow we pack, Sunday we leave. We came for three weeks, stayed for seven and a half. Its been a wonderful time here in Russell. Here at Ricco and Marinas. They have been amazing hosts, they have introduced us to such wonderful people. Kept us well stocked in fresh, organic food. Taught us so much. Taken us sailing. And just all around been excellent.
Erin and I are hoping the weather holds for one last swim on long beach tomorrow. Last we heard it was supposed to rain, course it was supposed to rain today but the weather was excellent. It seems the weather people here aren't always so accurate.
Sunday we are heading up north to Cape Reinga, the 'Northerly-est' point in NZ. We plan on exploring there before heading down to the Bay of Plenty to pick Kiwifruit. Kiwi picking doesn't start until March 15th so perhaps a helpx is in order. Word on the street is there is an opening for us in the southwest of Auckland. It sounds quite nice.
Its odd for me to think its summer and February. I go North to get warm, and south get cold. I drive on the right side of the car, and left side of the road. There are about 12 times more sheep than people. Its less than 100km from the east coast to the west. Its such an interesting place, the people are great, and I'm having a wonderful time.
Day 001 – 008
We landed in Fiji on December 2nd. Getting off the airplane with its dry recycled air and stepping into a moist tropical morning was an incredible feeling. It was so completely different from Canada. We spent our first three nights at a resort on an island in the Yasawa group. It was so beautiful, white sandy beaches, clear blue ocean, and lush green jungle. There was world class snorkelling right at our doorstep. One of the highlights was a guided trek to the local mountain top (Thank you Aunty Patty!). Our last four nights were spent on the main island at a hostel/resort up in mountains. Without an ocean to dip into, we truly experience the heat and humidity. I have never been so warm! By about eleven it was almost too oppressive to move. At three in the afternoon, just when I was convinced I would soon melt, rain clouds would begin to build in the distant mountain tops. They would finally arrive around five and release a brief torrent of cool rain. I have never experienced such relief from the weather; it was a truly awesome experience. As soon as the rain came, countless frogs would sneak out of every crack and cranny and leap into the down poor. It looked like they knew what they were doing so we were quick to follow.
Day 008 - 012
We arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on December 9th and spent four days in the city. It is a nice city, however, quite a contrast from our lazy week in Fiji and was frankly a little shocking. We saw some cool city attractions, including an aquarium with a moving walkway through tunnel shaped tanks and the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. The thing I remember most is people, whole families sometime, walking around in bare feet. Right downtown! Apparently its pretty normal.
We stayed at the ACB Base hostel as organized for us by IEP, the working holiday organization we belong to. IEP has been great, they offered us orientation on arrival, two night accommodation, and whole host of services and information like cheap car insurance and free internet. ACB however, was not so great. It was a big noisy hostel with cranky staff. We were ready to leave it and the city to meet our Helpx hosts.
Day 012 – 022
Helpx is a lot like WOOFFing; we work four hours a day in exchange for room and board. Our first host were a couple in their seventies, Charles and Virginia, who lived in Pukekohe a suburb of Auckland.
Virginia and Charles, were wonderful. Charles is a doctor who works in the village on weekdays and builds model airplanes on the weekends. His airplanes are remote controlled and he enters them is competitions around the country. While we were there, he was preparing to go to nationals. Virginia is an incredibly busy and incredibly generous woman. She was so kind to us; she helped us buy our car and sort out our bank accounts, answered millions of “first timer” questions and gave us great advice. She runs a macadamia nut farm with the help of her “Project Manager” Ross. On the farm she also has a few avocado trees and the cutest hairy pigs. One of her sows had piglets, they were so sweet! I’m pretty sure a baby hairy pig would get a long really well with llamas…
Reed and I spent most of our time sorting, weighing, cracking, and testing macadamia nuts. We also did a little gardening, some minor land clearing and were in charge of burying possums. Possums are a very unwelcome pest in New Zealand, it seems everyone shoots, traps, and poisons them. But apparently they make great socks…
We were with Virginia and Charles for about two weeks, we really couldn’t have asked for better first Helpx hosts. They were lovely, we are hoping to see them again soon.
We left Pukekohe on December 23 and came to beautiful Russell, “the hell hole of the Pacific.” But more on that later…
-eh
We have been painting Marina and Ricco's house a bright blue colour.
Having finished last night and today being Saturday, we have decided to
take the day off. The weather is fine (kiwi news-speak for a perfect
sunny clear day) and we are planning for a day on the beach. Tonight we
are going to a birthday party of a man in a ukulele band with Ricco and
Marina and a few others. Naturally, it will also be on a beach and the
band will of course be playing.
Time to find my togs and jandals, pack a lunch and head to the beach.
Apply and re-apply SPF50, lay in the sun, swim in the ocean, play in the
waves.
-Reed
