victory!

So I’m back (in Christchurch) from visiting sister Meredith in Dunedin. Next up is the Heaphy Track, an 50-mile hike through New Zealand’s Kahurangi National Park. “The Heaphy Track is known for its beauty and diversity. For 82 kilometres it crosses a range of landscapes in Kahurangi National Park, from the junction of the Brown and Aorere Rivers, over expansive tussock downs to the lush forests and roaring sea of the West Coast.”

I’m meeting my friend (and hiking companion) Richard in Nelson tomorrow … have managed to score a “fuel-only” rental car to drive the six hours to Nelson! (i.e., I just pay for fuel!) Most tourists start on the North Island and work their way south, so apparently there are often deals for folks heading north. Very exciting.