Gifts From Home

Recently, I've come to a rather harsh realization: It's fall.
Yes, autumn has come to New Zealand.
Sure, I knew we were headed there: it's been raining heaps,  the temperature has dropped, the clocks changed, but I finally felt it.

It was one of those sunny, crisp fall days where the leaves are beginning to scatter the ground and there is the constant smell of damp earth and chimney smoke.  It's rather lovely.
It's strange, I get a whiff of that autumn scent and I'm flooded with images of past falls and it's as if I'm suddenly transported back to those times, spaces, situations.  Only usually fall is in October and not April.

I was so, so happy to see Graeme and Monica, my wonderful friends from the lodge who are currently teaching in Australia.  The kids were on school break so they decided to visit New Zealand and spontaneously come to Raglan.  We grabbed a coffee and then decided to take advantage of the sunshine and hike Mount Karioi.
The hike felt way faster and easier this time around (the fact it wasn't 30 degrees probably helped.)
I took on Sebastian's role by constantly tripping and actually slid into the splits at one point on our descent (as Graeme said, it wasn't a good splits) yet during all my stumbles I managed not to completely face plant into the mud.
We reached the peak and the wind started whipping hard at our clothing.  The instant we stepped onto the helicopter pad, we began to get pelted with hail.
Needless to say, we snapped a few pics and hauled ass down the mountain.
As we hiked our conversation just flowed, it was as if no time had passed at all.  It was one of those conversations when you have so much to say that you get off topic and onto a whole new discussion, but it's so good you just keep going with it.  Perhaps the good conversation accounted for the ease of the hike.  We talked education, social constructs, marriage, happiness and always about Tofino.  So much reminiscing.  I felt that little twinge of homesickness when we all wondered aloud if we'd ever all be there together again.  Even though I'm convinced we will, we were together in that moment, laughing and chatting on the other side of the world and that's all that mattered.

It was so uplifting to be in the presence of two beautiful people with so much positivity and who love each other so much.  I'm so grateful for their friendship.  You guys are inspiring!

When we got back to town we stopped for groceries and were all shivering in the store.  I got home and took the longest, most scalding shower, put on all my warmest clothes, wrapped myself in a duvet and still couldn't warm up.  Winter is on it's way, I guess I couldn't avoid it forever...

The next night, we all met at the pub to harass Jordan and play a game of pool.  Graeme got rather cocky and bet that even if Monica and I played on a team and took back to back shots for his one turn, that he would still win.  I am proud to say that we did win one game (even if it was on a technicality.)

The following day the two of them and Jordan came into my work to grab a coffee and so we could say our goodbyes.

It's so amazing and surreal to connect with friends in other countries, I really cherish these little visits.

It was great to see you lovelies!  The next time we meet it'll be in Australia and you two can show us the ropes.

More Everyday Adventures

The desire to keep travelling, the need to keep moving, leads us to a weekend camping trip.

We drive south to a free campsite we've discovered.  It's on the lake and so picturesque, it even has a cafe and a playground, I can hardly believe it's free.
The next morning we want to hike the Tongariro Volcanic Crossing so we head to the nearest iSite to arrange a shuttle from the end of the track back to our car.  We're off to a bit of a late start and the woman at the iSite seems nervous for us.  It's 11 am and the last shuttle is at 5.
"We recommend giving yourself 8 hours to complete the track, do you think you can do it in 6?"
Despite her intensity, we're convinced that we can.  The estimated time for these hikes are always grossly overblown anyway.  We pay $30 each for the shuttle.  Robbery, I tell you.
We get onto the track and start hustling, our fear driving us quickly up the steep incline.  We pass old people and tailgate lollygaggers* all the while heaving and dripping sweat.  We allocate an extremely limited amount of time for photo snapping and eat our lunch as we walk.
We arrive at the peak and it's as if we've landed on another planet.  Glowing blue lakes of sulphur sit beneath red mountain tops.  An eerie mist hovers over the entire park.  We truly feel like two hobbits, off to Mordor.  As we begin our decline we realize we're making really good time.  It's just after 2 and we're nearly at the end.  Encouraged by our surprisingly high stamina, we continue on at our brisk pace.  That's when we approach the 100+ elementary school kids, slowly meandering down the narrow path.  Luckily for us they're cool kids and as soon as we appear behind them they all start yelling, "LEFT!" and moving to let us pass.  We arrive at the end with all the other tourists and immediately start stretching out.  We both nearly pass out in the overly warm shuttle.

*On a side note- when did I become a 65 year old?

We head to Lake Taupo and stay at another incredible (and free!) campsite directly on the river.  I wish all New Zealand municipalities would take a page out of Taupo's book, these free sites promote tourism while keeping the freedom campers out of sight and out of mind.  But I digress...
We're exhausted so we both pass out before the sun even sets and don't get to explore the lovely reserve.
In the morning we go check out Huka Falls.  It's underwhelming and too touristy compared to what we've seen.  I'm still unsure if there is a better place to view them, maybe someone can shed some light on this?

Yeah, I guess it's alright.  More of a giant river than a waterfall.

Inspired by our amazing hike we decide to hike Mt. Karioi when we return to Raglan.  I invite along my friend Sebastian who has expressed interest in partaking.
Right away, we realize this hike is going to be a challenge.  It's mid-afternoon and insanely hot, the hills are steep, the bugs are swarming and it's becoming obvious that we have not brought enough water.  Jordan and I are still feeling high off our Tongariro time so we hoof up the hill at a steady pace.  6 hour suggested walking time be damned! Sebastian comments on how quiet and focused we are and tries to distract us with small talk.  We all keep tripping, especially the tall and gangly German.  At one point, Jordan tries to hand him her water bottle and it ends up careening down a cliff.  Sebastian tries to retrieve it and almost dies in the process.  We are now officially out of water, but nearly at the top.
We finally reach the summit, a helicopter pad, and, as always, it's worth the trouble.  At over 1000 m above sea-level we are on top of the world.  We revel in the awesome beauty and take some photos.  A helicopter actually flies right up beside us and we excitedly wave to the pilot.
We descend the hill and Sebastian falls about 10 more times.  It actually takes us the entire 6 hours to complete the hike.  At the bottom, we head straight to the beach where we run directly into the surf and frolic in the cool waves as the sun disappears behind the bend.

Back at home, Jordan and I dig into the incredible seafood given to us by the lovely Jess.  Smoked marlin, a giant crayfish and some rice.  Life is good.  And I'm reminded that there is always an adventure to be had and beautiful sights to see, especially in your own backyard.

Everyday Extraordinary

Living in an actual house - running water, electricity, internet, a kitchen - at first, extremely exciting.
But settling down - working, paying bills, having a schedule - begins to feel monotonous.
Being in the van certainly has its draw backs, but ultimately it's freeing.
We're free to wake up whenever and just drive: as far as we want, wherever we want, and when we get tired it's as simple as pulling over.  We need nothing but a tank full of petrol, some food in our cooler and a good song bumping on the iPod.
Being broke and having to work in order to replenish my savings makes me feel stuck and a little stir crazy.  I feel as if I'm on a treadmill, constantly walking, but never progressing; making enough to get by, but never enough to flourish.  It's extremely frustrating especially since I've grown accustomed to the nomad life.

One day, as I'm scrolling through the Raglan Notice Board, a post catches my eye.  Foo Fighters tickets for sale: only $125.00 each for the floor, when they retail for $165.00.  I mention this casually to Jordan whose eyes light up with excitement.
"Fran!  We have to go!  Haven't you always wanted to see Foo Fighters?"
I begin with my usual bevy of excuses:
1)  I need to save money
2)  I work weekends and probably can't get the time off work
3)  It's all the way in Auckland

But then I stop myself.  Because...
1)  I'm saving money in order to have these incredible experiences
2)  My work needs me more than I need them.  If they can't let me leave a little early and come in a little late, screw them!  It's a perfect excuse to quit
3)  We have the van.  It's simply a matter of filling our girl up, throwing in some bedding and hitting the road.

I want adventure!  I want experiences!  I want to say YES to every opportunity, YES to life.  So I do.

I immediately message the poster to ask about the tickets, along with a few others who have expressed interest.  She takes a lifetime to respond.  Finally, she tells me they are still available and I can pick them up that night.
When I arrive at their house her husband hands them to me.
"You're getting a really good deal on these you know," he tells me bitterly.
"Thanks.  Why can't you guys go?"
"When you have kids, unexpected issues arise," he tells me and leaves it at that.
Oh well, your loss is my gain!

Jordan and I fill the van with snacks and supplies and we're en route to Auckland.
As we make out way North we proceed further and further into a looming storm cloud.  It starts to rain, hard.  Soon it's a torrential downpour unlike anything I've experienced before.  I can barely make out the road directly in front of me.  This worries us as the venue is entirely outdoors.
"I see blue skies further ahead," I tell Jordan as we enter Auckland.  "I think we'll pass right through this and the sun will come through the clouds just in time for Foo Fighters."
We follow the directions to 'Three Kings' to stay with the ever gracious Jeff.  We just want to park out van on his street.  He does us one better and offers us the fold out couch.
We open the sliding door of the van and a case of beer comes tumbling out causing a bottle to shatter. We attempt to scoop up the broken pieces.  Once in Jeff's house, Jordan starts to open her bottle of cider and pink, sticky liquid comes foaming over, spilling all over the white countertops.
We're off to a great start.
We sit out on the patio with Jeff and his lovely flatmates, Alex and Mitch and throwback a few beers.  The rain has letup and the sky has brightened substantially.  They want to go get food so Mitch offers to drive us to the show.  The tickets state that the gates open at 6:40.  We round that up to 7:00 knowing that shows never start on time so we assume that 7:30 will give us enough time to catch the opening act, Rise Against.  We are so wrong.  When we arrive we can hear Dave Grohl's voice ringing across the grounds.  We're confused and bewildered and start sprinting down towards the floor.  Our fears are confirmed.  Somer random guy I ask claims they've been playing for a while and that Rise Against already finished a full set (we'd later find out that the show started much earlier than scheduled.)  Disappointed, we make out way through the crowd and make another startling discovery:  The floor has been divided into two sections and ours is in the back.  We can only get so close before we reach a gate guarded by security.  In front of the gate in the "first class" section there are barely any people and HEAPS of space.
I begin trying to convince people around me to all bum rush the fence.
"They can't segregate us like this!" I cry.
It doesn't work.

The show is awesome, despite our late arrival and some rather shoddy acoustics.  Foo plays for almost 4 HOURS!  And they go hard the entire time.  They do all their classics, a few songs off their new album, a couple Nirvana songs and a couple other covers.  We dance like fools the entire time.  When the show ends we're buzzing from the excitement.  We join the masses exiting the stadium and notice that some very clever girls have set up a barbecue and are selling sausage sizzles (aka sausages and onion in sandwich bread, still weird to me!)
We eat 2.  Each.  And I immediately wish I had more.  We start making our way in the direction of Jeff's house while simultaneously trying to wave down a cab.
A cab stops and the driver asks, "Where to?"  We tell him and he keeps asking us for directions.  Why do they do this?  I'm obviously not from Auckland.  I guess the point is to confirm that we have no idea how to get there, because he takes the longest route humanly possible and the meter continues to rise.  Fantastic.

Back on Jeff's cul-de-sac there are heaps of cars and loud thumping music radiating from near his house.  We walk past a car and see a guy fully passed out, but still sitting upright inside.
We quickly realize the part is actually taking place at their sketchy neighbours house, but at Jeff's, the floor is littered with beer bottles and a dance party has broken out.  My throat hurts from yelling and I'm pooped, so I'm grateful that we're not going out.
We hit the hay pretty fast, in the morning its back to Raglan for another day of work.

A little weekend out of the ordinary, necessary for the sanity.