Last of NZ Pics Post 2

Alright, so then it was back North and we stopped through Taupo again so we could see massive Huka Falls. In the Coromandel we spent two nice days in Whangamata and intended on more Coromandel time, but a big storm system set in and we tried to escape by driving to Gisborne. Found a nice beachfront camper park, a bit of surf for Ry and some awesome fish n' chips at Captain Morgan's, but it was still pretty rainy. The drive back from Gisborne to Auckland went through a beautiful gorge with tons of those crazy ferns. Our last night in Auckland was great and we got to catch the Ween show there. Just got in to Honolulu last night and hit Waikiki this morning. Ryan caught a few big waves and it looks like a pretty good swell is shaping up. Then it is on to Maui in a couple days. It's nice to be back in the good old USA with all of the Asians and the cheap beer. Ryan plans on eating a hamburger, Meghan's going to enjoy mexican food and not sleeping in a camper.
Lots of love,
Meghan and Ryan

Last of NZ Pics Post 1

Here are a few more from our South Island adventure. Ryan tried to throw Meghan off a cliff in beautiful Akaroa, town of the most winding roads in the world. On our way back up we saw lots of baby seals outside of Kaikora. We found an awesome spot for our last South Island night and Ryan was able to catch a couple waves in the morning. As you may have guessed, we have limited ability to post pics, so this will again be a two post update...see above.

south island photo blast 2

Make sure to read the post below for the rest of our South Island pictures. We have returned to the North Island and left Jay and Ami...shake n' bake, dudes!!
Had so much fun touring around with them for the first two weeks of our NZ campervan experience. Here are a few more highlights: we stayed in Abel Tasman at "Old McDonald's Farm" they had a great graphic designer make their sign, then we took a "Mud Squiggle" out to a boat and toured Abel Tasman, a mountain drive to Kaikoura followed. Kaikoura had a bunch of seals (more pics of those to come) and Jay and Ami tried to get in our heads.
Now we are back North at Greg's favorite, Whangamata. Today was an extreme beach day, but the surf has yet to work, although Ryan tried his damnedest. On to Oputere and mussel plucking tomorrow and the rest of the Coromandel soon after.
xoxo,
Meg n' Ry

south island photo blast 1

Alright, finally got some decent internet connection and we're posting lots of pictures. Starting off we have a pic of Mega on the ferry heading south to Marlborough Sounds, then Ryan surfing wine country and finishing off with a camp shower at our awesome beach front spot...found after getting stuck in the sand dune for an hour or so. After that is a pic of us on our Abel Tasman hike and then Meghan and her prehistoric fern tree. Whoooooo!!
Love,
M&R

Rain blast in Christchurch

Hey there,

We made it to christchurch! We have been riding out a storm system here in the city, because the beach and mountains are not as fun in the wetness. We met up with Matt, a kiwi who used to live in new york. He treated us at his favorite taco place and a couple of good bars. We hung out until late and had us some fun. His wife started a cupcake shop here a few months ago and they are doing quite well.

We are heading south a little more today, we may or may not make it to darwin, where they have many penguins. There is some huge surf moving through tonight so I hope to get into that while we are still with Jay and Ami.

After that its back north to the coramandel, a nice scenic beachy area, with significantly warmer weather. Antarctica is so close you can smell it down here.



Adios!
-Ryan and Meghan

More South Island Fun

So we've apparently overloaded the computer with pictures and it is not happy with us at the moment...hopefully pics will be coming in the next day or so.
We've been having a great time in the South Island; visited Abel Tasman and did a nice cliff walk hike, sampled some great wines around Marlborough and have been hanging out in Kaikoura the last two nights. Tons of wildlife around here...we saw some seals yesterday, a lot of jumping dolphins and Meghan got stung by a kiwi bee! Valentine's Day (our 10th one together!) was a bit early and we rented an awesome room with a view of Kaikoura mountains and ocean from the balcony. It was a much needed campervan break.
Getting ready to head down to Christchurch then to Dunedin and back up to the North Island. Can't believe we'll be back in the continental US in less than a month!
Miss you all.
Lots of love,
Meghan and Ryan

Boo Patriots! From Wellington

Hey yall!

Well, its been a while but here we are in Wellington already, at the south tip of the nothern island of NZ. We are heading to the south island tomorrow, to try to reach a wine festival in marlborough valley on saturday.

We caught up with Jay and Ami (new yorkers), who are also holidaying down here. Hooray! Travel troop. We met up in tongariro national park a few days ago and have been doing some extreme hikes. We climbed the Ruapehu volcano, which was gigantic and arctic/moonscapey at the top, with lots of views of the Mt Doom volcano from lord of the rings movies. We got to ride a ski lift about a third of the way up, which was nice for meghan because she does not ski. Afterward meghan and I soaked our dogs in a hot water fueled cooler, simulating a redneck hot tub.

We are currently parked in a beachside camper park just north of town, where there are no waves whatsoever. I swam around a lot in the tasman sea though, which is freezing.

Meghan got her first taste of wrong-side driving in the camper and did quite well in the winding mountain roads.

Also, we heard the giants won the super bowl! Wooohooo! Please forward any and all pictures of bill bellicheck or tom brady crying at the game. Boo patriots!! Ha ha ha ha.

xoxo,
Ryan and Meghan


p.s. happy birthday soon Seth.
p.s. another gratuitous beer cozy photo!

Kiwi time

Whoo-hoo!! We had an awesome time the last two days in Waiheke Island just off of Auckland...the weather was beautiful as were the vineyards and beaches. Now we have picked up our New Zealand camper and are on our way down to Lake Taupo where we hope to meet up with Jay and Ami.
More to come...

Love,
M

PS: Muchas congratulationes to Naomi and Julian on the arrival of their baby boy! I'm so excited and can't wait to see pictures!!