pictures say a thousand words? since the start of this year, eric and i have tramped (overnight with packs - this does not count day walks...) over 240km! here's a bit of a view of what we saw...

we started in the summertime with our tent!
cape reinga walkway: 45km




then we journeyed into the mountains - of a volcanic variety.
tongariro national park: 45km




once hitting the south island we headed back to the beach.
abel tasman national park: 57km

the west coast has hidden surprises - natural hot pools just outside the hut!
welcome flats tramp: 34km




and then there was the 50km of hitch-hiking to the road end.
mount aspiring national park: 23km + 1000m vertical above the bushline




to stewart island on an 8 seater plane (i sat next to the pilot!) and to a place where the forest has never been touched since the dawning of time!
rakiura track: 36km

ouch.
my apologies.
for the serious time lapse.
but let's be serious.
when internet time is $2 for 10 minutes,
and when there are glaciers to be climbed,
keas to stalk,
fjords to float through,
8-seater flights with me sitting next to the pilot to stewart island to be taken,
kiwis to be spotted,
mountains to marvel at,
games of cheat to be played,
roads to be driven,
penguins and sealions to be photographed,
and life to be lived...
well.
sometimes computer typing has to take second seat.

there is more to come. i promise.