So much to tell you about!

Hey everyone,

Oh my gosh, where do I start? Nelson - amazing! It was such a restful few days before getting back on the bus to head to Abel Tasman National Park. What an extraordinary place. It is the smallest National Park in NZ but it is the most popular. I had three days to take it all in. The first night was just a time to meet the new group and chill by the campfire. The next day, I went on a water taxi up to Torrent Bay and then proceeded to walk back down to Marahau (our base). It was a full day hike through rainforest and seeing amazing views out over the water, Just stunning. And I felt alright by the end, maybe a little sore. Had another chill night but an early night because I had an early start the next day.

My plan: to fly up in the air at 2000 feet in a microlight plane. Now, this is the smallest aircraft there is. Pretty much a cockpit where I straddle the pilot and he controls it with paragliding wings and we are have a propeller engine. It was a great surprise. And even more surprising, I wasn't even nervous. I was up for about 45 minutes, flying over Abel Tasman and getting caught up in air streams and clouds. So cool! Mitch, my pilot, was from Canada and amazing. It was something I had never thought I would do and loved it. Got amazing pics too.

Then, I had the rest of the day all alone! The bus left while I was flying (it's alright, I meant to stay an extra day). I just relaxed and enjoyed the quiet. In the evening, I took a walk out to the tidal flats and watched the sun go down. Then got lost getting back to land (suddenly, the creeks looked like rivers) and got dive-bombed by a seagull. I looked like a nutcase running through the tidal flats swinging my water bottle over my head and screaming at a seagull diving at hy head. But it made me laugh for the rest of the walk home.

Then I got back on the bus with a new group and driver and loved it. A great group and we were heading to one of the coolest places so far - Barrytown. Now, this is just a blip on the highway and if you blink, you'll miss it. And that is why I loved it! It is situated on the west coast in an area full of greenstone on the beach. I only found a piece of glass that was green. The place we stayed at, All Nations Tavern (and the only place to stay) was so cool. A closet with costumes for an evening of fun and maybe some debauchery. But what happens in Barrytown, stays in Barrytown. Or Baz Vegas to the locals! I loved it and had such a great evening living the dream dressed as a washed up beauty queen, or washed ashore mermaid, or tralier trash. Whatever you saw, I was it! What a blast.

The next day I did a really cool activity - bone carving. I made a necklace out of a piece of bone. And it looks awesome!!!! I am so talented :) And then I got emotional. I was going to be left alone in Baz Vegas for 2 more nights, but I really didn't want to stay alone. I was sick of having to start over on a new bus every few days. And I met a great friend, Emma, who was leaving. So after a cry and a cuddle from Rob (the driver), I shoved all my stuff in my bags and got back on the bus. A great decision. I didn't get to make a knife like I had planned, but it is another excuse to return to New Zealand!

So the group made our way to Franz Josef Glacier where we have partied hard and I climbed a glacier. I thought of my Daddy the whole day as it was one of his hobbies in his youth. I was born to climb a glacier... it was so cool. And cold! But crawling through ice caves and tramping up and down crevasses was excellent! A great day.

So today, I move on. Actually, the bus leaves in a few minutes and I still have to pack. So, gotta dash but I'll chat later.

Love you all, Lisa