Ellen - Day 9 - Napier to Wellington

We spent the day exploring the art deco of Napier. The walking guided tour was well worth it. We had a bit of time to kill before departing for Wellington and took a tour of the sunken garden and the National Aquarium. We might have enjoyed the aquarium more if it hadn't been packed full of screaming kids.

We took the back roads to Wellington which serendipitously took us past the place with the longest name in the world (see photos). Arriving in Wellington at dusk, we strolled up Cuba street and had a pub dinner. With several hours to kill before boarding our 2AM ferry, we popped round to visit our dear friends Tony and Charlene Hillyard for a chat, and a jam in the kitchen on Tony's wonderful guitars.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5842730707172193793

Ellen - Day 8 - "You Don't Know"

We were on the road just after dawn, dropped the dogs off at the kennel and spent ten hours traveling to Napier through the wild Te Urewera forest and around the stunningly beautiful Lake Waikaremoana (search Google images). The going was slow through the forest with 100 kilometers of twisty up and down gravel road. The misty rain only added to the haunting beauty.

We arrived in Napier just before dusk, got checked into the Criterion Backpackers and had a stroll in the misty rain on the pebble beach before having dinner at Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub. Of the millions of rocks on this pebble beach i just happened to look down and saw one that had written on it "You Don't Know!". This became a recurring mantra for the rest of Ellen's visit.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5841605197768115025

Ellen - Day 7 - Boxing Day

Today we bid farewell to Larry & Karon and drove down the west coast via the Hokianga harbor. We stopped in to pay respects to Tane Mahuta, the largest living kauri tree.

Finally back home, we finalized the packing for or early departure in the morning to Napier, via lake Waikaremoana.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5840211132535738865

Ellen - Day 6 - Christmas

December 23rd was a well earned rest day, we even treated ourselves to dinner and the final Tattletale Saints concert at Corellies.

On Christmas eve, we drove to Stillwater to visit with our dear friends Paul & Anna. Christmas time wouldn't feel right without spending some time with them. Then we spent the evening packing up Blute (my blue ute (pickup truck)) for our big southern trip which begins when we get back from Northland.

The traveling started today, Christmas, as we headed to Northland to spend Christmas day with our dear friends Larry & Karon. Karon prepared a sumptuous feast and we ate, drank and laughed our way into the evening. Yet another great day.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5840202475672088721

Ellen Day 3 - Puhoi Pub on The Beast

Trude and Ellen started the day with a walk into Devonport village to visit the Ngataringa Dragon and to check out the jacaranda trees that are now in full bloom.

With a weather forecast for days of rain ahead, we decided this was the time to ride The Beast to the Puhoi Pub, via the west coast. Ellen reckons it took more courage to hop on The Beast than it did to get on the plane to New Zealand.

On the way back from Puhoi we stopped in at Wenderholm Park and Orewa to check out yet more great beaches.

In the evening we had our good friends Michael & Ardeth over for dinner, after which we went up to The Bunker for the annual Christmas party.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5840195233625116513

Ellen - Day 2 - Piha and Muriwai

Today we took Ellen out to the Auckland west coast beaches: Piha and Muriwai. Piha is a favorite with both locals and tourists and is especially known for the good surfing. There are great views from the road in.

After an nice lunch on the beach at Piha, we headed up to Muriwai beach to see the ganet colony. Muriwai is also known for it's kilometers of unbroken black sand beach, a favorite place for the land sailors.

Once back in Devonport we decided to cap off the day with a picnic up on Mt. Victoria. Every day should be this nice.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5840187155389497393

Ellen Arrives from Dallas

Trude's sister in-law, Ellen, arrived this morning. It is great to see her after way too many years. To help her cope with jet lag we took her for a long walk on the beach and gave her the full tour of Devonport.

Photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5840182143560879969

Wires & Wood at Bluegrass Club Christmas Party

"Wires & Wood" played a short concert for the Auckland Bluegrass Club Christmas Party.

http://www.wiresandwood.co.nz

Too Far Gone

After a long hiatus it was good to have "Too Far Gone" together on stage again as part of Martha's concert at The Bunker. It's always a pleasure to make music with these folks and to wear those awesome shirts that Martha made for us. Peter will be away for a year or two so who knows when we'll get to do this again.

Thanksgiving 2012

After about thirty odd hours of traveling from Missouri back to NZ I arrived just in time for our annual Thanksgiving party. Trude did a great job taking on the full load of preparing for the party while I was away for my Dad's funeral. The food was awesome although i forgot to get photos before it was gobbled up. I didn't forget to get photos of the most important ingredient which is these wonderful people that we are thankful to have in our lives.
Photos: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108481211284683809830/albums/5820817771630800417