Return to Auckland

After an eight week roadtrip around the US, we are back to enjoy the height of summer in Auckland. We arrived this morning at 05.15 after a lengthy flight from San Francisco, to find Marnie looking pretty good after her time of abandonment.

So, the details of our whirlwind tour.

Having left Auckland on 8 December, we enjoyed 5 days in San Francisco, arriving in temperatures in the mid 50's which were most welcome after spring in New Zealand which was pretty cold and wet. As Marnie is built from kauri, and this tree (native to New Zealand) is second in size only to the giant redwood/sequoia family, we visited Muir Woods situated north of San Francisco, to see for ourselves how vast and spectacular these trees are, up close and personal. After marvelling at their attributes and buying a specimen to plant at Lovett's Pond, Virginia Beach (which incidently doesn't have the misty climate of San Francisco) we headed for Sausilito. Walter had a favourite hamburger grill to hunt down and after much searching we found it. Lunch was as good as his memory had served him.

We'd envisaged spending Christmas and New Year in front of an open fireplace in Virginia. Plenty of frosty days arrived just in time for the dream to become reality. A cycling program followed an early Christmas present for Tricia (Walter's sister). Every second day, wrapped in gloves and warm layers we clocked up miles regardless of plummeting temperatures and managed to keep pedalling and smiling.

A one week diversion was squeezed into the busy schedule and Tigs heading back to freezing conditions in the UK for much needed one-on-one with Natalie. Airports closing due to arctic blasts, cities and motorways in chaos was a good reminder to maintain the plan of following the sun and achieving a perpetual summer.

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Trip Length: 15 years
Blog Entries: 7
Photos: 88
Words: 2708

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Blog Entries

Date	Blog Title	Location
February 21st 2009	Auckland, San Francisco, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Santa Fe	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland
March 21st 2009	Last leg of US roadtrip - Gila, New Mexico, San Francisco, Auckland	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » North Shore
March 23rd 2009	Auckland	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » North Shore
June 28th 2009	Marnie arrives in Savusavu, Fiji	Oceania » Fiji
July 26th 2009	Bula from the Yasawa's, Mamanuca's and Port Denarau	Oceania
August 2nd 2009	3 day safe passage Fiji to Vanuatu	Oceania » Vanuatu » Efate » Port Vila
September 1st 2009	To Ambryn for 'Back to our Roots'	Oceania » Vanuatu » Ambrym