http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/stewsnews/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from stewsnews en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 05:14:42 +0000 Wed, 22 May 2013 05:14:42 +0000 Early morning I got to the airport so I could fly to Christchurch. Weather for the flight was spectacularly clear with views of snow on Mt Ruapehu forests coastal zones lakes rivers. It was basically nature in glory I chatted to a guy on the way down about my travelling experiences on my round the world exploration trip. He was familiar with NZ travel but not much else. It was beautiful http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-424600.html On saturday morning I left Peak Motor Inn biked along the road to where the registration bench was for the 'Kune Climber' bike race up to the finish line at the Tukino ski area carpark. It started at 697m altitude progressed 17 km to get up to 1780m altitude. There were about 40 competitors in the race which started at 1030. I was also being filmed by an ATV camera on a motorbike the whole http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Tongariro-National-Park/blog-393855.html WOMAD 2009Day 1 We left home in the avo 2 go down 2 New Plymouth 4 WOMAD. We arrived at about 1919 caught up with Hans Jay co once in. Had a gr8 big Indian Curry with Naan for dinner then watched the evenin with stars of African Asia Europe Australasia a few from America. There were some amazing guitar breaks operatic singin playing broom strings dancing with excessive flexibil http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taranaki/blog-382912.html Plan Day 1 Hamilton to Waihi through Paeroa and the Karangahake gorge. We will take a few breaks on the way to rest and have some food. This will likely be in Paeroa the Karangahake Gorge the Waihi town and then the beach also. We plan to camp in Athenree south end of beach. Having completed approximately 110 km sha http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Plenty/blog-375356.html Fell out o the sky in Blenheim but survived luckily hitched 2 Picton 4 catchup with heaps o' good friends. In the sound with a crew of Outward Bound workers mates 4 the last more than a decade Went 4 a couple of hikes on the hills to get good views and take lovely shots of it went kayaking 2 see what was livin in the clean water all around even went out sailing in the classic yacht th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-374948.html Well to improve fitness and enjoy a challenge it was an idea to do a bit of biking. The scenario approached was Bike the race around Lake Taupo. That's all just do itOn dad's B'day was the day of the race so as a bunch of companions Madeleine Dad Kerin gym trainer Kent myself and a total of around 10'000 others to race with I was for the first time doing this event on a roadbik http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-350160.html At the start of our winter Moo I escaped to warm Tonga not knowing if it was ugly beautiful kind or aggressive or what it might be in attitude but we were keen for it because it was our same old love for exploring new places. After our flight we were picked up by Toni from his Tonis Guesthouse to get be taken for our first night experience there and it was an amazingly attractive pl http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Tonga/blog-305832.html Stewhan is finally back to doing the things he has always loved to do. It is a nice miracle he enjoys alot of it because he was missing doing it all for a long time. There are amazing amusing things that he does now which he didn't do in the past. His plan is to learn how to do creative writing soon write something about one of his experiences in his life then finally write a book about th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/blog-137607.html We have been asked by a friend of Stewhan's to place this statement onto his page. Stewhan Hadfleas is currently in the intensive care unit at Vancouver General Hospital Canada. On March 1st Stewhan was skiing at Whistler skifield and suffered a bad fall over a rocky outcrop. He was flown immediately to Vancouver General Hospital where tests revealed multiple skull fractures and a fractured pe http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/blog-135043.html So I've packed my bag again tied up my boots and I'm heading out on the biggest adventure of my life I've thrown in a few shots of recent times the reasons why I will miss my homeland...Having completed my informal training fun in the South Island I now don my winter woolleys and head for some northern exposure in Canadia. There I will meet other keen members of Pole to Pole from around t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-126255.html With a couple of weeks of trippin' around and being silly with friends behind me the time came for me to get down to what this trip and my life is all about...So I have been rock climbing.Not far from Lake Tahoe Lovers Leap is a wall of featured granite and some great crack climbing. This style of climbing is unfamiliar to me so I spent a couple of days in the area in preparation for heading http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-92551.html Pass to Pacific is the name of our days pursuit from Arthurs Pass to the Pacific Ocean Jon Earle and I are hoping to kayak the full length of the Waimakariri River facing up to the imposing stretch of water to raise funds and awareness of the Pole to Pole project. Jon an outdoor guide is the MacDaddy of mullets and with an attitude to suit. He is also the captain of the trip. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Canterbury-Plains/blog-111162.html NEWS Had a crazy disappointing but uplifting week with the selection process. Basically we have a great group of people and a pathetic state of organisation. I have been given a massive responsibility to make the expedition happen which will teach me a lot A lot of us are here now with the sole purpose of committing time and energy to the cause so that's an exciting prospectThe expediti http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-108466.html Once upon a time a large boy spent a day in a forest of pine with red sandstone boulders and grassy clearings. At 1300m altitude it was beautifully warm 2528 deg with the sun out but cooller when the odd cloud passed over. He climbed some hard and very fun boulders and that pleased him greatly. It was one of his best climbing days ever which was great because it was also his birthday.In t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/blog-58852.html It is difficult to describe with words the certain feelings that one has in leaving behind a life to return to another... It is not just a moving on that is so fundamental and familiar to the traveller. When people become part of my life rather than company on the trail it is not just 'goodbye' rather 'can't wait to see you again'. It is a pleasure of mine that I can take with me the memories http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/blog-89104.html So to prove our manhoods Ingra suggested a short stroll up the 10500ft peak of Mt Lassen. We said whatever we do what we want and then we set off. Here are brief notes from the team of dirty mofos involved...Twas my 32nd birthday today the 'mission' up the mountain was my girlfriends present to me. I was hoping for a present that involved me her a bedroom no clothes and a donkey. Wel http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-90052.html Bike trip We plan to bike from Basel in the northwest corner to Geneva in the far southwest. As Tim's first bike tour he is relying on my experience as 'idiot with a bad idea for a good adventure'... Today it began...Day 1 28 Aug We hope to make it from Basel to Biel today where we will catch up with old friends of mine... predicted at about 90 km...With a slightly makeshift but very attr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/blog-86165.html Cheese is big in Switzerland. And in order to get more intimate with this country I spent a week working with Simon Schelbert an Alpcheese maker on his cheesery at 1700m above the Muotothal valley. Here is how he lives summer long...Firstly you need to make sure that you are in a beautiful place in the back of nowhere well out of easy contact with other humans. Then get up really early http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/blog-83392.html Sweden is where lakes were invented and they are not at all modest about them they put them everywhere. If you enjoyed eating wood and drinking water this is the perfect place for you. Forests lakes lakes forests trees water forests a red house and another lake with a small boat in the forest...My first impression on arrival was that it felt a lot like home in New Zealand. The vegetat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-74418.html Once a year people gather in Zrich to go crazy in the streets with heartthumping electronic music and a scene of rather anarchic nature. A good release perhaps for the the people in this otherwise very rule restricted place.Anyway I was there but I will let the photos tell the story... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/North-East/Z-rich/blog-81663.html