Birthday and Falls Walk

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So I’m 23 now! It was my first birthday out of the country but it was pretty fun. Being older, wiser and much more responsible than that of my 22 year old self, I had to go to work the whole day. Kiwi fruit picking isn’t what I’d call the most exciting event to attend for a party, but the German girls (Kerstin, Anika, and Lisa) made me a batch of chocolate and caramel muffins, which we all partook in at our lunch break.

After the picking was done, we got back to the hostel and got cleaned up, and went out for a late pub dinner. Being the only non-German speaker of the bunch, there were a couple times I was less than totally aware of where the conversation was going (not that that is any different from when people are speaking English around me) but I they’re all also just about fluent in English. Burgers and drinks were had and my German vocabulary was expanded evermore. Not that I can actually spell much in it, but they are teaching me some stuff as I tech them some English stuff.

After waking up much later than I’m used to (mostly hangover free), we (Anika, Timo, Krstin, and I) went on a drive and a little hike to a lake and some waterfalls. It was a very short walk with some nice scenery but nothing really special compared to some of the other New Zealand walks I’ve been on.

Not too much other than that going on, we have a 3 day weekend so we’ll probably try to get out and do something else if the weather permits. Talk to you later!

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Photos

Muffins!
The birthday muffins

Muffins 2
What was left of them after our lunch break

Ines Preping
Preparing for the tequila shot

Katja and the Other Guy
Not sure who this guy was, but he was in the other hostel building and came along for the festivities

Anika
Anika's lovely smile

Falls 1
These were the first falls we drove past on the wait to the hiking trail

A Sheep!
Also featured, a goat.

Tui!
A native to New Zealand, the Tui makes noises like a monkey and a chicken are having a fight while a hippo is choking in the background

Geese
A mother goose and her young

Landscape
The rolling hills surrounding the area

Comments

[anonymous]

Hi! Hans is glad that he got to talk to you! Happy Birthday! Grandma and the family sent you birthday cards to the Counter Mail address that you had before. Maybe they could forward your mail. We also gave that address to Cass and your mom, before you moved. The pictures are great! Leslie

[Stan]

The Weather
Eric, I am just catching up with your travels and am impressed with all that you have been up to! The farm experiance at the kiwi orchard is of interest to me as we have both small and large kiwis here. I will be picking you thoughts when you get back on the right way to prune these fast growing vines. As to your comments on the weather be glad you are not here trying to garden in the cold and wet.It seems to be more like March than June!I'm getting the big push from Deb to get started on the bathroom addition(not sure if the shower or the toilet is the push,afraid to ask!)but will get started soon.Your pics are great and don't be shy about farm one's (not farm animals being farm animals)more about the vines and plants on the farms you visit.Sounds like your companions are great folks and i'm sure they will be so for many years to come.Gramma has plans for her summer gathering next door in early July,I will get Kathy or some other young relly to post pics on facebook for you.If you need home coastal pics to compile bragging rites let me know and I will email some from the North Coast and the farm for you to flaunt around!Keep the kiwis comming north as we need the vitamin "c"(maybe you should sign a few and the two Grammas will be out buying up the kiwi stocks hence increasing you employment opp's)any way enjoy your stay,have SAFE fun!!! Stan

[Lloyd & Isabelle]

Birthday Wishes
Belated 23rd birthday wishes. Nice to hear you are wiser and more responsible now that you are 23. Sounds like you had a fun birthday celebration. What a great opportunity to develop your English. We enjoyed your great pictures. Have a fun-filled long weekend. The Clarks from Langley.