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Published: April 19th 2007
Kaikora
HOW AMAZING IS THIS!!! Hello Everyone,
We there sure has been a lot that has happened since I last wrote. So you all are going to have to bear with me. Two Friday’s ago, at about 8am I headed off on my big “spring” break road trip. Susannah, Clancy (my roommate), Andrew (a friend), and I all packed up our $650 car and set out on an almost 10 day journey, followed by Anna, Yvonne, and Ally in their car. We headed first to Christchurch on Good Friday, which was kind of cool seeing as it is probably the most Christian town in New Zealand. After our 5-hour drive we explored around the city went into the Cathedral Church and saw a chess game being played in the square (see picture). Around 4 Susannah dropped me off at Kate’s house (another of my Mohawk friends, who was a unit leader when I was a camper). She is now married with two of the most adorable little girls. She lives about 20 minutes out side of the city, in an area that kind of reminds me of the Hollywood Hills. Her house overlooks the ocean and is absolutely gorgeous. We all went on a
drive around her area that was really nice. After Kate made one of best meals I have had in awhile, Susannah came back and we hung out chatting and catching up in the hot tub over looking the city… not a bad way to start off the trip. We left at about 6:30 the next morning and headed into the city to pick up the rest of our crew then another 5-hour drive up to Blenheim. We did a winery tour of Montana Winery, the largest winery in the Marlborough region, and happened to be there on the biggest harvesting day of the year. We did a little wine tasting after the tour and all felt very sophisticated. Later that day, we happened to catch part of a big plane show “War birds Over Blenheim”. We carried on up to Picton where we stayed in a backpackers for the night. Easter Sunday was spent in Nelson walking around the city and through the botanical gardens. After a few hours we headed to our campsite in Abel Tasman. The next morning the group split up as most of the group went on a 3 day kayak tour of Abel Tasman ($400),
Susannah and I, however went for the cheaper $85 NZD option and head for a day kayak and hike. We kayaked out and hike on the most gorgeous walk back to our campsite. In town we found the coolest sculpture. The next morning we headed back to Picton along the windiest road I have every seen… I literally felt like I was playing a video game. We didn’t go over 40km/h for almost 2 hours. Anyway we made it to the big interisland ferry and travelled up to Wellington. We were met at the train station by Jo, my friend who what down here for my birthday and headed back to her house in Plimmerton, about 20 minutes north of Wellington. We had 3 day in Wellington and fully explored parliament, Te Papa (the biggest museum in New Zealand), the botanical gardens via a cable car ride, Cuba st (a funky shopping arty town), and the nightlife. It was all pretty amazing. We headed back on the ferry on Friday, spent the night in the car and drove all the way back to Dunedin stopping in Kaikora (the big picture at the top was taken there) one of the most
beautiful places I have ever seen, and also the Morakei boulders. A long day of driving but it was good to get home so I could spend all of Sunday working on a massive paper that was due on Monday. So this is ridiculously long so will end here but hope you enjoy these pictures. Miss you all love you lots. Thinking of you all and sending my prayers to all of those at Virginia Tech.
Love you all,
Em
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Michael Wood
non-member comment
Get's better every time!
Emily Skinner, I think you are the most outdoorsy person I"ve ever met, by the looks of all these photos. Reading your blog has been the most convinced I have ever been that I need to get myself down there some day! Keep enjoying yourself and DAMN that's some nice leg extension w/the pose between the two boulders!hahah. Miss you! -Michael Wood (said in a british accent)