North Island Adventure

Here's the North Island photos we promised to put up months ago...still incredible, but still no comparison to South Island...

Pohutu Geyser at Rotorua...can you spot the doggie?

After 2 days of surfing at Raglan!
Looking for a way out of Waitomo Caves...
After caving, it was time for glo-worms and tumu-toobing!

You dig the gumboots?
Frying Pan Lake... too hot for the hot tub!
Inferno Crater looks cold, but gets up to 184 deg F!!!
But it made for blackberry heaven!
New Zealand is ama-za-zing!
Huka Falls (below) cranks out 220,000 Litres per second...some crazy kayakers hucka'd themselves offa it!You climb into the little blue hole on the left, then run like a good lil' hamster downhill...joy!

Swimming with Wild Dolphins!

Amy adjusts her snorkel and takes the plunge, and Kimball rolls the underwater camera video.

Eeee....eeeEEeee....eeeeeEEEEE! ee-EEEE??!? E!

Somewhere btwn 150-200 wild dolphins surrounding us

and making funny underwater noises at us...

A Dolphin & a baby Flipper!

Oh my achin' legs

Jumped up bright and early yesterday and took off for Te Anau to hike the famous Kepler track. We made it 22 kilometers before dark. Wow, what a view. Today we're hobbling around like geriatrics but it's all worth it for the pictures. Wish you were here!

Mt Cook Nat'l Park

No sheep up here...


Got several hours of tramping in, before, we were informed by a 'dogist' that Jack wasn't welcome in this neck of the woods...

Valley of the Sheepdogs!

To celebrate the 3-day weekend, we headed in search of Mt. Cook with Captain Jack

Jack sitting proudly next to his brother...

Amy stops Jack from desecrating the 4 million year-old Moeraki boulders on the beach...

Not more scenery again!...the drive towards Mt. Cook...just a friendly reminder for y'all to cruise down to New Zealand...
Lake Pukaki and the snow-capped Ben Ohau Range
Clay Cliffs of Omarama...reminiscent of Utah...

A Cloudless Day at Milford Sound

With the visit of Jason & Belen Lohr and their kids Michaela and Joshua on their round the world tour we decided to head out to Milford Sound.

The kids admire Mitre peak.
The happy Missionaries.
Bowen Falls.
Waterfalls AND icecream? Too much!
Just us...

Meet Jack!

Well, after pressure from the parents we have produced a grandchild! I heard from one of my nurses that this wonderful border collie needed a temporary home. So Jack (previously Zach) has become part of the family.

He likes hiking at the beach, chasing his soccerball and the occasional swim in duck infested water.
He is remarkably skilled for his age of two and can speak as he is below. He actually chomps silently to get your attention.
Here he is leaping on Kimball's shadow.

He has just learned to catch a frisbee.
Here he gets creative and catches it with his chin!