Road Trip

Where to start? Well, I am laying in my bed on a Saturday afternoon editing my photographs from my recent excursion through New Zealand. Looking through my pictures is hard work, as most of the pictures look like one another, but I just couldn't stop taking pictures...I felt the need to document the magnificence repeatedly. The road trip was absolutely amazing, all due to the amount of beauty that God gave New Zealand.  I am pretty sure I said 'Hellooooo gorgeous!' more than enough times to appropriately give thanks! Although, it is the oddest thing because for the first time my flat feels like 'home' to me. I am guessing other people know of the feeling to be gone away for a bit of time, and feel the tiniest bit of relief to be home in the comfort of your own bed.  Do not get me wrong, I loved every moment of exploring NZ...it just feels good to be completely warm under all my blankets.  It goes to show bliss comes in many different options!  Good thing I don't have to pick just one. ;)

We picked up our rental car that almost immediately got named 'Princess Cherry' due to its red color, and deathly low engine power.  She took her good old sweet time going uphill!  I drove it a few times...on the opposite side of the road!!! The first destination was Lake Tekapo, located near the center of NZ.  Crazy beautiful!  The water looked even bluer in real life than the pictures let on...

The rocks had a chalky layer thus appearing white

We walked on this barren path in the middle of nowhere.  It felt very Sound of Music-ish, and I may or may not have sung 'The hills are alive....'  I am not even going to attempt to use all the thesaurus options to describe all I have seen...it would still not do it justice.  Enthralling, captivating, glorious, etc. are semi-credible word choices.

The path.

An inlet of Lake Tekapo.

:)

Mount Cook National Park was the next stop, it is at the start of the mountain chain known as The Southern Alps.  Sir Edmund Hillary climbed this mountain several times to prepare for his Everest summit.  I sadly do not have the mountaineering gear needed to scale such a mountain, but the area still offered plenty of trails and views.  I saw my first glacial lake, and tasted it.  By far the best hydrogen and oxygen combination there is.  We had to climb down a huge pile of rocks to get there...but worth the trip!  It was so warm I even took off my winter jacket (gasp!).

Mount Cook NP from afar.

Tasman Glacier is in the middle...creating the lake.

The water had icebergs...and a thin covering of ice.

Hooker Valley. Stunning.

Mount Cook is slightly clouded over.

The other view of Mount Cook...the clouds spewed over it.

It took me awhile to figure out how to wash my hands here...

A statue honoring Sir Edmund and his achievements.

We were originally going to go skiing the next day, but the resort was closed due to a recent lack of snow in that area, so we ended up exploring the coast.  There, I saw my first seal, and penguin!!!! And other things...

Near Oamaru

Some of the floral arrangements..

A baby seal...I was literally this close and didn't see it for awhile.

The Moeraki boulders. Strangely smooth and spherical rocks.

Sunbathing...I got a little bit closer than the recommended 10 metres away.

Coastline never gets old.

Princess Cherry was here.

A trail along the coast.

We made our way south on our last day with the car, to the Catlins.  I have never seen so many signs for scenic reserves...holy!  Every 5 km, I swear!  At the end of the day, I had my first fish and chip experience and will definitely participate again.  Ahh, how I have missed seafood and fried food in general...it made me think of the MN State Fair.  Anyone know the newest food that was fried there this year?!  I think in past it was spam or something...

Nugget Point

I wonder how much erosion has happened to these rocks..

Purakaunui Falls

Stopped in Gore, the brown trout fishing capital of the world.

New Zealand preserves their natural environment beautifully and that was evident.  Everywhere you go, the slogan 'Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints' was in effect.  This song and this song wrap up my overall sentiments right about now.  Hope everyone has a great weekend, I have a lot more things to blog about stuff I did before I went I went on the road trip...that will have to wait though!