getting around new zealand

Our New Zealand adventure is in full swing. We started our trip in Christchurch picking up a car from Beth and Albert, a very nice couple who let us spend the night.

Car number 1

photo by Mefford Williams

From Christchurch we drove over Arthur’s Pass to Hokitika to meet up with Nick, Maria, Dominique and Mateo. Here is Dominique in action.

Nick…What now?

photo by Mefford Williams

Our first car blew a head gasket so we sold it to the automechanic and bought this one in town. Guess who took that photo.

photo by Mefford Williams

Maria took us kayaking on the Arahura, this was our first New Zealand heli-run. Well, our first ever heli-run. It was awesome!

fully loaded

photo by Mefford Williams

unloading

photo by Mefford Williams

on the river…

here is the crew scouting. Wow! 3 ladies, 2 men. Bizarre

photo by Mefford Williams

Here is Maria in action.

photo by Mefford Williams

This is me at Curtain call.

photo by Mefford Williams

Alan our guide running a big one.

photo by Mefford Williams

Mefford had awesome lines everywhere but he was holding the camera so no photos of him.

Here is Mefford on the first rapid of the upper Kakapatahi. Mefford’s kayak photo moment.

photo by Shanna Powell

We spent almost 2 weeks in Hokitika and paddled many days, getting on quite a few different stretches of river. Everyday was an adventure whether it was…

driving…through mud

photo by Mefford Williams

hiking…with kayaks or not

photo by Mefford Williams

or farming…cows?

photo by Mefford Williams

We would drive until the mud holes got too bad, then hike our boats to the river, paddle and “LOOK OUT FOR THE COWS” on the way home.

From Hokitika Mefford and I drove south to Queenstown to do some kayaking, but mainly trekking. We hiked the Caples-Greenstone track that was a 4 day loop with New Zealand’s famous huts to stay in.

Relaxing after a long day.

photo by Mefford Williams

Mefford on the saddle.

photo by shanna Powell

Moving along on the saddle.

photo by Mefford Williams

It was awesome with quite a variety of terrain and beautiful weather. Just what I needed.

photo by Mefford Williams

Confluence of the Caples and the Greenstone rivers.

photo by Mefford Williams

From Queenstown, your fearless crew made their way up the east coat to Christchurch.

It’s a long drive.

photo by Shanna Powell

yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is our laundry drying.

Mefford wasn’t as into the car photos as I was.

photo by Shanna Powell

We stopped off at the Rangitata river which is in the Peel Forest area, a little detour before Christchurch. Mefford was pretty insistent that he paddle that day so we put on with the plan that he was going to “run” shuttle, but not with the car. From the takeout to the car was like 20 kilometers, which converts to somewhere around 12 miles. 4 hours and 12 miles later, Mefford showed up with the car around 9:00pm. I was beginning to think I might spend another night out on the river. The interesting thing is that while I was waiting for Mefford, a raft guide drove down to the takeout with his parents and asked why we didn’t just paddle up to the rapids from the takeout. I was amused by the incident, and have an idea for a book of sorts. The things some paddlers will do.

Me waiting for my knight in red to arrive.

photo by Shanna Powell

We spent that night in the campground in the forest and went to hike the big tree trail after Mefford hiked his morning kayak session from the takeout up.

1000 year old Totara tree.

photo by Mefford Williams

Hugging another tree for dad.

photo by Mefford Williams

playing footsie?

photo by Mefford Williams

Now we are in Christchurch for a few days to see the city. It was only supposed to be 2 days, but the car broke down. The story of our life. I changed the sparkplugs today and Mefford is still working on the back wheel, brake fluid leak, problem.

That’s the one, under the thumb.

photo by Shanna Powell

“The best part about owning your own shop is you get to wear whatever you want.”- Mefford Williams self proclaimed “In house automechanic” He borrowed all of the tools.

photo by Shanna Powell

We are really appreciative of Linda and Phelpsy for letting us work on the car in the street, use the phone, facilities, the house as an office and sleep here. January 28, 2006 we will be boarding a ferry at 10:00pm for the North Island. More again soon.
Cheers!