Thank you for clicking on the ads below. As you may have read from a few posts ago, we make a few cents every time one of you clicks on an ad. Although we haven’t actually seen the fruit of the clicks yet (GoogleAds have our account on hold until they can verify our details), our account shows that we’ve made some sweet mula from your kind clicks. To verify our account, it seems we have to go through a background check, police record, warranty of good civil standing, and get it notarized before Google will pay us. If and when they do, we’ll be feasting on some tasty treats.
According to our online statement, here’s what we’ve made so far (pre-tax):
March - $44.56
April - $18.77
That converts to:
March - 11.14 double-deluxe soft serve ice creams with a flake in the middle
April - 4.6925 double-deluxe soft serve ice creams with a flake in the middle
Wow, 15.8325 ice creams. Our mouths are watering in anticipation. If you would be so kind as to click a few more times, we’ll have 4 ice creams each. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
On The Road Home
We were so wrapped up in figuring out our route up to the Nelson area, that we didn’t take the time to appreciate that we are on the last leg of our road trip. We realized it, but didn’t really acknowledge it until now. After spending a couple of relaxing nights in the Nelson Lakes National Park, we started down the road to Motueka and suddenly calculated that today will be the last day of this four-month-long road trip. It’s suddenly snuck up on us. Yes, we’ll still be in our caravan until we find somewhere to stay, but we’ve finished our New Zealand wide exploratory tour. One Kiwi termed it our ‘LSD trip’ (look see discover). Well, yes it has been a psychedelic, mind warping experience for sure.
We’re having lunch at a tranquil, free camping spot about 45 minutes outside Motueka. When we wrap up lunch, we’ll be hurtling at 80 kph toward our future life. It’s a strange feeling, like being on the last day of high school. We’re looking forward to settling down and exploring a new community, but we already miss being on the road and exploring this magnificent country. We’re excited about what lies ahead. It’s another thrilling adventure that we’ll continue to blog about.
It took us about three months to settle into the rhythm of being on the road and figuring out how it all works traveling in a caravan. Now everything has a place and a purpose, and we know what must be strapped down and buckled in. We’ve finally figured out how to setup and pack up again, but we’re still not the fastest, or sleekest campers around. That’s not possible with a mischievous ankle-biter, and a pretty little treasure collector. I’m sure we’ve taken on the weight of the caravan again in heart shaped stones, leaves, shells, twigs, and trinkets Quinne found along the way. Some heart shaped stones are too big to fit in the caravan, so Daddy takes a picture of it instead.
Fortunately, Beck has a habit of throwing things out the window. Of coarse, that can also be a bad thing. We’re not sure what we’ve lost along the way, but we can list a few things. At least we’ve kept our minds, and our happy little family joyfully together. There are still little tips we’re learning, but we’re finally comfortable with how life on the road for the Webers works.
We realize that it’ll be such a change of lifestyle and will take us time to adapt to a new way of life in a strange country. Much more than four months. It’s very exciting though, because anything is possible. Wish us luck on our next chapter, but don’t stop clicking on those ads yet ;)
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Hanmer Springs
When we spent two and a half weeks touring around New Zealand three years ago, we spent our first night in Hanmer Springs. We really enjoyed our initial New Zealand experience in this charming little mountain town and took full advantage of the relaxing hot springs. In the three years since we last visited, Hanmer Springs has grown and become quite exclusive. The amount of smart new houses that have cropped up is stunning. We shouldn’t be surprised though, given the serene surroundings, popular hot pools, and the recent growth of the New Zealand economy. Again, we took full advantage of the now somewhat crowded, hot springs.
Unfortunately, we didn’t fill up on diesel before we left Kaikoura for Hanmer Springs. We were sure there would be several petrol stations in Hanmer Springs. We were wrong. We pulled into the only petrol station in the area on a Saturday evening at 6:30 pm. Diesel is usually $1.32 per liter, but at the Hanmer Springs station it was $1.48 per liter! There’s no other station for almost one hundred kilometers. We were on empty and needed to fill up. We pulled up to the diesel pump, removed the hose and attempted to refuel. The pump didn’t turn on, so I walked toward the shop. When I saw the desperate look on the other customer’s face and saw that the lights were off inside the shop, I realized that the station was closed. Now I knew why they looked so desperate. They’ll either be staying in Hanmer Springs, or somewhere between here and where they run out of gas, whether they planned to or not.
Fortunately we had our caravan and were only planning to leave the next day. The other unlucky customers were not as blessed. They wouldn’t pull into what’s probably the most expensive petrol station in New Zealand if they weren’t already on empty. Now they had to stay the night and hope they opened on Sunday. The local hotels probably pay the petrol station to close early in the evening to force weary travelers to pay their elevated hotel prices.
I have to admit that it was somewhat amusing watching the other poor drivers realize the situation they were in. Two girls of about nine and ten, dashed out of the car with the change their father gave them to buy some candy, probably to keep them at bay during the long and windy road trip. When they realized the store was closed, they started whining as if it were their mother’s fault. Their mother was quick to snap back that their delayed candy fix was the least of their worries.
With our trusty caravan (touch wood) we avoided the expensive hotels and camped at the NZ Motor Caravan Association leased land on the outskirts of town. This photo was taken down the road from our campsite. It certainly is beautiful open countryside. The trout fishing is supposed to be some of the best in the world.
Unfortunately, we didn’t fill up on diesel before we left Kaikoura for Hanmer Springs. We were sure there would be several petrol stations in Hanmer Springs. We were wrong. We pulled into the only petrol station in the area on a Saturday evening at 6:30 pm. Diesel is usually $1.32 per liter, but at the Hanmer Springs station it was $1.48 per liter! There’s no other station for almost one hundred kilometers. We were on empty and needed to fill up. We pulled up to the diesel pump, removed the hose and attempted to refuel. The pump didn’t turn on, so I walked toward the shop. When I saw the desperate look on the other customer’s face and saw that the lights were off inside the shop, I realized that the station was closed. Now I knew why they looked so desperate. They’ll either be staying in Hanmer Springs, or somewhere between here and where they run out of gas, whether they planned to or not.
Fortunately we had our caravan and were only planning to leave the next day. The other unlucky customers were not as blessed. They wouldn’t pull into what’s probably the most expensive petrol station in New Zealand if they weren’t already on empty. Now they had to stay the night and hope they opened on Sunday. The local hotels probably pay the petrol station to close early in the evening to force weary travelers to pay their elevated hotel prices.
I have to admit that it was somewhat amusing watching the other poor drivers realize the situation they were in. Two girls of about nine and ten, dashed out of the car with the change their father gave them to buy some candy, probably to keep them at bay during the long and windy road trip. When they realized the store was closed, they started whining as if it were their mother’s fault. Their mother was quick to snap back that their delayed candy fix was the least of their worries.
With our trusty caravan (touch wood) we avoided the expensive hotels and camped at the NZ Motor Caravan Association leased land on the outskirts of town. This photo was taken down the road from our campsite. It certainly is beautiful open countryside. The trout fishing is supposed to be some of the best in the world.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Mascot
Aren’t you glad this isn’t your school mascot?
I’m sure its true, but you’d also sulk if you inherited this mascot. You don’t sulk if you win, so they’re already labeled as losers before they even start. They might as well call themselves the West Melton Losers.
Go sulkies.
I’m sure its true, but you’d also sulk if you inherited this mascot. You don’t sulk if you win, so they’re already labeled as losers before they even start. They might as well call themselves the West Melton Losers.
Go sulkies.
Gone Fishin
Quinne has been very interested in exploring the world famous trout fishing to be had here in New Zealand. Unfortunately she doesn’t have her Nana and PopPop to show her the way, and her parents aren’t experts when it comes to fishing. In fact, Amy doesn’t even eat fish, let alone know how to lure them from the waters.
In spite of this, Quinne took it upon herself to gear up and take to the waters. She took the hook from the new socks Nana and PopPop sent, some yarn from Amy’s knitting supplies, a stick from the ground, and here’s what she came up with…
I’ll let you know if she catches anything. Amy insists it should be catch and release, but I’m not sure she has that much to worry about.
In spite of this, Quinne took it upon herself to gear up and take to the waters. She took the hook from the new socks Nana and PopPop sent, some yarn from Amy’s knitting supplies, a stick from the ground, and here’s what she came up with…
I’ll let you know if she catches anything. Amy insists it should be catch and release, but I’m not sure she has that much to worry about.
Rock Snot Rap
Young Chad is probably the only American (other than Sarah) who will know what Didymo is. Didymo is an algae that clogs up the waterways. Although it was introduced into the rivers here in New Zealand from the US, we hadn’t heard of it before. It’s quite a problem here, but we can’t help making fun of the name.
When you’re on a long road trip, you come up with very strange things to amuse yourself. They don’t need to make sense as long as they pass the time and make you laugh. We composed this song while driving along. It was inspired partly by the Rock Snot Café in Murchison where we spent a long afternoon using their Internet.
For you, Chad, we wrote this little ditty…
yo yo
We got a little ditty about Didymo.
It’s probably a ditty you didn’t know
Because you didn’t know about Didymo.
When you’re in the islands way down low,
You’ll see Didymo everywhere you go.
You’ll find it down where the rivers flow.
Now we’re gonna tell you blow by blow,
Why you mustn’t touch it even with your toe.
To make a little bit of extra dough,
They harvested some Didymo with a rake and hoe.
They put Didymo in our cuppa joe.
We ate the Didymo coz we didn’t know.
Because of Didymo,
We couldn’t go no mo.
Now that we know,
We don’t eat no mo Didymo,
Oh no no
Don’t worry, we didn’t really eat any Didymo.
We also worked on:
Do wah diddy diddy diddy di didymo
There we were just walking down the street,
Singin’ do wah diddy diddy diddy di didymo,
Paddling our kayak just as happy as could be
Singin’ do wah diddy diddy diddy di didymo…
Ok, we’ll stop now.
We’re back at the Rock Snot Café to break up our trip on the way up north. Unfortunately their network is down. I asked the lady behind the counter about why it was down, but she was quick to tell me that she didn’t know anything about ‘those things’, referring to the computers. She half looked over her shoulder to ask the other two ladies helping her attend to the café full of us and another lone couple sipping a flat white and long black. The other two café employees, who were looking for things to straighten up, were no more help. That’s one of them in the picture above taking a well-earned break. The only advice they gave was that the computers had been blank for several days now, but they don’t know anything about them. They added that they were surprised nobody had been out to fix them. I wondered if they considered telling their boss that the computers had been blank for several days. Or maybe the owner was waiting for the computer specialist to swing by and reboot the computers and charge her a few hundred dollars for his skills. In the mean time, we’ll finish our cappuccino and fluffy, let our laptop recharge, and look for some Didymo where the kayakers launch their boats.
We can’t go into a café now without ordering Quinne a fluffy. A fluffy is just a small cup of frothed milk. Sometime they throw in two small marshmallows and a sprinkle of chocolate powder to justify charging a dollar or two. We usually ask for a fluffy without the accoutrements to comfort us into thinking we’re just giving her a bit of milk. If Oliver conveniently forgets to make this request, he’s forced into eating the marshmallows and chocolate off the top before the poor deprived Quinne notices. In actuality, we’re falling into the clever café trap that lures innocent kids into the coffee addiction. It starts with a virgin fluffy and soon moves up to chocolate sprinkled fluffies, fluffies with colorful candy sprinkles, alluring pastel marshmallows, and keeps going from there.
Quinne feels quite grown up sitting among the other adults sipping her fancy looking fluffy. Beck now recognizes them and fervently asks for his share, forcing Quinne to remove her airs of superiority and share her distinguished cup of fluff with her childish baby brother. It won’t be long before we find her staggering into the closest café for her fix of double espresso to calm her nerves. And it’ll be all our fault. I just hope we don’t stop off at the café before composing another silly caffeine induced rap.
Ok, it’s time for us to paddle upstream and avoid the Didymo.
Here's what it looks like (in the picture)...
When you’re on a long road trip, you come up with very strange things to amuse yourself. They don’t need to make sense as long as they pass the time and make you laugh. We composed this song while driving along. It was inspired partly by the Rock Snot Café in Murchison where we spent a long afternoon using their Internet.
For you, Chad, we wrote this little ditty…
yo yo
We got a little ditty about Didymo.
It’s probably a ditty you didn’t know
Because you didn’t know about Didymo.
When you’re in the islands way down low,
You’ll see Didymo everywhere you go.
You’ll find it down where the rivers flow.
Now we’re gonna tell you blow by blow,
Why you mustn’t touch it even with your toe.
To make a little bit of extra dough,
They harvested some Didymo with a rake and hoe.
They put Didymo in our cuppa joe.
We ate the Didymo coz we didn’t know.
Because of Didymo,
We couldn’t go no mo.
Now that we know,
We don’t eat no mo Didymo,
Oh no no
Don’t worry, we didn’t really eat any Didymo.
We also worked on:
Do wah diddy diddy diddy di didymo
There we were just walking down the street,
Singin’ do wah diddy diddy diddy di didymo,
Paddling our kayak just as happy as could be
Singin’ do wah diddy diddy diddy di didymo…
Ok, we’ll stop now.
We’re back at the Rock Snot Café to break up our trip on the way up north. Unfortunately their network is down. I asked the lady behind the counter about why it was down, but she was quick to tell me that she didn’t know anything about ‘those things’, referring to the computers. She half looked over her shoulder to ask the other two ladies helping her attend to the café full of us and another lone couple sipping a flat white and long black. The other two café employees, who were looking for things to straighten up, were no more help. That’s one of them in the picture above taking a well-earned break. The only advice they gave was that the computers had been blank for several days now, but they don’t know anything about them. They added that they were surprised nobody had been out to fix them. I wondered if they considered telling their boss that the computers had been blank for several days. Or maybe the owner was waiting for the computer specialist to swing by and reboot the computers and charge her a few hundred dollars for his skills. In the mean time, we’ll finish our cappuccino and fluffy, let our laptop recharge, and look for some Didymo where the kayakers launch their boats.
We can’t go into a café now without ordering Quinne a fluffy. A fluffy is just a small cup of frothed milk. Sometime they throw in two small marshmallows and a sprinkle of chocolate powder to justify charging a dollar or two. We usually ask for a fluffy without the accoutrements to comfort us into thinking we’re just giving her a bit of milk. If Oliver conveniently forgets to make this request, he’s forced into eating the marshmallows and chocolate off the top before the poor deprived Quinne notices. In actuality, we’re falling into the clever café trap that lures innocent kids into the coffee addiction. It starts with a virgin fluffy and soon moves up to chocolate sprinkled fluffies, fluffies with colorful candy sprinkles, alluring pastel marshmallows, and keeps going from there.
Quinne feels quite grown up sitting among the other adults sipping her fancy looking fluffy. Beck now recognizes them and fervently asks for his share, forcing Quinne to remove her airs of superiority and share her distinguished cup of fluff with her childish baby brother. It won’t be long before we find her staggering into the closest café for her fix of double espresso to calm her nerves. And it’ll be all our fault. I just hope we don’t stop off at the café before composing another silly caffeine induced rap.
Ok, it’s time for us to paddle upstream and avoid the Didymo.
Here's what it looks like (in the picture)...
Parson’s Rock
Here are some pictures from our campground in the lakes region west from Oamaru.
This thrilling swing gently launched its contents way over the clear turquoise lake.
The lakeshore is beautiful in the morning when the water is calm…
Not far from these lakes, on the coast is the quaint town of Oamaru. It reminded us of a European town with its stone buildings and tree lined main avenue. Oamaru is a splendid town with interesting architecture and quaint shops…
The limestone from the area plays an important role in the architecture and livelihood (for some at least)…
Property prices are still reasonable here. The area is very dry and receives little rainfall, but has pockets of extremely fertile soil like on this picturesque organic farm just outside Oamaru…
Irrigation is imperative.
Not a bad place to live. Beck even has the outfit for it. Perhaps he’ll make a good farmer one day.
This thrilling swing gently launched its contents way over the clear turquoise lake.
The lakeshore is beautiful in the morning when the water is calm…
Not far from these lakes, on the coast is the quaint town of Oamaru. It reminded us of a European town with its stone buildings and tree lined main avenue. Oamaru is a splendid town with interesting architecture and quaint shops…
The limestone from the area plays an important role in the architecture and livelihood (for some at least)…
Property prices are still reasonable here. The area is very dry and receives little rainfall, but has pockets of extremely fertile soil like on this picturesque organic farm just outside Oamaru…
Irrigation is imperative.
Not a bad place to live. Beck even has the outfit for it. Perhaps he’ll make a good farmer one day.
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