Voyage of the Rogues' Scholarship

Gratuitous Baby Photos

2011-12-24T16:20:00.004+11:00

On the Brisbane river for the work xmas party

jaunty Christmas bow

no reindeer or babies were hurt in the making of this photo

rocking her Santa suit

Before she was born we used to joke that we would be spending the next few years sitting around staring at the baby. How true it is. Never have we met a more fascinating being.

A Very Merry Christmas 2011 from Liz, Mark and Dylan Claire. xx

Our little American

2011-12-15T13:35:00.023+11:00

Posing with the flag!

Watch out world, I have my passport!

Being born in a foreign country does not guarantee citizenship. Australia has strict immigration policies (after all we are boat people) and citizenship could only be awarded to Dylan after she celebrated her tenth birthday in Australia. We are happy with her being a plain old American but because everything requires paperwork, our little Dylan was without country for the first few months while we got her papers in order and waited for our appointment. Last week we visited the US Consulate in Brisbane to sign documents and complete her application for citizenship, social security and her passport. She wore her patriotic colors for the occasion.

Dylan Claire

2011-10-01T10:08:00.044+10:00

The swinging bassinet Mark made

Just arrived

Going home


Cuddle with Daddy


Almost home

Tiny Little Wonder

2011-09-27T10:07:00.000+10:00

Baby girl Dylan Claire Haley, born Wednesday September 21, 2011 at 12:10pm in Brisbane, Australia. 6 lbs and 1 oz. We are so pleased with the birth of our little treasure. We are home from the hospital and all is well. xx Liz and Mark

Outback Dentist

2011-09-01T12:41:00.065+10:00

We spent two weeks doing dentistry in two very remote aboriginal settlements. We had the combination of a decrepit dental van with no xray capabilities and many patients who had literally not seen a dentist ever in their lives. Sounds bleak, but we did have an enthusiastic team (Myself, Mark and Dental Nurse Linda) and a rockin' ipod. We spent two weeks and saw about 100 patients. Mark and Linda tried their best to get the people in these communities out of pain. Hygiene and preventative dentistry does not factor in this time around as there was too much other work to do. As I said in my last blog, it was an amazing adventure and cultural experience.

the supply plane arrives from Alice Springs

this was our front door and porch, the communities were considered unsafe at night

the VAN!!

months of red dusk took hours to clean

getting sorted for our patients

how the community deals with rubbish

Linda and Richard

depressing playground

flouride treatment

Outback Australia

2011-08-31T08:37:00.020+10:00

Back in June Mark and I spent two weeks in outback Australia. Mark's dental office has a contract with the Australian National Health Service to do dentistry out of van in remote aboriginal settlements a few times a year. When this offer came up, Mark did not think twice and was ready for the adventure. At 25 weeks pregnant I had to think a bit about if I really wanted to be riding around on dirt roads in the middle of nowhere. But then I looked at my husband with that excited twinkle in his eye and could not say no! On a sunny Saturday morning we flew to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory to meet up with our new dental assistant Linda, and an outback Dr. who would give us the lay of the land. For the next two weeks we would explore the outback landscape and get to know two different aboriginal communities. I could write chapters on this experience and there is definitely a lot to say about Australia and it's treatment of indigenous populations but for now I will let all the photos speak for themselves. An amazing experience but we were glad to be home. This first blog will be dedicated to the landscapes of outback. The second will focus on the communities and dentistry.

hiking in the bush

sunset at Uluru

supplies for two weeks

outback roads

our Outback-mobile

Linda (our fabulous Dental Nurse and new BFF) and Mark

Linda chases camels..

there are over 2 million wild camels in the Outback

and it seemed like just as many car corpses as camels

sunrise at Uluru

the climbing path on Uluru (Ayers Rock)

the path around Ayers Rock, 10 kilometers

The Olgas

More of Sydney

2011-06-21T09:59:00.059+10:00

Sydney Opera House

Ferry ride to Watson's Bay

Bondi to Bronte beach walk

Cold day at Bondi Beach

Bubbles, Hyde Park

Birthday night, off to the Opera House

Winter in Sydney

2011-06-20T08:58:00.061+10:00

Night shot of Sydney Opera House

Since I had another impending birthday we decided it was a good excuse for a little holiday in Sydney. We flew to Sydney on a Wednesday and spent a very long weekend seeing the sights, taking in a play at the Opera House and enjoying the Vivid lights festival. The Vivid festival is a series of art installations all occurring at night since they are light based. One of the coolest parts was the images projected on to the Opera House sails. Since it is winter here, the weather was freezing. Luckily we had the warm Australian sunshine to keep us warm during the day.

VIVID Festival of Lights

Night time Sydney

Yummy Japanese food

Treats from David Jones Food Hall

Our Greatest Adventure!!

2011-05-05T10:51:00.003+10:00

In early October 2011 we will be finally be getting crew on Scholarship. Our new crew will be very young and a little green This new member of Scholarships team presents us with our newest and most challenging adventure so far, Parenthood! We could not be more excited as we count down the days until our new little bub arrives to melt our hearts.

2011-03-25T13:26:00.027+11:00

All 28 tons swinging in the slings

Where she got bumped

All wrapped up

New bottom paint and shiny hull

Font-tastic new name

Back in the water

When we first heard our cherished home was atthe receiving end of a run-away fifteenton yacht we were alarmed , shocked and fighting mad. Now several months and one insurance payment later Scholarship is better than new and looking quite smart. We lived on land for over three weeks in a little cabin with a very cold air conditioner during the hottest part of Queensland summer. Check out her new font.

2011-03-05T13:14:00.017+11:00

Our little wedding party, the Haleys and the Frickers

Add caption

I love the sailboat cruising by

We now have all of our wedding photos and since they are so beautiful I felt like I must share a few more before they become another part of history. Our photographer was Jennifer Skabo from Hobart, Tasmania. She was awesome!

A Few More Photos from Hobart

2011-01-22T17:37:00.001+11:00

Hobart Harbour

Sydney to Hobart Race boats

Smoked Salmon pizza

Happy New Year!

sunrise over Hobart

setting up for the Salamanca Market

amazing cherries from the market

fresh flowers

Mt. Wellington

watch out!

hanging with Zoe in Millie

The Tasman Peninsula

more gourmet pizza

Salamanca Square


Enjoying the Taste of Hobart

December 30th, 2010

2011-01-11T16:24:00.019+11:00

On December 30th we had a very intimate wedding on Calverts beach just south of Hobart, Tasmania. Joined by our good friends Helen and Glyn Fricker and their three small daughters, we exchanged vows on a deserted beach under a moody Tasmanian sky. It was gorgeous. We had a wonderful celebrant as well as an amazing photographer (Jennifer Skabo Photography) who captured the moment so completely. More photos soon.

Hobart

2011-01-06T16:26:00.033+11:00

After exploring the East Coast of Tasmania we drove south to Hobart, the capital, and largest city in Tasmania. Hobart was settled in 1803 as a penal colony and to this day maintains an air of history. Hobart is a gorgeous and well preserved city of old brick buildings with a charming and vibrant waterfront. This time of year is summer down under, and busy time in Tasmania. Hobart is home to the Taste of Tasmania, a week long celebration of the amazing food and wine of the region. We spent several days sampling all the goodies at the Taste. At the same time, the Sydney to Hobart race boats were arriving at Hobart's Constitution Dock. The race is a challenging 1170 kilometers from Sydney to Hobart. Even though it is summer the weather and seas can be treacherous. This is not a race for the faint-hearted. Our first evening we were fortunate enough to watch Wild Oats the winning race boat enter the harbor from our hotel balcony. It seems a hotel mix up got us upgraded to a three bedroom penthouse overlooking the harbor. Our good friends Helen and Glyn and their three small daughters, who we know from San Diego were visiting family in Tasmania. It was the perfect place for a wonderful reunion.

hanging with Glyn

kangaroos

Constitution Dock

Taste of Tasmania

summer berries at the Taste

our amazing upgrade

race boats

Sydney to Hobart sailors

view of the waterfront

lunch with Millie and Zoe

Wild Oats wins the Sydney Hobart

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. Wait, make that Tasmania

2010-12-29T15:53:00.010+11:00

The beautiful orange granite of Binalong Bay

Handmade craypots in St. Helens

Binalong Bay, Tasmania

A perfect Bay of Fires parking spot


Bundled up for Summer in Tassie

Tasmania is one of those places in the world with perfect sandy beaches galore. The only problem is that the water is too cold to swim and it's blowing a gale most days of the year. After Bicheno we headed north to St. Helens, the gateway to the Bay of Fires. We spent the next few days exploring the lovely beaches and getting our fill of local and very fresh seafood. It was definitely refreshing to be away from the oppressive humidity of Queensland but 7 degrees Celsius is pretty cold to wake up to in the middle of summer. Next post, off to Hobart.

Tasmania, East Coast

2010-12-28T20:40:00.023+11:00

A gorgeous sunny afternoon landing in Hobart, Tasmania

Mark settling into our little cabin in Bicheno on the East Coast

Lunch on the windy beach in Wineglass Bay

Overlooking Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet Penninsula

Tasmanian Pademelon

A place we have both always wanted to visit, Tasmania did not disappoint. A few days before Christmas we packed our hiking boots, sunscreen and woolies and headed down to see the beautiful landscapes and unique wildlife. We arrived in Hobart one sunny afternoon and hopped in the rental car to head out to the East Coast. Home to the picturesque Freycinet Peninsula this area is billed as home to some of the prettiest beaches in the world. I would have to agree, and at this point we have seen a lot of beaches!! After some provisioning for the holidays we checked in to a cabin by the sea and fell asleep the first night listening to the cooing of Fairy Penguins. The next day we were out the door first thing to hike the 14 kilometer Freycinet day loop. A sunny but crisp day, were were awarded with amazing views and very sore feet. That night after a signature Mark Haley antipasto platter, we put on all our layers and headed out at 9pm (sunset as it's summer here) on Christmas eve. We were off to the fairy penguin rookery where thousands a tiny penguin make their homes. A tour that is safe for these little birds let us watch as they tumbled out of the icy cold ocean and headed home for the night.

East Coast Tasmania Photos

2010-12-28T11:27:00.003+11:00

Bicheno, Tasmania

Elephant kelp and beach at Bicheno

My favorite photo from our drive through the country

Beautiful old stone homes

Bicheno Bird Life

Lunch at Freycinet

Hazards Beach

View of Freycinet Peninsula

Mark spotted this Fairy Penguin out one afternoon

Stradbroke Island

2010-09-21T09:35:00.000+10:00

Back in August we hopped a car ferry to local Stradbroke Island to see the whales migrating north for the season. A gorgeous little getaway, Straddie is full of log cabin, biking trails, white sand beaches and lots of fresh seafood. Since it was only early spring here down under, the water was piercingly cold but that didn't stop all those intrepid Aussie surfers. We spent a weekend there watching the whales from the highest bluff and of course taking lots of photos. Below are Mark's huge prawns, yum!

Neighborhood Kangaroos!

2010-08-08T13:23:00.001+10:00

2010-07-18T08:54:00.113+10:00

Mark's sister Brenda was our first visitor since our arrival in Australia. Until recently she had been teaching in Malaysia. Since she was between jobs, (she has accepted a job on the Ivory Coast in Africa) she decided it was time for an adventure and some dental work. Yes family receives a significant discount! Brenda spent two weeks with us and in that time we managed to show her a bit of Queensland, as well as a trip to the northern part of New South Wales. We hiked the National Park at Noosa to find a koala bear in the wild. Then the following weekend we stayed in Byron Bay, a bustling surf town with a hippie vibe. We even managed to take in some culture at the local Queensland Performing Arts Center. Below are a few pictures from our time together. You will notice Brenda in a fancy jumpsuit. It seems she is working on her "bucket list" as one Sunday morning Mark and I watched her fall from the sky. Check!

Beautiful Byron Bay

Cape Byron

Melbourne

2010-06-26T14:40:00.022+10:00

Melbourne is one of my favorite cities in the world. To celebrate my birthday we flew south and left our sunny Queensland weather behind. It was a refreshing change to bundle up and enjoy the moody Melbourne sky. We spend three glorious days wandering and enjoying this lovely city. We even met up with our friend John, whom we had met several years ago in a hut in Patagonia. You never know when we may be coming to city near you!

Moreton Island

2010-05-15T10:26:00.018+10:00

In late March we decided to take Scholarship out of her comfortable slip and go for a sail. Our destination was Moreton Island, which lies about 10 nautical miles to the east. The bay we dropped the hook in is called Tangalooma. A busy place, ferries and helicopters transport tourists to the various resorts all day long. An interesting part of Tangalooma is the large man made breakwater. Less than twenty years ago, about fifteen ships were sunk in a semi circle to form a (supposedly) calm anchorage. Today the artificial reef is a habitat for lots of sea life. You will almost always see divers and snorkelers nearby. We had a lovely time exploring the beaches and enjoying the wildlife. There was even cold beer to be had on a very hot Australian day.

A kookaburra!!

Time for an update!

2010-05-01T12:01:00.000+10:00

I was recently in the US and got the opportunity to visit with a lot of family and friends. During this visit, they did remind me that I have been delinquent in my blogging. Since Fraser Island way back in February we have been waiting. Since we have decided to stay in Australia for awhile, work visas were in order. We spent the last few months dealing with paperwork and hiding from the intense heat and sun of a Queensland summer. The good news is that we were successful. We were both granted visas and Mark has been working for a little over a month at his brand new dental office. I just spent three weeks in the US. I spent a little time in California but most of my visit this time was to the Midwest. It was a fantastic trip but now I am ready to settle in to our new life here. For a little while anyway! These photos are of one of the prettier sunsets we have had here in Scholarship's backyard!

Fraser Island

2010-02-28T14:13:00.001+11:00

The clear waters of Lake Mackenzie

Measuring 120 Kilometers by 15 kilometers, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. The beaches are picturesque but lethal. Undertows and numerous sharks make them unsafe for swimming but there are over forty crystal clear freshwater lakes and creeks for swimming. Fraser Island is also home to around 150 of Australia's most purebred dingoes. We spent day three days on Fraser Island, seeing the sights and getting sandy.

On board the passenger ferry to Fraser

Mark and I in front of the sand dunes, the highest one on the island is 244 meters high

Fraser Island Dingo

Driving on 75 Mile Beach

The Blue Mountains

2010-01-19T12:55:00.002+11:00

The Blue Mountains has millions of acres of eucalyptus trees. Because of all the oil from the trees, a blue hue is cast throughout the forest giving the mountains their name. The Blue Mountains are a special place in the world and one of my favorites. Ten years ago I traveled to Australia and spent several days in Katoomba, the hub of the Blue Mountains. We hiked and hiked, and enjoyed the cool air and the relaxed vibe of the area. Ten years later I was so excited to bring Mark here. I hoped the Blue Mountains were still as magical the second time around and they were. We enjoyed the cool air at night and we had a great time meeting people from all over the world in the Blue Mountain Lodge. I hope we can make it back before our time in Australia is up.

Sydney

2009-12-22T13:47:00.017+11:00

Darling Harbour

2009-12-18T17:08:00.001+11:00

Our first day in Sydney we got settled at our hotel located on Darling Harbour and went exploring. First to the fabulous Sydney Fish Market and then on to the harbour itself.

Every Nook and Cranny

2009-12-14T15:11:00.002+11:00

From Brisbane to Sydney is almost 1000 kilometers. On our way down the coast we took our time and poked our noses into what seemed like every sandy beach and many dirt roads. At this rate, we are going to be here for awhile :)

Port Macquarie Coast

A Galah, these birds are all over the place, it's wonderful
Lawn Bowling in Port Macquarie

Some surf, somewhere?
Australian Pelican choking down his meal
Norah Heads beach

Seal Rocks beach
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse

The Seal Rocks, claimed many a ship
Sugarloaf Lighthouse Keepers accommodation, beautifully refurbished

Giving Thanks on the Road

2009-12-02T16:00:00.012+11:00

A few days before Thanksgiving we loaded up our new Van-essa and hit the open road. Since Queensland was a sweltering 38 degrees Celsius, it was time to head south in search of cooler climates. Our first few nights we headed to the mountains for some (sort of) cool weather camping. At Tambourine Mountain, we had our first glimpse of all the amazing and numerous birds that Oz has on offer. The warbles and giggles of the parrots and the kookaburra were truly a cacophony. After a few nights in the woods and our first encounter with a very large snake we headed to the coast and camped for two night at place called Woody Head. It was there we realized it was soon Thanksgiving. Mark was undaunted by the fact that we were camping, so on our tiny one pot camp stove we made turkey and all the trimmings. We have plenty to be thankful for!

Mark and friend a few days before Thanksgiving We did not camp here!According to the locals black snakes are bad news Our first night out in birdland
Turkey Day jump shot Our camping turkey dinner

2009-12-01T10:09:00.006+11:00

A few weeks ago we ventured north to Noosa Beach to meet up with some friends from New Zealand who were visiting for the week. Noosa Headlands has a beautiful beaches as well as miles of trails. We had a nice lunch and then hit the trail. At the end we were rewarded with this gorgeous little Koala Bear. He did a little stretching, posed for some photos and then back to sleep. Ah, the hectic life of a Koala bear.

Summer in Queensland

2009-11-23T11:56:00.017+11:00

Mooloolaba Beach
It's summertime in Queensland and that means it's hot! It's 90 degrees in the shade this time of year and all the Aussies are hitting the beach and we have been no different. After getting all checked into the country, we left Bundaberg and sailed down the coast stopping along the way at the busy beach town of Mooloolaba. We spent five days in Mooloolaba enjoying the beach and the Wharf Marina, which is located in the heart of all the action. Next, we continued down the coast to Scarborough Marina. Scarbrah (as the locals pronounce it), will be Scholarships new home while we are in Australia. Scarborough is located approx 40 mins. north of Brisbane in a quiet suburb. After getting Scholarship tucked into her slip, our next order of business was to get some wheels. We bought a 1996 Toyota Townace which is more soccer mom van than camper van. It drives like a car but still has enough room for bikes and all kinds of camping gear. Australia's open road here we come! Below are a few pictures from the last few weeks, including some from a weekend we spent with friends in beautiful Brisbane. Young lifesavers in training The giant prawn The new Toyota Brisbane The Brisbane river On the 26th floor with Cabaret and Robyn's Nest Brisbane Botanical Gardens

The Land of Oz

2009-11-10T12:36:00.005+11:00

After a swift, five day, 780 mile passage from Noumea, New Caledonia we made landfall in Bundaberg, Australia on October 26th. After check in, and a little rest we were ready to explore and take part in the Port II Port Rally. In it's tenth year, the Port II Port in an excuse for fifty boats to arrive in Bundaberg around the same time and celebrate the end of the cruising season. This event included fun dinners, charity fund raisers and even cane toad races. We spent over a week in Bundaberg partying with fellow cruisers, trying the famed Bundaberg rum and keeping a look out for kangaroos. We are excited to be here, as now our Australian adventure begins!

Island Life

2009-10-18T12:00:00.002+11:00

As I write this we are getting ready to depart New Caledonia and sail to Bundaberg, Australia. The trip is just under 800 nautical miles and we should be there in six to seven days. We have spent the last few weeks cruising among the hundreds of anchorages north of Noumea. All were located inside the lagoon so they were beautifully calm with empty anchorages. As usual the photos don't do it justice. Bon Voyage!

Signal Island

Monkey on Signal Island

Island sunset

Beach BBQ

Dinner with Robyn's Nest and Big Fish Tenia Island Jump shots
Scholarship at anchor

Nouvelle Caledonie

2009-10-05T10:29:00.007+11:00

After a two and half day passage from Vanuatu we arrived in Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia and home to about 150,000 people. New Caledonia is French, so it is quite different from the rest of Melanesia where we have spent the last five months since departing New Zealand. The French annexed New Caledonia in 1853 and like many other pacific islands, it became a penal colony. The Kanak people, who are the natives of New Caledonia fought several decades for independence, and it still seems to be a dream, but the French have been persistent in maintaining there interests here. New Caledonia is a huge source of nickel mining, so it seems that if the Kanaks ever gain their independence it won't be until France strips them of all their resources. History aside, as visitors Noumea does have all the positive characteristics of a French city. Lovely museums, fantastic food, wine and great shopping. We spent one week in the city in the Port Moselle marina. We ran into old friends and had a great time getting the lay of the land.

Baie de Citrons The Tjibaou Cultural Center
A traditional Kanak hut

A cuttlefish at the Noumea Aquarium
Tricot Raye or banded sea snake, more deadly than a cobra but not aggressive

Lobsters at Noumea's wonderful daily fish market Place de Cocotiers
Hanging out with Kris from Robyn's Nest
Philipe serves us some Kava

Kava bowls with our French friends and John and Kris from Robyn's Nest Mark gets one more round, yucko

Ifira Island

2009-09-20T15:56:00.003+10:00

One of our last adventures in Vanuatu was visiting the little island of Ifira. Ifira is an island located in Port Vila's large bay. We had heard it was a pretty walk and that it was a good place for local handicrafts. On arrival we were greeted by several small tour guides and lead all over there island home. Everyone was so welcoming and we made many new friends both very young and old. I can't wait to come back someday.

Thats a pet pig on the beach

Mark and Elaine

I had to ask them to stop picking all the flowers for me

They loved posing for pics and then seeing them on the camera

Helping us into the dinghy Saying goodbye

More Port Vila

2009-09-15T12:11:00.013+10:00

Exploring by dinghy

Sat. flower market

The Mele Cascades, gorgeous and refreshing

Pidgin, pikininis and patisseries

2009-09-10T11:24:00.000+10:00

Port Vila, Vanuatu's main city has an interesting personality. Vanuatu has been independent since the 19080s but before independence, the English and French both reigned in this far away part of the world. The country is rustic, but the city is cosmopolitan. Filled with duty free shops and patisseries it seems incongruous with the rest of Vanuatu with their Kastom villages, grass skirts and penis sheaths. The language spoken here is Bislama a combination of French, English and Pidgin. "Wanem nem blong yu?," means what is your name, babies are called pikininis. Everywhere I go I am not sure what language to try and speak. Some schools are French and some schools are English but Bislama is everywhere. Read the sign aloud for best results.

Since we arrived we have been eating our way through the city. Vanuatu has some of the best beef in the world. During the days of French and English rule, they competed for the best meat by bringing their best cows to Vanuatu. The result was cows with a royal bloodline and the best beef for thousands of miles.

Sean and Mark enjoy all the goodies at our favorite haunt, Peche Mignon

We try out some Vanuatuan beef at The Flaming Bull, delicious
We met these little cuties while Sean shopped for gifts

In Vila, you can dinghy anywhere, even to the Tapas bar

Mt. Yasur

2009-09-07T12:51:00.041+10:00

Our second full day at Tanna Island, and it was time to see Mt. Yasur one of the most accessible, active volcanoes in the world. So accessible in fact that four wheel drive vehicles get within 150 meters of the craters rim. After a walk through Port Resolution village and then a 45 min. truck ride we arrived in the car park of the volcano. The huge sand dunes of ash looked like they belong on the moon and instantly you can hear rumble of Yasur's fiery belly. We arrived around 4:30 pm so we were able to see the volcano as it gradually got darker. When we first arrived we peeked over the edge and were pushed back by the extremely loud percussive noise. It was amazing. As it got darker we crawled up higher so we could see straight down into the volcano. Huge red-hot boulders and ash shot up into the air as we took photo after photo while trying to always look up for renegade rocks that could vaporize a person in an instant. Sounds cool huh? It was. Check out the video I took at the bottom.

Vanuatu

2009-09-01T08:44:00.017+10:00

After a four day long boisterous sail from Fiji, we made landfall at Port Resolution on the island of Tanna. One of Vanuatu's 83 islands, Tanna is home to the famous and active Mount Yasur volcano. But before the volcano, we had to get checked in to the country. Our first adventure was a two hour pick-up truck ride to the village of Lenekal to visit customs, quarantine and immigration. After we were "official" we enjoyed the local market and even got to see a local wedding on the way back to Port Resolution. So far we are really enjoying Vanuatu. It is an exotic place for us and the people are lovely. The pictures below of our first few days speak fore themselves. Next entry, The Volcano!! Waiting for the bank to open and enjoying Mark's breakfast sandwiches
Tanna baskets Woman in Mother Hubbard dress Taro root and banana leaf baskets
Ni-Vanuatu wedding

Mothey Fiji

2009-08-21T15:54:00.003+10:00

Mothey is Fijian for goodbye and our time in Fiji is quickly coming to a close. On Monday we will set sail for Vanuatu. Our plan is to arrive in three to four days at the island of Tanna home of the famous Mount Yasur volcano. During our last days in Fiji we have gotten in a bit more snorkeling, had one more Fijian feast and we also got a surprise visitor. Our friend Sean arrived a few days ago from Phoenix. Not only do we have a fun guest but we also have crew for our passage.
See you in Vanuatu!

Dancing at Likuri island

More Fiji Photos

2009-08-10T09:13:00.020+10:00

Baby pineapple

An afternoon out Another gorgeous dinner

Tiki Man

Blue Lagoon

2009-08-07T08:32:00.036+10:00

The Blue Lagoon is indeed the place where both Blue Lagoon movies were filmed. These days, it is just another Yasawa island paradise and home to several small resorts as well as Blue Lagoon Cruises. After some time in the hinterlands of the northern Yasawas we were happy to spend a few days at the lovely Nanuya Resort and meet some fellow travelers. This island has the ideal white sand beaches and dozens of anemones full of clown fish. The restaurant was excellent and we liked it so much we went back for a second night in a row. Sick of our own cooking, we enjoyed Fijian lobster and fresh Walu (like wahoo) caught that morning. Dessert wasn't bad either. There are no markets or stores in the Yasawas. At this point we were running low on fresh stores. We found out from a fellow cruiser about a Fijian couple just a water taxi away who had a huge farm. We arrived and Miri took us through acres of fruit and veggies. We picked what we wanted and left with bags stuffed with tomatoes, watermelons, green beans,cabbage..you get the idea. If it sounds idyllic, it was.The margaret H.

That is Scholarship in the background The chefs at Nanuya
Miri's farm

The water taxi ride

Sau-i-lau, Yasawas

2009-08-02T20:52:00.027+10:00

After crossing the Bligh waters, a stretch of water that can be notorious for swift winds we arrived safely on a cloudy day in the Yasawa Islands. The Yasawa islands are Fiji's crown jewels and a place that not many tourists get to see save for mini cruise ships or flying in on a small plane. Our first anchorage was near the Sau-i-lau limestone cave. The cave had crystal clear water for swimming and a resident eel. Every morning a small boat load of tourists would come from other islands to see the cave and snorkel.

When we arrived in the anchorage we paid our respects to the nearby village by diligently delivering our kava. Again there was no chief and the kava was accepted by the chiefs brothers cousin or something like that. We were welcomed and given a short tour of the village. Several women offered to bake us fresh bread for two dollars a loaf, and we arranged to come back the following day to take a look at the handicrafts of the village.

Except for a bit of high winds that kept us there an extra few days we had a lovely visit and the snorkeling was great. I saw my first banded sea crate (poisonous sea snake) of the season.

In the village Mark and Katie with the chief's fill in that day

Sau-i-lau cave

Scholarship anchored next to the cave
One of the mini cruise ships were shared the Yasawas with

Yadua Island

2009-07-29T19:58:00.002+10:00

Yadua Island, pronounced Yan-dua is a magical place. Located just west of Vanua Levu island, Yadua is one of those rare places in Fiji that is untouched by regular tourism. The village is very traditional and is only visited by cruisers who hike up a hill for two hours to reach the village. As a cruiser in Fiji, is has become tradition to do "sevusevu" at the smaller and more remote villages. The "sevusevu", is presenting the chief of the village with a kilo of kava in exchange for anchoring near and using the land. Kava is a root that is ground up in a big bowl and looks much like dirty dishwater. It tastes a lot like it too, but many Fijians like to wile away the hours drinking this mind numbing drink. I have tasted only one cupful and instantly my tongue went numb. It starts with the mouth and goes on from there.

The day we hiked to the village we woke up to a rainy day but since it is the tropics this we a welcome sight as it was hot! For two hours we wound our way through the goat paths and five foot weeds until we arrived in the village. Upon arrival we were led by several small children to heart of the village to wife of the warden. The chief was out fishing for the day. The warden was second in command, but he was away as well, so we were greeted by the warden's wife who took the kava and gave us her blessing to use the water and the land. We spent the next hour exploring the village and meeting some of the families. We even tried a bit of kava before our trip back over the hill. The village visit was wonderful but we also found the magic of Yadua in the the water. We stayed for several days and snorkeled to our hearts content. The amount and variety of fish were amazing and Fiji has some of the most beautiful soft corals in the world. The fact that we were in the middle of nowhere with no development made for a very healthy reef. Mark under the trees in his banana leaf hat The view on our journey over the hill The beach front in the village
Traditonal hut

My new friend Nisi Three of Nisi's children The kite Mark brought to the village This woman was very proud to pose with her new under construction house Jim from s/v Asylum with the boys at the kava bowl Getting ready to snorkel

Savusavu

2009-07-12T10:21:00.023+10:00

For the last week we have been enjoying Vanau Levu, Fiji’s second largest island. After an overnighter from Suva we arrived in lovely Nakama Creek home of the Copra Shed Marina. A bit of a haven for yachties, the anchorage is flat calm and the marina has moorings just minutes from the facilities. Savusavu is a quiet town, less touristy than Viti Levu, and is an interesting mix of locals, Kiwis and Aussies with holiday homes and cruisers from across the globe. We have been enjoying the slow pace of Savusavu and sunsets have been exquisite. We even celebrated the 4^th of July in Savusavu with some fellow Americans. The menu included hot dogs and potato salad, with a few exotic touches from the local market thrown in.

We had the opportunity to set off to the northern part of the island by 4 wheel drive with our fellow adventurers on Asylum. With our boats snugly moored in Savusavu, we stayed the night at Palmlea Lodge in a traditional bure (pronounced burr-a). Our hosts, Joe and Julie are ex-cruisers who have stayed in Fiji and set up an eco lodge that caters to all types of travelers. We had a dip in the pool, a lovely dinner and I was even introduced to their five day old Boer goat called Millie. As you can imagine I wanted to take her home. We do however have some new pets on Scholarship. Three small geckos hitchhiked on board via Mark's bike. They are a wonderful addition and even though we will rarely see them we know they will be hard at work eating mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies that find their way on to the boat.

Some cute kiddies on a banana stop along the roadone of the 'little rascals"my welcome lei at Palmlea Lodge The view from the lodge to the ocean Asylum's Jim and Katie Millie having her bottle In a few days we will got way off the beaten path and head counter clockwise around Vanua Levu. The third largest barrier reef in the world runs along the top of the island and the diving is said to be fantastic. Ciao for now. Liz & Mark

Bula

2009-06-29T11:16:00.015+10:00

Scattered across 333 islands is the nation of Fiji. How many of those we will see is any ones guess. We arrived in Suva, the capital of Fiji on June 18th. Our seven day stop at Minerva Reef where there is reef to walk on but no actual land, turned our trip into seventeen whole days since we left Tauranga, New Zealand. Suva is the capital of Fiji and is a large city with over 100,000 in population. We made landfall in Suva because that was how the wind was blowing those last few days at sea. Suva harbor is not the turquoise water and sandy beaches of the postcards but instead is a very industrial harbor. The cruising boats are anchored in amongst dilapidated fishing boats. Other neighbors in Suva harbor are super tankers and cruise ships. On arrival we were welcomed by the Royal Suva Yacht Club which offers cruiser necessities like laundry service, diesel and cold beer. We were happy to be on solid ground and were very ready to explore.
Fiji has an interesting cultural blend. About half the population are indigenous Fijians while the other half is mostly Fijian Indians (from India). The Indian people arrived in Fiji as indentured servants brought over by the British in the late 1800's. Other cultures include Chinese as well as a sampling of people for other Pacific island, with the odd expat thrown in. Suva is a bustling, gritty third world city. From the amazing amount of curry houses to the craft and farmers markets, there is always something to see. We have been here about a week and stayed a bit longer than we had planned because the high winds have made it hard to move to our next destination. So we are enjoying the sight and sounds of a new world so much different than our life in New Zealand for the last year and a half. . Our dinghy at the Royal Suva Yacht ClubInspecting veggies at the market Suva Yacht club School boys in Fijian sulus Some lunch time entertainment Lunch on our mini road trip with Asylum and Rasa Manis A beach west of Suva A large neighbor for Scholarship Colo-Suva park in Suva The Kava Shop A stop to buy bananas in the countryside We bought them all. The kids were so fun Little heartbreaker...A man washing his pig A trip up the river near the yacht club

The Suva prison..across the street from the yacht club
The mountain view from the harbor were gorgeous

Minerva Reef

2009-06-18T12:18:00.032+10:00

We left Tauranga, New Zealand on June 1st. Seven days later we arrived almost 900 miles north at Minerva Reef. Minerva Reef is a large circular reef (about 3.5 in diameter) that sits more or less smack dab on the Tropic of Capricorn. Sitting at S 23* 37.029 and W 178* 54.775, we were anchored in the middle of nowhere (technically belonging to Tonga), in thirty feet of gin clear water. The day we arrived, it was flat calm. As we came through the pass in the reef, we could instantly see all the way to the bottom at about eighty feet. We ended up spending seven days at Minerva waiting for the north winds to pass before we could continue the last 400 miles to Fiji. We spent our days fishing, snorkeling and just enjoying being at anchor after a week at sea. We even celebrated my birthday at Minerva Reef. Mark baked me a wonderful carrot cake and the champagne flowed freely in the company of our friends on the yachts, Asylum, Rasa Manis and Nomzano. Next on to Suva, Fiji
Leaving NZ, all bundled up

We had on at least 5 layers for the first 5 days at sea Mark doing some repairs to the mast at Minerva Reef

Pressies on my birthday

New Adventures

2009-05-25T15:13:00.020+10:00

As I write this blog we are just days away from sailing to Fiji. This latest blog will celebrate two new adventures. One is the wedding of my brother Matt to his wife Phronsie. Below are many beautiful photos of their amazing wedding that took place in Santa Barbara, CA last week. The photos speak for themselves. It was a blessed day with all our wonderful family and friends. The newlyweds are honeymooning in Fiji as we speak. We told them to save some Fiji for us.

The Other adventure is getting Scholarship back out on the road so to speak. After 1.5 years in New Zealand working and living we are ready for cruising life again. The trip to Fiji is about 1200 miles and will take us anywhere between 8-10 days. We hope to arrive to warm weather (40 degrees in NZ today) We look forward to sharing it with you. Liz & Mark

Here comes the bride...... Married!
Mark and I had such a great time
So cute!
Dave, me, Phronsie, Matt and Mom
Matt and Phronsie cut the cake with lots of help
Dad and Sue enjoying dinner
And they danced....
And then so did everyone else...

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

2009-05-21T12:58:00.008+10:00

This year my trip to Phoenix was made even more special by the reunion of nine college friends. We all have busy lives, but managed to make it Phoenix for a weekend of reminiscing, catching up on the new, and making new memories. Our hosts were our dear friends Karena and Josh who welcomed us in their Phoenix home and the Westin hotel which served as a perfect back drop for a bunch of sun starved MN girls like us. Thanks everyone for making this come together. I know we are all wondering when and where for the next time. Bren, Keri, Andie and Mel Our hosts Josh and Karena
Karena, Mel, Lisa, Liz and Carla Mel, Kari, Carla and their new BFF, Maggie

Mark, Maglet and Matt playing in the backyard

Mark with Tracey and Mel Me and Kari Kari, Liz, Keri and Andie The whole crew out for dinner at Kona Grill

Andie, Damond and Lisa
Karena, Brenda and Kari enjoy martinis

2009-05-18T09:26:00.019+10:00

Our trip to the states was wonderful but as always, it went way too fast. In late April I flew to Los Angeles to spend some time with my brother and his bride to be, before all the busyness of the wedding happened a few weeks later. We had a great time exploring LA, and I finally got to visit the Getty Center which has been on my list of things to see for years.

Matt and Phronsie My bro poses at the Getty Center in Los AngelesMy next stop was San Francisco to see the Brandons and meet new baby Aubrey. It was excellent to spend some time with them.

Baby Aubrey and proud big brother AidenMe and my dear Amy

After a week in CA I flew home to Phoenix to meet up with Mark who had spent a little more time in NZ. Again this year, Marks' mom was kind enough to host us for time in AZ. We had a blast with Mark's family and we were lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with our dear little Maggie. We had busy ten days and got a chance to see lots of old friends.

Mark and his Mom, Margaret

Tara and Maggie

Maggie, Mark and Margaret with Mother's Day flowers
We got to spend some time with Sean and Cody

And some time with the Rowleys, Becky and Chris and our friend Steve

New Zealand's Wild West Coast

2009-04-15T08:50:00.015+10:00

Just before our trip to the US we took one last New Zealand road trip in our trusty Toyota Hiace (which has now been sold!). First we spent a busy weekend in Auckland before we took the long way home back to Tauranga. We made our way to the west coast which is a wild and scenic part of New Zealand. Rugged, windy and cold, the west coast is a bit more dramatic than the sunny beaches at our east coast home. Not a place for swimming but the surfers were out in full force. We camped one night on the black sand beaches and then visited more wineries along the way. Below are a few pictures of our last New Zealand adventure for now.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

2009-03-15T06:58:00.039+11:00

Last weeks adventure was a trip to Tongariro National Park. Tongariro was New Zealand's first national park and is home to three active volcanoes. The park has two ski areas, loads of hiking trails and is definitely one of NZ most exciting parks. Ruapehu, the most active of the volcanoes last erupted in 1996. When the next eruption could take place is anyones guess. The Department of Conservation has set up emergency systems to monitor the volcanoes so hopefully locals and emergency teams will have some warning next time it blows. See, I told you it was an exciting park.

This was actually our third time visiting the park and the second time we had arrived ready to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. New Zealand weather is unpredictable and even more so at altitude. The first time we attempted to do the crossing was early spring. We arrived at the mountain which was blanketed with fog. We called the transport company who said they would not know if the trip was on until the next morning. As we waited by the roaring fire in the chateau, the fog socked in and then the ice began to form. The ski hills were closed and we were not going hiking. Fast forward four months to summer and it was time to try again.

We arrived with our friends Ellen and Tom from s/v Rasa Manis on a sunny Saturday afternoon. As we checked into our rustic cabin, we found out that the trail had again been closed for the last three days because of rain and extreme winds. The woman in the office thought it looked good for Sunday, but like the last time, we would not find out until the morning of if the trail was open. That night we packed our packs and got our all weather gear laid out. This was hike that could require hats, gloves and serious rain gear.

Sunday morning we woke up to a sunny day. This was a good sign as we boarded the shuttle bus to the trail head. After a twenty minute ride we arrived at the trail which was extremely crowded. Apparently all of the people who had been waiting while trail was closed for three days showed up that day ready to go. You will see in photos just how busy the trail was. We looked like an army of ants meandering over the mountains.

The hike itself is 19.4 km which is just over 12 miles. Typically the hike takes anywhere between 6-8 hours depending on stops, ability and of course conditions. As we started out it was a fairly nice morning. A little chilly which was great for hiking but soon it started to drizzle and then rain and by the time we started going straight up the wind was blowing. Near the summit we had no visibility and gusts up to fifty knots. Sounds bad and it was, but still it was an adventure and I could not help feeling a bit like a gnarly mountain climber.

Because of the all the rain we missed out on a lot of the scenery. The crater lakes is on of the most beautiful sections, and for about thirty minutes the sun popped out just as we skidded down the ankle deep volcanic soil. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the banks of the gorgeous blue lakes and watched as the hillsides steamed. The rest of the hike was great with ever changing weather. We arrived at the end in just over six hours a bit soggy with sore feet, but adventure was had by all. The next day the mountain was again closed because of strong winds so we felt lucky to have had good timing on this one.

Mt. Tongaririo Tom and Ellen in the alpine bog
the first summit
Mark in the mist

it was like the moon up there Ellen heading down to the lakes
Me sliding down the trail

the steamy mountains

Mark loving the weather

crater lake

Ellen and I arrive at the end , notice the hoards of people

More Island Life

2009-02-22T14:01:00.031+11:00

We spent a total of seven days at wonderful and remote Stewart Island. Besides hiking and birdwatching, we also had the opportunity to take several boat rides while were on the island. One day it was over to nearby Ulva Island. The next it was a historical tour where we covered several coves searching for penguins and other sea birds.

Waiting for the water taxi on a rainy Stewart Island day

An afternoon guest Searching for penguins Our day at Ulva Island Becky checks for rats and seeds on the island :) A fine ale in the island pub Fresh Stewart island oysters Our tiny plane home from Auckland

Glowing Skies

2009-02-18T11:51:00.023+11:00

Rakiura meaning "glowing skies", and is the Maori name for Stewart Island. After a few days chasing birds and getting to know the island ,we set of on the three day 36k Rakiura track. We hiked around 8 miles a day. At night we were tucked up in one of Stewart Islands many Department of Conservation huts. Each hut sleeps around twenty people and provides trampers with a bunk bed, outhouses and water. The rest was up to us. With Becky in charge, we had sumptuous dinners each night and even schlepped in a bit of wine. The trail was lovely, and the first day we meandered across several gorgeous beaches. The second day was a lot up hill and wading through muddy tree roots. We sure did sleep well that night. Noted as one of New Zealand's Great Walks, we certainly did agree.

Stewart Island Bird Life

2009-02-16T07:08:00.011+11:00

Stewart Island is New Zealand's third largest island. An hour ferry ride from Bluff, which is New Zealand's most southern city, Stewart Island is 85% National Park. This makes it an oasis for trampers and birdwatchers. After three flights and ferry ride we arrived on Stewart Island with our friends Chris and Becky who came all the way from Phoenix to join us on our adventure. Enthusiastic birders and naturalists, they are wonderful to explore nature and hike with. Stewart Island is known for it's bird life. Within minutes of arriving we were surrounded by Kakas, a type of parrot only found in New Zealand. Everyday around early evening the Kakas would come for visit to eat crackers and entertain. At one point we had about ten or eleven Kakas vying for our attention. We even had a few that would arrive early in the morning cooing outside our window. Stewart Island is also known for it's healthy Kiwi population which is said to be about 20,000. With that said, they are still quite hard to spot . Mark and I were lucky enough to see one digging for it's dinner but it was gone in a flash into the tall grass. Other birds we spotted included the Mollymauk , the Kakarikki, a smaller and very colorful parrot and also many Wekas which look very much like Kiwis but are not. These mischievous birds are not shy, in fact they have been known sneak up and peck at your ankles and zip your lunch right out of your backpack.

A gorgeous Kakarikki

Chris the Parrothead
I kept my distance and played photographer much of the time, it was a bit Alfred Hitchcock at times
Becky gets some parrot love

Check out this video of Mark!

Wekas in action The grand Mollymauk
Oyster Catchers and babies!

feelin' irie

2009-02-05T06:19:00.018+11:00

We have had a busy couple of weeks full of visitors. Our dear friends from the SV Irie were back in New Zealand after a year absence. We sure were glad to see them. We met these two at a tiny island in French Polynesia and had the pleasure of cruising with them all the way to NZ. Poki and Christian spent a week with us here in Tauranga while they searched for the perfect van for their South Island adventure. We can't wait for their return, and the stories of their travels.

Queen Charlotte Sound

2009-01-29T11:25:00.040+11:00

We had two days left before we would get back on the Interislander ferry and be whisked back to the North Island. After a tearful goodbye to Brenda, we headed to the tourist office in Piction to find ourselves a bed for the night on one of the outer Marlborough Sounds. We found a little cabin in Mistletoe Bay and after stocking up on provisions, we headed along the windy road to our home for the night. Mistletoe Bay was a lovely spot to land, and as soon as we dropped our bags, the kayaks were off the van and in the water. We had a great time exploring and wished again that Scholarship was there as she would love the countless calm and protected anchorages. Our plan the next day was to hike part of the Queen Charlotte Track. The 71km long hike can be done like the Abel Tasman, in several different ways. Our plan was to hike for about four hours and then head back. We ended up having a gorgeous hot day and we just kept going. Our plan was to stay on the trail those extra hours and then hitchhike back to Mistletoe Bay. After we had a rest at Torrea Bay, we gathered up our stuff and Mark's plan came to fruition. Some Kiwi's we had chatted with on the trail not only offered to drive us back, but insisted that we come for a beer at their cool Kiwi bach (holiday home). We had a great time meeting them and enjoyed snacks as we watched the Tui birds and enjoyed the view. This was Kiwi hospitality at it best.

As I mentioned, the track is 71km but we were doing our best to see as much as we could in the on day we had. After we were returned to Mistletoe Bay by our new friends, we hopped in the van drove up the hill so Mark could mountain bike the last 13km section. Because of the serpentine roads it took me over an our to reach the trail head at the other end. It took Mark just over an hour and half. Tired but exhilarated we headed back to Piction for the night. We were very glad we had already book a hotel. The next morning we returned to Wellington and began our journey back to Scholarship.

Cormorants Tui bird feeding Our lovely Kiwi hosts Mistletoe Bay's pet alpaca Mistletoe Bay Camp Vinne Van Go filled with toys and stuff for the South Island

Golden Bay

2009-01-27T09:03:00.011+11:00

Our next stop after Abel Tasman was Golden Bay. Golden Bay's beaches are very different than Abel Tasman. Instead of white sand beaches and heaps of tourists, Golden Bay is much more calm, and the terrain is much more wild. Drift wood and abundant bird life made this a great stop for a few nights. We rented a cabin that was just a ten second walk over a small dune to get to the beach. Miles long, it was great for walking. The water was warm and shallow and little swell coming in made it great fun to surf the kayaks. Wish we could have stayed longer but Mark's sis Brenda had a ferry to catch and we had a bit more hiking to do.

Tramping Abel Tasman

2009-01-25T12:42:00.041+11:00

As the fantastic weather continued, we found ourselves heading west to Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park. Nelson is known for it's fruit growing, wineries and artist community. We spent a night in Neslon before arriving in Kaiteriteri ,which is a small community located just south of the southern part of Abel Tasman National Park. Abel Tasman runs for 51 Km along a coastal path. There are various ways to hike the trail depending on time and inclination. Since we were short on time we decided to take the water taxi route. All day long water taxis run from the surrounding communities to different trail heads and beaches within the park. We chose to do a five hour section, starting at Tonga Bay and ending at Anchorage. It was a wonderful hike and I only wish we would have been able to do the whole thing.

We stayed in nearby Kaiteriteri, and exposed Mark's sister Brenda to a quintessential part of Kiwi life, the holiday park. Mark and I slept in a tiny bunk bed cabin and Brenda in the van. There are no quiet beaches to camp on in New Zealand this time of year. Summer holidays had everyone out in force trying to get the most out of the summer weather. The beach at Kaiteriterisun worshippers, well me not so much

Where in world are we?

Brenda and I heading to the water taxi All aboard the water taxis
Brenda crosses the bouncy bridge A most popular place, the ice cream and sweets stand

Our mini cabin

Piction/Marlborough

2009-01-20T10:48:00.007+11:00

Piction is a three hour ferry ride from Wellington. On an overcast day, we boarded our huge ferry, van and all, and headed to the South Island. Piction is a small town located way inside the reticulated waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. Because it is was holiday time of year, the ferry ride was jammed with tourists and kiwis alike. The ride itself was uneventful, but about an hour before docking we entered the Sounds and it was breathtaking. A haven for cruisers, the Sounds is a place you could get lost in for years. We were sad not to have Scholarship in such an awesome place.

After an evening in Piction, we drove about forty-five minutes to Blenheim and the Marlborough Wine Region. Famous for it's Pinot Noir, the region did not disappoint and we had a fantastic day of tasting and buying. Now Scholarship has a bit more ballast in her bilge.

Entering the Marlborough Sounds

On the ferry

On the foredeck as we entered the Sounds
Piction harbour lunchtime!

South Island smoked salmon, some of the best!
Nautilus Winery Happy campers

Windy in Welly

2009-01-16T13:33:00.015+11:00

When we first arrived in New Zealand we had planned on living in Wellington. A very cosmopolitan city at the bottom of the world, Welly has a lot to offer. Great and diverse restaurants, old bookshops galore, hiking and gorgeous water views. When we would tell Kiwis that we were moving to Welly they would instantly get a tortured look on their face and say , "do you know it's really windy there?" Well we ended up staying up north in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. The name says it all, and we have plenty of wind here as well.

Back to Wellington. The wind blew the whole time, but at least it was a warm wind this time of year. Not a place for long flowing hair of short skirts. Accompanied by Mark's sister Brenda ,we spent two nights in a adorable holiday cottage right in the middle of the city hubbub. Welly is a very compact city made for walking or biking (when the wind isn't blowing too hard). We were able to hike up to Mount Victoria right from our backyard and even visited the Te Papa which is Wellington's prized museum. A fantastic place full of the art, science and history of New Zealand. Get this, it was even free. Next stop...South Island !
Mark and Brenda mixin' it up in the kitchen A view of Mount Victoria Me swinging with Welly in the background

Mark doing the old "head in cannon" trick at Mt. Victoria lookout

Going South...

2009-01-12T13:46:00.017+11:00

After Christmas is was time to get out of Tauranga for awhile and see more of New Zealand. With Mark's sister Brenda relaxing in back of our travelin' van, we set off south. Our first stop was just one hour away in the thermal and adventure city of Rotorua. Rotorua is one of New Zealand's largest thermal areas and is filled with bubbling mud pools and resorts. It is also known to be an adventure destination. Skydiving, zorbing (see past blog), sheep shearing, you can do them all in Rotorua. We opted for the gondola ride and luge. After riding the gondola for a short time, you are then deposited at the top of a hill where you collect you helmet and get in line for The Luge. This Kiwi version of the luge is a like a tiny go cart that your race down a track. Once you get to the bottom, a snail-like(I say this because I got drenched in the pouring rain as it inched up the hill) chairlift brings you back up to the top for another go.

Our next stop of the day was Huka Falls and Lake Taupo, where we spent our first night. Then it was on to Wellington and the South Island.

Sweet Helmets Mark and Brenda ready to rumble
The view of Lake Rotorua from the top of the Luge

A view of one of the tracks from the chairlift

The Huka river is full of hot springs, Mark hopped in to check them out We went to all the nicest parking lots
Well actually, this one had view of Lake Taupo and Mount Ruapehu (you can see the volcano shape in the distance).

Holi-days

2009-01-03T14:29:00.021+11:00

My wee little tree

This xmas was already our fourth one spent away from home. Where does the time go? I am never sad to be missing snow and cold and so a white xmas is lost on me. Since it is summer (yay) we started out our day with a fabulous hike up Mount Maunganui, followed by a turkey feast with Mark's sister Brenda, who was visiting from Malaysia, and our friends Tom and Ellen from SV Rasa Manis. Brenda arrived on the 22nd of December and we spent a little time in Auckland before bringing her home to Scholarship. Mark and Brenda enjoying Happy Hour in Auckland Making cookies!
Brenda and Ellen relaxing on deck on Christmas Day Enjoying our feast
Not sure why they painted these poor sheep pink, perhaps it was for the holidays. At least they didn't dye them red!

Bridal Veil Falls

2008-12-17T16:01:00.010+11:00

Just a few miles east of the little surf town of Raglan is Bridal Veil Falls. We were delighted to find this oasis among the cows as we took the long way home from Auckland.

A Room With a View

2008-12-02T11:21:00.001+11:00

The last few days of my Mom's visit we spent in Auckland seeing the sights and enjoying more great weather. Mark managed to find a Mexican restaurant in Auckland

Mom and I enjoying sunset on our cool balcony High Tea at the Langham

All kinds of fabulous treat to be sampled

Waiheke Island

2008-11-28T20:00:00.020+11:00

Only a half hour ferry ride from Auckland, Waiheke is one of the most visited islands in the Hauraki Gulf. About 8,000 lucky ducks live here among the gorgeous beaches, vineyards and olive groves. Waiheke has a micro climate which is similar to the Bordeaux region of France. There are twenty-four vineyards on the island, most open for sampling. We rented a fabulous holiday home with an amazing view. On November 19th it was Mark's B-day so we spent the day exploring the island and sampling all the goodies Waiheke has to offer. Our Waiheke holiday home Mark & Mom busy in the kitchen The gorgeous view and backyard We found some alpacas, I love alpacas Mudbrick WineryMark's Mudbrick "mud" cakeThe birthday boy getting ready to make a wish

Someone has a sense of humour

The crusty woman spreading mad sheep disease at the Stony Batter (WWII tunnels)We decided not to explore the tunnels, the woman said "they are some dark tunnels with some old machinery inside" She wasn't much of a sales woman.

It was a lovely walk though

Fully!

2008-11-24T14:36:00.030+11:00

My Mom is an intrepid traveller. In the three years we have been cruising, this is her fourth visit! She came to see us in Mexico, Panama, French Polynesia and this last trip she travelled over 7000 miles to New Zealand. She spent nine days with us and we kept her pretty busy. A few days at home in Tauranga showing her our little town and daily life. Then for a week we hit the road. Mark played photographer with his new camera. New Zealand even cooperated with great summer weather! Thanks for everything MLM! Can't wait to see you in another exotic locale.

Enjoying lunch and a tasting at the local Mills Reef winery

A night out at Tauranga's French restaurant. Lots of singing and giggles that night. Behind the scenes at Morton Estate

Another New Head

2008-11-06T15:32:00.003+11:00

The latest project on Scholarship has been the forward head. I pulled off the 30 years old wallpaper, sanded, primed and painted. The most time consuming part was the tile mosaic on the countertop. I think it turned out well for my first effort. Yes the green is very bright!!
A nice wave to honor our watery lifestyle!

Yes the sink is original. What gave it away?