Home coming

After an adventurous 18 days away, travelling to California, Fiji & New Zealand, we are finally on our way home. We left Palmerston North, NZ Sunday evening on a 9hr overnight bus to Auckland and boarded our first of 3 flights heading home. With approximately 50hrs of travel, we are looking forward to getting home; showered & in our own bed! Sleeping upright for 3 nights in a row will definitely take its toll on you! However, I (we) still think it’s worth it for all the amazing adventures we experienced while travelling half way around the world!

As an extension of our world trip 6 years ago, I finally feel a sense of completion from this vacation. Although not all the destinations were explored on our itinerary from back then, we feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have gone back to any at all! 

As I sit here and write this, I smile knowing that my dad would have gave me that look that said “I see that your wild spirit’s not going to stop you from going off and travelling, but I’m proud of you for following your heart and adventurous soul.” Thanks dad❤️

And thanks to all of you who followed our blog & adventures around the world both now and then!

So now it’s come to the time that I also complete the OTNAdventures Blog and say farewell...

...or maybe until the next adventure? God willing:)))

(I’m already dreaming up the next trip!😆)

See you then!

Fiji Airways flight from Auckland to Fiji to Los Angeles.
We heard Fiji Gold helps you sleep better in an upright position 🍻

 

See you later Auckland. Hope to see you again one day!

 

Landing in Fiji, we watched as rain storm approached through sunny skies. 

Upon landing, a rainbow appeared! 🙏🏻✈️ 🌈 

Views over LA-one more leg to go! (LA to BUF)

Watching as the pilot made a smooth landing. Glad to be on the ground after 10hrs in the air.

Finally landed...in Rochester?!?! 

We’re suppose to be in Buffalo but thick fog on the ground prevented the pilot from making a safe landing. Apparently it will be a few hours before it lifts so arrangements are being made to taxi us (and our luggage) back to Buffalo 50 miles away. Currently sitting in the airport waiting for the next adventure😆 

Well...we went into this trip with an adventure so only seems fitting that we go out with an adventure! Fingers crossed our car is still in Buffalo 😳

Note: it’s currently 2am, Shawn (is suppose to) work @ 6:30am, we’re still in Rochester BUT we’re still smiling!

Onto the Next Adventure! 🚕 

Update: The pilot announced it would be approx 6 hrs before the fog lifts so luggage was taken off the plane & taxis were ordered. With only one guy working at the airport terminal, we all did our best to be civil-and passengers were great. As soon as we heard the announcement, I shoved Shawn in line to add us to the list & we were on the 3rd taxi out (we call that“Amazing Race” styles). With little to no taxis available at that time of night we were lucky to be one of the first out-us and 5 others in a van taxi. An hour later we arrived in Buffalo & since I chatted up with taxi driver on the way, I felt bold enough to ask him to drop us off at our car-and he did! Makes up for the no shuttle to the airport on our first leg of our journey 😏 We jumped in the car, glad to see it still were we parked it, and crossed the boarder in no time flat. My keen driving skills (AKA speed🤫) got us home at 6am with just enough time for Shawn to shower, me pack some quick snacks & breakfast for him, to be out the door at 6:15. Now I’m off to bed!  Gravol & melatonin should do the trick 😴 

Finally home!!! ...55hrs later.

Meg & Me

Meg and I have been friends for over 10 years...
Our friendship began one snowy spring afternoon at a Seedy Saturday seed exchange event in London, Ontario. Shawn & her boyfriend had been saying for some time that we had a lot in common and we should meet up and hang out sometime. Then, we meet that Saturday by fluke and ended up hitting it off right away:) Our love of food, cooking, gardening & the outdoors connected us initially, but then our continued mutual interests in all things made us fast friends.
Meg is by far one of the smartest, hardworking, loving, caring, intelligent, down-to-earth, inventive, creative, tenacious and funniest people I know! Being friends with Meg is like going to your favourite show and afterwards thinking, “can I do that all over again tomorrow?” -it’s that good. I just couldn’t get enough of her!
So when she moved to New Zealand 3 years ago, my heart skipped for the opportunity she and Don had been given but also ached for an even greater distance between us. Although she had been living in the States (Georgia & Washington State) completing her PhD for 5 years before the big move across the ocean, the distance before that only seemed a short flight away. So when the opportunity finally presented itself to “complete” our world trip journey, it was a no brainer to go visit & stay with Meg in New Zealand.

After our initial meeting and hitting it off right away at the London Seedy Saturday, it didn’t take long before we were in the kitchen cooking up a storm together & laughing until our stomachs hurt. As a side note; Meg is the one person who can make me laugh until I cry & I (almost) pee my pants😂
We spent the first summer doing all kinds of activities together; riding our motorcycles to the farm where Meg helped me work on growing my organic veggies (yes, we both had bikes!), painting the outside of our first house, making new creations in my kitchen, enjoying backyard hangouts, downtown festivals, local eatery hot spots, and dog walks around the neighbourhood. Life was good with my new friend Meg. Summers were then spent travelling up to her dads cottage in Bancroft (still a yearly tradition); hanging out on the dock on the lake, and sharing in a million laughs and great chats. Something I always look forward to each & every year. Her family has become an extension of my family and getting together with them always feels like coming home.

When I told Meg I was thinking about coming to visit her in New Zealand a few years back she was super excited, and when we were finally able to make it a reality this year, she was ecstatic! Shawn and I were welcomed after our 9 hour bus journey from Auckland to Palmerston North where Meg now lives with the warmest hugs and laughter right from the start.
Meg has made such an amazing home and place for herself (and Don) over the last 3 years here, and I’m so proud of all the things she has accomplished. Leaving almost all her possessions behind except for a few precious items that fit into a couple of suitcases from Pullman, Washington, Meg (and Don) finally found a little slice of heaven on a farm property south of Palmerston North on the North Island. They’ve gotten pretty creative with their talents; making their own furniture (mostly), many of pieces of clothing, bags & and anything else she can sew up, crafting little things around the house to make life easier (a shelf for an egg flat, paper towel holder, & clothes drying rack); all while continuing to work (Meg) and study (Don in Vet school). Don also does blacksmithing on days off and Meg has her own hive of honeybees to tend too on the farm where they rent a sweet little place.
Meg landed a great job last year working in the North Island with the honeybees and I’m so proud of all she’s accomplished in the time she has been in New Zealand. I’m thrilled to have been able to spent quality time with my friend Meg; picking up right where we left off and laughing so hard my sides hurt.

Day 1- visit to Mount Bruce

Needing a rest from all the travel & excitement 💤 

Shawn learning the skills of blacksmithing from Don.

He did really well! Don’s a great teacher☺️

Meg teaching Heather all about the bees 🐝 

Enjoying a sunset walk on the farm roads.

Games night became a nightly occurrence. Dutch Bliss got a little crazy🤣

Dinner & drinks out with our friends 

Our last night out in Wellington on the harbour. 

Going to miss Meg but look forward to seeing her this summer at the cottage in Ontario 

😎❤️

A few good hikes

When we decided to come back to New Zealand, we vowed that we would do more hiking than our last visit here. Last time we spent nearly the entire time in the car trying to see as much of the two islands as we could in 3 weeks time. Mind you, we did a little hiking on that trip but not nearly to the extent or duration we desired. So with an opportunity to stay in one place and explore our surroundings (and borrowing my friend Meg’s car to get us from A to B), I downloaded a hikers app and we set off to a couple of good hikes around the area. Our legs are feeling the results of a few uphill climbs but the views from the top made all the hard work worthwhile.
Here’s some highlights from our 3 days of hiking;

Day 1

 

Sledge track trail

Hiked up to Ross Creek, straight 20 minute incline which nearly ruined Shawn, then back down the orange & purple bike/walking paths back to the car park: 3 hour return on a hot sunny afternoon. 

Views on the way down...

 

Views on the way up!😍

A little bit of everything. 

Starting to heat up🥵

Views from the top made the strenuous hike up worth effort!

Day 2

Arepaepae Lookout Track-Levin

The first 2350m (2.35km) were uphill. We did it in under an hour-barely!

Then we went the wrong way for another kilometre before turning around and finally finding the lookout...

However, we hit the jackpot of blackberries on the way so not all was lost-and Heather did not get hangry! ...gorging on fresh berries along the way😜

Finally found the lookout...2hrs later. Overlooking Levin & the Pacific Ocean.

 Another hour hike downhill for a totally of 3 hours + burning calves. 🦵 

Day 3

Tawa Loop trail 1.5hr return

 

Walking in the gorge 

 

Shaded walk through the forest-a nice reprieve from the heat especially when hiking uphill.

Stop at the top with Whatonga: 12th century Chief made of galvanized steel

White Horse Rapids Lookout

A warm welcoming ❤️

We made it! After a few “side trips” to Cali & Fiji, we’re finally here in New Zealand!!!

We arrived on a late flight Thursday night; and as our bus to Palmerston North left early the next morning, staying somewhere for a few hours seemed frivolous. Some of you know that Shawn & I are pretty adventurous when it comes to accommodations (we’re high maintenance) so sleeping in airports, cars, and dingy hostels kinda became the norm for us. We get pretty creative when it comes to sleeping arrangements-so when it came time to “set up shop” at the Auckland airport for the night, we chose wisely. Therefore accommodations came complete with a nice hard curved wooden frame (length enough for a small child), phone charging station (best part!) and a cup holder. Needless to say, ALL spaces were taken by fellow travellers; as well as the less desirable floor spaces, cafe chairs & tables, and the most cleaver... on top of your pile of luggage. 

Home for the night 💤 

You may notice Shawn & his roommate sharing foot space.

Lack of “proper” sleep can make you do funny things. 

I decided to heed the advice from my friend & take gravol for the flying & windy bus journey and because I RARELY take any meds, I passed out HARD for the first 4hrs of the 9hrs trip. When I came back to consciousness the scenery was breathtaking! 

Pulling into “Palmy” (Palmerston North), we piled off the bus and into a huge crowd of travellers. I tried to spot my friend without any luck. Then I saw this lady popped in front of us, scaring the daylights outta me... “Meg!!!!!!” Huge hugs all around🤗💗

(Don, Meg, Me, Shawn ❤️)

Our first morning with our friends, Meg makes us a Dutch Baby for breakfast 🥞 🤤

Then, we drove to Mount Bruce for an amazing native forest hike, kiwi spotting, bird watching (feedings) and quality time together 🥰

Silver Fern-New Zealand’s national symbol (displayed on everything Kiwi)

The Māori’s (indigenous people) used the leaves to mark their paths.

The undersides reflect moonlight, making them useful aids to navigate bush pathways at night. 

Watching the “Parrots” feed (Māori names are hard to remember!)

Don & Shawn we’re only slightly nervous at the one swooping over head into the trees above them. 

It’s the weekend-we all needed a little bench rest (inside the protected bird enclosure).

Beautiful tall native trees 🌲 😍

Cheers! 

Palmy brewery/pizza hot spot-much needed after an afternoon of outdoor fun. 

Real wood oven pizza-yum!

Home sweet home. 

Meg & Don’s farm house place 20min from Palmerston North.

They share the property with their landlords who farm the land and cattle. 

Ross & Teresa and their 3 kids; Ryan 6, Zara 5 & Jade almost 4. Cutie pies!😍 And!-2 awesome dogs, Jack 13 & Murphy 7months. 🐶🐶

Teresa’s mom lent us her camper for the duration of our stay-we are humbled & delighted! With views of the mountain range from the back window in our bed...who could complain?!!

Just awesome 😎 

...an upgrade from our Auckland accommodations 😉