31 January 2014-
So…Abel Tasman has been breathtaking….magnificient…amazing. Alas, even though we'd love to stay we feel that we need to keep moving. Our goal is to try and make it all around the South Island in these short two weeks we have and the only way we're going to accomplish that is if we get a move on.
Where to next? How about we head over to the west coast and drive south? We'll see where we end up!
Hey…check out the water level. Do you remember my morning jog? This was a mudflat this morning!
Check out the gorgeous views from the road…check out that river. Doesn't it seem like something we should go see, right???
So yes…of course we're gonna go look!!!
And yes, it's a gorgeous river!
uh yeah.
Have you heard of sandflies?
No????
Weeeeellll….let me you – they're tiny nasty bite-y flies. And they'll EAT YOU ALIVE!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so this river is GORGEOUS but I do think we need to make a hasty retreat back to the campervans!
I'll admit…I'm not ashamed. I ran back to the campervan! I'll wait for the rest of you- if you're going to go blackberry picking with these kiddos:
Oooo!!! Yummy blackberries! (okay, so perhaps they were worth a few sandfly bites…they are tasty)
Guess what? It's time to get back on the road…
views from the road:
Just up ahead there's something on the map – it says that there is the Longest Swingbridge in New Zealand.
I'm sure you've figured out by now that we're DEFINITELY stopping and checking out this bridge. Right?
And there it is:
We've paid our entry fees so let's go ….carefully….stroll across the bridge. They gave us a map at the front desk that details out the history of the bridge and the surrounding area. Isn't it incredible to think this area has washed away in a flood? Can you see how high off the ground it is????? WOW!
Yeah! That's quite the bridge!!!
and more swing bridge photos:
Gorgeous views of the river:
And knowing our kids…we've got to head down the
Is there gold in the sand??? It sure appears there's something shiny in the sand.
Check out these awesome rocks!
Don't these rocks look like dinosaur bones??? Or dragon bones?????
Time to hit the road!
Check out this one lane road up ahead. That's one seriously narrow lane!
We made it to Westport!
We need to pick up more groceries but honestly, going shopping with the Minions kids isn't exactly our idea of fun. So…how about Mark takes the kids down to the beach while Ray, Beth and I go speed shopping and restock our supplies.
The kids are obviously enjoying their time running around on this vast beach:
Creating mud pits:
Annika and her giant clock:
Sunset…
And here's Annika's bedroom…do you see the wardrobe and the bed??
It's been another awesome day. We sure do have a lot of those here, don't we?