Jeff's trip to New Zealand

Good evening and hello from New Zealand. Each day has been full of exciting adventures and activities. I understand my fans have become upset in the lack of blogging I have done.

Today, Myself and two others completed a three day tramp around Lake Waikaremoana located in one of New Zealand's finest National Parks. The lake was a continuous display of beauty, with some of the clearest visibility I've ever seen. We completed the tramp around noon today and rushed back to Mt. Mouganui. I had my first experience of driving in New Zealand. The driving on the left hand side of the road and roundabouts can be a little tricky in heavy traffic. Arriving at the Mt. M around 5 p.m. we had to hurry we were entered in a Splash and Dash race which started at 6. The race was a 750 meter swim and a 5 k run around the mount. I placed third in my age group and walked away with a bottle of New Zealand wine.

No day is complete unless you can relax in a geo-thermal hot pool after a nice little race. Just 5 blocks down from Liz's apartment is a local hot pool. We relaxed there for about one hour before heading down town to find a bite to eat. It's currently midnight in New Zealand and im shot.

Tomorrow Jan. 6^th..........on the list for the a.m is kayaking, bike ride, pack for another three day tramp at another national park, which we will be travelling to on the 7^th. The afternoon of Jan 6^th will be completed with a visit to a Native Mori village, where I will learn about New Zealands early history, fallowed by mountain biking in the Red Wood forest.

I'll try and keep in touch.......and I hope the weather is warm.

Love, Jeff

Woke up to an overcast morning here in Mt. Maungaui after a well needed night of sleep. My morning run was short and very difficult. I made a quick tramp to the top of the mount. I've posted a photo of the mount along with other photos I took this a.m.

            Today Liz and I will walk down to the local coffee shop and meet up with some of her sporty friends. I have a mountain biking trek planed with Gram today, not sure where we are going, but I'm sure it will be a complete work out. Gram is a world durathlon champion, which is held in Germany each year. Durathlons are competitions consisting of two events (run, bike, run), unlike triathlons which are (swim, bike, run). Long story short I hope to not slow him down to much. This afternoon Chris is going to teach me how to surf on a long board.

            New Years is approaching fast here in New Zealand, today is Dec. 29^th and according to Liz it's my job to make plans for the evening. I believe I've decided to attend a native Moriori celebration and meal. Moriori's are the original inhabitants of NZ over 1000 years ago. This celebration will be fallowed by music and dancing on Mt. Maungaui's beach.

Long flights from Minnesota, delays in Denver, and fourteen hour flight from San Francisco equals a very tired Jeff. I landed in Taungrura NZ at 7:30 a.m. December 28^th. First activity was watching a local triathlon with several hundred participants. Shortly after that I was kayaking around the Mount which is a landmark in the city of Taungrua. Learning to skate board was the afternoon activity fallowed by dancing to the music of a local jazz band brings me to a close for my first day in New Zealand. Oh, to explain the "no tipping in New Zealand," It means just what I said, waiters or waitresses do not accept any tips. Tomorrow will start with a run around the Mount then learning to surf in the Bay of Plenty and local beach.

here is a link to the UMC homepage!

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