Hello all!
I'm back up in Alaska, relaxing at my friend Kendra's house with her wonderful family for one final day before work begins. It's day three and I've already seen a moose in mid-town Anchorage, belugas fishing alongside Turnagain Arm, and Elvis strutting his stuff downtown last night. I had a wonderful week visiting friends at Willamette and tying up loose ends there: all of my boxes (and skis) have been sorted through, I said my goodbyes and even got a wave and smile from President Pelton himself. I figure that's as good a sign as any to move on to the next chapter.
Although my goodbye to Willamette was awfully bittersweet when it came right down to it, my spirits rose immensely once I arrived at my gate for my flight. I noticed the crowd around me was quite different from the left-coasters I'd been seeing all week. Here I found many of my fellow travelers to be wearing Xtra-tuffs, Carhartts, cammo backpacks and the like. Aah, Alaska. I couldn't help but grin. I half-expected to see a moose rack in the overhead bin.
As I look forward to this upcoming season and start to consider once again my options for the fall, one thing that has really stuck with me from my recent travels is the value of close friends. I really enjoyed being around my family all fall, and getting to hang out with college friends after a year's absence felt so nice after being in unfamiliar territory for two months. I find myself craving the familiar much more than I expected: the travel bug apparently has petered out for now, at leat. I've been looking a bit at schools in Maine where I could do something a little more science-y, perhaps marine biology, as well as still considering the baking and pastry program in Vermont. But most of all I hope I end up not too far from my family and at least a couple of good friends. We'll see where that takes me.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
How do you hide a 100-ft. yacht?
Answer: Don't ask Bip.
Back in Auckland after a 10-day road trip around New Zealand's subtropical Northland. Our travels brought us to countless sandy beaches, down windy country roads and through innumerable rolling green hills speckled with cows and sheep. We spent three days in the touristy Bay of Islands, timing it well as the season is starting to wind down and crowds were thinning slightly. I tried again to swim with dolphins but this time was foiled by the presence of nursing calves. Oh well. Some things have to remain on my bucket list so I have things in life to look forward to, I suppose.
Another highlight of the trip north was getting to see New Zealand's famous kauri trees. After days of sunny green pastures and gleaming beaches, it felt so great to be in the cool forested shade. We did a few hikes of varying lengths in the huge kauri reserve on the west coast to appease my hiking-lust and even got to see Tane Mahuta, a kauri estimated to be 2000 years old! Most of the old-growth forests have been harvested first for spars and later for timber, so it was a pretty special thing to get to see a number of very, very old trees.
We're back in Auckland now for a few days at least, trying to adjust back to the sight of people, cars and pavement (all of which were at a minimum in the sparsely-populated Northland). Last night we were lucky enough to go on a sunset sail of the harbor on-board a sleek Thompson 30 with a bunch of friendly Kiwis. The breeze kicked up just as we tacked at one point and we got a free bonus of a man-overboard procedure: one of our crew members slipped right in-between the lifelines and splashed into the water behind us! Fortunately we were in capable hands and our skipper had her back aboard within 30 seconds. It was a beautiful sail and it was great fun to hang out with some really friendly folks. Today we tried to find a yacht Bip knows of that we were told could be found at a marina just down the coast, but unfortunately had no luck. We're impressed that Kiwis are able to hide their yachts from prying Americans, no matter how huge they might be.
Plans for the future might involve taking a train right down the length of the North Island to Wellington. I'm certainly feeling a bit overwhelmed by this city after such a placid excursion into the countryside. Hopefully we'll get to connect with Donna and Nat and Betsy before we fly out in just over a week. I'm really looking forward to Willamette and then Alaska- it's just around the corner!
Back in Auckland after a 10-day road trip around New Zealand's subtropical Northland. Our travels brought us to countless sandy beaches, down windy country roads and through innumerable rolling green hills speckled with cows and sheep. We spent three days in the touristy Bay of Islands, timing it well as the season is starting to wind down and crowds were thinning slightly. I tried again to swim with dolphins but this time was foiled by the presence of nursing calves. Oh well. Some things have to remain on my bucket list so I have things in life to look forward to, I suppose.
Another highlight of the trip north was getting to see New Zealand's famous kauri trees. After days of sunny green pastures and gleaming beaches, it felt so great to be in the cool forested shade. We did a few hikes of varying lengths in the huge kauri reserve on the west coast to appease my hiking-lust and even got to see Tane Mahuta, a kauri estimated to be 2000 years old! Most of the old-growth forests have been harvested first for spars and later for timber, so it was a pretty special thing to get to see a number of very, very old trees.
We're back in Auckland now for a few days at least, trying to adjust back to the sight of people, cars and pavement (all of which were at a minimum in the sparsely-populated Northland). Last night we were lucky enough to go on a sunset sail of the harbor on-board a sleek Thompson 30 with a bunch of friendly Kiwis. The breeze kicked up just as we tacked at one point and we got a free bonus of a man-overboard procedure: one of our crew members slipped right in-between the lifelines and splashed into the water behind us! Fortunately we were in capable hands and our skipper had her back aboard within 30 seconds. It was a beautiful sail and it was great fun to hang out with some really friendly folks. Today we tried to find a yacht Bip knows of that we were told could be found at a marina just down the coast, but unfortunately had no luck. We're impressed that Kiwis are able to hide their yachts from prying Americans, no matter how huge they might be.
Plans for the future might involve taking a train right down the length of the North Island to Wellington. I'm certainly feeling a bit overwhelmed by this city after such a placid excursion into the countryside. Hopefully we'll get to connect with Donna and Nat and Betsy before we fly out in just over a week. I'm really looking forward to Willamette and then Alaska- it's just around the corner!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Back to the beginning
I'm back in Auckland again after a brief visit to the whale-watching town in Kaikoura, where I was plagued with weather that negated my plans to try out a dolphin swim or seal swim. A quick flight out of Christchurch this morning brought me back to the place where I started just about a month ago, although this time my arrival was at a mildly more reasonable hour and with much less jetlag.
Posters are covering the town for events that are part of the ongoing Auckland Festival. I didn't know it was this week until I arrived here, and on a whim went to the box office to see if there were any tickets left for tonight's performance of Mahler's No. 3 by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Sure enough, there were, and two minutes later I had one! I am thrilled, especially because one of my co-workers in Alaska and dear friend Eric loves Mahler more than any other composer and introduced me this past summer.
Bip flies in tomorrow morning for an extended spring break and will be here until I fly out, too. We're hoping to do some sailing both on-board Bahati and with a local Bip's been in touch with through a sailing forum. We're also thinking about renting a car for a bit and checking out some beaches up north- they're supposed to be rugged and beautiful and a bit less populated than the mayhem of Auckland. Everything's going great and I feel like I've really gotten into the swing of things in the last week or two- I'm sad to think I've only got a few weeks left, although I'm also looking forward to visiting my friends at Willamette and in Seward. Shout-out to Sam who is starting the Appalachian Trail shortly- best of luck!
Posters are covering the town for events that are part of the ongoing Auckland Festival. I didn't know it was this week until I arrived here, and on a whim went to the box office to see if there were any tickets left for tonight's performance of Mahler's No. 3 by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Sure enough, there were, and two minutes later I had one! I am thrilled, especially because one of my co-workers in Alaska and dear friend Eric loves Mahler more than any other composer and introduced me this past summer.
Bip flies in tomorrow morning for an extended spring break and will be here until I fly out, too. We're hoping to do some sailing both on-board Bahati and with a local Bip's been in touch with through a sailing forum. We're also thinking about renting a car for a bit and checking out some beaches up north- they're supposed to be rugged and beautiful and a bit less populated than the mayhem of Auckland. Everything's going great and I feel like I've really gotten into the swing of things in the last week or two- I'm sad to think I've only got a few weeks left, although I'm also looking forward to visiting my friends at Willamette and in Seward. Shout-out to Sam who is starting the Appalachian Trail shortly- best of luck!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tramping at last
A Kiwi would be quite surprised at the sight of a hiking trail such as the ones I've hiked back in the states. The trail would be littered with large rocks, cris-crossed with slippery roots ready to trip a weary foot without warning. No switchbacks would sweep gently across the face of the mountain, bringing a hiker gradually up to a peak with vistas of tranquil fields and rolling green hills. Oh no- the surprised New Zealander would find the rugged, craggy mountainside staring him in the face, not quite conquered by the winding path his feet would have to follow.
I tried my luck at one of New Zealand's famous Great Walks, the Heaphy Track. The handful of tramps that fall into this category are highly maintained by the Department of Conservation and, in my mind, fall more into the category of hiking superhighways than trails. The wide gravel path and steady grade weren't exactly the rugged outdoor experience I had hoped for, although the two days of heavy rain sure made me appreciate the luxury of the DOC huts along my route. Every Great Walk has a multitude of huts where hikers can stay at night that include much more than the average Appalacian Trail lean-to.
In my travels, I met quite a few other friendly travelers (despite the weather). A couple of Israeli girls had just finished another Great Walk in record time and aimed to do the same with the Heaphy Track, without even a day's rest in-between. A German couple gave me recommendations on whale-watching on the east coast- something I really hope to do in the next week- and a jovial group of 5 Kiwis offered a "cup o' tea?" in one of the huts. Two girls from Minnesota shared a hut with me on my final night, and it turns out they had just gotten back from working in Antarctica! They both worked in the kitchen at McMurdo Station, the exact job I had been offered back in July, and were good friends with one of my co-workers in Alaska! How funny.
Back at the hostel in Takaka, I have aired out my soggy gear and reconnected with my new American friend I met here before I went tramping. She and I enjoyed a sunny afternoon exploring the area on Wednesday, doing some short hikes and enjoying iced espressos on-board Jacques Cousteau's former barge. It now rests in a nearby harbor in the form of a houseboat-made-coffe shop. Tomorrow will bring some attempts at bread-making and maybe another visit to the beach. I haven't seen the ocean in three whole days and I think that's a record since I arrived here.
I tried my luck at one of New Zealand's famous Great Walks, the Heaphy Track. The handful of tramps that fall into this category are highly maintained by the Department of Conservation and, in my mind, fall more into the category of hiking superhighways than trails. The wide gravel path and steady grade weren't exactly the rugged outdoor experience I had hoped for, although the two days of heavy rain sure made me appreciate the luxury of the DOC huts along my route. Every Great Walk has a multitude of huts where hikers can stay at night that include much more than the average Appalacian Trail lean-to.
In my travels, I met quite a few other friendly travelers (despite the weather). A couple of Israeli girls had just finished another Great Walk in record time and aimed to do the same with the Heaphy Track, without even a day's rest in-between. A German couple gave me recommendations on whale-watching on the east coast- something I really hope to do in the next week- and a jovial group of 5 Kiwis offered a "cup o' tea?" in one of the huts. Two girls from Minnesota shared a hut with me on my final night, and it turns out they had just gotten back from working in Antarctica! They both worked in the kitchen at McMurdo Station, the exact job I had been offered back in July, and were good friends with one of my co-workers in Alaska! How funny.
Back at the hostel in Takaka, I have aired out my soggy gear and reconnected with my new American friend I met here before I went tramping. She and I enjoyed a sunny afternoon exploring the area on Wednesday, doing some short hikes and enjoying iced espressos on-board Jacques Cousteau's former barge. It now rests in a nearby harbor in the form of a houseboat-made-coffe shop. Tomorrow will bring some attempts at bread-making and maybe another visit to the beach. I haven't seen the ocean in three whole days and I think that's a record since I arrived here.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Beaten by the Bike
Hellooooo!
I am dead tired. I left Nelson yesterday morning on an old bike that another WWOOFer and I fixed up (well, he fixed it up while I retrieved screwdrivers and wrenches and got in the way). My plan was to cycle for two weeks halfway down the west coast to Greymouth, where I could catch a train over the Southern Alps and make it to Christchurch. Two mistakes were made in this planning process, if not more. One is that New Zealand is bigger than I expected! Next to Australia on the map and compared to the USA, it may not be so large. In actuality, however, it is rather sizable! The roads are not like the roads in the States: the pavement is much older and rougher, rotaries interrupt the main highways in each town, and few of the roads have extensive straight stretches. Especially the ones I've chosen to travel. Another key factor in preparing in a cycling journey is, well, preparation! I've never really biked long-distance before, unless you can count the trip into the Dairy Frost in Brunswick where I used to work. It's awfully tiring to take down camp, bike many kilometers and not a few hills, set up my tent at a campsite, pull together a meal, and stretch out my aches and pains! The sun here is relentless and I've had to be very aware about finding shade, using sunscreen and hydrating. I'm afraid I've bit off more than I can chew and I'm already cheating- I'll be catching a bus up to the next large town in a couple of hours, from which I can (hopefully!) cycle into Kahurangui National Park. There I'll be able to do a bit of tramping and escape the noise of traffic before I return the bike to Nelson.
On a brighter note, the trip to Motueka (where I am now) has been beautiful. My trip started out alongside huge vineyards, olive and apple orchards, and the occasional cow farm. The route mostly follows the beautiful northern coastline and I cooled off yesterday with a plunge into the sparkling turquoise waters of Ruby Bay. It feels good to spend about 80% of the day outside, and fortunately the weather has been agreeable! Let's hope that holds true for a little longer.
I am dead tired. I left Nelson yesterday morning on an old bike that another WWOOFer and I fixed up (well, he fixed it up while I retrieved screwdrivers and wrenches and got in the way). My plan was to cycle for two weeks halfway down the west coast to Greymouth, where I could catch a train over the Southern Alps and make it to Christchurch. Two mistakes were made in this planning process, if not more. One is that New Zealand is bigger than I expected! Next to Australia on the map and compared to the USA, it may not be so large. In actuality, however, it is rather sizable! The roads are not like the roads in the States: the pavement is much older and rougher, rotaries interrupt the main highways in each town, and few of the roads have extensive straight stretches. Especially the ones I've chosen to travel. Another key factor in preparing in a cycling journey is, well, preparation! I've never really biked long-distance before, unless you can count the trip into the Dairy Frost in Brunswick where I used to work. It's awfully tiring to take down camp, bike many kilometers and not a few hills, set up my tent at a campsite, pull together a meal, and stretch out my aches and pains! The sun here is relentless and I've had to be very aware about finding shade, using sunscreen and hydrating. I'm afraid I've bit off more than I can chew and I'm already cheating- I'll be catching a bus up to the next large town in a couple of hours, from which I can (hopefully!) cycle into Kahurangui National Park. There I'll be able to do a bit of tramping and escape the noise of traffic before I return the bike to Nelson.
On a brighter note, the trip to Motueka (where I am now) has been beautiful. My trip started out alongside huge vineyards, olive and apple orchards, and the occasional cow farm. The route mostly follows the beautiful northern coastline and I cooled off yesterday with a plunge into the sparkling turquoise waters of Ruby Bay. It feels good to spend about 80% of the day outside, and fortunately the weather has been agreeable! Let's hope that holds true for a little longer.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
WWOOF begins
Hello all!
I´ve been at my first WWOOF home for 2 days now. (WWOOF is an organization of organic farms, where members like me can go and work part of each day in exchange for room and board). My hosts are Briar and Geoffry, their son Josh, and their nephen Ashla. I´ve spent most of my time with the two other WWOOFers here- Ignacio is from Chile and has been cycling throughout New Zealand, and Femka from Holland is the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan I´ve ever met. The atmosphere here is very friendly and laid-back and we´ve done mostly indoor housework so far, taking the old family dog for a long walk each night to explore the neighborhood. Yesterday he wandered right into the kitchen of a house down the road!
This area just outside of Nelson is beautiful and hot. The beaches are just a bike ride away, and the rolling hills around us are green and filled with small pastures. There are horses, alpaca and sheep next door, and the Aussie up the hill actually has an emu in his front yard!
It looks like a couple of friends from Willamette, Bekah and Timm, will be arriving in Nelson this weekend, so hopefully I will get the chance to meet up with them while we´re all here. Isn´t it funny that I´ve gone halfway around the world yet still find so many familiar faces?
I´ve been at my first WWOOF home for 2 days now. (WWOOF is an organization of organic farms, where members like me can go and work part of each day in exchange for room and board). My hosts are Briar and Geoffry, their son Josh, and their nephen Ashla. I´ve spent most of my time with the two other WWOOFers here- Ignacio is from Chile and has been cycling throughout New Zealand, and Femka from Holland is the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan I´ve ever met. The atmosphere here is very friendly and laid-back and we´ve done mostly indoor housework so far, taking the old family dog for a long walk each night to explore the neighborhood. Yesterday he wandered right into the kitchen of a house down the road!
This area just outside of Nelson is beautiful and hot. The beaches are just a bike ride away, and the rolling hills around us are green and filled with small pastures. There are horses, alpaca and sheep next door, and the Aussie up the hill actually has an emu in his front yard!
It looks like a couple of friends from Willamette, Bekah and Timm, will be arriving in Nelson this weekend, so hopefully I will get the chance to meet up with them while we´re all here. Isn´t it funny that I´ve gone halfway around the world yet still find so many familiar faces?
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