Volcanos (x2)

Yesterday we set out on the Coast to Coast trail (a 16km walkway through Auckland that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Tasman Sea). Due to the poor signage and our short attention spans, we quickly found ourselves elsewhere. Our most notable points of interest on our version of the walk were:

- An unsettling souvenir shop featuring two stuffed baby deer modelling the latest hats and scarf fashions

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- Emily Place

- The duck pond in the Auckland Domain (which both promised and failed to deliver deer statues)

- A fernery (these kiwi-folk have a thing for ferns)

- “Mt. Eden” aka Mt. Hobson (see below)

We decided we wanted to climb at least one volcanic peak on our day-long walk, so we set off towards Mt Eden. We could see it from our post-lunch nap location next to Auckland museum on a gargantuan stretch of daisy-infested turf, and decided to navigate the streets sans-map (it’s more fun that way). Apparently it’s a general rule that kiwi signage sucks. This includes both directions to sites of interest as well as labelling of volcanic peaks. Once we had summit-ed “Mt Eden”, we quickly discovered there was no symmetrical crater, as Lonely Planet had promised. After some sleuthing and horizon scanning, we deduced we were in fact on Mt. Hobson- slightly less prestigious than Mt Eden (some, perhaps, might consider it a glorified cow pasture). But we were content to sit on the grass and look out over the city (and boy, did Mt Eden look nice).

A note on our descent: Emily’s comment “this slope is steeper than it looks” turned out to be true, manifested in a not-so-controlled slide.

On to today!

We caught the early-bird ferry to Rangitoto island (it’s pretty much a volcano). We were so early that we had the volcano almost all to ourselves. The trip included highlights such as hiking to the summit, walking around the (rather impressive) crater, and finding some silver ferns (seriously, this island is infested with ferns). Most notably, however, were the lava caves and tunnels! Between the two of us, we somehow managed not to bring a single headlamp (or a camera flash), but braved the deep, dark, depths anyhow. Rangitoto was full of surprises, including a random collection of tennis balls sitting amidst a field of black volcanic rock, a black gull breeding colony, and a cat-eradication program (the jury’s out on whether it’s poison or leg-trap based). As we were hiking, we had to remind ourselves we didn’t need bear spray due to the serious lack of mammals (of any kind. Honestly, give us a squirrel already! We hear scuttles in the underbrush and it always turns out to be a bird. Full on disappointing).

We’re looking forward to getting out of the city tomorrow when we pick up our sleepervan and venture up to the North of the North Island! We’re not sure when we’ll have internet next, so if you don’t hear from us, assume we’re having an awesome time.

E noho ra,

E & J

Just your average free "meal" at the hostel

Rangitoto from Mt Hobson

At the Rangitoto summit

A segment of the lava tunnel that we blindly clawed through

Rando tennis balls nestled in some volcanic rock

Palm trees, fat camels, and Tasmanian tigers

I (Julie) have finally arrived in Auckland after visiting the Christmas store at YVR, a lovely and potentially scenic (if it had been day time) bus ride around the LAX airport (which involved a New Zealand bound support group as we attempted to navigate the mayhem), and a cramped 12 hour flight (with a lovely 2am dinner and a Kiwi reproductive doctor-neighbour). And after a day wandering the city, the things I’ve learnt about Auckland are: they have the most random and talented buskers (i.e. bagpipers and Buddhist monks), everyone and their dog smokes (no exaggeration. Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration, but seriously it seems like everyone has a cigarette in hand), and the “free” meals at the hostels are crap. More on that later.

And I (Emily) have also arrived! My travel day was off to a great start when I dropped my laptop from waist height. It’s currently non-functional. Then, I was terribly sick on the flight from Vancouver to Sydney (although I can’t really complain because I had a row ALL to myself). I must have looked pretty rough though, because a flight attendant brought me a cold compress, ibuprofen, and Benadryl, without me even asking. She also sat next to me and gave me a lovely pep talk, because she thought part of my sickness was due to apprehension and nerves about travelling by myself and that I should call for her if I ever “wanted to talk”. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I had indeed travelled alone. Many times. But bless her cotton socks. The rest of the day involved being sprayed with insecticide, a wailing, sobbing old man greeting us off the ramp in Sydney (which I thought was a bad omen), a day of waiting in SYD, denied boarding to Auckland due to not having a return ticket, running around finding internet and printers to buy and print a ticket out of NZ, and having my tripod considered a dangerous weapon.

While wandering the city, and deciding whether or not to venture up the tacky tourist tower we struck up a conversation with a rickshaw-operating Yorkshire lad. We chatted with no general direction for quite a while, comparing the differences between Vancouver/Surrey and Whitby/Malton, when we realized he had a stuffed animal zap-strapped to the top of his helmet. Upon questioning he said that if we could guess what it was he would give us a free ride. After about 2 seconds deliberation, Emily channelled her mammalogy prowess (aka BIOL 426) and asked if it was a Tasmanian tiger (the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times, that is now extinct), to which he promptly replied, “You’re not getting a free ride.” After an explanation of how we could possibly know that, and a brief bout of whining, he agreed to take us around the block. Thus began our death-defying rickshaw ride. But that’s another story.

Check this out! (pay close attention...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gF8AY_IfTo

Can't wait for the sheep...

Hey hey. Hey. So, Emily and Julie (me) are leaving for New Zealand TOMORROW! oh gosh. We still have some bags to pack, and a camera lens to track down, but by this time on Thursday we will be in the Southern Hemisphere. Of course, for us it will actually be Friday. Who says time travel isn't possible? Confused yet? Need some clarification? We're going to be 20 hours ahead of all you BC-ers.

Anyways. This is just a heads up (seven up). We will hopefully update you at regular intervals, but due to all of the awesome adventures to be experienced in Kiwi-land (and likely unreliable internet access) we can't guarantee it.

mmk. Peace out homeslices. See you on the flip side!


Hi all! (Emily here). It's true, I've had enough of squirrels and chipmunks, and Julie has had enough of cows (for now), so we are whisking ourselves away to New Zealand where we will be winding our way around by way of a campervan (read: van with a "bed" and a cooler).
I'm terrible at writing in journals, and some of you have expressed an interest in following what we get up to on our trip, so here is our blog! Please feel free to follow along as we aim to answer three questions:

1. How much fun can two girls have in one country?
2. Are sheep huggable?
3. Will Emily ever have any money in her bank account? (No)

Now, I know that you have places to go, people to see, Facebook profiles to creep on, and Twilight books to read*, but I'm sure that reading our blog will be worth it. You may look forward to such gems as:
“That’s not a golf course, Emily; it’s a cemetery” -Julie Wittrock, Tofino 2009

Alright, time to finish packing!

Em

*Please don't read Twilight.