beware the yeast!

day 15:
captain trundler (kiwi for "captain shopping cart" which we have honorably named our '86 corrolla) bravely carries us again through the winding narrow mountain roads they seem to call "motorways" to our campsite at the base of mount holdsworth in the tararua range. elisabeth buys a hideous sweater along the way. mattie encourages a middle school giggle fit at the rare sighting of semi-attractive males in short hiking shorts.
day 16:
a beautiful hike to rocky lookout. another asinine road through the mountains full of mad drivers to castlepoint, a stunning beachtown without a castle but including a lighthouse. another weaving drive to arrive at our second farm... the blueberry farm!
day 17:
the blueberry farm. a lot of digging. a lot of chore chart signing up. a very disruptive 7 year old boy. a lot of rules. a lot of lying in bed until we're allowed in the house.
day 18:
forced to take a day off to "see the seals." rebelled against authority in order to quell mattie's undying desires to see lord of the rings filming sites. allowed to watch a movie in the house before bed.
day 19:
more unecessary digging (including a few awkward tumbles to the hard ground with our gardening gear).
day 20:
after a hard day of digging, mattie has a scandelous late night episode with frodo, the dog, while trying to pop a squat behind the house since the house is off-limits after 7pm.
day 21:
escaped to town with the foreign wwoofers after digging our final trench.
day 22:
free on the wild roads again. enjoyed the day in wellington at the te papa museum, drinking fine espresso (including another giggle fit in front of the male barista), riding the cable car and splurging on a night of fine wine and food before catching the 1:55am ferry to the south island.
day 23:
did not sleep. started driving with the sunrise along another one of those roads. spent the morning in the great town of nelson before heading to the amazing abel tasman national forest. began our delerious 12km hike into the anchorage hut.
day 24:
awoke to the sound of waves and birds and sunny skies. hiked out. met california corinne at the trail end who hitched a ride back to nelson with us. continued on with captain's great efforts to farm #3 in the heart of marlborough wine country!
day 25:
with tea breaks thrice a day with tony and val, the joyful poms, and fine homemade wine and brews to finish a hard day's work, we're not sure we will be able to leave this place...

Click here to view our spectacular photo gallery!