tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65461355428720283052024-03-19T05:07:00.824-07:00The Conlin CrewStacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-44092270323280202432012-01-27T17:19:00.000-08:002012-02-21T05:19:15.074-08:00Good Ole Saturday Morning Bowling!<div style="text-align: center;">The Alley Pro gives a few pointers to the novices:<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcduoRJvefY7vSCL818Mc8k7V4Lc2SdT0CMtrUPFpYY4knjZ05qz2Q1APb7aiyXTcB6z4mws-scuhunTJECdE147POLaDazeniesosGKDWSxHq1stBh9rg5mmz9n48y-iq3kC9kKg19v6/s1600/IMG_4275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcduoRJvefY7vSCL818Mc8k7V4Lc2SdT0CMtrUPFpYY4knjZ05qz2Q1APb7aiyXTcB6z4mws-scuhunTJECdE147POLaDazeniesosGKDWSxHq1stBh9rg5mmz9n48y-iq3kC9kKg19v6/s400/IMG_4275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702493141458942162" border="0" /></a><br />Hoping the bowling gods will grant her and Joe a strike...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ_Xt4X6ZJn3Kn6e3CbP59Y4hIlQYl-NnCcc1TTRr7eC7zUawKzXL9TnPTxJq9IRS8kOEBPXo-rgJAayEQxvZx9Z2szzEkCKjlIaqa4mkpbCtTK9mORENgf-HGrf1Z82SeNs6zhzccHks/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZ_Xt4X6ZJn3Kn6e3CbP59Y4hIlQYl-NnCcc1TTRr7eC7zUawKzXL9TnPTxJq9IRS8kOEBPXo-rgJAayEQxvZx9Z2szzEkCKjlIaqa4mkpbCtTK9mORENgf-HGrf1Z82SeNs6zhzccHks/s400/IMG_4273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702487660644824770" border="0" /></a><br />Maybe...just maybe...they did!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uWjFZqqkwwLLtlkttlLHh5Jj_f-Ae-bp3IEc3oWK_Bi4hZFaBoy5j00Ku3LxUwwqYXdT-W9QZvNEilDuMq-qpgRHH4oLlOwhu17uzjdsGlMI6SHbPOtv4BEy9_poQ1GsHyeD3fIIM0ec/s1600/IMG_4272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uWjFZqqkwwLLtlkttlLHh5Jj_f-Ae-bp3IEc3oWK_Bi4hZFaBoy5j00Ku3LxUwwqYXdT-W9QZvNEilDuMq-qpgRHH4oLlOwhu17uzjdsGlMI6SHbPOtv4BEy9_poQ1GsHyeD3fIIM0ec/s400/IMG_4272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702487656773211074" border="0" /></a>If you lose favor with the bowling gods, there are other strategies. Bring in Emma!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXuVDcH8pNeIw8AALnj7ymAuVe-QADlm3vrFqQU9lhVoYezisT96X235Tac8mRm2fotkEjlEQ-jAl6eAkQ3bSwpFoikdf3E-2C9e6C5ygKzTzcyvM3nnP2Qh5vqNkClD_obsG0qWxO8PG/s1600/IMG_4274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXuVDcH8pNeIw8AALnj7ymAuVe-QADlm3vrFqQU9lhVoYezisT96X235Tac8mRm2fotkEjlEQ-jAl6eAkQ3bSwpFoikdf3E-2C9e6C5ygKzTzcyvM3nnP2Qh5vqNkClD_obsG0qWxO8PG/s400/IMG_4274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702487678828116306" border="0" /></a>Self-timed photo shoot!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgL9cf_wFw5KdXniTzUjrAa0WPOvwnBaf4HZAPVFcv_5GRXtHKhkQp1yUkF0Xd_H06ciNcbT2UJ96oam16XF9kd3AbzvWU9SKXIgOjw2bEQeMyyRUhYYc4BObq4c95a3KW9ids68uy1Br/s1600/IMG_4277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgL9cf_wFw5KdXniTzUjrAa0WPOvwnBaf4HZAPVFcv_5GRXtHKhkQp1yUkF0Xd_H06ciNcbT2UJ96oam16XF9kd3AbzvWU9SKXIgOjw2bEQeMyyRUhYYc4BObq4c95a3KW9ids68uy1Br/s400/IMG_4277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702489769661381970" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-60456631372523528762012-01-27T17:00:00.000-08:002012-01-27T17:19:51.632-08:00C is for CookieIt's good enough for me!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">COOKIE!!<br /></div><br />The baking cupboard is getting a workout after a 4 month sabbatical. Cookies for Molly's class holiday party and then all the old standby Christmas cookies. We tried a few new ones this year that just might make it on the rotation again for next year including <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/05/my-kingdom-for-a-glass-of-milk/">homemade oreos</a>, with Daniel's twist of mint icing in some of them and<a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2009/12/15/chocolate-mint-crinkles-w-mint-truffle-kisses/"> chocolate mint crinkles with mint truffles</a>. Yummy! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-7ICj5Gape5y__v9uphnjabUlR8GodmRNkRkgTrvoIz4BD2YFb55Z9EZ7DkwwGjVVXuAZzRxrXHjRGOaroEFGMnQtB7uAufd0BGz4lCWabT7IUTjhIQob-0ZLz_UID0Am8ZD9ejBG6hA/s1600/IMG_4248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-7ICj5Gape5y__v9uphnjabUlR8GodmRNkRkgTrvoIz4BD2YFb55Z9EZ7DkwwGjVVXuAZzRxrXHjRGOaroEFGMnQtB7uAufd0BGz4lCWabT7IUTjhIQob-0ZLz_UID0Am8ZD9ejBG6hA/s400/IMG_4248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702484899515181730" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaeTyDyuadjDqs53L7nznnPkLMqGGt8Q2QQUPbMnYvBQL3haETx2ahgpQZoff05-m19Sl3fd9H11D9ycaLV1lRTG2fWHScCPQYUQ-5RClCh0HV4LGuElROBRCjkkZyOXfaeY8v4bP1dlD/s1600/IMG_4267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaeTyDyuadjDqs53L7nznnPkLMqGGt8Q2QQUPbMnYvBQL3haETx2ahgpQZoff05-m19Sl3fd9H11D9ycaLV1lRTG2fWHScCPQYUQ-5RClCh0HV4LGuElROBRCjkkZyOXfaeY8v4bP1dlD/s400/IMG_4267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702484905334015218" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-70491196776959411312012-01-22T18:47:00.000-08:002012-01-23T11:17:04.922-08:00Stepping Stones Montessori Holiday PerformanceMolly and I arrived as the curtains rose for the Stepping Stones Holiday Music Extravaganza!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Charlie works through his pre-performance jitters. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI3tnKWFCuzvPSqvE8p6g_8vR3RuV0G7fWjuV9y0abezWah-zKa3YzNZ-Nf5vX9Hphco2O-aCyjFKDWIkTQ9ppa1QR7WzOEfeggCRKhURHQZ1hqeBKSnSAFEdWxcIiq6k_LiOCkBKmEQH/s1600/IMG_4242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI3tnKWFCuzvPSqvE8p6g_8vR3RuV0G7fWjuV9y0abezWah-zKa3YzNZ-Nf5vX9Hphco2O-aCyjFKDWIkTQ9ppa1QR7WzOEfeggCRKhURHQZ1hqeBKSnSAFEdWxcIiq6k_LiOCkBKmEQH/s400/IMG_4242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700654700368870898" border="0" /></a></div>Miss Erin's casa gathers for the show. Charlie is sporting "his" Grinch sweater, handknit by Linda. This is probably the Grinch sweater's 7th and final annual outing, as the last of the Conlins is quickly outgrowing it!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWKO_BglMTk_ulv6HpImbQyCjKr8MUoMAZ8mP07ZslnxFG9NsaMFjROaEFOQhHS-ZiVkGBv_6_0b0dGUzE4tKhGr4YpK0yJLSNyeOOPH6ctC1zha1a3BinIQbDQUqzYFECg-q8BT9xGUf/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWKO_BglMTk_ulv6HpImbQyCjKr8MUoMAZ8mP07ZslnxFG9NsaMFjROaEFOQhHS-ZiVkGBv_6_0b0dGUzE4tKhGr4YpK0yJLSNyeOOPH6ctC1zha1a3BinIQbDQUqzYFECg-q8BT9xGUf/s400/IMG_0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700654678493423650" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Hanukkah Mouse"<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MCbnb9Jnsm_TWi-iGrLeM6pJfUSSVASquBmQbo5j9HC6EvVMlswuebIch-Np6DO8d1XH48RNNlztj-1M8eKIwis0ZjcW830zkprvAkqfW94ACQ32gpKAYmL9OduaiZIjC0ItsAVtQUtQ/s1600/IMG_4237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MCbnb9Jnsm_TWi-iGrLeM6pJfUSSVASquBmQbo5j9HC6EvVMlswuebIch-Np6DO8d1XH48RNNlztj-1M8eKIwis0ZjcW830zkprvAkqfW94ACQ32gpKAYmL9OduaiZIjC0ItsAVtQUtQ/s400/IMG_4237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700654685491822482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Post-performance let down.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQh-vob1lcTKT_dQUAinUAsWJzsUCXo-dbQy5r6Pnb52K9xbPYlxrsSyijYqYMNprA8kaGk__qkuqENh7P4ywLxMwCWafS4_R3TNCvlGK9wjEn2G7wZmGBZzVfRi9KAhfKB9SRBx0S5T2/s1600/IMG_4244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQh-vob1lcTKT_dQUAinUAsWJzsUCXo-dbQy5r6Pnb52K9xbPYlxrsSyijYqYMNprA8kaGk__qkuqENh7P4ywLxMwCWafS4_R3TNCvlGK9wjEn2G7wZmGBZzVfRi9KAhfKB9SRBx0S5T2/s400/IMG_4244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700660772569150482" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-35883249433914562722012-01-22T17:38:00.000-08:002012-01-23T11:11:31.679-08:00Nutcracker in a NutshellMolly was a star performer in the Nutcracker in a Nutshell. The practiced for 2 1/2 weeks and had a 1 hour show on a Wednesday night in December at the Hannah Community Center. Molly had lots of roles and the whole performance kept Charlie on the edge of his seat (he LOVED the fight scene between the nutcracker and rat king). Daniel, on the other hand, slept through about half of it and awoke refreshed in time to get to Charlie's concert right afterwards. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mE6UDpTU2GVLSj9LCyjg1xq8PXDq4S3pC7agDpfReTEJnHfu0FNldqFbiTtYqOp1Y90u8ajBMeyCd3S6eVIkmGKFDIUcpu_N2DaP995FhbrB5j2l3DCioQ7YjAUDJEujf97YQa0M3H5Y/s1600/IMG_4210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mE6UDpTU2GVLSj9LCyjg1xq8PXDq4S3pC7agDpfReTEJnHfu0FNldqFbiTtYqOp1Y90u8ajBMeyCd3S6eVIkmGKFDIUcpu_N2DaP995FhbrB5j2l3DCioQ7YjAUDJEujf97YQa0M3H5Y/s400/IMG_4210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700642639141666930" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-R2qoZU452pxRZsBxcZ2QaojEO_Qvq1p6IhHBS6Zm46FBGXQFzV9UXFooEvRTWPbYb2cLHA8NaazlF1Vj-T3MM8czhVGHogCfHcCYw2dlvYQuQM-Pn8nhf2u2Tquw_e_s7Lm6t6v6Hdz/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-R2qoZU452pxRZsBxcZ2QaojEO_Qvq1p6IhHBS6Zm46FBGXQFzV9UXFooEvRTWPbYb2cLHA8NaazlF1Vj-T3MM8czhVGHogCfHcCYw2dlvYQuQM-Pn8nhf2u2Tquw_e_s7Lm6t6v6Hdz/s400/IMG_4212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700642647263239042" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGD9ekPxbWXWVF4TKBEcDg9UcbO4C-8ExTcL7SvZWl_sD2nus9ccHrVLtGAwLW2XbuuH7f-MX8bhf6jBolYtucXikZiu2o-8VVb8lE0GL6OaCedapzZk6X0Qugq-F9KX3eBAtD59ypQuL/s1600/IMG_4191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGD9ekPxbWXWVF4TKBEcDg9UcbO4C-8ExTcL7SvZWl_sD2nus9ccHrVLtGAwLW2XbuuH7f-MX8bhf6jBolYtucXikZiu2o-8VVb8lE0GL6OaCedapzZk6X0Qugq-F9KX3eBAtD59ypQuL/s400/IMG_4191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700641340762558130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODe3qmVi3D2bkTM2eRzICB8Kjy7jFJOdIfpoB3z5j6Wdz4G_vzyzho_8GCSm6mA1uRyEysEeBkIFzANaR6x8t8PICVG2OiNNgvsC-mu-dz4fpo3rVS-P1-qap3IDtjHGcJkAP1Lz3AsJ_/s1600/IMG_4202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODe3qmVi3D2bkTM2eRzICB8Kjy7jFJOdIfpoB3z5j6Wdz4G_vzyzho_8GCSm6mA1uRyEysEeBkIFzANaR6x8t8PICVG2OiNNgvsC-mu-dz4fpo3rVS-P1-qap3IDtjHGcJkAP1Lz3AsJ_/s400/IMG_4202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700641342951232818" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E_BQyzcwRf7bbZMfhdrTvoj4HpDVal67J9K2U11z_mY2ra1-JT-ETG9-PmPiszbBnxaukV84rVZHxxKDPLksMAnUvwLVnYsSCC0pnVq2feQdPa6OcJzlwy2j9Ht0c_KvaUS1zn8zL3dG/s1600/IMG_4230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E_BQyzcwRf7bbZMfhdrTvoj4HpDVal67J9K2U11z_mY2ra1-JT-ETG9-PmPiszbBnxaukV84rVZHxxKDPLksMAnUvwLVnYsSCC0pnVq2feQdPa6OcJzlwy2j9Ht0c_KvaUS1zn8zL3dG/s400/IMG_4230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700644858461211858" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-65147358509434347232012-01-22T17:06:00.000-08:002012-01-23T06:54:37.599-08:00The annual Christmas Card Photo Shoot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMKhlfAM72DBDNPI3Jw0CA-tf-ze_b9yJp8w-W8bO37HW29xxds1JemHa5_7Ib23euvzBSJtLmuMTrBLYB-xYWs0qZUxCXwtEQUnoIjueeRC9t0YyTZ86Hvnu6YGjwe823Jwzbm5sEAlX/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMKhlfAM72DBDNPI3Jw0CA-tf-ze_b9yJp8w-W8bO37HW29xxds1JemHa5_7Ib23euvzBSJtLmuMTrBLYB-xYWs0qZUxCXwtEQUnoIjueeRC9t0YyTZ86Hvnu6YGjwe823Jwzbm5sEAlX/s400/IMG_4178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700632600418605250" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ac7EXBxHQoSclHPs50iE_0wwvGyg5ljQ2_KVO_u3g1txrtpA7_NmqAI6VUxm4c_K5fhrLGnHqdWcZvgDkiUOsPHaKc7UUSX8yhkyYZb2iwMyoLyLY138XodGbQjZq5NWu-yvAAfWWwQx/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ac7EXBxHQoSclHPs50iE_0wwvGyg5ljQ2_KVO_u3g1txrtpA7_NmqAI6VUxm4c_K5fhrLGnHqdWcZvgDkiUOsPHaKc7UUSX8yhkyYZb2iwMyoLyLY138XodGbQjZq5NWu-yvAAfWWwQx/s400/IMG_4179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700632610587367666" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9evjjrTfsmS91e9q4CtzuLAmeU1n2hbUPycd_7wEV_2cqCCw6SOM5DqWBsalLf4am_pTWGHDpZuu0WBkmy1Qf4eDYSFRV_K7QS_hQRGLwL9k3bGytLUeVT9BBbQtM1ZV-7ihSWgsnIkIJ/s1600/IMG_4171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9evjjrTfsmS91e9q4CtzuLAmeU1n2hbUPycd_7wEV_2cqCCw6SOM5DqWBsalLf4am_pTWGHDpZuu0WBkmy1Qf4eDYSFRV_K7QS_hQRGLwL9k3bGytLUeVT9BBbQtM1ZV-7ihSWgsnIkIJ/s400/IMG_4171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700631430399763634" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0erzXZjyWc05O86x1dzhSvi_Tya7unV6EPNKu-xtKHqCQBFt84zXCouk3DR8WkzMj3j5uOH6ro_9b8qnLgr8HHXUHJPSAI89qQrXBmoiDL7TjvW0O1qMtopBWYQYOHYArRmju0yO8JVS9/s1600/IMG_4173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0erzXZjyWc05O86x1dzhSvi_Tya7unV6EPNKu-xtKHqCQBFt84zXCouk3DR8WkzMj3j5uOH6ro_9b8qnLgr8HHXUHJPSAI89qQrXBmoiDL7TjvW0O1qMtopBWYQYOHYArRmju0yO8JVS9/s400/IMG_4173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700631438360655570" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHsqsgkGTqVN9y6WFA37SAC78okVidlHHziSYyUW4Sb69hPqDDu8zzGj2j_BeOpsXHvk63rshCAfvzzpWKFi52496Fluc6uHnp_6f1we4rgLz9MG1q6ZU3G5FEgOtyfsju7nIr3MyaD8e/s1600/IMG_4166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHsqsgkGTqVN9y6WFA37SAC78okVidlHHziSYyUW4Sb69hPqDDu8zzGj2j_BeOpsXHvk63rshCAfvzzpWKFi52496Fluc6uHnp_6f1we4rgLz9MG1q6ZU3G5FEgOtyfsju7nIr3MyaD8e/s400/IMG_4166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700630188812192034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeuwXfB0XCJxGvnFK_ctYFyqgwloNxAcYLzKXSIOsuONjSDHjEAhaB14Lc0wZ5ZfqfKMTsknKvYrs4AOGP0zLocSMs7KgeB1iB1eUuhwRRIbXXvBP_G_zhAlRHtxkL7DauXqwckGql3TX/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeuwXfB0XCJxGvnFK_ctYFyqgwloNxAcYLzKXSIOsuONjSDHjEAhaB14Lc0wZ5ZfqfKMTsknKvYrs4AOGP0zLocSMs7KgeB1iB1eUuhwRRIbXXvBP_G_zhAlRHtxkL7DauXqwckGql3TX/s400/IMG_4170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700630194388596914" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-14701014797250856902012-01-22T17:01:00.000-08:002012-01-23T06:53:55.530-08:00On the banks of the Red CedarA few days after the kids' snow day, our upstate New York friends left their green grass for some Michigan snow!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5Wzpsant2EIb6dfxzQSAmNyKDZIvVdR8tibT2wkNZrJeJ1ViZmMZ3e1ULauzusgtoEJ0hBDaRx2eMBHDG6X9uMXht-7pvpjcagoEwLT6f_VBOKUXlcoUxfd08DkIORMzVzVkpsUFCxZ_/s1600/IMG_4160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5Wzpsant2EIb6dfxzQSAmNyKDZIvVdR8tibT2wkNZrJeJ1ViZmMZ3e1ULauzusgtoEJ0hBDaRx2eMBHDG6X9uMXht-7pvpjcagoEwLT6f_VBOKUXlcoUxfd08DkIORMzVzVkpsUFCxZ_/s400/IMG_4160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700627494676722962" border="0" /></a>The kids are back in school, so the grown up are playing hooky.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidye7YPm8h3WlirEUCDLvSHCcJvs9rHllahfK9csK1DyrN1XgIrF7qG-BBZt8oaQfLSfl98bl_DjpIcES_L0ZnOe3KKGA3kfRKXkFp7FHkw_LYjjxOyHck4soA9elVZfN7ctc_YoUCIc8N/s1600/IMG_4159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidye7YPm8h3WlirEUCDLvSHCcJvs9rHllahfK9csK1DyrN1XgIrF7qG-BBZt8oaQfLSfl98bl_DjpIcES_L0ZnOe3KKGA3kfRKXkFp7FHkw_LYjjxOyHck4soA9elVZfN7ctc_YoUCIc8N/s400/IMG_4159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700627489575572370" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-1469886912392854202012-01-19T19:41:00.000-08:002012-01-20T13:00:52.240-08:00Fa La La La La!<div style="text-align: center;">Deck the Hall<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When did he get so Tall?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CNeLdA7L5xYE8mtRX3EO4gGhUAh8l-Ua1CnYN9mDagj6JaGj-IF9JyDmy_QDpOERTwrDMndQx8w5TjQsl8_3ZSGj1NJHITFGH5f7Rk_7nhV_0T60dQM9zu39jVHTo8CqIUn5tvt8GEg_/s1600/IMG_4150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CNeLdA7L5xYE8mtRX3EO4gGhUAh8l-Ua1CnYN9mDagj6JaGj-IF9JyDmy_QDpOERTwrDMndQx8w5TjQsl8_3ZSGj1NJHITFGH5f7Rk_7nhV_0T60dQM9zu39jVHTo8CqIUn5tvt8GEg_/s400/IMG_4150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699555427110509202" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You need to think deep.<br />Santa will know if you're asleep.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwGv5ReAzcjSbNFEGZo1_cJmS1amgZxSXp1lGFaa9mJS_X4yE6GRKoNeRL-YU1X23yY7RLni8RYzeo7xVWDHEzQ4CyO-L4At7Cd1JXkk7UJ3OiuQ0-9vm8AA9tgSTcTbi4dHA2yrKchbb/s1600/IMG_4156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwGv5ReAzcjSbNFEGZo1_cJmS1amgZxSXp1lGFaa9mJS_X4yE6GRKoNeRL-YU1X23yY7RLni8RYzeo7xVWDHEzQ4CyO-L4At7Cd1JXkk7UJ3OiuQ0-9vm8AA9tgSTcTbi4dHA2yrKchbb/s400/IMG_4156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699561622967883730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Molly reaches way up high,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweetly decorating o're the tree.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsHOPWBRW4D6zvFeo-Q7XeZGX6nxp72Jfoqhu0gH_tLWMQUImDyZjr4n_bwce2yi0eAgihkWgjMTGjEma7nhVHO87PgRdUk7aRtQBRtcKJ9AI8Q0o2g72-AulSpuZWC9ch95ldAVtpHn4/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsHOPWBRW4D6zvFeo-Q7XeZGX6nxp72Jfoqhu0gH_tLWMQUImDyZjr4n_bwce2yi0eAgihkWgjMTGjEma7nhVHO87PgRdUk7aRtQBRtcKJ9AI8Q0o2g72-AulSpuZWC9ch95ldAVtpHn4/s400/IMG_4154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699555434533937346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Can you see the wombat on the tree? He's in the bottom right of the picture. <br />No rhyme for him, but he's cute.<br /></div>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-83874697077004240772012-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:002012-01-20T12:56:35.805-08:00How to Make a Snow DayThe East Lansing Lore says that if you wear your pajamas inside out, flush an ice cube down the toilet and/or (I'm not sure if all are necessary), sleep with a spoon under your pillow, the next day will be a snow day. I'd like to add that if you make lunch plans with a friend, that will do it too. Anyway, Daniel sent this picture of the "night before" to his South Coogee classmates. You can just barely make out the Aussie School hat through the snow flakes. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHE-JQD20FglF9yEIFC2zMdA1WlNUsRk4H2ydlDrMaKAfVUI_8xrcofCXIhYE0vhgRno9MZKh0tj6S0ntIQwzoDqUkfoqbqRtpw2V5hzvt_mO8x4sXo9lksQSRSy-fpbh7h5ZHGxN9_kE/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHE-JQD20FglF9yEIFC2zMdA1WlNUsRk4H2ydlDrMaKAfVUI_8xrcofCXIhYE0vhgRno9MZKh0tj6S0ntIQwzoDqUkfoqbqRtpw2V5hzvt_mO8x4sXo9lksQSRSy-fpbh7h5ZHGxN9_kE/s400/IMG_0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699165077437195090" border="0" /></a><br />The Western Pensylvanian in me has resisted going to manufactured hills for sledding, but that's what we've got around here. This is the Frandor sledding hill, close to our house. The exciting part of the day was the mid-hill collision among Conlin kids that left Molly bleeding profusely from her nose and parents at the top of the hill gasping and filling my hands with Kleenexes intended for other nose fluids! After leaving her mark on the fresh white snow, she resumed sledding for the rest of the afternoon!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoMAI-gBAu6IK6692vG2bMhoDnInSYBZkXqi7gDyJoEktRMau1lhyphenhyphen58VZboYLUyc3bj_tOfjXpmzUM5FBd8mV6eW5IENN-uIdxhK-vwIo6mimignvmhxfDS00Igbz2rOU7pgNv_hTPnFU/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoMAI-gBAu6IK6692vG2bMhoDnInSYBZkXqi7gDyJoEktRMau1lhyphenhyphen58VZboYLUyc3bj_tOfjXpmzUM5FBd8mV6eW5IENN-uIdxhK-vwIo6mimignvmhxfDS00Igbz2rOU7pgNv_hTPnFU/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699166940471095314" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQYD9v1qprqzdqOao_0JyFDZt4H9i1RLkqYgAWgQt_ujGSnlUUtYwSNvAJyvMvEu7EZJvBoPPW3sUEM9kGoFPx4unrh-t9sHmLH96T_nuYtj9DMWwWYx2THArvjK7sp36-_8G2NDxCdOU/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQYD9v1qprqzdqOao_0JyFDZt4H9i1RLkqYgAWgQt_ujGSnlUUtYwSNvAJyvMvEu7EZJvBoPPW3sUEM9kGoFPx4unrh-t9sHmLH96T_nuYtj9DMWwWYx2THArvjK7sp36-_8G2NDxCdOU/s400/IMG_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699166944880969890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnJcQ74HjOjEWXLerls8w6nPVv58lFLN1IKb3caZyapEWZEcvUTtHmXei8_0lsC80KgPTDixeHkMvNqtnvC4RnKVRUepUKcI7rHVIV7HNc8vDRr85MFRXaVoQOwpCIsyofk_1YB6lNxNT/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnJcQ74HjOjEWXLerls8w6nPVv58lFLN1IKb3caZyapEWZEcvUTtHmXei8_0lsC80KgPTDixeHkMvNqtnvC4RnKVRUepUKcI7rHVIV7HNc8vDRr85MFRXaVoQOwpCIsyofk_1YB6lNxNT/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699165082099015730" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-2108413962901290572012-01-18T17:21:00.000-08:002012-01-20T06:30:41.145-08:00Peacock Road Tree FarmOn a cold rainy day, we donned our Santa hat and tree snobbery and set off for the latest local tree farm in our quest to find the BEST tree selection. After a few bust years, we finally found a hit at Peacock Road Tree Farm! The weather was COLD and rainy, but somehow tree hunting moods are not dampened by that.<br /><br />Wagon ride out to a small bonfire being fueled by...lighter fluid, perhaps? I'm not sure what was in the small gas can that the tractor driver was dumping on it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL_RD4xxY9C9x3VJmtIn1MoT8sE1uYniFfFhSluw_SvdL7HzU1uvqLTY4_kaeUvCZB0coYiruAuXyeBqnDLg0m0cBb6w7kQ7o_CWFQD0g5In5KN_MNf_KhmzCtJI7IkC6ucncHQWe7Ael/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL_RD4xxY9C9x3VJmtIn1MoT8sE1uYniFfFhSluw_SvdL7HzU1uvqLTY4_kaeUvCZB0coYiruAuXyeBqnDLg0m0cBb6w7kQ7o_CWFQD0g5In5KN_MNf_KhmzCtJI7IkC6ucncHQWe7Ael/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699148310068901778" border="0" /></a><br />After serious deliberation we settled on a short chubby tree and a tall skinny tree. For a moment, it looked like there was a "passing of the saw" to the young man in our house...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBOva5JvSp1lm4mC-NH1KZ1prYOJX3bRTbCnnXQLADFengSpCruBy3P7wlrl9cef8vJPv8Mn6cqR1EdQUFklnL9jJzQgAxE6DFHqISPkv7ztM9vzvVC5tTui-p8_n1xREeP3WYEVfZpvR/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBOva5JvSp1lm4mC-NH1KZ1prYOJX3bRTbCnnXQLADFengSpCruBy3P7wlrl9cef8vJPv8Mn6cqR1EdQUFklnL9jJzQgAxE6DFHqISPkv7ztM9vzvVC5tTui-p8_n1xREeP3WYEVfZpvR/s400/IMG_0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699148313343778786" border="0" /></a><br />In the end, the wiser man still wields the saw:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4SYJbt-ziitSuMxZfMHJhk1hZSZwcv_rlei15MrrUmytOP-MyUnik7a9AnRqj_1bz9eVhkszV83NJj5tHWJRbA_vD7ZaQmOyMwu5xIJpg0_A6FpxSBd8bvpDmdQANlBDA2nijj6CY2FK/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4SYJbt-ziitSuMxZfMHJhk1hZSZwcv_rlei15MrrUmytOP-MyUnik7a9AnRqj_1bz9eVhkszV83NJj5tHWJRbA_vD7ZaQmOyMwu5xIJpg0_A6FpxSBd8bvpDmdQANlBDA2nijj6CY2FK/s400/IMG_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699149714535700098" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-87153702793994618292012-01-17T17:43:00.000-08:002012-01-18T18:41:31.530-08:00Thanksgiving in ChicagoPart of the original plans were to be back in the US before the holidays. One, unnamed, member of our family is ridiculously attached to traditions. Here we are eating the Conlin family spread at Tom and Nancy's. The new tradition this year was picking up cousin Maddie at Notre Dame on our way! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT1EoQuBX4aZUvDBgkvEAq_4GFpZKCnvx6q_CcMiV-RhTvna3YhcFEOhaSQVJ3LjdSkqZ8mJA2YdrHTUkkFhNdDWCPYKSvb3asc72vX_vKOlILLpnLLFHDIEBwTp4K6nABi8CEDjmP0I/s1600/IMG_4124.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT1EoQuBX4aZUvDBgkvEAq_4GFpZKCnvx6q_CcMiV-RhTvna3YhcFEOhaSQVJ3LjdSkqZ8mJA2YdrHTUkkFhNdDWCPYKSvb3asc72vX_vKOlILLpnLLFHDIEBwTp4K6nABi8CEDjmP0I/s400/IMG_4124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698782807074131426" border="0" />. </a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8fqgK0TaGlnVn_5uh7tP1SuZlv9_XfwMa3ViHv0790S-6OUSVBdyrMl-p0gGozUvIvTTpmArDl4ZWd8UDbxwl_jdEdWcWY_y_69Q9aYRuWgU5YdV9hPVjyps9sygWDYtG-XEcCsW2uU/s1600/IMG_4125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8fqgK0TaGlnVn_5uh7tP1SuZlv9_XfwMa3ViHv0790S-6OUSVBdyrMl-p0gGozUvIvTTpmArDl4ZWd8UDbxwl_jdEdWcWY_y_69Q9aYRuWgU5YdV9hPVjyps9sygWDYtG-XEcCsW2uU/s400/IMG_4125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698782816299587938" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv-FFgimI0W-0XIZb9De5-oalt_QoqpPG8QnFUgtdliMci4Tvnv9hMR59FCNdIQksXZBQp4SJcPFLuX7Gbn9DimUQj8v4QgrZs443lBfHHBuojf34pwnvOrHLOAV9gFJ__TdO8Zy1HIwV/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv-FFgimI0W-0XIZb9De5-oalt_QoqpPG8QnFUgtdliMci4Tvnv9hMR59FCNdIQksXZBQp4SJcPFLuX7Gbn9DimUQj8v4QgrZs443lBfHHBuojf34pwnvOrHLOAV9gFJ__TdO8Zy1HIwV/s400/IMG_4128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698800238617436978" border="0" /></a>Maybe some day our kids will age into smiling for the camera when asked...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4TNVZA90tR-0xtOVovAhrswPQWgU1hYIhshlhh5RcK5yb2_lLjuQqr3imTMzi4dnNbEs56jnNigbYnveK-zqnKJT-AkohWTGnWObhoXz_V9NZ2sLAwESbUA4hC6fxlQOP05HnIMfIYxd/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4TNVZA90tR-0xtOVovAhrswPQWgU1hYIhshlhh5RcK5yb2_lLjuQqr3imTMzi4dnNbEs56jnNigbYnveK-zqnKJT-AkohWTGnWObhoXz_V9NZ2sLAwESbUA4hC6fxlQOP05HnIMfIYxd/s400/IMG_4131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698800245091462898" border="0" /></a>Grandma's "present" from Down Under was some New Zealand yarn for making the kids new sweaters. Aren't we generous? Daniel's measurements have changed the most.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLI3ordUymxqVvUB9ogh9cEzsHpNepMK01z_EfmdyZ-utd76SN0kBGEOa9cGiGRkudnJJgLB8n2Xqp6aNNXzAH0eGeYBYltiXDpeqzDnPL-Xkk2muC8JP5kP-XX75QA_wQtl9p5FF8pbl/s1600/IMG_4141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLI3ordUymxqVvUB9ogh9cEzsHpNepMK01z_EfmdyZ-utd76SN0kBGEOa9cGiGRkudnJJgLB8n2Xqp6aNNXzAH0eGeYBYltiXDpeqzDnPL-Xkk2muC8JP5kP-XX75QA_wQtl9p5FF8pbl/s400/IMG_4141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698802044722066994" border="0" /></a></div>Earnin' some cash from Grandma.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJQerbaKhsZLaAyCCCZzoFiefWEsLXNpCZnWxEj3zbqKG3CnAMgvSJPzJv0DXtNHH_UBVGjHlskvurhDn6jRtU_wndlU2HpSZhRHmPt1oQpHMj8ljqCaSJnLN62CodkI9hEhH5luEDIZ/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJQerbaKhsZLaAyCCCZzoFiefWEsLXNpCZnWxEj3zbqKG3CnAMgvSJPzJv0DXtNHH_UBVGjHlskvurhDn6jRtU_wndlU2HpSZhRHmPt1oQpHMj8ljqCaSJnLN62CodkI9hEhH5luEDIZ/s400/IMG_4142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698802056580581826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Pat, the 6'6" cousin: "The rule is, you stay behind the blue thing."<br />Charlie, the 3'10" cousin: "Well, you haven't heard my rules yet." <br /></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA6HiitO69gbObmwr_3gAet1Pk6empNyVILZGcJ7EETvCrgazzCTstRVWvPSofWpREmMNB3e7S3yZVyCZ6k6eGURhTrXMFy87cp9ntjSR2b5Aaxdw3bIPKFA4TqZ5LoOdSemSc293k2dE/s1600/IMG_4144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA6HiitO69gbObmwr_3gAet1Pk6empNyVILZGcJ7EETvCrgazzCTstRVWvPSofWpREmMNB3e7S3yZVyCZ6k6eGURhTrXMFy87cp9ntjSR2b5Aaxdw3bIPKFA4TqZ5LoOdSemSc293k2dE/s400/IMG_4144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699146606753169442" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-54418361664440004492011-12-29T18:06:00.000-08:002012-01-18T18:34:07.926-08:00ReunionsReentry was pretty easy - a few nights up at midnight try ing to get wide awake kids to at least stay in bed, but mostly it was smooth. Grandma and PopPop Dickert eased the transition by managing the daily living chores for a few days while we moved, zombie-like, about the house. <br /><br />As part of reentry, Mike took Daniel and his gang (but not the camera) to Laser Tag and Molly chose to paint your own pottery. Yes, I was outnumbered 6 2nd graders to one in a store full of breakable, spillable materials. No drama to report. The toughest part was getting them out of the van at their houses when we were done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjQUF4QbMIQDk9UyI-E7Zcw8ELeGfNG-87NSLOzJkGHtUn48MZ8OZFl6cljDrn4hc-SMwnUsd2RXtkeNgTrJWpVOutx-7oimL08_EvFMFOxBK0QUwKYb3BR1CZfLfOcaTJFceFsXeSWw/s1600/IMG_4115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjQUF4QbMIQDk9UyI-E7Zcw8ELeGfNG-87NSLOzJkGHtUn48MZ8OZFl6cljDrn4hc-SMwnUsd2RXtkeNgTrJWpVOutx-7oimL08_EvFMFOxBK0QUwKYb3BR1CZfLfOcaTJFceFsXeSWw/s400/IMG_4115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691738085168395266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgcQ6sjOuAKi_SqsktPZBtfcWk3pwQuZNxf3uoPZKsIiBv14huneVwrid9Xe48vV05PSE3JS9YXYff8wNDXfYP17Jv7HU8TxaGLBvylxd704ZRROlD5tGusbOBG2bwtRBfZQtdN5aaoU/s1600/IMG_4110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgcQ6sjOuAKi_SqsktPZBtfcWk3pwQuZNxf3uoPZKsIiBv14huneVwrid9Xe48vV05PSE3JS9YXYff8wNDXfYP17Jv7HU8TxaGLBvylxd704ZRROlD5tGusbOBG2bwtRBfZQtdN5aaoU/s400/IMG_4110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691738080218559938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUch1znU2qZitfZzxifRe9zftkxDKMeIdD5i5XR-oTzovmfeutAI0LGlvGNkpmIcD24NAPHCqhL8GBcW5_A23uZeJVhXp6mDFuf5eZFvIudXyQI5VrSoZd_9Wmpx5qEG2wvC6a-P3fr8/s1600/IMG_4119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUch1znU2qZitfZzxifRe9zftkxDKMeIdD5i5XR-oTzovmfeutAI0LGlvGNkpmIcD24NAPHCqhL8GBcW5_A23uZeJVhXp6mDFuf5eZFvIudXyQI5VrSoZd_9Wmpx5qEG2wvC6a-P3fr8/s400/IMG_4119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691738091512247650" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-87113716823373760962011-12-15T19:18:00.000-08:002012-01-18T18:29:37.532-08:00From Spring to Fall<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">The leaves still fall, even when you go to Australia.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2gbjkIeFWg6hhmaz49Cc8-H1ghBsz8drj5QSEMycz1Fzdw7kYl4k3xADbvFWwf2rK7GeMkKrwtHLt4Rtkc4vJfLGmEz24MTQsOPrLW9ypim5fmAknJSpcu85lMGrwtAQBftNIwWj4hs/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2gbjkIeFWg6hhmaz49Cc8-H1ghBsz8drj5QSEMycz1Fzdw7kYl4k3xADbvFWwf2rK7GeMkKrwtHLt4Rtkc4vJfLGmEz24MTQsOPrLW9ypim5fmAknJSpcu85lMGrwtAQBftNIwWj4hs/s400/IMG_4100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691725937802002690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIYTBT0BwM8Rii4BCI_3DswI15E8RNtNpVwJzq37qnHreWcOFRzN5hPGvflE1SKGex3Dv86Z4hiRRP_Kw3ivDyd0MjMDrRX4WYEmCx8s_yabzSTSL692egWEAXdPN7xK9c55jYt32ZxE/s1600/IMG_4098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIYTBT0BwM8Rii4BCI_3DswI15E8RNtNpVwJzq37qnHreWcOFRzN5hPGvflE1SKGex3Dv86Z4hiRRP_Kw3ivDyd0MjMDrRX4WYEmCx8s_yabzSTSL692egWEAXdPN7xK9c55jYt32ZxE/s400/IMG_4098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691717727793150146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD5K43lv5IpPG7zc_uzkfiqrAMlRBD4KSTyypAw6xF1PUNAQru7GpEH0QaXlCcfCuZF42sWzge7vUpJpwaFipA1N9pZYLNq6ECm7q-R-3ziWaDWn37nD_4reUAm4LcbavrbIF518uhUU/s1600/IMG_4101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD5K43lv5IpPG7zc_uzkfiqrAMlRBD4KSTyypAw6xF1PUNAQru7GpEH0QaXlCcfCuZF42sWzge7vUpJpwaFipA1N9pZYLNq6ECm7q-R-3ziWaDWn37nD_4reUAm4LcbavrbIF518uhUU/s400/IMG_4101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686561570043826146" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-88404274084374383392011-12-15T18:34:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:08:51.388-08:00Trip HomeI had a serious case of blog burnout - but the pictures from out trip home were nagging me mercilessly (yes, they took on a life of their own), so I gave in.<br /><br />We had our suitcases as the airport Holiday Inn and spent our last day and night in Sydney watching the Melbourne Cup in the Hotel Bar and purging weight from the suitcases. Daniel was a personal shredder and the others joined in during breaks from Sponge Bob on TV.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCOiZPQizwYYM8D_pF-txvMuQEtuSXzypMIAAdPU4Jpgs1Tw2ZTFG2iGT_dW7RfLWdcXoeo8JdOhTUY7FfPUVOUiUCfRnL4KCYY_GxfU7tBqz8Wm8Aj5gcOvX2ubzEMYOHDCPQcLE460/s1600/IMG_4073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCOiZPQizwYYM8D_pF-txvMuQEtuSXzypMIAAdPU4Jpgs1Tw2ZTFG2iGT_dW7RfLWdcXoeo8JdOhTUY7FfPUVOUiUCfRnL4KCYY_GxfU7tBqz8Wm8Aj5gcOvX2ubzEMYOHDCPQcLE460/s400/IMG_4073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686552711298442754" border="0" /></a>We ventured out for the best meal we'd had in Australia a short walk away from the hotel and spotted some Halloween festivities on the back to the hotel.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1BpcNoGsT1TMktmHJMIy7aAd8k_AuRgov0gVLipM7HSWXQ48XSlbC1_jtz_EAuj-EcV5szn8vnhYSw7mElbHM7ig60vLaASF1cY8T7UXpkpOJJPVlmOoLOvs6H6tNMNt_vij6QNCBdk/s1600/IMG_4078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1BpcNoGsT1TMktmHJMIy7aAd8k_AuRgov0gVLipM7HSWXQ48XSlbC1_jtz_EAuj-EcV5szn8vnhYSw7mElbHM7ig60vLaASF1cY8T7UXpkpOJJPVlmOoLOvs6H6tNMNt_vij6QNCBdk/s400/IMG_4078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686556280816273298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UG_-adiXs_yzOPkoFa2nKYRG2I0Nylljvs3EeHS1UH9Rg3nyHajdxRlU3cL2SeMobbTqEhhYEPixuQY6HzJiTW6vCrtv6Y5qowLMzw07OmrUKK062g8S4etzCk7doCsd8inOXbPuEVc/s1600/IMG_4079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UG_-adiXs_yzOPkoFa2nKYRG2I0Nylljvs3EeHS1UH9Rg3nyHajdxRlU3cL2SeMobbTqEhhYEPixuQY6HzJiTW6vCrtv6Y5qowLMzw07OmrUKK062g8S4etzCk7doCsd8inOXbPuEVc/s400/IMG_4079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686556291429540770" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTmDOHAXclCn8uQuAqISQS1q9aF_b8KPhuPM-fRiWgbFO62EuytTxVL4NGND78ZZtdtRz5UVcK2si7vc3Ks41P3eE7l5uOi-UoBt0N9T2D_fRUDpSa8zn6j4pYsy0yf0ferlePXVBqNk/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTmDOHAXclCn8uQuAqISQS1q9aF_b8KPhuPM-fRiWgbFO62EuytTxVL4NGND78ZZtdtRz5UVcK2si7vc3Ks41P3eE7l5uOi-UoBt0N9T2D_fRUDpSa8zn6j4pYsy0yf0ferlePXVBqNk/s400/IMG_4080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686557506538903202" border="0" /></a>All packed - we lost a jar of Vegamite in security - I accidentally packed it in my carryon and it was over the security size limit for yummy spread. You win some, you lose some.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XXFJVdBC784Dd8NzWGvvfDaEwIqCTiD4Gxjajfq7egCdcsSOzRj8lC8shIx0tTS5Y97aeaULTfd2Asc5ZUak6aRvpn51XLosLN57pjAaZGUCs9ALDDUsKAsLJW0eYc3-Uf1TuCQ9AZo/s1600/IMG_4082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XXFJVdBC784Dd8NzWGvvfDaEwIqCTiD4Gxjajfq7egCdcsSOzRj8lC8shIx0tTS5Y97aeaULTfd2Asc5ZUak6aRvpn51XLosLN57pjAaZGUCs9ALDDUsKAsLJW0eYc3-Uf1TuCQ9AZo/s400/IMG_4082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686557515026291826" border="0" /></a><br />The plane ride from Sydney to LA was 13 hours. To our knowledge, Daniel did not even take a break from his personal screen to go to the bathroom. We may be wrong...but we may be right. For my part, I watched an entire season of Modern Family.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydzIB4nKIpgnSUKFoAE6DsQJXeDG-r-UpcB-gkVCbworsHwRyG5WQ_8doiEMm-EdVc1kXfif9TKsBxgD684HKK1ltj-bt8s9n0y2v-uj7rjNsQBZ3VNmFIvpOsJXQUcrAr6VkIKlUEi4/s1600/IMG_4089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydzIB4nKIpgnSUKFoAE6DsQJXeDG-r-UpcB-gkVCbworsHwRyG5WQ_8doiEMm-EdVc1kXfif9TKsBxgD684HKK1ltj-bt8s9n0y2v-uj7rjNsQBZ3VNmFIvpOsJXQUcrAr6VkIKlUEi4/s400/IMG_4089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686558837223017506" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tsSXAM0ay1fEjayhSkAAo28yVIIOjVswEkKcpYX7fi8iZLruZmd2rrzyD5yJ-SVeO3BgJ9OYleUNLIUKAuQ7ReeAJsu-UX3fck8JCOJ0J65JdLCMrm-jfbNAU-TG7nA5AIiw4UIPbSw/s1600/IMG_4084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tsSXAM0ay1fEjayhSkAAo28yVIIOjVswEkKcpYX7fi8iZLruZmd2rrzyD5yJ-SVeO3BgJ9OYleUNLIUKAuQ7ReeAJsu-UX3fck8JCOJ0J65JdLCMrm-jfbNAU-TG7nA5AIiw4UIPbSw/s400/IMG_4084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686558832593820722" border="0" /></a><br />Our flight from LA to Detroit was cancelled for maintenance issues, but Mike acted swiftly and got us on a flight two hours, and one long nap in the terminal, later.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gm3Qo7YUWOjlg7NRpbMlMd63EQwJNi1d7ZRNZcI1ahYT-XLshd7fREBCkGvdwaMvkHAcHo3IwoykM6e_KT8yJtKcJfCk3PwDM-PoirXt2hyIJLPZXCWHzctxIPBpzMRx5VHRqkpyl88/s1600/IMG_4091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gm3Qo7YUWOjlg7NRpbMlMd63EQwJNi1d7ZRNZcI1ahYT-XLshd7fREBCkGvdwaMvkHAcHo3IwoykM6e_KT8yJtKcJfCk3PwDM-PoirXt2hyIJLPZXCWHzctxIPBpzMRx5VHRqkpyl88/s400/IMG_4091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686560026034417026" border="0" /></a>We had an easy van ride home and were greeted by Grandma and PopPop who got a quick hello before we heard the contents of Rubbermaid tubs dumped all over the boys' bedroom. Some people kiss the ground, some kiss their Legos. We're home.Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-42540309955589327962011-10-31T03:37:00.000-07:002011-10-31T05:13:08.677-07:00The Great Barrier Reef for the Great Finale!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3nJgIwRrVOGo7VgPr7VhcV4QaLE2ZDwiECJiRSD_nbtCdgjALU2GzkJOEvVOJWyE9oyjfHDAxeMShZyz0LUuiLz-flifCnylkGI2Sxn-LWK4no4_OTsRzWDMjVz_Nd0RzRxE0PINVLc/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG"><br /></a><br />I'm officially up to date, posting in real time. Happy Halloween - we're going as snorkelers this year. <br /><br />We chose the Quicksilver cruise to the outer Reef because it is a bit shorter than all day and offered more than just snorkeling. You cruise for an hour and half on a big boat that holds 450, but only 250 were aboard today. The boat docks at this station in the middle of the ocean.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFEmFssAc366-B43YbZqiR5EUJKJS5IZbBg_tIUmIjjoc-YYjl7miRse2xEYtRrig048kM4-uIKPsFe5Jcccr1N4C2X_pZAYogz1WGh_VaBMtrU9ZIiet5ngNpUhJfdzNq0182qbRB10/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFEmFssAc366-B43YbZqiR5EUJKJS5IZbBg_tIUmIjjoc-YYjl7miRse2xEYtRrig048kM4-uIKPsFe5Jcccr1N4C2X_pZAYogz1WGh_VaBMtrU9ZIiet5ngNpUhJfdzNq0182qbRB10/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669604298012937410" border="0" /></a>Here's the Tin Shed, where we're regulars :-)<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3nJgIwRrVOGo7VgPr7VhcV4QaLE2ZDwiECJiRSD_nbtCdgjALU2GzkJOEvVOJWyE9oyjfHDAxeMShZyz0LUuiLz-flifCnylkGI2Sxn-LWK4no4_OTsRzWDMjVz_Nd0RzRxE0PINVLc/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3nJgIwRrVOGo7VgPr7VhcV4QaLE2ZDwiECJiRSD_nbtCdgjALU2GzkJOEvVOJWyE9oyjfHDAxeMShZyz0LUuiLz-flifCnylkGI2Sxn-LWK4no4_OTsRzWDMjVz_Nd0RzRxE0PINVLc/s400/IMG_0149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669625905662388818" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV70xHqxf_Tubpcf5k19dq_2700v5W9q2vmKun1jWX9cbbRxAFQ4EOXIt8kvXTYzuiTzjPuTsxoSWcW2BSwdJecr3yd6yKlYdcopBpU-oIiXWux3LTzx6bPXxwKoAfU36lu29ybvcS3SQ/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV70xHqxf_Tubpcf5k19dq_2700v5W9q2vmKun1jWX9cbbRxAFQ4EOXIt8kvXTYzuiTzjPuTsxoSWcW2BSwdJecr3yd6yKlYdcopBpU-oIiXWux3LTzx6bPXxwKoAfU36lu29ybvcS3SQ/s400/IMG_0139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669607106320903346" border="0" /></a>We started with a short ride on the semi-submersible and saw a few Nemos and three turtles and brightly colored fish everywhere.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tgBfGrIn4K3D_FCllQfFU7PT48_MX6IANSH84BMop8KYcVL1iYOXPcNpGTK2G6HvtOuaur115826VPjiA5Ho_zHID8G80MTDQHENFwCzNEHHsKzg62t67SKsR5VMI_ZW-P1162zq0fs/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tgBfGrIn4K3D_FCllQfFU7PT48_MX6IANSH84BMop8KYcVL1iYOXPcNpGTK2G6HvtOuaur115826VPjiA5Ho_zHID8G80MTDQHENFwCzNEHHsKzg62t67SKsR5VMI_ZW-P1162zq0fs/s400/IMG_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669604306256706162" border="0" /></a><br />Molly was tempted to try a prawn for lunch, but she couldn't get past the eyes lookin' at her. Trick or treat?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7otbeY2NFOkXaz79JBQF6Gv26eg0y0eyw7jWcMfEvolRC2CSMCIc1GrF-CTRgU40Z6Jum_DaZE4zloQKHkaVaTGqkWTWIVZSUMwkIPwyhpVjhhZtvHXdAqTJ7Hr3TwYCUHb2xocVJoh0/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7otbeY2NFOkXaz79JBQF6Gv26eg0y0eyw7jWcMfEvolRC2CSMCIc1GrF-CTRgU40Z6Jum_DaZE4zloQKHkaVaTGqkWTWIVZSUMwkIPwyhpVjhhZtvHXdAqTJ7Hr3TwYCUHb2xocVJoh0/s400/IMG_0128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669604314513978754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You can snorkel in an area right off the platform patrolled by lifeguards. <br />Wow.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOYIagBJ_V4YwmT2FO5R9H1yXFuERovRgS9MF39-_s3hsvjtEg77HvczI64OJN9gbt0-i6crF2eSj5pGhLrXXYVvtpP79Kc_JFou2IXC-i_NZXQ5J28Xqowk_6BfvzSgtD323kX6DT8M/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOYIagBJ_V4YwmT2FO5R9H1yXFuERovRgS9MF39-_s3hsvjtEg77HvczI64OJN9gbt0-i6crF2eSj5pGhLrXXYVvtpP79Kc_JFou2IXC-i_NZXQ5J28Xqowk_6BfvzSgtD323kX6DT8M/s400/IMG_0135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669607092959683890" border="0" /></a>Charlie spent most of his time riding Mike's back, but Molly was a snorkeler and Daniel went far and wide. Mike saw a shark, but we were assured they're not dangerous. <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasY-djMs6lVmvRDi-hPzRRI0-dVHmbsDGh2p4vIiLJngWMvB7LXpkFbsRxwNNtjMna8VN37xZVcMjgxLrRxj9uAchPw-WgWGBtoChuTt7qhij6NK2jzKC1anxHYkZ4S1ZnHj2T40mCMA/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasY-djMs6lVmvRDi-hPzRRI0-dVHmbsDGh2p4vIiLJngWMvB7LXpkFbsRxwNNtjMna8VN37xZVcMjgxLrRxj9uAchPw-WgWGBtoChuTt7qhij6NK2jzKC1anxHYkZ4S1ZnHj2T40mCMA/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669607088478560930" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2oe7r8eqwjbQKI6geRcDdcNoBvySpmKBl4sha2UzkifNEAVJ8GgZAtMX_O6GOGjThri4wKZLug-yVY7Ql2AuCYtCz9UwrASBU_WvYXwCJsXobsNETKp7UtaDTEuyarB3qjVC48VFZd4/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2oe7r8eqwjbQKI6geRcDdcNoBvySpmKBl4sha2UzkifNEAVJ8GgZAtMX_O6GOGjThri4wKZLug-yVY7Ql2AuCYtCz9UwrASBU_WvYXwCJsXobsNETKp7UtaDTEuyarB3qjVC48VFZd4/s400/IMG_0140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669608427445235570" border="0" /></a><br />Mike is loading the car as I type for our trip back to Sydney, hopefully in time for the Melbourne Cup - a horse race that stops all the action in Australia. First thing the next morning - a flight to LA, then Detroit and a car ride back to East Lansing. Home.Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-12689439305629066312011-10-31T02:56:00.000-07:002011-10-31T05:02:30.473-07:00Mossman Gorge and the GerminatorAfter a morning at the Port Douglas market, where snow cones were the breakfast of choice (bubble gum and cola flavor)...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8FtnvSMIiKWhftnPaX694M34c1tNGeune9Ohs2mrrpoFZhrt8iXvP9M4hSVt36W0sfUoHG2aUOCKCvNrmtjCQda-2rYTVePyImfh-NY9-XibYBU2IV1_4ZfHoNxBslHYQo31dahbVj8/s1600/IMG_3981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8FtnvSMIiKWhftnPaX694M34c1tNGeune9Ohs2mrrpoFZhrt8iXvP9M4hSVt36W0sfUoHG2aUOCKCvNrmtjCQda-2rYTVePyImfh-NY9-XibYBU2IV1_4ZfHoNxBslHYQo31dahbVj8/s400/IMG_3981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669594862489344514" border="0" /></a>we drove back up to the Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest. It was much more crowded at 10AM, compared to at 8AM and the water was too cold for me (how can that be in the tropics?), but the others went in and even tested out floating through some currents and rocks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgZ5YxoTCelACphGwb0FoFbVu9RO2bQZtGO6wG5V7auR7QlMBFVPjq2WQJRXydY3UaCSyHmW5zd-VgwDw0EnkU0-rLNlFn_mIDIIHCNw0YMUgfDQah6F2OJJgn3j93S1NogfXJbmuLoM/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgZ5YxoTCelACphGwb0FoFbVu9RO2bQZtGO6wG5V7auR7QlMBFVPjq2WQJRXydY3UaCSyHmW5zd-VgwDw0EnkU0-rLNlFn_mIDIIHCNw0YMUgfDQah6F2OJJgn3j93S1NogfXJbmuLoM/s400/IMG_3995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669594867554513042" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8FtnvSMIiKWhftnPaX694M34c1tNGeune9Ohs2mrrpoFZhrt8iXvP9M4hSVt36W0sfUoHG2aUOCKCvNrmtjCQda-2rYTVePyImfh-NY9-XibYBU2IV1_4ZfHoNxBslHYQo31dahbVj8/s1600/IMG_3981.JPG"><br /></a>I missed the photo of Mike getting onto this rock - imagine a classic.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz-kRa4hk2tMHjgd8dQ2UNB3Xx2320urbA15ExEz4MMp_fz24CFOQagRycV_oQdREa6pDvg-sPfqqcELVC6uIR_E_0aEe3PCpKP9AJmA4hOcyBV5mxIxQ81uEcnCdkiHi8tWnKrCL6jY/s1600/IMG_3999.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz-kRa4hk2tMHjgd8dQ2UNB3Xx2320urbA15ExEz4MMp_fz24CFOQagRycV_oQdREa6pDvg-sPfqqcELVC6uIR_E_0aEe3PCpKP9AJmA4hOcyBV5mxIxQ81uEcnCdkiHi8tWnKrCL6jY/s400/IMG_3999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669594881212416818" border="0" /></a>We had our last picnic lunch of bread and cheese in Australia near the parking lot of the Mossman Gorge area and changed out of our swim stuff (mine was dry, so it was easier). Mike went over to the car to drop off the things we didn't need for the afternoon hike and suddenly he was waving to us frantically. Who would have believed that a cassowary's path would include the edge of a crowded parking lot! What a weird looking flightless bird it is and there we stood, just a few yards away.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Y9a6zPupY3nTDpYlAgplkJ7bbcBHwnQfOIir83MA_G-SGq477s-vMnOq1SwGgMpWRmztECtaV_4GkPsXl_fffiHDyGsHc-08SEabeGNWRxolIu-QDrl1MbdJGLcNDOuq0Rw1Z5wJlW8/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Y9a6zPupY3nTDpYlAgplkJ7bbcBHwnQfOIir83MA_G-SGq477s-vMnOq1SwGgMpWRmztECtaV_4GkPsXl_fffiHDyGsHc-08SEabeGNWRxolIu-QDrl1MbdJGLcNDOuq0Rw1Z5wJlW8/s400/IMG_4021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669601050124335698" border="0" /></a>Here he/she? is headed for the Subaru! They're solitary animals, except when the male is raising the chicks, but they have habit paths that they follow for a few days at a time searching for food. Did he/she know the ice cream truck was parked there for the day? Oh, this was quite a find and made our day!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIm60ZZZbsFge1n6t4o4PPw93tT2MUAdK-dea-1rPnUzXV25RSf8RCy-Aos1k36skNYxyWhTclLeNnug0fj1n7sEGsJQVO0KGg1DjfUUApTsbaxf6CzNDpqHXiytslGQWRadLcrHDcBs/s1600/IMG_4022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIm60ZZZbsFge1n6t4o4PPw93tT2MUAdK-dea-1rPnUzXV25RSf8RCy-Aos1k36skNYxyWhTclLeNnug0fj1n7sEGsJQVO0KGg1DjfUUApTsbaxf6CzNDpqHXiytslGQWRadLcrHDcBs/s400/IMG_4022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669601056428167218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What else is there to say? We saw a cassowary in the wild (next to a Subaru). However, we finished off the day with a walk and some rock climbing by the longer legged members of the family. Charlie and I stayed back to dunk our feet in the water. He figured out which hand is his left while they were gone - home schooling at its best.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq-XcPWrsrxzpV0LOIfo2q8XUmHzvnfHXi2A9n9hF5w7AJOG74bjAH5F1BLIm5fEJiER1gV97CDra7oMMsKm0AIh9eF5sCO_5xrUhXooBY4TmV93axpL6wz7Lfu8gLAXbRq5sceCEHx4/s1600/IMG_4043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq-XcPWrsrxzpV0LOIfo2q8XUmHzvnfHXi2A9n9hF5w7AJOG74bjAH5F1BLIm5fEJiER1gV97CDra7oMMsKm0AIh9eF5sCO_5xrUhXooBY4TmV93axpL6wz7Lfu8gLAXbRq5sceCEHx4/s400/IMG_4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669602629119123218" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbjHn8Zp3_QrTl-ALjmsXKOXQnvT8LU3hEu2tr4wqK5rmnz66JFMcGitlGVXm1TdrXQ2OY-0iaMMSWTJ2tAxxwLEaxoQWhLK2mh2AsV1UhXm35kYboBFJwNZzELfdmvaQrxYA1CCjFQM/s1600/IMG_4047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbjHn8Zp3_QrTl-ALjmsXKOXQnvT8LU3hEu2tr4wqK5rmnz66JFMcGitlGVXm1TdrXQ2OY-0iaMMSWTJ2tAxxwLEaxoQWhLK2mh2AsV1UhXm35kYboBFJwNZzELfdmvaQrxYA1CCjFQM/s400/IMG_4047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669617108838606354" border="0" /></a>Molly and Charlie like to play tourguide on the hikes. Molly was definitely paying attention to yesterday's tour with the real guide. She told me that the small trees growing in the forest will sometimes wait millions of years for another large tree to fall so that they can get enough sunlight to grow. Well, some of the time references seem to have been confused, but it was the right sentiment.<br /><br />Did I mention we saw a cassowary, in the wild?<br /><br />We went back to the Tin Shed for dinner, because the view is hard to beat.Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-22473060489077359152011-10-30T03:20:00.000-07:002011-10-30T03:53:31.107-07:00The Tropical TourWe decided to complement Daniel’s ability to read and digest all the signs along the paths, info centers and lookouts with a guided tour of the Daintree Rainforest.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We started in Mossman’s Gorge and got a view of a cool dragon lizard and crystal clear stream.<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSK2OhxB5_JKSShpQ4RYuHmXlclk3CeOgNAFZd44HhR2rktsdURi5BzRqDfc_TxF7-OzXq_J8A-lUcEPDeMyKR6ZibCXr39FIga9dGApgHa0swmFNc1UZXRPRbng4ynkMY0zwKTYN3d4/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSK2OhxB5_JKSShpQ4RYuHmXlclk3CeOgNAFZd44HhR2rktsdURi5BzRqDfc_TxF7-OzXq_J8A-lUcEPDeMyKR6ZibCXr39FIga9dGApgHa0swmFNc1UZXRPRbng4ynkMY0zwKTYN3d4/s400/IMG_3841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669229342051839298" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDxMyJQgJJ_Pk3_xoacPDBVGGuSlDGMa4ApD5wU40-AKeJq4kKkCFPvt7_kk6uTf8O-YBEn-Cn9V1YZWHJ4uUz8uajvaG1TcHvns-jbAtS6WD1mGbCWbaM1toL4rlxc7rFDSjaQXxfy4/s1600/IMG_3846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDxMyJQgJJ_Pk3_xoacPDBVGGuSlDGMa4ApD5wU40-AKeJq4kKkCFPvt7_kk6uTf8O-YBEn-Cn9V1YZWHJ4uUz8uajvaG1TcHvns-jbAtS6WD1mGbCWbaM1toL4rlxc7rFDSjaQXxfy4/s400/IMG_3846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669229347085535346" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We tried a cruise along the Daintree River, in search of crocodiles in the wild, but only managed an egret and a few sun bird spotting.<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIQBm9Ab4ydjcS5LStkcofwiny9sFYj5Ea3-D8Fye8qT48yfXTUnpDOKsT35VK0suTGFIZXtGdwLLMGGnxQ_yHTgVhh0-o-eoF9hH0T0KlmPz8gEdsVy12V4-UqaQ5wdLfQNrzi-ENu0/s1600/IMG_3860.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIQBm9Ab4ydjcS5LStkcofwiny9sFYj5Ea3-D8Fye8qT48yfXTUnpDOKsT35VK0suTGFIZXtGdwLLMGGnxQ_yHTgVhh0-o-eoF9hH0T0KlmPz8gEdsVy12V4-UqaQ5wdLfQNrzi-ENu0/s400/IMG_3860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669231467502890178" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">We checked out the beach and “town” of Cape Tribulation, which is where the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">sealed </i>(paved) road ends on the east coast of Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You can go on pretty much forever on an unpaved road to somewhere, if you so desire. Apparently the hole in Captain Cook's boat was the genesis for all the depressing names of places along this part of Queensland. Charlie was not affected in the same way and wrote (EILRAHC <span style="font-style: italic;">heart </span>YLLOM) perfectly backwards in the sand.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAYtTI5YBoQbEFQVhQpA85E3ivcoLteFFscUFqdaEgfKDDdA0iGTlOE2NLczUzLa4cQghswx7XGKwv-W1u38dNW_1atnfI1_VLyShcrxMUzZ1gyCek4r8J-mo3y-MuLerXtBDXxWnEfo/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAYtTI5YBoQbEFQVhQpA85E3ivcoLteFFscUFqdaEgfKDDdA0iGTlOE2NLczUzLa4cQghswx7XGKwv-W1u38dNW_1atnfI1_VLyShcrxMUzZ1gyCek4r8J-mo3y-MuLerXtBDXxWnEfo/s400/IMG_3902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669231480014740898" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Lunch included tips for mixing Vegamite with butter (not our only option, thank goodness – 3/5 of us didn’t even bother to try the tip), tasting the backside of an ant (again, 3/5 of us didn’t bother), and a swim in a secluded spot.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_3fNnvI-o7Qdy-gbv8S47FjREb4RCNRBew9g5MJfjv8DZ4PZ6g-FZ_88Rro3ZykeTRxarru3uvPZy2YwZuJ7e1QAwNn6QPGMyFcerAahvWrStd8_C-3K5S9ZJP77tWM8P3lrnbkxCdo/s1600/IMG_3937.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_3fNnvI-o7Qdy-gbv8S47FjREb4RCNRBew9g5MJfjv8DZ4PZ6g-FZ_88Rro3ZykeTRxarru3uvPZy2YwZuJ7e1QAwNn6QPGMyFcerAahvWrStd8_C-3K5S9ZJP77tWM8P3lrnbkxCdo/s400/IMG_3937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669233756180389906" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lEC2owrSZ6lVtXEkQ8vmpu9dQzm1f2zN4HL_5cgNXLhhD58aw4kPLKRWgpYFIoLnBun_HsFr_71XZNdnBeS5H7-CMiEBeIE3qOYmv43hMRccr8SJcDhyYnkjny7I1Ykk8bRNfubP7U0/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lEC2owrSZ6lVtXEkQ8vmpu9dQzm1f2zN4HL_5cgNXLhhD58aw4kPLKRWgpYFIoLnBun_HsFr_71XZNdnBeS5H7-CMiEBeIE3qOYmv43hMRccr8SJcDhyYnkjny7I1Ykk8bRNfubP7U0/s400/IMG_3943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669233762602347378" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">These strangler trees (really a fig tree) drop offshoot roots down from high branches and they twist around the original tree, eventually strangling it, so you have a series of roots that are hollow on the inside. This one is on one of the hikes we went on, where our guide Chris got out of the car first to see if the resident venomous snake was out and about. He's a "snake relocater" in his spare time, which provides no reassurance at all. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkJQqaCiEUPshAJgD1sfPbwPuiVH05dAdU0Xtk0FuIG6TOBvWezIqiK8jcbDcP8_BTQPCSoUy-WhMYWyZRhTbHBJFTNKGv5zCZ9wThOYPvQH_tYp2h3mWfpohFJB4_dpRJJVSV1NL5uM/s1600/IMG_3952.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkJQqaCiEUPshAJgD1sfPbwPuiVH05dAdU0Xtk0FuIG6TOBvWezIqiK8jcbDcP8_BTQPCSoUy-WhMYWyZRhTbHBJFTNKGv5zCZ9wThOYPvQH_tYp2h3mWfpohFJB4_dpRJJVSV1NL5uM/s400/IMG_3952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669233773577398002" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">We saw cassowary droppings/scat/poo, but, alas, no cassowaries. They're considered a keystone animal in the forest because they eat huge amounts of fruits with seed and deposit the seeds in other parts of the forest for cross pollination. Some of the seeds will never germinate unless they've passed through the digestive system of the bird.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9zAA5cVyAdmzPhGeO4VbuOrRdDuZJamaCVKoc9ExKepgCtmN0JJIOhX4iEyF_MabrCdcSKCKmj0kYdosKLxbQHwF1Qpp_b1HoJV-FtCKQrZjet_qIfDfPJY7NPooV0-8ZNySVxjjhIU/s1600/IMG_3965.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9zAA5cVyAdmzPhGeO4VbuOrRdDuZJamaCVKoc9ExKepgCtmN0JJIOhX4iEyF_MabrCdcSKCKmj0kYdosKLxbQHwF1Qpp_b1HoJV-FtCKQrZjet_qIfDfPJY7NPooV0-8ZNySVxjjhIU/s400/IMG_3965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669235962931324946" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3OEuPCS6vCneDrwQG2rdgJS3GOdNuNOP1vKagLvDRBgUOIyKBKzVuLi7kZt37ccM7kzgfzhepEf0yGyHIjgOdGxrYSehwkwnEbObGksL-PQqM-iax9wYzRSz4MWXLvlRiHVGx7a8Z-I/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3OEuPCS6vCneDrwQG2rdgJS3GOdNuNOP1vKagLvDRBgUOIyKBKzVuLi7kZt37ccM7kzgfzhepEf0yGyHIjgOdGxrYSehwkwnEbObGksL-PQqM-iax9wYzRSz4MWXLvlRiHVGx7a8Z-I/s400/IMG_3879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669231471009401538" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">We ended the day at the Daintree Icecream Store, where you get four flavors in each bowl, of whatever fruit is ripe on their property that day. The Jakfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, weighing up to 80+ pounds. It's not too pretty to look out, but was very yummy in the ice cream. Wattle seed is the seed from a tree also and it tasted a little like coffee ice cream. Blueberry and Mango, not as exotic!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKcBnUi7g-FL4pR5lJGY3BTJId24G8AvJsaihngF9zRS6nFQTde6-LrYS2eXhSw86bHZ31Hu7o-hOehVVXEI84GMiWRszmtz7Qo4tQrqTELJOTV0G9KYMFL5QrC8bM8MLLzlOrCkTRUg/s1600/IMG_3968.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKcBnUi7g-FL4pR5lJGY3BTJId24G8AvJsaihngF9zRS6nFQTde6-LrYS2eXhSw86bHZ31Hu7o-hOehVVXEI84GMiWRszmtz7Qo4tQrqTELJOTV0G9KYMFL5QrC8bM8MLLzlOrCkTRUg/s400/IMG_3968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669235973787010674" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMex5ehWdWoElBGDRty1SgTpQd41wQJxNdr_zWEyGDWB1gBtkNYwJ7lj15SiqKgqxQS4CCQvGEekS7U1ZB1K83-GdOE2J6MpwcyfIi4JYkv1FcmORPhs770i37yhE1O1psuRN6ib96to/s1600/IMG_3971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMex5ehWdWoElBGDRty1SgTpQd41wQJxNdr_zWEyGDWB1gBtkNYwJ7lj15SiqKgqxQS4CCQvGEekS7U1ZB1K83-GdOE2J6MpwcyfIi4JYkv1FcmORPhs770i37yhE1O1psuRN6ib96to/s400/IMG_3971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669235979385185474" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">We arrived back at our place 9 hours after leaving. We haven't really done too many guided tours on the trip, but I think this one was worth it. Because the tour company wasn't busy (love those box jellyfish!), we were our own group - although they can be up to 8 or 12 persons. The kids asked tons of questions and kept the sibling bickering to an all-time low.<br /></span></p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-44940330922135481252011-10-30T02:44:00.000-07:002011-10-30T03:18:03.231-07:00Far Up NorthTurn up the heat!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>From Christchurch to Sydney to Cairns, with only a minor hitch as the labor dispute at the airport put us temporarily in very long lines to get through immigration.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The flight to Cairns was particularly quiet. A 4AM wakeup call is good for something. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhmsBvEmw1XbjaGEINo1i4RvOAtvrkYLZ7eWnJ7fhkgHFO48chDgskTf173XsxrvcRjF5_rafAYRFMFMJdx1Y8K0uF1hcZGJu3MYwEwNPnTLUCe92K_h2XpYdQGDJlW29ax_6C5aBGIU/s1600/IMG_3824.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhmsBvEmw1XbjaGEINo1i4RvOAtvrkYLZ7eWnJ7fhkgHFO48chDgskTf173XsxrvcRjF5_rafAYRFMFMJdx1Y8K0uF1hcZGJu3MYwEwNPnTLUCe92K_h2XpYdQGDJlW29ax_6C5aBGIU/s400/IMG_3824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669219795113718818" border="0" /></a>We’re staying in Port Douglas, about 50 km north of Cairns on the Pacific Coast.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> The kids swam in the pool and we had dinner at a place called the Tin Shed, which we discovered has</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">jugs</span> (pitchers) of raspberry lemonade and view of the bay on the opposite side of the peninsula that Port Douglas sits on.<br /><br />We started off the next morning staking our place on the Four Mile Beach a few minutes walk from our place, The Outrigger.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DpWfZrxH3eO8aATyJmuqxdr4HBaA9NG6Cwfpbe8zs7B4sLZB6AlZAbtEYHLWh5KySGKPtTD3NN2ChBqWdlN7ZuJha6_p9c6FY53cQ2gIOtJyIKoL4ddHTjqVtlMBMjw8vZR5THgvnK4/s1600/SANY0626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DpWfZrxH3eO8aATyJmuqxdr4HBaA9NG6Cwfpbe8zs7B4sLZB6AlZAbtEYHLWh5KySGKPtTD3NN2ChBqWdlN7ZuJha6_p9c6FY53cQ2gIOtJyIKoL4ddHTjqVtlMBMjw8vZR5THgvnK4/s400/SANY0626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669219799626304562" border="0" /></a>The low season in this area starts November 1 because that's when the box jellyfish may have come to town. While walking toward customs in the International Terminal of the Sydney airport, there is a huge mural that asks if you know Australia's deadliest animal and at the end of the mural, the cute little jellyfish is highlighted. It's late October now and none have been spotted, so the nets that they have in place at the beach to keep them out of a small swimming area are not up yet and the warning for Marine Stingers said "unlikely". Still, there is vinegar on hand, which supposedly provides a teeny tiny bit of relief. Have fun kids!<br /><br />Actually, all three kids were surprised by how much they like swimming in the ocean when the water and the air are warm. The cool waters and air of Sydney made them skeptical at first, but we had to drag Molly and Charlie away at the end of the day. Daniel was curled up on a beach chair with the Kindle, reading "Treasure Island."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLUZbfmU0-T6HbuZr4sf1dR5pch_PgVzSnyLa1kR7V9efd0l0yXSYw9pYXAflqnH2o5WyAOCgHgckBdBkeJSJJCS359ovr0WgYcBl-Wapb274GomSr9HdXExAiVgH_VTRrnUv3C7j97I/s1600/SANY0627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLUZbfmU0-T6HbuZr4sf1dR5pch_PgVzSnyLa1kR7V9efd0l0yXSYw9pYXAflqnH2o5WyAOCgHgckBdBkeJSJJCS359ovr0WgYcBl-Wapb274GomSr9HdXExAiVgH_VTRrnUv3C7j97I/s400/SANY0627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669220341782477778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDDpjAht79tkE4Lpp9X5gXRK05bMHFpj73JeS30Vsqui3WCF2fQM6FiAbI7fAmu2r95fELyETDLyHwOrag_tsIQ_82TSbeMy4jWZqbBg3qyyHj-DfFgpOgwS60Ky3dCLor8brWbO5i5A/s1600/SANY0634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDDpjAht79tkE4Lpp9X5gXRK05bMHFpj73JeS30Vsqui3WCF2fQM6FiAbI7fAmu2r95fELyETDLyHwOrag_tsIQ_82TSbeMy4jWZqbBg3qyyHj-DfFgpOgwS60Ky3dCLor8brWbO5i5A/s400/SANY0634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669220343001748290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbnnaA4wQb7WYv0KUyjrGdr_xr-sV6X5urrNWsBpwzP3cXces10yS76qqCcJveiLX4zoDbA6bfbSl0vg41LfddLfTGGXVuDNNcXU7vsNO58uMHMt2yTk11eXkZf3nwiLmelYJH0dO9Pw/s1600/SANY0637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbnnaA4wQb7WYv0KUyjrGdr_xr-sV6X5urrNWsBpwzP3cXces10yS76qqCcJveiLX4zoDbA6bfbSl0vg41LfddLfTGGXVuDNNcXU7vsNO58uMHMt2yTk11eXkZf3nwiLmelYJH0dO9Pw/s400/SANY0637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669220719315661106" border="0" /></a><br />Dinner that night...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPka9t8XiBUnnDRePySucgyU5ZhEbWSxgPRbjApcz6TweNgXrBiuvBKCt_BHrk0NBxf5tiY5Ir3WTZTrqBSupCcNgKaoND_x_PRJTuzobo2J65ba0c28_-vv0ep_tvW0BxNAm1tC-2u4/s1600/IMG_3827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPka9t8XiBUnnDRePySucgyU5ZhEbWSxgPRbjApcz6TweNgXrBiuvBKCt_BHrk0NBxf5tiY5Ir3WTZTrqBSupCcNgKaoND_x_PRJTuzobo2J65ba0c28_-vv0ep_tvW0BxNAm1tC-2u4/s400/IMG_3827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669225239987521666" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfU3AkI-i9mMw2amowHFIcgVRNNFmkQMvGoWID86-n_nsyila_RqhkMdd0fxcV4fAR1NUlhh_FmPOJzajEF6pzI5yQer6M1VGt_YT2HEZ0CNYFO7NaAQPKVxze-R81NsUramV4AcBRLk/s1600/IMG_3832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfU3AkI-i9mMw2amowHFIcgVRNNFmkQMvGoWID86-n_nsyila_RqhkMdd0fxcV4fAR1NUlhh_FmPOJzajEF6pzI5yQer6M1VGt_YT2HEZ0CNYFO7NaAQPKVxze-R81NsUramV4AcBRLk/s400/IMG_3832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669225242859603922" border="0" /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-84613570123924099112011-10-29T03:48:00.000-07:002011-10-29T23:39:41.775-07:00You are My Sunshine!Technical Note for the official archives: These events took place on Wednesday, October 26th - our internet connections were non-existent or kooky in New Zealand.<br /><p class="MsoNormal">A day and a half of rain on a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">holiday</i> can really bring you down AND make the sunshine seem spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We quickly packed our bags for the trip to Christchurch (our flight out the next morning) and raced to the Franz Joseph Glacier walk in the sun!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is one of the few glaciers that is advancing in the days of global warming.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The walk out there is filled with waterfalls that we would pull off highways in the rain to hop out and view because they’re so beautiful, but they almost seemed ho hum because there were so many of them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Charlie impressed the other walkers by wading through the glacial runoff as if it were a hot tub – he got his picture taken with one family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Silly boy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoPt2epR58SFjUlv_A_flyN3mDw64pZ9Lw1jX4TqAwPFGafWDVqbUfinqasb7nL3dMYoekH9E8jRkJacGEeiQml8O_4fsFV5jrYNUswRqaQHsc4Q_Ug9cZXYOIJ-67jvFgbEpDvUrKlc/s1600/IMG_3710.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoPt2epR58SFjUlv_A_flyN3mDw64pZ9Lw1jX4TqAwPFGafWDVqbUfinqasb7nL3dMYoekH9E8jRkJacGEeiQml8O_4fsFV5jrYNUswRqaQHsc4Q_Ug9cZXYOIJ-67jvFgbEpDvUrKlc/s400/IMG_3710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668870865780710930" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4GxfF9n_uUM6ikArXD34_0v0b-T4mzY5_tdLhLDg1G5ldRioxnqVF5Jwz-v3uBGAQz3KzmqtsfB4Z0fp_Rw4bwUGSkTDwI5tVoozjWp2lF7bxc-gR5Oga8EDZmKR-Al-qZwJs8X7l6I/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4GxfF9n_uUM6ikArXD34_0v0b-T4mzY5_tdLhLDg1G5ldRioxnqVF5Jwz-v3uBGAQz3KzmqtsfB4Z0fp_Rw4bwUGSkTDwI5tVoozjWp2lF7bxc-gR5Oga8EDZmKR-Al-qZwJs8X7l6I/s400/IMG_3718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668870869184712242" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_km98PzxvfkSKSqRiR7_gCjdmkX9p79JgqyULAwTQ9AxTuB8BeZTwn4nGzGAl8YZ5l4hkelZjB75qKAIqw_ZnOP_jcX1kbm3cBbtQ5GhONRuxUoyAV6hW4eKwLJ9HO7xpbKBeFSB_Jvo/s1600/IMG_3724.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_km98PzxvfkSKSqRiR7_gCjdmkX9p79JgqyULAwTQ9AxTuB8BeZTwn4nGzGAl8YZ5l4hkelZjB75qKAIqw_ZnOP_jcX1kbm3cBbtQ5GhONRuxUoyAV6hW4eKwLJ9HO7xpbKBeFSB_Jvo/s400/IMG_3724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669165259853272402" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4qUbTVH3rBy-7AEW-lE9dL4ui1XD_mUaGHtxzXEA6LHxs7V332e4f7fW3W8_9vY4DN3X0lUBHag7TGjnlsSvzB6nRv4rK2_zEx4bexWg0lWgjyLVluzluBdz0ZcFwWknUqF_9Behu_g/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4qUbTVH3rBy-7AEW-lE9dL4ui1XD_mUaGHtxzXEA6LHxs7V332e4f7fW3W8_9vY4DN3X0lUBHag7TGjnlsSvzB6nRv4rK2_zEx4bexWg0lWgjyLVluzluBdz0ZcFwWknUqF_9Behu_g/s400/IMG_3765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669167141858720194" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC71sj3QifN6SO0s_8p9xQ-1QSeUo2Tskod8vINLWgWopxLhTmKDPv_z-1v0PnjJLwBmdwKh7sTasdWbSzifHxegkJofl9LBBAbU6ciot8PZKl69TUIy-Z8uAt7lnypcYGw02iLbervI/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC71sj3QifN6SO0s_8p9xQ-1QSeUo2Tskod8vINLWgWopxLhTmKDPv_z-1v0PnjJLwBmdwKh7sTasdWbSzifHxegkJofl9LBBAbU6ciot8PZKl69TUIy-Z8uAt7lnypcYGw02iLbervI/s400/IMG_3776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669167143793220626" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">By a late lunchtime we were in the town of Hokitika, eating in Café de Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hokitika has some industry and a big tourism trade in jade, or greenstone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think we counted 8 jade outlets in town.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We also happened upon the Sock Museum, which just begs a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The owner produces and sells hand-crank machines that knit socks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She has about 15 of the machines on display in one little room and sells the hand crank knit socks for $35 a pair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Strangely, the socks are not even made from New Zealand wool, despite the sheep population – the wool was from Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She told Mike that she sells 1000 of these machines a year for $2000 each, mostly to wealthy Americans.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Her U.S. base is in Pinkney, MI – just down the road from East Lansing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While we’ve been in Australia, she was in Michigan.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you’ve ever read “Roadside America” – this would definitely belong in “Roadside New Zealand.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGspea09mUKmrpyCGPXeGbvnSQ9D_1bO7vjOkRSygN4QAUA91R-L_2OR1TWA4AkY7Xoz92X7DO50j3E6BGScFea5qkCy7qN2VNmi3Xa4nsKQNnlFhDzS6P4KHsGsha0oMK-c3hnBKOmQ/s1600/IMG_3796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGspea09mUKmrpyCGPXeGbvnSQ9D_1bO7vjOkRSygN4QAUA91R-L_2OR1TWA4AkY7Xoz92X7DO50j3E6BGScFea5qkCy7qN2VNmi3Xa4nsKQNnlFhDzS6P4KHsGsha0oMK-c3hnBKOmQ/s400/IMG_3796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669168608336988962" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlgcYxD8Uj2zF6TiiHOMLWuf9999fQ-fq2dtXcRpsrYKJvygjxD1dzYXLcdcxJ0zK0_f9YOLfJ7lomoxIvgdwId0nzJ8MqUwyKPoH5xGwsKPJChE7d7Gk7GBpgjGmRxb1VPbmKzqDUkA/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlgcYxD8Uj2zF6TiiHOMLWuf9999fQ-fq2dtXcRpsrYKJvygjxD1dzYXLcdcxJ0zK0_f9YOLfJ7lomoxIvgdwId0nzJ8MqUwyKPoH5xGwsKPJChE7d7Gk7GBpgjGmRxb1VPbmKzqDUkA/s400/IMG_3797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669168616307583554" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We traveled through Arthur’s Pass<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on the way to Christchurch and eventually caught back up with the rain, just about the time we met these Kea – the only Alpine parrot in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1CSOsOEwWVKj7Uly7vdEHU5T8igh1pSNUFkMojzM4L4WLw9k5a_lvdSIlorhZqYvlUcOd9ftvoIMOThlh404-qeiGRVy9kpC1m9quvBnZNVz77uNo8O2l8_qBUJmeQn-KjO33sxihPY/s1600/IMG_3806.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1CSOsOEwWVKj7Uly7vdEHU5T8igh1pSNUFkMojzM4L4WLw9k5a_lvdSIlorhZqYvlUcOd9ftvoIMOThlh404-qeiGRVy9kpC1m9quvBnZNVz77uNo8O2l8_qBUJmeQn-KjO33sxihPY/s400/IMG_3806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669169891621986514" border="0" /></a>New Zealand isn’t really about the wildlife in the same way that Australia has been for us – I think I read that bats were the only wild native mammal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Possums and deer were introduced and their overpopulation lead to creative outlets:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>possums are a pest that get made into some sort of wool/possum material.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you ever order venison in the States, most likely it was imported from a deer farm in New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had a few minutes of dusk to check out the business district of New Zealand that was hit by the earthquake.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of the central business district is inside a fence that is inaccessible - pretty eerie by night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We heard that all buildings over 4 stories will be demolished.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2a6Hz61e964J5-PjZe2DN_IDgewQa4EIZfYwKb1ga_WrhwkTSYNzjswuG0DCI_HJjQghpmZI1ciG0a9-VZcHKjYi9ijf67PrH1skL5LGzB3lHf86g-bP6E92Qgx58s88b9ptyixcQbtY/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2a6Hz61e964J5-PjZe2DN_IDgewQa4EIZfYwKb1ga_WrhwkTSYNzjswuG0DCI_HJjQghpmZI1ciG0a9-VZcHKjYi9ijf67PrH1skL5LGzB3lHf86g-bP6E92Qgx58s88b9ptyixcQbtY/s400/IMG_3821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669170861397413778" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Remember our view of the mountains in Queenstown? This is our view from the Avalon Motel in Christchurch:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9BmPEbPWdDky1-VDATB_xzOwWqxfpipkCKlJKhN7hCDu4P2eeGeIlhtAz8SIma7lEIXh-cnTrIMvsY3wukuZ93zzYA9St6ZuiZ2yyBHcwRvAyQ3RGBOKKla1f4TAPr_yYdCGUqwDM6o/s1600/IMG_3818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9BmPEbPWdDky1-VDATB_xzOwWqxfpipkCKlJKhN7hCDu4P2eeGeIlhtAz8SIma7lEIXh-cnTrIMvsY3wukuZ93zzYA9St6ZuiZ2yyBHcwRvAyQ3RGBOKKla1f4TAPr_yYdCGUqwDM6o/s400/IMG_3818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669169893331132274" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, right to bed because we have a 6:30 AM flight to Sydney in the morning!</p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-4738519446621727512011-10-29T03:29:00.000-07:002011-10-29T03:48:38.284-07:00Rain Rain Go AwayTurns out, there isn’t much to do on the West Coast when it is raining buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We checked out a Wildlife Center where they have 3 Rowi <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kiwi birds on display.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seeing a kiwi (the other major New Zealand symbol, in addition to the fern, and the source of why New Zealanders are called kiwis – not the fruit <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;" ><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;" >:-)</span></span>) was neat, although we’ve gotten spoiled by finding things in the wild, this would have to do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> No flash - it freaks out the birds, so no pictures of the real kiwis. </span>There are only 375 Rowi Kiwi’s in the world, all on the West Coast of New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the wild, 95 percent of eggs do not survive, so conservationists take the eggs when they are laid and allow them to hatch and the chicks to grow for 18 months in captivity before releasing them into the wild.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In this way, 95 percent (coincidentally?) survive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kiwi chicks are completely self sufficient after exiting the egg – sort of like our kids – NOT (the three of them just discovered this “cute” turn of phrase and are using it liberally – although Charlie and Molly feel the need to make sure that you heard the “not” and explain what they really meant).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>O.k., so reading all of that and playing in their fake glacier took about 30 minutes.<span style=""><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmdzaPXBhLGIpECpc9RNAIqxJFjR123qhbEV0wN-iw8nHZl_ZtszbHkbRPpBxDURkydJCEkJcF9NKikJnyId8eJZ7w574k0pTceNKqxbHdJ8GIdiubPPkIgbArggP-i_Xa8vcMiOk4aM/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmdzaPXBhLGIpECpc9RNAIqxJFjR123qhbEV0wN-iw8nHZl_ZtszbHkbRPpBxDURkydJCEkJcF9NKikJnyId8eJZ7w574k0pTceNKqxbHdJ8GIdiubPPkIgbArggP-i_Xa8vcMiOk4aM/s400/IMG_3691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668861401746144066" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApkpz8KfmQZM5sgywo8-3EKe-_X0t7606c_xYgSz2TPqHImL8XfGWFk4za0xjWdbFFTBfOTNwsV_pjiS0JZIZuKQbewbS8y6xxyDGwwJrVI-UF5GxMJlLsPVx-8UIp1FpTenLTi6be3o/s1600/IMG_3693.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApkpz8KfmQZM5sgywo8-3EKe-_X0t7606c_xYgSz2TPqHImL8XfGWFk4za0xjWdbFFTBfOTNwsV_pjiS0JZIZuKQbewbS8y6xxyDGwwJrVI-UF5GxMJlLsPVx-8UIp1FpTenLTi6be3o/s400/IMG_3693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668861404422338530" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now, off to the Franz Joseph Glacier hike after eating peanut butter and jelly/bread and cheese sandwiches in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That hike lasted less than 30 minutes in the pouring rain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our ever insightful and typically rosy Molly summed it up, “Whose idea was this anyway?!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8MTi4cXdTCYZuR9iOZKhIn1dCrhv6G3ctxHf1ogxJYazUQ_X5dDleRxY2seZtCnhQPeP8AY3cM1A01ZstxKrun7HiA_T4k4pDX3Tb1pJvwN1nqzPnfmkOtW1jur8lN42wvNeEHk2hB8/s1600/IMG_3694.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8MTi4cXdTCYZuR9iOZKhIn1dCrhv6G3ctxHf1ogxJYazUQ_X5dDleRxY2seZtCnhQPeP8AY3cM1A01ZstxKrun7HiA_T4k4pDX3Tb1pJvwN1nqzPnfmkOtW1jur8lN42wvNeEHk2hB8/s400/IMG_3694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668861413080458306" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI88ZtXs45MehS3aqetYJA5d2-2JEYs53uLSOx7Axws-kbwBlnp_OLvBzXRC4ajY-WR94_QDpPqUmQtTmLZHYPXAoRJx2g6x9nPNxA1im7IqT59TFpcaCY7P5SzlT11qib9s-bbHDYmU/s1600/IMG_3704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI88ZtXs45MehS3aqetYJA5d2-2JEYs53uLSOx7Axws-kbwBlnp_OLvBzXRC4ajY-WR94_QDpPqUmQtTmLZHYPXAoRJx2g6x9nPNxA1im7IqT59TFpcaCY7P5SzlT11qib9s-bbHDYmU/s400/IMG_3704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668862895054969314" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">How about an afternoon of Legos in the motel room and an early dinner instead?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We ate out at one of the two open cafes in town and lamented that getting bread for the table costs extra in this neck of the woods, but it took the edge of the hunger we worked up drying ourselves off all day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI88ZtXs45MehS3aqetYJA5d2-2JEYs53uLSOx7Axws-kbwBlnp_OLvBzXRC4ajY-WR94_QDpPqUmQtTmLZHYPXAoRJx2g6x9nPNxA1im7IqT59TFpcaCY7P5SzlT11qib9s-bbHDYmU/s1600/IMG_3704.JPG"><br /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-47598511700029566492011-10-28T03:44:00.001-07:002011-10-28T04:08:28.000-07:00Travel DayWe were sorry to say good-bye to Queenstown, but packed up and headed for the West Coast first thing on Monday morning for the next planned stop on the quick tour.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The views along the lakes and mountains are breathtaking and, again, we were struck by how few people there are anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhOP9IKo66hWXl5NGPRb99LCLuFA1W3rSwKkZFTijm3yYezmQB3FaQ23b3LL1fVTqzqxkSx-adjCPL8VHV0tbMCin9_-vCKTrEQJpo0vXmAzDKbro99N_76U82DlKogBQ0rw_2h0_DVg/s1600/IMG_3575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhOP9IKo66hWXl5NGPRb99LCLuFA1W3rSwKkZFTijm3yYezmQB3FaQ23b3LL1fVTqzqxkSx-adjCPL8VHV0tbMCin9_-vCKTrEQJpo0vXmAzDKbro99N_76U82DlKogBQ0rw_2h0_DVg/s400/IMG_3575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668494591421052978" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">View of Mike in the "unspoiled" natural world</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqLd5el6QFAo9q_SmtXhft2E7uKTNqLRAlqK1E0fqT0e1bNfZ5rS3y0o0e33q3iAynE_M2mZ6kpDYh36Z4FVWqSXPXS3OzdjVL6rb0ECbUsSkbL7EchOety-oyC-rVDdc_4xUeHS4Rw4/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqLd5el6QFAo9q_SmtXhft2E7uKTNqLRAlqK1E0fqT0e1bNfZ5rS3y0o0e33q3iAynE_M2mZ6kpDYh36Z4FVWqSXPXS3OzdjVL6rb0ECbUsSkbL7EchOety-oyC-rVDdc_4xUeHS4Rw4/s400/IMG_3600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668494597193220466" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">The views got harder to capture on camera as the rains started to fall.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We were undeterred while driving through the Haast Pass (we purchased a map for $2 and were determined to use it) and stopped at all the marked waterfalls and sent the kids into the rain for a view.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicceEMlvY39pzSueFUzXCYJk8eHSfZXtJDBdaBZ-BYpPYdqocesvT4i6Ch-77bnUyVbh4sPJrulhfBPITvMp-K5xvqUCKta1jw_cA6L2GV9oqaiKWkKii90PUtbPJUbTmt-lgOTJioLug/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicceEMlvY39pzSueFUzXCYJk8eHSfZXtJDBdaBZ-BYpPYdqocesvT4i6Ch-77bnUyVbh4sPJrulhfBPITvMp-K5xvqUCKta1jw_cA6L2GV9oqaiKWkKii90PUtbPJUbTmt-lgOTJioLug/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668494606394143330" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">I thought the camera protecting umbrella deserved a mention.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fyUesY-9GYdMzgm14YM4gcEXiuCqedP5YyjHEdRMbWbGUaMz9h2kd7whDi7ITy-38HhbEB-W58BaqRbYdOb_FsC7uIYIyPia2d8dwSwfVmIYn4hSaxIJmZ0M1i4Wki0sYzC60IKx0m4/s1600/IMG_3636.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fyUesY-9GYdMzgm14YM4gcEXiuCqedP5YyjHEdRMbWbGUaMz9h2kd7whDi7ITy-38HhbEB-W58BaqRbYdOb_FsC7uIYIyPia2d8dwSwfVmIYn4hSaxIJmZ0M1i4Wki0sYzC60IKx0m4/s400/IMG_3636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668497413989639458" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetVHF-mA9wBQXjQyKcnWg0_uj-ddKFCKypcUHdxRPrxNlKrDS-Cn7PKNOQEglbVbknvBHLFICNNEIVzNgats96iYqI3PV0YlfCYoHYyMNbegUxyTu-2iYIOrSebVodWgGgh_tpPG-jnE/s1600/IMG_3645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetVHF-mA9wBQXjQyKcnWg0_uj-ddKFCKypcUHdxRPrxNlKrDS-Cn7PKNOQEglbVbknvBHLFICNNEIVzNgats96iYqI3PV0YlfCYoHYyMNbegUxyTu-2iYIOrSebVodWgGgh_tpPG-jnE/s400/IMG_3645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668497424096734546" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">By the time we arrived in the town of Fox Glacier it was near dinner time and we got the bad news that the weather looked bad, real bad, for our hopes to walk on the glaciers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With that disappointing forecast in mind, we walked as close as you could get to the Fox Glacier on the sanctioned path.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our attire of shorts and sandals was met with a few confused gazes by the slicker/hat/boot-clad tour groups.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDs7ex9Y55vf_EQ3EgK1t_H1DWzajko40HgtIEXPFwQiXSgnNcHWWXo9KJV7yrErSGYujsobS4EixEWTFTyZCAcnl7aodw8LHFwl-5onTm8LIn_6TWPTRnk2qMS82ndu_WA9QClAbodQ/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDs7ex9Y55vf_EQ3EgK1t_H1DWzajko40HgtIEXPFwQiXSgnNcHWWXo9KJV7yrErSGYujsobS4EixEWTFTyZCAcnl7aodw8LHFwl-5onTm8LIn_6TWPTRnk2qMS82ndu_WA9QClAbodQ/s400/IMG_3669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668497428850454754" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQeoImLVaO8ejlWvYZ_wBLE05BnyJno3ocOg9PvdINMAszNzgWrmKmfz18mBbLFqv1jgBGiwV9w4POUz4KOA2TpSWmEdVk19ZGtiJWE2oXUxNAr54U-xzqd-hyhp_TvSstW2Ls7-fY8k/s1600/IMG_3676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQeoImLVaO8ejlWvYZ_wBLE05BnyJno3ocOg9PvdINMAszNzgWrmKmfz18mBbLFqv1jgBGiwV9w4POUz4KOA2TpSWmEdVk19ZGtiJWE2oXUxNAr54U-xzqd-hyhp_TvSstW2Ls7-fY8k/s400/IMG_3676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668498094142366594" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-88173717396066154812011-10-28T03:34:00.000-07:002011-10-28T03:43:37.841-07:00Funyaking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKB-Ej2pHielnG4uDL5BrCLxEQZ7FWyHB9kVegHAHX20GhcB5xawMQSAvjRuIIyLV82gNRyHrggYdDUl6ggYEFzW9svGYnF1_lDYjh7s66KW7LTBfnYCfbCM9hyaYugTVGlMhVjjdPxU/s1600/IMG_3565.JPG"><br /></a><br />Today took us back to Glenorchy for a trip on the Dart River.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We suited up in wetsuits and fleeces, sunscreen and bug spray and started in a jet boat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztzu77eiqAcYh2giJWdFs_hvytgFcPPxHzr_GyqqOMa0epLIwEC5J883yN31HtY6RG_rpgRlL26DRdTv18EcxcNFT_jWaVx4kl6gEp3WJNjqdCAIFRflEBhhHYqp41A2z2j5Cn1q9hwg/s1600/SANY0559.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztzu77eiqAcYh2giJWdFs_hvytgFcPPxHzr_GyqqOMa0epLIwEC5J883yN31HtY6RG_rpgRlL26DRdTv18EcxcNFT_jWaVx4kl6gEp3WJNjqdCAIFRflEBhhHYqp41A2z2j5Cn1q9hwg/s400/SANY0559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668491012007040594" border="0" /></a>The jet boat rides made famous in Queenstown are the ones in the canyon of the Shotover River – where the 360s take you within inches of the canyon walls.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We were on the gentler version, but the 360s were still fun and we got into a water battle with the 2<sup>nd</sup> boat on our tour, that left Daniel especially drenched to start the day!<span style=""> The guide showed us lot of the settings for the Lord of the Rings movies and the sets they're building for the Hobbit movie they're filming right now. He said that some people ask to see the ruins that were in the movie - uh...they're film sets...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next stop, blowing up our canoes and launching into the river.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We stopped for lunch along the way after a trip into a narrow canyon formed by an earthquake.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Our kids had more than their fair share of desserts and bananas. </span>Daniel and I were an adequate team – until the late afternoon when he didn’t approve of my steering.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It might have had something to do with the boat carrying Mike, Molly and Charlie passing us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o7ut4PRkuksg_s_CUde-0saDdO15iHZEnSLghS0hBIFknnmYgfss3BhL0orZa1M_pAg_b4GCwgFrE3qZjOtFMPvvKm_tJnB7jpkGj5C4y1knb1P_W8GIRuQKMNeLtorJ37Y3J6R6C90/s1600/SANY0582.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o7ut4PRkuksg_s_CUde-0saDdO15iHZEnSLghS0hBIFknnmYgfss3BhL0orZa1M_pAg_b4GCwgFrE3qZjOtFMPvvKm_tJnB7jpkGj5C4y1knb1P_W8GIRuQKMNeLtorJ37Y3J6R6C90/s400/SANY0582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668491012651112690" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKbB26UOEwMNhm7QhWfI1UXigegA_9KLwjpudnftdTTdgxocAS3tFKvK7VVIuhlu51rVydh9NGZaWTeMSf006Hs2241dxqRqcuQxoFllTqmz1g9i748fbOWLwjRZ_XB6lcVk2K15OqhU/s1600/SANY0587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKbB26UOEwMNhm7QhWfI1UXigegA_9KLwjpudnftdTTdgxocAS3tFKvK7VVIuhlu51rVydh9NGZaWTeMSf006Hs2241dxqRqcuQxoFllTqmz1g9i748fbOWLwjRZ_XB6lcVk2K15OqhU/s400/SANY0587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668491029684846658" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are so few people here – really, so few.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Partly, spring break just ended for the school kids here, so we’re almost the only persons with uneducated children.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Wouldn’t you know it, 2 of the people in our 24 person group were from Grand Rapids and the guy is an adjunct professor at MSU’s law school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>We spent the evening watching the All Blacks win the rugby World Cup on National TV.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mike drove to town to check out the scene, but it’s really a young town and it didn’t offer much for the middle-aged American tourist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-49829974894989569592011-10-28T03:04:00.001-07:002011-10-28T03:44:20.256-07:00Down and OutWe started our morning at the Skyline Luge.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A gondola ride is included, then 6 runs down the luge track (buy 5 get one free).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are two tracks and you need to do your first run of the day on the Scenic Track.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Charlie was young enough to be free, as long as he went tandem on the Scenic Route for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His strategy was to push the handles as far forward as he could, attempting to speed up the cart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He didn’t really understand that there was a fine line, if you went too far forward, you’d come to a complete stop – dangerous copilot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We zoomed passed a woman on an early run and she found us afterwards and apologized to us afterwards for causing Charlie and me to slow down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She explained that the last time she did this in Park City, Utah, you had more control of the speed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We said no big deal because we were waiting on our daughter who was cautious and, who liked to take it easy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She asked how old Molly was and after telling her, she said, “Well 80 year olds like to take it easy too”!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You go girls!<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPuxUXIzileNdSADFCw6zYHPISt1x7wcQB_TFSbc4INuzoScED26Juoz2bDYufP76enmTGXXI3cn-w9x2BHqF_mPzvV_YO16p6qWbLWmigB6lCAHzGkC2ss4b58uwq2oWdsdNxYNT2Oc/s1600/SANY0523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPuxUXIzileNdSADFCw6zYHPISt1x7wcQB_TFSbc4INuzoScED26Juoz2bDYufP76enmTGXXI3cn-w9x2BHqF_mPzvV_YO16p6qWbLWmigB6lCAHzGkC2ss4b58uwq2oWdsdNxYNT2Oc/s400/SANY0523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668482637106120450" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Jtjegc8k_aSR92oVwX-4LbRSAYEWf362HqqT9EzFj724PVs3IYWMRIG7ApcOyVO8G9N24Y3C3nCkPSJluP8fdDu3IFtXe3cbrYHpxU1oGcpPWz5kR8oEKJi8Q-Wx7m3xr-dbMd6IZo/s1600/SANY0534.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Jtjegc8k_aSR92oVwX-4LbRSAYEWf362HqqT9EzFj724PVs3IYWMRIG7ApcOyVO8G9N24Y3C3nCkPSJluP8fdDu3IFtXe3cbrYHpxU1oGcpPWz5kR8oEKJi8Q-Wx7m3xr-dbMd6IZo/s400/SANY0534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668482640247158674" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9bEz6mm_yCU3E74QVhDjGe2ivOfc9PjXSr315J5wT0EVbi5GHqMI2L606ObTe9PITbTkWJqgvwt8YjzMOvayQARRsRE215nfTKP_2KbCO6z4nMGDrLAAsVo86YrM2_hWr0xwrwY9ML8/s1600/SANY0539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9bEz6mm_yCU3E74QVhDjGe2ivOfc9PjXSr315J5wT0EVbi5GHqMI2L606ObTe9PITbTkWJqgvwt8YjzMOvayQARRsRE215nfTKP_2KbCO6z4nMGDrLAAsVo86YrM2_hWr0xwrwY9ML8/s400/SANY0539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668489057411333026" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The views over Queenstown and the Remarkables <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was an added bonus for the grown ups and eased Mike’s disappointment at losing a head to head luge race with Daniel.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Jtjegc8k_aSR92oVwX-4LbRSAYEWf362HqqT9EzFj724PVs3IYWMRIG7ApcOyVO8G9N24Y3C3nCkPSJluP8fdDu3IFtXe3cbrYHpxU1oGcpPWz5kR8oEKJi8Q-Wx7m3xr-dbMd6IZo/s1600/SANY0534.JPG"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF1Gk1bW8JXf4iB7XzRmlyhCgjDco4Nzwn-BNE7MyQY127sJrs4sh7uKkz3PHTOP-blWXTrb3uZeCxnAHXj9ob4Z3YTzfdZuIYQIQnhJPFRN63F52OoowUOE3AJ3M7pjY-stIrcVGzy0/s1600/SANY0549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF1Gk1bW8JXf4iB7XzRmlyhCgjDco4Nzwn-BNE7MyQY127sJrs4sh7uKkz3PHTOP-blWXTrb3uZeCxnAHXj9ob4Z3YTzfdZuIYQIQnhJPFRN63F52OoowUOE3AJ3M7pjY-stIrcVGzy0/s400/SANY0549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668482646976365154" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Queenstown Jazz fest was Saturday morning along the water.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The local face painting artist decorated our kiddos and we enjoyed salmon salad along the water while listening to “L is for the …”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t really know any of the words to that song.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHL6_FQPm3oCRxequ4Eyti76p1s9bEmRHdPUD6b6cOVe_dsIklczyZj9mEFcnNM9gFhlpujZX8zTsFx7rWpDBovNzfX4ki17YGoJYNu0j7Hq3EWfn5d7PvfVM8dNJBAaBE3jk_ij-SlE/s1600/IMG_3488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHL6_FQPm3oCRxequ4Eyti76p1s9bEmRHdPUD6b6cOVe_dsIklczyZj9mEFcnNM9gFhlpujZX8zTsFx7rWpDBovNzfX4ki17YGoJYNu0j7Hq3EWfn5d7PvfVM8dNJBAaBE3jk_ij-SlE/s400/IMG_3488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668485523854960754" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37BfaRP5r9fa5Uq_0zzgyqTzWsSwM8m6HV8cKh_JHlBj8_Zovdv3Cbru0rmrLry9uMngf7R1oLwrHhYXoeGmxdO2q5yp516I4-PH28eI7ErjYuhdfGPRlKMUgNIiVwAprVChpshz7wqM/s1600/IMG_3491.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37BfaRP5r9fa5Uq_0zzgyqTzWsSwM8m6HV8cKh_JHlBj8_Zovdv3Cbru0rmrLry9uMngf7R1oLwrHhYXoeGmxdO2q5yp516I4-PH28eI7ErjYuhdfGPRlKMUgNIiVwAprVChpshz7wqM/s400/IMG_3491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668485528950710194" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We spent the afternoon in Glenorchy, a small town 40 kilometers from Queenstown.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The drive is…well, here it is:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYPrCm6TBor9VhMwE4nO_5nRUeKGasd-F7i3wzTNixyxWyY9W12RHEotcpIdkXgYBLzzSsuce5y-Y89nZ7LfATXdf5Z4QmDqon8NtneCwjm41rVzd9kCsycE3CtrTCgkAY9kxm4i18iA/s1600/IMG_3497.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYPrCm6TBor9VhMwE4nO_5nRUeKGasd-F7i3wzTNixyxWyY9W12RHEotcpIdkXgYBLzzSsuce5y-Y89nZ7LfATXdf5Z4QmDqon8NtneCwjm41rVzd9kCsycE3CtrTCgkAY9kxm4i18iA/s400/IMG_3497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668485535253181906" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnPeCI6KPY4nNeW92sgOVVgnXjMo5gg1pgyD62348CSu5baHPXwnV2z3TnjYLRoWHRxdkoup5tKh92PJs_eKAExYSf1zHkW4vLw9S23DfwkV7ciTrqdCqhP4asKtULg1TE25RjhxCRlo/s1600/IMG_3500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnPeCI6KPY4nNeW92sgOVVgnXjMo5gg1pgyD62348CSu5baHPXwnV2z3TnjYLRoWHRxdkoup5tKh92PJs_eKAExYSf1zHkW4vLw9S23DfwkV7ciTrqdCqhP4asKtULg1TE25RjhxCRlo/s400/IMG_3500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668487874141392786" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMnIIS9pQDsdyqbVjz5DsPpaP_iQlnCojZeWEOB_IQ-Hziw1O0hPgr53_seWsz2H9mgJ2qFXXm-ILuNRAyKc0WVk5o3uLJyelFGTJngT9Rao9rI7YYGK2B1zoAe37POEV2n-vHXtDaI8/s1600/IMG_3557.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMnIIS9pQDsdyqbVjz5DsPpaP_iQlnCojZeWEOB_IQ-Hziw1O0hPgr53_seWsz2H9mgJ2qFXXm-ILuNRAyKc0WVk5o3uLJyelFGTJngT9Rao9rI7YYGK2B1zoAe37POEV2n-vHXtDaI8/s400/IMG_3557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668489061347929314" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Glenorchy and nearby Paradise are the setting for most of the Lord of the Rings films.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Turns out we were too tired to hike, so we just pitched rocks into the braided river.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some of the other tourists milling around took pictures of Charlie, the dragon faced boy, who is always thrilled to ham it up for a crowd!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9mIQeyAJXURXIqP879mxmht1addtedDpra85UBNbSp1SZQS8n5ocO3XaJpzcHrRAbQeypU-KkhadHEVXrgiSbplgqkqcs3I7NXCiDX9brwCPYOEQqau0IWh4-hvgQLM9q_lrXKGSYfQ/s1600/IMG_3518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9mIQeyAJXURXIqP879mxmht1addtedDpra85UBNbSp1SZQS8n5ocO3XaJpzcHrRAbQeypU-KkhadHEVXrgiSbplgqkqcs3I7NXCiDX9brwCPYOEQqau0IWh4-hvgQLM9q_lrXKGSYfQ/s400/IMG_3518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668487894163354690" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOe8R2JoGi42aGQEStX4y-S905tsOexmYeOAqYsdYYWMq0wD-CIuVbXxxUET4xqcSCg-mWGmZPcFfUdjMn6Ne2RpwBbvOJtPmqQxGoeYRvdLZBHqD9ToHEkR4VjyaRCrMQZyBtXJlOaA/s1600/IMG_3512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOe8R2JoGi42aGQEStX4y-S905tsOexmYeOAqYsdYYWMq0wD-CIuVbXxxUET4xqcSCg-mWGmZPcFfUdjMn6Ne2RpwBbvOJtPmqQxGoeYRvdLZBHqD9ToHEkR4VjyaRCrMQZyBtXJlOaA/s400/IMG_3512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668487878084828610" border="0" /></a>On the way back into town, we headed to Fergburgers for dinner – a local institution according to the woman in one of many, many backpacking shops.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our host there was a woman from Cambridge, England, who came over to New Zealand for a year and, like many, ended up in Queenstown for a few months because it is that kind of place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKB-Ej2pHielnG4uDL5BrCLxEQZ7FWyHB9kVegHAHX20GhcB5xawMQSAvjRuIIyLV82gNRyHrggYdDUl6ggYEFzW9svGYnF1_lDYjh7s66KW7LTBfnYCfbCM9hyaYugTVGlMhVjjdPxU/s1600/IMG_3565.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKB-Ej2pHielnG4uDL5BrCLxEQZ7FWyHB9kVegHAHX20GhcB5xawMQSAvjRuIIyLV82gNRyHrggYdDUl6ggYEFzW9svGYnF1_lDYjh7s66KW7LTBfnYCfbCM9hyaYugTVGlMhVjjdPxU/s400/IMG_3565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668491609107194130" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For my entertainment, Mike keeps singing his version of the “all that glitters is not gold.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-61167307987648016292011-10-26T02:17:00.000-07:002011-10-27T03:43:24.932-07:00Remarkable(s) in Many WaysYes, we have some BANANAS! $1.99 (NZ) per kilo!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I must say, they’re pretty yummy sliced on a toasted English muffin spread with Nutella, accompanied by “trim” milk (skim, we think).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The view from our place of the Remarkables enhances the dining experience.<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNDynfiuUX3wYFv2qGSpzzm1tuKvpbeoJWxDSGIbyqGZQ3cf7GD4XpJW3kSkUZkDGYsMD2gHIa35k3-7qB4QEGJUEnED4kxrQr5RjcfvKkG4oH7RllN6NFF79jV7HHM5WF8CCAzTOUqc/s1600/IMG_3408.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNDynfiuUX3wYFv2qGSpzzm1tuKvpbeoJWxDSGIbyqGZQ3cf7GD4XpJW3kSkUZkDGYsMD2gHIa35k3-7qB4QEGJUEnED4kxrQr5RjcfvKkG4oH7RllN6NFF79jV7HHM5WF8CCAzTOUqc/s400/IMG_3408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667728532920196562" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJgvsTIrf2m4_ZG8-NrScu9KeL82uF02XU4v87RywdDzNreVmNSed6g4zucoi97JoZKK8CLxAnpGrS8KezoxscXFBcRPghFkdobGYUFWAcsEPYBs0yeFne9898bNbC7_5YVw2UIxUIh8/s1600/IMG_3409.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJgvsTIrf2m4_ZG8-NrScu9KeL82uF02XU4v87RywdDzNreVmNSed6g4zucoi97JoZKK8CLxAnpGrS8KezoxscXFBcRPghFkdobGYUFWAcsEPYBs0yeFne9898bNbC7_5YVw2UIxUIh8/s400/IMG_3409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667728545408549458" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzsRnB6gYrH42IMyNCiJCDvrsQOyIHkufW3RZQqO24UhEfc2RNs9lbfldoNetU8guU1CNntGAlq0jguOCIjogqO3TkZsgE8Gxy1sIvSb5i5jpX_8oNlxKPHNr36J2NMXzMXbwCuSgwII/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzsRnB6gYrH42IMyNCiJCDvrsQOyIHkufW3RZQqO24UhEfc2RNs9lbfldoNetU8guU1CNntGAlq0jguOCIjogqO3TkZsgE8Gxy1sIvSb5i5jpX_8oNlxKPHNr36J2NMXzMXbwCuSgwII/s400/IMG_3406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667728527455944610" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We started and finished the day in Queenstown set along Lake Wakatipu surrounded by the Remarkables.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A quick visit to the medical center was on the agenda for the Charlie cough that won’t go away (lots of rest and regular meals haven’t been part of his recent days).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He’s back out on the field in no time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt75RedpYoxaCOmmUTWEZCFn6AG2DEeHKj58GeF5Ob0kmeOiMsg60krVNwl-Xzi9rhAYqrl6WTSZ7njsuS6Ij9LOHN5qzZDZqf0Uka6xlN8hN2Rc_IW11KRoShQvjwrc1SBBfizo1LwQ8/s1600/IMG_3416.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt75RedpYoxaCOmmUTWEZCFn6AG2DEeHKj58GeF5Ob0kmeOiMsg60krVNwl-Xzi9rhAYqrl6WTSZ7njsuS6Ij9LOHN5qzZDZqf0Uka6xlN8hN2Rc_IW11KRoShQvjwrc1SBBfizo1LwQ8/s400/IMG_3416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668120249470813170" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our low-key day included the observation decks at A.J. Hackett – the founders of the sport of bungy jumping.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know with certainty that I could not dive off that bridge and Daniel seems to be with me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mike would do it if he was sure he wouldn’t get hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Molly is first in line as soon as she reaches 35 kilos.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Charlie keeps repeating that he’s “afraid of heights.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW16YWzD_iqWa4KqPIvqhsUybpxkXPPHkArvGI4zlhngHKvw-7rPENhUtM2PFm_MSZq5tHPmxyrqGNw_lL-dTc4ggMR21wp5EDsT-LEsgZzwb0cOxFzgqWViwmR-Sth9MJjRvlJDjGAa4/s1600/IMG_3428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW16YWzD_iqWa4KqPIvqhsUybpxkXPPHkArvGI4zlhngHKvw-7rPENhUtM2PFm_MSZq5tHPmxyrqGNw_lL-dTc4ggMR21wp5EDsT-LEsgZzwb0cOxFzgqWViwmR-Sth9MJjRvlJDjGAa4/s400/IMG_3428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668115810092572722" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CA5APLh25WUznOrSCcRv-gFUB4TWWxF9iqnDB6l_NTOUKmOwvr_Bh8QoirRUy8nOBRMh_o59kh0k5fc8OviPPUnaonxe_hExMXJbFKh8tOB1WGtwVCTTaiSOliDKFRDrpGv49_qAFag/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CA5APLh25WUznOrSCcRv-gFUB4TWWxF9iqnDB6l_NTOUKmOwvr_Bh8QoirRUy8nOBRMh_o59kh0k5fc8OviPPUnaonxe_hExMXJbFKh8tOB1WGtwVCTTaiSOliDKFRDrpGv49_qAFag/s400/IMG_3422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668115800098447330" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcDDsiRisOYPVc4Zh82GGtbLt33OyDqGGNrhN_7W0qwtJ0mziCURyAhxDAXRyEqnR2ol3m79XnPYc5Lba8hUYMLD30pnZ7axlEc-iXjd12XOtDTxYYvxdzOKnr_p2wtANfbcnNnQ8Z9I/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG"><br /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next stop, Arrowtown, a nearby town that was central in the 19<sup>th</sup> century gold rush that attracted Europeans and Chinese gold seekers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The visitors' center rents pans for $3 each so the Conlin 49ers (?) planned what to buy with their nuggets on the way down to the river with Mike.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No luck at all at first…after I arrived to check in on the action and Mike fetched (Molly’s term) them some river bottom from a promising part of the river, their luck changed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No one can believe that they each found a nugget of approximately the same size within minutes of each other.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Daniel thinks it might be pyrite (fool’s gold), but they’ll wait until they get back to the States to have it fully appraised, while continuing to make their lists of how to spend their fortunes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Charlie insists that they’ll split their earnings in half.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Clearly, we have a little work on fractions to do with that boy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8yKasYSAiA2Pm_DPHBb6zq2-nBZjxotTSN1MpTwCdOZcCFGLzMr8YOjTGor1XtTvc_yoUZdE0b0_2v7TZ4mXS46QqJuyQ8EyaXpz7undW0bkKTPw2ozll6OAQIfxh6L-BeaYqYBLJUo/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8yKasYSAiA2Pm_DPHBb6zq2-nBZjxotTSN1MpTwCdOZcCFGLzMr8YOjTGor1XtTvc_yoUZdE0b0_2v7TZ4mXS46QqJuyQ8EyaXpz7undW0bkKTPw2ozll6OAQIfxh6L-BeaYqYBLJUo/s400/IMG_3440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668115817059969106" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcDDsiRisOYPVc4Zh82GGtbLt33OyDqGGNrhN_7W0qwtJ0mziCURyAhxDAXRyEqnR2ol3m79XnPYc5Lba8hUYMLD30pnZ7axlEc-iXjd12XOtDTxYYvxdzOKnr_p2wtANfbcnNnQ8Z9I/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcDDsiRisOYPVc4Zh82GGtbLt33OyDqGGNrhN_7W0qwtJ0mziCURyAhxDAXRyEqnR2ol3m79XnPYc5Lba8hUYMLD30pnZ7axlEc-iXjd12XOtDTxYYvxdzOKnr_p2wtANfbcnNnQ8Z9I/s400/IMG_3445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668119185158671858" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The day out ended with a walk along the water in the Queenstown Gardens and the nearby neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The tulips and rhododendrons are in bloom, well into spring. The fern, as seen on The All Blacks jerseys and everywhere else in NZ is a national symbol.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzfho1prrxY-t35jOn0MYP7CwFm02A8m7UUzLqXfb0l-7AWSbJx_ruKdTBUAaC7x_wP_1cfkguJt09kLw4Ylc2m8-TNVNxF5jdUAOETO8ckmG1wv-OqWD9jJ6grj2BLfIwF6avn6HqD4/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzfho1prrxY-t35jOn0MYP7CwFm02A8m7UUzLqXfb0l-7AWSbJx_ruKdTBUAaC7x_wP_1cfkguJt09kLw4Ylc2m8-TNVNxF5jdUAOETO8ckmG1wv-OqWD9jJ6grj2BLfIwF6avn6HqD4/s400/IMG_3448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668119190727030354" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6rY_2Lic0jRnH1lmAokk2AnNHsgEBtVzuIjnIOaQ_RbbZ2aCV-XuQsFvnjQmbdVYM6Y7FykbliF2qOvDkUfZ0gbb9MJa2unCxx-7RIusI98mVXl0M7jU0HF4RTQUzA-Zd9hqKxRqMlk/s1600/IMG_3468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6rY_2Lic0jRnH1lmAokk2AnNHsgEBtVzuIjnIOaQ_RbbZ2aCV-XuQsFvnjQmbdVYM6Y7FykbliF2qOvDkUfZ0gbb9MJa2unCxx-7RIusI98mVXl0M7jU0HF4RTQUzA-Zd9hqKxRqMlk/s400/IMG_3468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668119204200422594" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I type, we’re watching the consolation game for the Rugby World Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Go Wallabies!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>According to the commentators, someone needs a warning about too many “hands on the ruck”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>The blood is flowing freely and at least one ACL and a few teeth are not in the shape they started in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The athletes seem, on average, more well-spoken than the athletes, on average, in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mike says it’s because of all the public speaking practice they got in elementary school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-82575857349695262332011-10-26T02:01:00.000-07:002011-10-27T03:14:46.441-07:00International TerminalLeaving a mostly empty apartment in South Coogee, we checked into our Jetstar flight to Christchurch.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We lost our sun tan lotion that came from East Lansing in security – too big and doesn’t qualify as medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I also lost my watch on the plane after failing to fully clasp it when changing the time to NZ time zone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I realized it 10 minutes from the airport when Mike asked me what time it was.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With luck, they recovered it on the plane and delivered it safely to my empty wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A Happy Meal from the Burger King drive through (I know, I know, what a way to start, but we had a long drive ahead of us and no time to dawdle) took the edge off our hunger and provided small plastic Simpson’s toys that light up for the ride.<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2l6-rAz7Ag3JTWaVFHy16SZ0uDjhLElBRt2UnYisd7jpqoS12H6OESRPe0_goPs6RWY3Wk1v5KjnF6EFOjHCNhEgTaXOIKens5zNP-F6lKundQKsvfNXRIiYYHhVYySIuXna0Wek5IA/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2l6-rAz7Ag3JTWaVFHy16SZ0uDjhLElBRt2UnYisd7jpqoS12H6OESRPe0_goPs6RWY3Wk1v5KjnF6EFOjHCNhEgTaXOIKens5zNP-F6lKundQKsvfNXRIiYYHhVYySIuXna0Wek5IA/s400/IMG_3349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667724848562930482" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Flying into Christchurch, you can see the fields divided by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">something.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i>Up close, they’re HUGE hedges perfectly manicured.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To our disappointment, we didn’t catch the gadget that gets the 30 feet (10 meter) high hedges to be even height.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yAPISman10RAbE7PqBdOAXlhTOYZ_c9miO7m3D5HMGIQWQOUaIhhF46mXW87MLjq9Oz5YRiOjR2TfDaGfsBnaQdktPERMxLGz3ahrEuNTdD6vPaMUeEbuTrYCCFwda_D1PG2SuUFv7s/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yAPISman10RAbE7PqBdOAXlhTOYZ_c9miO7m3D5HMGIQWQOUaIhhF46mXW87MLjq9Oz5YRiOjR2TfDaGfsBnaQdktPERMxLGz3ahrEuNTdD6vPaMUeEbuTrYCCFwda_D1PG2SuUFv7s/s400/IMG_3355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667724856119217522" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">No roos or wombats on highway signs in New Zealand, but the warning that a choo-choo train track is approaching is pretty sweet.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG2-NU0F6MejVsDldlkqKwok2DRO4511fqvIKEcnQNsLtpW2K69f5ValOZJnpfPoI4w6QY9RLMv5td4lNgKXWkvdItegscJJ6_LzqTkwr2iJtzNK1KmLB1nKTc56TKPaCQn9ZY6IqZzc/s1600/IMG_3357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG2-NU0F6MejVsDldlkqKwok2DRO4511fqvIKEcnQNsLtpW2K69f5ValOZJnpfPoI4w6QY9RLMv5td4lNgKXWkvdItegscJJ6_LzqTkwr2iJtzNK1KmLB1nKTc56TKPaCQn9ZY6IqZzc/s400/IMG_3357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667724863475090834" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We stopped for dinner at Lake Tekapo in the central South Island.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It snowed here the day before, but was easily in the mid to high 50s, so it was definitely packing snow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The lake was a turquoise colour<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>set off by the snow covered mountains.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6vrIZEIW6cl2-tWwm5Okwln1LyDLPUAdGTE6edTwFlVn-nRACMQTX3Kv20BmhFp-np9UpuPx1hkUlVxdjGkVy-d50TQbmxFjzGf-bzHcIWuUoUF60fh5SnBwv1QNlEnZYUTgPNWvSV4/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6vrIZEIW6cl2-tWwm5Okwln1LyDLPUAdGTE6edTwFlVn-nRACMQTX3Kv20BmhFp-np9UpuPx1hkUlVxdjGkVy-d50TQbmxFjzGf-bzHcIWuUoUF60fh5SnBwv1QNlEnZYUTgPNWvSV4/s400/IMG_3377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667726199435229794" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7unVHi0zIZvxknduDPWyoYJyWAN6Y-25yAJsWTMdqstXCMz43Wti-meLtdwTnU6uBexJbZn_gONqQx9fQgBV4Bxicb0RUqrJnyygrZDLaFMzY19TMMPwUpKaoQZedynJoIqhHT8NBDA/s1600/IMG_3385.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7unVHi0zIZvxknduDPWyoYJyWAN6Y-25yAJsWTMdqstXCMz43Wti-meLtdwTnU6uBexJbZn_gONqQx9fQgBV4Bxicb0RUqrJnyygrZDLaFMzY19TMMPwUpKaoQZedynJoIqhHT8NBDA/s400/IMG_3385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667726206681431794" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I hope the sermons here are fascinating, because a picture window about the size of the wall faces the mountains and lake.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66_m-eUAt2Eoo79OX09jWrfcMQUIIZ1JxLEYm60ewnOUa8gED2EtbM_Vu9QbsTzdw-_6uYEPhQgPOqqBdC-md8BqtNpmTwjMAcmKqZaH6amYGnj_9xqc9d7nRhiFm0RXlPhEFmdFanYw/s1600/IMG_3386.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66_m-eUAt2Eoo79OX09jWrfcMQUIIZ1JxLEYm60ewnOUa8gED2EtbM_Vu9QbsTzdw-_6uYEPhQgPOqqBdC-md8BqtNpmTwjMAcmKqZaH6amYGnj_9xqc9d7nRhiFm0RXlPhEFmdFanYw/s400/IMG_3386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667726223057963378" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was a long drive (probably 6 hours in the car) on a mostly deserted, but very well marked road to Queenstown in the south central part of the South Island where we’ll start out day tomorrow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546135542872028305.post-91176385940928075572011-10-19T01:24:00.000-07:002011-10-19T03:44:28.746-07:00Ciao CoogeeBright Sunshiney Day with weather in the 70s. Our last night in our South Coogee Apartment. We have a rental car to drop our bags for the trip to MI off at the Airport Holiday Inn and get us all to the airport in the morning for our trip to New Zealand. I'm nervous that we have too much stuff to pack but the voice of reason suggests that we have one more afternoon at the local beach.<br /><br />The Coogee Surf and Rescue Club is housed in the building you can see right on the beach just right of center in the picture. There's a "rock pool" we've been meaning to check out since we arrived. It still isn't really warm enough to swim (water is 18 Celsius and air is about 21 or 22 in the sun), but my standards, but as team photographer, I'm in.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKDfNCm-iJWtRjNIBYVnILQY1kfvcmZHIklxaT_7jA6qJ08wIcZCxb_EJAhZ_Gmpm6Okkwepac1Gl6cnotXMZMWJb8HdNPqY8wN6rvHMaXlZF89wTjfEXtqk5Jmq1WDF6Cpnv9Wn9luE/s1600/IMG_3315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKDfNCm-iJWtRjNIBYVnILQY1kfvcmZHIklxaT_7jA6qJ08wIcZCxb_EJAhZ_Gmpm6Okkwepac1Gl6cnotXMZMWJb8HdNPqY8wN6rvHMaXlZF89wTjfEXtqk5Jmq1WDF6Cpnv9Wn9luE/s400/IMG_3315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665144551070449298" border="0" /></a><br />Up close, Daniel is standing on the edge of the rock pool, which is just a cement wall that holds some of the ocean water as it pounds in and out.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibw3q9ptdpH6bCLzCRUma_dCBUGY94uqAkBvLooeLZZyN3wfKA3XSYtR3Th8rcDonI7ub7ycg2p7mOhmEGn1Mda3bsNQ1uGptJmmxaFpuXbfmMSFyRcPFSTHluUaDTuPGLfGFmLArE7c/s1600/IMG_3329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibw3q9ptdpH6bCLzCRUma_dCBUGY94uqAkBvLooeLZZyN3wfKA3XSYtR3Th8rcDonI7ub7ycg2p7mOhmEGn1Mda3bsNQ1uGptJmmxaFpuXbfmMSFyRcPFSTHluUaDTuPGLfGFmLArE7c/s400/IMG_3329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665132936930560770" border="0" /></a>Molly has the cliffs on the opposite side of Coogee Beach as her back drop.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mFkS4VMSuZIci1iLtbGjARw0z8kPOlh27qHL8gcV3pTJiICFxtA9Zy2xbHB4-cEqahCNNhgeK2s2nAg0lSKTwSN6onu_mx_utS95-sb0Y3uCBzkfVOJoMkVs2egr6lqgqXRuqucXUQI/s1600/IMG_3324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mFkS4VMSuZIci1iLtbGjARw0z8kPOlh27qHL8gcV3pTJiICFxtA9Zy2xbHB4-cEqahCNNhgeK2s2nAg0lSKTwSN6onu_mx_utS95-sb0Y3uCBzkfVOJoMkVs2egr6lqgqXRuqucXUQI/s400/IMG_3324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665132949159005906" border="0" /></a>Can you make out the rule on the right in the 2nd row? It says "Bombing Prohibited" and has a silhouette of a person cannon balling onto another person. We're not sure of the exact definition of bombing, but we now know that the water is not deep enough for men of Mike's size to attempt without smacking bottom (of pool with own).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYZkWF2nxjDd52uehyphenhyphenWpb0EO8iWzbSOPnhuS9btz2fRl-mR6q9dUqWfIrddulb-ExPrL0TAdQUpENbSrI7pKwasya8MJ_hGZJCZL94rOJW2gFExx3e8sLX3qWSIcxREL-dzbse3p4n-o/s1600/IMG_3334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYZkWF2nxjDd52uehyphenhyphenWpb0EO8iWzbSOPnhuS9btz2fRl-mR6q9dUqWfIrddulb-ExPrL0TAdQUpENbSrI7pKwasya8MJ_hGZJCZL94rOJW2gFExx3e8sLX3qWSIcxREL-dzbse3p4n-o/s400/IMG_3334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665152217073795874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovZJnv6d9w2nAnJGMMBBFFEmcKHGTATCUqrkQ0yUSeFCDNninasf_GycH6lmFTo_iHtjFw_-6iQDFqSUpbGe7yMowLV237NsqV14_acgO9jYR9Moc0-zJJ4utNWSbxJC-RkYkX25GdBA/s1600/IMG_3334.JPG">'</a>The pool had some of the stinging blue bottles in it, at least that's what we think they were. Mike found a disgarded Macca's (I'm not sure how you spell the nickname they use here) cup and caught it few. Combined with the "Thirsty for Prizes" ad on the side, it made a nice shot :-).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3HjPTLlzA7Ky1SxdrPDeAOB6NVyh4_Ih3BD2KCHsThhyphenhyphenm5rtGlOfqGPOsW2rv1DHOMCTBHlbv9CnWjf0GGceNn0ltJzOOb2x06IKmtmdrCIPfRkMo3Lg6BuM0W8WQGkrQ72fsfFaNq0/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3HjPTLlzA7Ky1SxdrPDeAOB6NVyh4_Ih3BD2KCHsThhyphenhyphenm5rtGlOfqGPOsW2rv1DHOMCTBHlbv9CnWjf0GGceNn0ltJzOOb2x06IKmtmdrCIPfRkMo3Lg6BuM0W8WQGkrQ72fsfFaNq0/s400/IMG_3322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665130520700605378" border="0" /></a>Charlie takes over the hunt.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrX_OH2h-trvHMiw8pGZtEdHn898qiECKAP6xLCdWlQawqZNN1LQ5-MzwUnPuIoRjheuQQmo_RpNHCnWlB70aexh5chw2arx3WHpjnu1-tzvh2T8ELJZFIuHRavPTINKp-PMOdUwu_G8/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrX_OH2h-trvHMiw8pGZtEdHn898qiECKAP6xLCdWlQawqZNN1LQ5-MzwUnPuIoRjheuQQmo_RpNHCnWlB70aexh5chw2arx3WHpjnu1-tzvh2T8ELJZFIuHRavPTINKp-PMOdUwu_G8/s400/IMG_3341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665132944318724930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QYaFI2hmmlqnP1FGP4vTpDfcK0qvJ9QBq3PHvSCGqkg31laD2HBupAK4OxwX4Q2ss0LZnHfroFltbQf8lVAyi5gDi5bUuMB8AIoGYCP2czRfUUUpYwoa1Csp3B1nt3FtCGg8XwNEn2M/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QYaFI2hmmlqnP1FGP4vTpDfcK0qvJ9QBq3PHvSCGqkg31laD2HBupAK4OxwX4Q2ss0LZnHfroFltbQf8lVAyi5gDi5bUuMB8AIoGYCP2czRfUUUpYwoa1Csp3B1nt3FtCGg8XwNEn2M/s400/IMG_3339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665130531487123778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Enough fun - home to pack and hope the swim suits are dry by morning!<br /><br />Next post will be from New Zealand, where the All Blacks will play for the Rugby World Cup Title this weekend. Looks like we planned it that way.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR9u9HFnMByxuMnqEtPvGtjG1b-C07S3x8ANpygzybRSV2GpK4dki9QtrTzoIelALIAPjpP1-ufWleVtBr5issXOgyLM6d1MXCQ05wqVxkFzLXmZ4SFFQup07fjTqZ55KJz2kQB_f8DY/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR9u9HFnMByxuMnqEtPvGtjG1b-C07S3x8ANpygzybRSV2GpK4dki9QtrTzoIelALIAPjpP1-ufWleVtBr5issXOgyLM6d1MXCQ05wqVxkFzLXmZ4SFFQup07fjTqZ55KJz2kQB_f8DY/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG"><br /></a>Stacy and Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321976548197222900noreply@blogger.com0