She’s here! Finally Maren arrived in Christchurch yesterday. Now - as some of you can imagine we are celebrating her birthday today. With tons of fudge and flowering trees under beautiful sunshine we enjoy the day. - What a lovely November day! - Greetings to you poor fellows at home!

Ok, guys. I might have been lazy the last few days. As you have seen I upped loads of new pics yesterday. That’s my way from Coromandel to Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo Lake Waikaremoana and Lake Waikareiti to Napier. That’s a long way to drive and the last part included the longest gravel road I’ve done so far - 90km! That was fun, though I was a wee bit worried about Charlie’s health in some parts. My tramp around Lake Waikareiti included a special surprise. Kind of accidentally I stepped into my first hunting trip ever. At Sandy Bay Hut, where I stayed for the night, a beautiful small house on the white sanded lakeshore I met a couple of hunters out for red deer. So lucky me I gott my share of what they shot. Yipiehey! - We had an amazing BBQ and I’m still carrying about three kilos of stag meat at the moment, yummy! - Now, having relaxed for two days in Napier, the funny Art Deco town on the east coast I’m about to depart to the Toingariro NP. Reports from the crossing follow… stay tuned!

P1100371, originally uploaded by strativari.

On the hunt near Lake Waikareiti.

P1100228, originally uploaded by strativari.

Craters of the moon near Taupo - It’s like walking on a the lid of a kettle.

P1090484, originally uploaded by strativari.

Fish & Chips… healthy, nutritious and extremely yummy! At least those I had in Coromandel.