Day 11 - Monday *** The End.

March 5 

Woke up and got our bags packed.  Surprisingly, we were able to make everything fit without using the ruffle bag.  I have a LOT of candy I'm bribing home, including five bags of pineapple lumps.  I think there will have to be some shifting to get my bags let on as carryons.  One last dump of the gray water and toilet.   Ewwwwww.  Gaross.   When we got to Christchurch, I wanted to eat lunch on the Hagley botanical garden, bit it was very busy for an upcoming garden show, and time was getting late. 

These are the uniforms they wear at this private school in Christchurch.  I looooooove them.

 

 Notice all the American-ized fast food restaurants.  We never ate at one, although Justin wanted to try some different burger they had at McDonald's.

 Judder bars = speed bumps

 We ate at an Egyptian take-a-way place.  Justin got another kebab. But it wasn't as good as the Turkish one.  And my fries had about triple the needed amount of salt. We drank blood orange soda.  Got the camper dropped off successfully after inspection.

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Have an awesome video to share, once I get it posted.

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First plane ride to Auckland was uneventful, and am now on the plane to LAX, Los Angeles.  My TV has good shows, but I cant hear through he headphones so gave up.  I don't want to go deaf.  Our plane, still Air New Zealand, is an All Black plane.  Not sure if it is different on the inside, besides having black decor, but the outside is all black with a fern.  *Found out after visiting the bathrooms, they have awesome decorating in there.  

I'm feeling slighlty peekish and hope I don't vomit.  I've had a headache all day stemming from our pillows, so took a fair amount of medicine before it could kick into a migraine.  That often makes my tummy act up, also quite a lot of turbulence.   We're on the second to last row.  

Weird to be going home to so much change.  

Our house is sold (unless they back out) so lots of transition is in the air.

Monday again, but next day.
Wahoo!  I didn't puke.  And I might have slept snatches here and there.  I brought my airplane paraphanelia: slippers, earplugs, neck pillow, and eye cover.  For breakfast, I had scrambeled eggs and baked beans.  Beans for breakfast?   Kiwi's.  But there was fresh pineapple.  Time to get ready to land!  

Oh man.  

We were at LAX going through security and my carrying went through the x-ray machine.  The security guy stopped at my bag and said "Lawwd, have. Mercy."  

We ate good old American Mcdonald's for lunch.  We were both flying on Delta so we got to eat and hang out until our flights.  Sad smoochies goodbye.  I've failed to mention that Justin's shoulder that he popped out of socket. 20 years ago is really bugging him.  so much that he can't eat normally, or put on his back pack.  

Update on Justin:  he was in so much pain the following days, that we asked me to get a doctors name in Utah for him.  He couldn't sleep at night.  They did an ultra sound and some other stuff.  He doesn't need surgery yet.  They gave him a cortesone shot which took about two weeks to work.  He's okay for now.

Day 12 - Sunday

March 4. Got up, showered, and drove about 30 minutes north to Oamaru for church. 

  It's a branch mostly of Tongan's.  The room was packed with large Polynesian families, squirmy kids.  Oh, but when they sing!  The room was filled with beautiful music.  Not always on key, but heartfelt.  And when the verses were sung, oh the harmonies!  

We were here for testimony meeting and was pleasantly surprised to see children and teens participate.  Every person actually bore a testimony rather than a thank-a-mony.  And were well said.  The kids started with. "My dear brothers and sisters," or "good morning brothers and sisters" and were not shy!  Several people introduced themselves.  We went to the English Sunday School vs the Tongan one.  There were six people besides us.  It started off as a discussion of 2 Nephi 28 and what to watch out for in the last days.  It got on the topic of poor vs wealthy.  The Branch President got off on a tangent which surprised both of us....  How can people with so much money feel good about themselves when others have so little, someone in the branch drives a $150k car etc.  And ragged on this person.  When he was done I asked how he knows this person doesn't give.   He scoffed and said he's seen his tithing statements. What?  Wow.  I couldn't believe he said this out loud!  Seems like he has a pride issue himself.  I didn't say anything else, but it kept on this track the rest of the lesson. If you received an inheritance, you shouldn't keep it.   Who are they to judge what someone is doing?  We left somewhat shocked. 

 Right now we are sitting on a side road, had a nap, and taking it easy on a Sunday.  

Longest bridge in New Zealand; Rakaia bridge/1,757 metres

We video chatted with the kids and my parents awhile.  Good to see their faces.  Can't believe we go home tomorrow.  We drove closer to Christchurch and stayed in a little town at a campground.  Seriously, they have the worst camp grounds ever.  I hated it.  Justin initially parked right by the busy highway and I put up a grumpy stink.  Fasting was making me hard to be around.  I said that if he moved the RV, it would be okay, and it was much better.   We made cheese sandwiches for dinner then sat back and relaxed the rest of the evening.  We watched two episodes of Idiot Abroad.  Justin laughed so hard he had tears streaming and sounded a bit like a girl.  I love when he laughs, it's contagious.  

Day 11 - Saturday

Saturday
Our propane ran out in the night time.  We drove back through Te Aneu and filled it.  

 
 
 They spell vegies "veges".

Justin busted more long hours on the road until we got to Dunedin to go to the Cadbury chocolate factory tour.  We got a few candy bars...mmmm.  The tour wasn't that awesome, just okay. 

 
 

 

 

 Next up was the Baldwin Street, the steepest street IN THE WORLD.  We walked up to the top, then Justin decided he needed to run up to compare his time with the fastest on record (1:58).  He was 3:30 and dripping sweat. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Then we stopped at Shag Point to see the seals and also to explore a part of the beach under the cottages.  

On the beach, all rocks are interesting circle formations.  I'll let the pictures describe them.  The kelp was mesmerizing.  

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Justin found a baby seal that looked like it had been strangled, but was still mobile.  I could have spent a long time here but the next stop...penguins!  

A baby in the grass!

 
Even on was swimming for us...hehehe!  So cute!
 
I love the tracks in the sand.

 
 
 This guy had an amazingly close lens on his camera/video camera.  He let us look through it.  Nice guy.  He was on a bird watching tour of New Zealand (by himself).

We turned off at Moeraki and drove to the lighthouse.  Very windy, it is today too (Sunday).  The penguins here had been raised by humans several generation ago so are not afraid of people like they usually are.  We were so lucky to see 15, yes you read right.  15!!  And close up as well.  Maybe 10 feet away.  Highlight!   

 
 

We made it to the Moreaki boulders at sunset, so quickly walked the ten minute beach walk.  These are amazing how they seem to grow from the sand.  We putzed around a few minutes and it was getting dark so ventured our way back playing with my camera settings.  

 
 
 flash...

 no flash.  It was dark out.  Amazing what a high iso can do.

 
 
 
 
Speaking of my camera...this has been a frustration for me.  My lens keeps telling me error, check the connections.  I read online that this means there is a problem with a cable.  What it means to me now is that I can never know if it's going to work or not.  Frustrating!!!!!  Camped close by.