A Roamin Q & A

Recently, the Roamin Gnome team asked the world (or at least those who are looking) if they had any questions for us about our journey thus far. The questions will be answered today in addition to some that we thought the readers might gain from.

Sara K. asks: "What was your favorite and least favorite hike"

• My answer might be a bit biased but my favorite hike was in the precursor to the US road trip. Our three day backpacking across the beautiful mountains and lakes of New Zealand's South Island on the Routeburn Track was bar-none the best. Accommodations were well set in advanced, the weather held out JUST long enough (despite the downpour on our last day) and the company was pretty great. Oh yeah, and of course I was able to propose to Liz on top of the highest point, Conical Hill, with both fathers as witnesses during the second day of the hike.

• Our least favorite hike was to Cliff Lake near the Courtright Reservoir in the Sierra's. Sock related issues led Liz to form a seething blister which hurt and hindered the hike. On top of it, we trouped out too late and were unable to reach the destination. The dog continually tossed in the tent and it was a fairly sleepless night. We struggled on the sandy granite soils and the tiny rocks kicked into shoes frequently. In addition, the road to and from the trailhead was a sickening serpentine which made things just a touch worse. We told ourselves we would attempt another go with better gear and better time management but instead opted for other adventures. Maybe one day...

Robin S. asks: " Do I miss Hillmann Consulting (former employer)"

• I sure do. A few times of week, I will take a moment to remember the past including employment. Hillmann Consulting was and is an amazing company to work with and I do miss the people that worked in the friendly environment. Every so often, we will see doppelgangers or a last name of those in our past and it will remind us of where we came from and what we have learned in those times since then. I would not oppose to working with Hillmann and Co in the future [undefined] but have NOT missed the indescribable frustrations of commuting into NYC on the regular; sometimes night/weekends and always rush hour.

Daniel K. asks: "Have you done any WWOOFing and if so, how was it?"

• Liz and I spent only two weeks total WWOOFing in this great country. To start off, our options are greatly limited due to the fact that the dog must be welcomed. Our first farm, Sylvanaqua, located outside Charlottesville VA was run by a small but growing family on two plots of rented farmland. They had been working in animal raising for a few years and were not new to having WWOOFers work along side them. Unfortunately, the week we worked with them was an absolute washout and each day we returned soaking wet and tired. Luckily, Annie was an amazing chef and her food would put a smile in your belly and back on your face. Additionally, Ziggy got along quite well with their spunky pups Mini and Beebop. We hope to have Sylvanaqua help with the wedding dinner in the future [Free range Hog Roast anyone?]
• Our second week of WWOOFing was spent with Pepper and the gang at Stone Feather Farms located outside Purceville VA. We obtained a more agricultural side of farming with hopes of growing killer veggies for her organic Salsa she made and sold locally. Weeds were pulled and baby plants placed in soil to align with the lunar cycle. Big Jim, another WWOOFer at the farm, followed these cycles religiously in order to provide Pepper with an amazing bumper crop for the two years they have worked together. Once again, Ziggy got along swimmingly with their Corgi Catie and luckily the Virginia rains didn't hit us as hard.

• To read more details about our WWOOFing adventures, please follow the link below to my prior posts on the subject.

Sylvanaqua Farms

Shayna K. asks: "How have you changed since you've embarked?"

• I am still the type A/B person on the inside but with practice and opportunities, I have learned to let things slide a bit. Our adventures have led me to say "YES" to certain things that would have normally been outside my comfort zone such as inadvertently ordering cow brain tacos in Las Vegas or noshing on a fresh killed rattlesnake that was hand delivered, still dripping blood, by a machete wielding man in the hills outside Ojai California. We have also come across many people in this country who have a story to tell and with this opportunity, we took the time and chance to hear what they have to say; weather the quotes are a bit nonsense or right on target, the open-minded ability to talk with strangers about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has led us to a better understand of the world and its many facets. We have all been raised differently in different environments and to taste and explore the options of this world has been a thought outside the box.
• Additionally, with a free floating agenda, we have the time to actually see and learn about places that most would fly by. Some days we are in hard travel mode and destinations need to be reached but when relaxed, we can explore new places, learn new facts and meet new people. The hustle bustle of NYC taught me to walk swiftly and don't talk to strangers. Now I have to time to saunter and chat.

Daniel V.K. asks: "When are you coming back to the east coast?"

• This is a loaded question. Post New Years, we will be heading back east bound to continue our journey. Texas and the Southeast states will take some time to explore and we hope to do some more WWOOFing opportunities in that region until spring. We have also been given some good tips on places to see on the east coast including Asheville NC. I don't think we will come back to the NYC metro area to settle but will be around to visit relatives, parents and friends as we can. Come summer, we would like to try and reach the New England states (*New Hampshire and the lot) and might have to settle for some more seasonal work at that time before the next chapter unfolds. We still have a lot of unknowns but we have found attraction to areas of Virginia and of course MOAB, UT stole my heart.
• We will be back in Moab in a few weeks to keep exploring and hopefully get in on a folk music festival on the 4th. I have also been looking at property to buy. Moab is expanding fast and a 10 acre parcel of undeveloped land can grow from 50k to 75-100k within a few years when the developers come to plant the next communities. The town captured out attention with its diverse and colorful people, the amazing desert atmosphere with climbing/quads/mountain biking galore and the quaint co-op, beautiful library and even a hand spun thread store for Liz. Its a unique, non-cookie cutter / sans big box stores atmosphere on par with Flagstaff and a few other places we have seen that have the potential for personal growth in a caring community.

Here are a few more self asked questions from the gnome to the gnome

Favorite National Park Visited: Capitol Reef was a huge unexpected trip. We only planned to over night near the Park but as you drove down highway 24 which runs through the park, you realize that CR is very different from the rest of the lot. When we attended this park, the campground was full but that's OK because CR Visitor Center has a board of local free or cheap places to stay nearby including maps of BLM (public use) lands so you don't end up trespassing on someones desert. VERY HELPFUL :) Also, the park is both hiker and car dweller friendly. You can explore via your car fairly well and will still enjoy the beauty of the area but the short hikes are tempting to get your feet dirty. It is not over populated (yet), there are free-to-pick orchards onsite with a donation bin, a store that sells local made pies/pastries, jams and pickled items. Did I mention that the landscape is truly amazing! 

Also, make sure to buy an annual pass to the parks if you plan to visit 2-3 parks that year. The $80 pass paid for itself and we have no regrets since most parks charge $30 admission.

Hardest Challenge on a daily basis: Food consumption. As warm blooded creatures, we feel the need to feed every few hours. When you are a busy bee like us, it can be a challenge to muster the ability to make a meal three times a day; especially with limited road supplies. Liz has done a fantastic job as chief chef making sure we get the meals we need. One challenge is finding fresh fruits and veggies that aren't GMO and Pesticide ridden or shipped from around the world. We usually dont stick around enough to find and get to the farmers markets. 

Another challenge is spicing it up. We have a spice cabinet on board that Liz utilizes to its fullest but in addition to spice, its important to have varied meals. We have been in burrito mode for a while since its an easy handheld meal with minimal ingredients and little clean up. It's also versatile as you build to desire. We like having snacks in the car for those long stretches of highway with nothing in between. Costco has provided a bounty of nature valley peanut bars and fig bars which are delicious and sort of healthy. Better than chip bags each day. 

--Additionally, we consume ALOT of water; both in/on our bodies and for cleaning. Living in a house, you have little idea of your daily consumption. Run the sink or shower too long; NBD. It can be a struggle to have enough freshwater but we have managed by using a 5 gallon flexible water jug in the trunk (we like the flexible ones since it adds space as it empties), in addition to numerous 1 gallon jugs in the foot wells of the back seat. On board the camper, we have a 10 gallon holding tank for washing dishes and hands but this reserve is only available when pop'd up.

Financial Battles are another thing to keep in mind before you hit the road. When you have no income, every penny counts and making sure your bank accounts are working with you and not against you is important to track. 

• Liz realized that her bank, Wells Fargo, would charge $25/month for a 'maintenance fee' when her account was below a certain threshold and to avoid such a charge, she needed to either have X deposits per month or 10 debit charges a month. This isn't common knowledge and so when these charges popped up, she inquired and with a local branch and found the small print stipulations that might not affect someone with a steady income and spends regularly. If we are stationed and supplied somewhere, we could go a week or two without spending a dime and living off our stock.
• One trip to the grocery could cost a couple hundred dollars so its important to weed out the snacks and cereals you might want but not need to survive. Buy the generic/bulk version of just about anything but make exceptions from time to time (we like to treat ourselves to Black Label Bacon every once in a while). We buy from the bulk store to refill stocks on board including canned goods and the Dogs Food. Meals might be meager at times so make sure you eat your moneys worth when a bounty is present; I call this opportunistic eating. 
• Have an emergency stash (or multiple) of cash on hand. Credit cards are accepted most places now but its worth it to keep a few hundred on hand just in case. Additionally, make sure you have enough money to bail out of your adventures or get it going again. Determine your threshold in your bank of when you might need to call it quits, settle down or ship back to mah and pah.
• Consider the price of gas. When you add miles like there's no tomorrow, you will inevitable have to fill your rig and your wallet hurts. Use an ap like GasBuddy to help you find the cheapest rates in your area. Once again, every penny counts and can save a lot of money in the long run. We tend to hit Costco if we can since its bar-nun cheapest gas in town. Not every place has Costco gas though so we take what we can get. We also run with a 2-gallon spare can on board as a safety net. It has saved us a close call and also got it down the road to a better gas price.
• Spend the money to secure your success. This might seem counter intuitive to our spending sector here but we made sure the Subaru was in top condition before initial departure and after leaving Dinkey Creek 4 months and a couple thousand miles later; we spent a small fortune reconditioning the camper to a livable, movable space including a new axle to the tune of a grand (Estimated $2,300 spent on the gnome including purchase price and numerous modifications). We purchased a GPS and other numerous gadgets to help us live a mobile life which all cost a pretty penny.

☆ Red Rocks and Butterscotch (LINK)

In lieu of my own creative spin on our adventures, please check out Liz's well worded(and pictured) posting of our trip to Dixie NF, Zion and Bryce NP. The trip with Sara and Colin had alot of great times and memories made. Glad they were able to join the gnome for a week of fun in the desert.

CLICK for Link

A Grand Experience

When we last left off, the gnome was en-route to a site in Sanford Texas. The campground upon arrival sat atop a bluff overlooking Lake Meredith in Sanford Texas. The site were spacious and fresh water provided upon entry. Additionally, the bathrooms were immaculate and had free showers! But the view though. 

The gnome sat dormant another night while Liz and I made camp in the tent. As the evening drew near, a storm was seen rolling in to the north. Lightning silently flashed the sky in the far distance. We tucked in for the night around 10. The radar said there was an 8% chance of precip and yet the rain drops coming in through the open top tent made us rap the rain fly for the night. 

We did not know what was in store. 

Around 1:30AM the wind started and didn't stop. Strong gusts pushed in the roof of the tent and rain pelted the fly above our bodies. Lightning was upon us and would light the tent with a crashing boom instantly. The storm had shifted and was right overhead. For safety sake, we pack the dog, tent and some pillows in the Subaru and got "comfy" for the night. Sleep finally came but was irked away with the rise of the sun on the vista. With eyes somewhat open, we gathered whatever belongings we had, got organized and headed out. Aside from the freak storm, this was a beautiful, well kept site with nearby lake like amenities and would visit again if in the area.

On our way out of Texas, we stumbled upon Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo Texas. We couldnt help but stop and take pictures of cars that had been stacked in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels who were part of the art group Ant Farm. The car shells have gained fame for their unique appearance that changes with each visitors spray of the can. Just remember to clean up the cans when done.

For the night, we made camp in El Malpais (Badlands) National Park at the Joe Skeens Campground. This site had about 2 dozen areas to camp which includes newly built pavilions and clean drop toilets. The location is fairly off the beaten path which made it a quiet night with very few neighbors. The local views and opportunities for exploration in rock crevices, caves and lava flow fields made this an ideal camp for the night. While in the desert, we couldn't resist buying sparklers at the local fireworks shop and doing some long exposure images.

On our way out of town, we checked out the nearby vista which was fun to climb around on. Our drive through the desert continued with a stop through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest NP. Petrified Forest National Park is known for its fossils, especially of fallen trees that lived in the Late Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, about 225 million years ago. During this period, the region that is now the park was near the equator on the southwestern edge of the supercontinent Pangaea, and its climate was humid and sub-tropical. What later became northeastern Arizona was a low plain flanked by mountains to the south and southeast and a sea to the west. Streams flowing across the plain from the highlands deposited inorganic sediment and organic matter, including trees as well as other plants and animals that had entered or fallen into the water. Although most organic matter decays rapidly or is eaten by other organisms, some is buried so quickly that it remains intact and may become fossilized. Within the park, the sediments containing the fossil logs for which the park is named are part of the Chinle Formation

Off to Flagstaff we flew. The gnome set up camp at a free site off a dirt road north of town. We were met with a dozen other free campers who used the space to spend a night or two. Just driving through the town, we knew it was something special. The quaint local shops and unique spaces almost masked the sad homeless side which was seen on popular street corners and in the parks. Aside from that, the city had a great overall vibe to it. 10 outa 10 would visit again.

The morning after arriving to Flagstaff, we heard a rustle around 6AM. We peek outside the curtain and sure enough, we see Sara and Colin packing up their tent into the rental  car. They anticipated finding camp an hour north at the South rim of the Grand Canyon but were unable to secure a location where ever they went. They instead headed to our camp and spent the night in-tent. They were able to salvage their trip to the Grand Canyon that morning with a quick in and out of the tourist spots while Liz and I stayed around to explore Flagstaff and do laundry at the local coin-op. In the early afternoon, all parties were present in Flagstaff for the final push to Vegas and further to the main attractions; Dixie NF, Zion and Bryce NP.

Driving into Vegas at dusk, we headed to the airport car return to get Sara and Colin situated. The clouds were a beautiful pink and purple swirl ominously billowing above our heads. It may have been a sign of things to come. The rental was returned without issue and all four humans, one dog and a 33 year old camper headed into the Red Rock Canyon Nat Conservation Area to find some BLM land to camp. Little did we know that such a feat would be impossible to accomplish and leave us stranded with no where to stay for the long desert night in the deserted outskirts of Las Vegas.

In it to win it

So with our shake down cruise through Virginia completed, all possible fixes / additions made to the camper, our equipment checked and packed, and plans for the next few weeks at the least, we set off. The camper was near packed from Memorial Day weekend which was spent with good friends at a great camp site near Scranton PA. After saying our goodbyes for a while, we headed back to Harrisburg for one final night before hitting the road for good; or so we thought.

The original plan was to depart on the 31st but apparently Ziggy had other plans. With everything packed, we went to fetch the dog to load him in. He was extremely lethargic and refused to get up or put any weight on his back leg. The timing couldn't have been worse but he is a member of the family and deserves care so we booked a trip to the animal hospital to get everything checked out. $100 later, he is issued some pain pills for a bruised ligament in his leg. Funny how by the time we got home from the vet, he seemed much better. We used the unexpected night at home to revamp some of our plans since now we had one less day to get to Vegas.

The next morning, we are already packed so we just pile into the Subie and hit it. On our way out there, we had arranged to pick up a newly found friend, Jessi, in Camp Hill PA and give her a ride back home to Kentucky. Since we were headed that way anyways, it wasn't much of an issue to offer the ride. The gnome arrived to Camp Hill, acquired its last passenger and gear including four boxes of hand made pottery amongst other things and set off for the first camp site in Ohio. The drive through PA was nothing new since we have been used to the rolling highways loaded with trucks.

As we arrived to our first camp called Hidden Hollow near Bloomingdale OH, we passed multiple gun firing ranges which was a bit off putting. Additionally, this area of the country was currently going through a cicada bloom and thus the noise level of buzzing bugs was deafening and the shells husks littered the grounds as if a mass casualty had occurred. On top of it all, humidity was about 90% and the sweat effortlessly came from all parts of the body leaving a not so fresh feeling. Since the Roamin Gnome is in travel mode to get to Vegas, Liz and I had decided to NOT pop the camper each night to save time and energy with set up/tear down. We planned to use our small 2 person tent but until that moment, had not accounted for Jessi and her sleeping spot. Luckily, she was game to sleep in a hammock under and well supported tarp. That night in the tent was humid and slugs crawled everywhere inside while other bugaboos flapped outside. Jessi had a great setup through which had good airflow and protection from most of the crawlers.

The vehicle was loaded and we waved bye bye to Hidden Hollow campground which we would rate 4/5 stars for cleanliness, accessibility and lot size. Dont drink the water through as the parks no longer test for drink ability and with nearby fracking operations, its hard to tell what might not be safe to drink.

Prior to arriving at Jessi's mothers, we stopped by an effigy in OH called Serpent Mound which was built by early native people for purposes still unknown to researchers. The mound does work with the sun and moon though to give an accurate calendar of sorts. Its also believed that sacred rituals took place upon the hill.

In the early evening, we arrived at our destination exhausted and ready to rest. Food was just about ready which was prepared amazingly by Jessi's mom, Karen. With a clean, dry bed, air conditioning, a hot shower and meal in us, we gladly accepted the hospitality.

Morning came too soon and all things once again were loaded up sans Jessi and her four boxes of pottery; of which we purchased two pieces off her before the general public got to get their grabby hands on the beautiful glazed dishes, bowls and cups.

The gnome headed south through KY and onto TN to meet our next camp in Merriwether Lewis Death and Burial site. I know this doesn't sound amazingly appealing but when we arrived at dusk in a light rain, it was home for the night. The free campsite was nearly empty with a few neighbors scattered nearby. The facilities included very clean FLUSH toilets, well kept water taps, trash at each site (or shared) and numerous pull through spots, earning a 5/5 stars thus far.

The next morning, we quickly packed to get out of the rain that continued to plague our trip thus far. I knew that it was just a short time more in the western direction before rain is no more and we are into tanning land. Tennessee was beautiful but desolate at times with huge highways built to accommodate a population that is yet to exist in the area. I will happily take a multi-lane highway all to myself thank you. At lunch, we stopped in Memphis to appreciate the Bass Pro Shop Pyramid which was listed in Roadside America as the largest in the US. At 25 stories including a massive outfitter store, an observation deck (10$) and even hotel rooms; the place was massive and yet at times, claustrophobic. Knowing that our time in the sun was soon to come, we cashed in some gift cards to purchase hats for ourselves. Hopefully a good purchase for the future.

We took a short detour to the Little Rock AR airport to see my fathers company facility. He travels here frequently so why not drive around and check it out.

Onward into Arkansas from Memphis, we hit our next camp near Toad Suck AR. The camp was installed by the Army Corp of Engineers what looked like a plot and drop notion. The now severely over grown grounds COULD host about a dozen sites but the weeks and tangles prevented most from use. The boat launch nearby was the only thing keeping the locals coming back. A quick machete action and our camp for the night was cleared in this very private camp with ZERO working amenities. Instead of the rainfly for the tent, we opted to use the Kelty tarp, a move we will use more often since it included airflow 100 fold but still gave protection from the elements.

Pack at it again, we load up our AR camp to continue westward to get to the hotel that Liz had booked in Oklahoma City. We didn't stop for much sight seeing on this leg as there wasn't much to see aside from a straight highway with amazing puffy clouds. There were casinos though at about every stop along the way. We didnt play.

Welcome home to Oklahoma City OK. Our currently location where this post is being made and sent. We are lucky to have internet connection since it seems every other thing about this hotel was a lie. This Motel 6 seems to but under new management and thus is going through changes like the truck that is loaded with old beds to be dumped, the elevator that had the smell and then visible puddle of urine in it, the laundry facility and continental breakfast that doesn't exist and more. The sheets were filthy so we used a good old tapestry and our sacks for the night. This place will NOT be missed.

THE FUTURE: It might be some time before another post comes out. We will be on the road and who knows when we might achieve internet. Our upcoming journey in brief includes a stop in Sanford TX tonight followed by a nice desert venue in NM the next. Then its off to Flagstaff before meeting up with Sara and Colin in Vegas. Our vices will not hold as we rush towards Zion, Dixie NF and maybe Bryce Canyon if we have the time. Our boon docking skills will be tested as we try to figure out BLM (Bureau of Land Management) camping which is free but requires registration from the local authorities.

Once done with Zion et al, we anticipate a short drive to San Diego where we have an undetermined camp site but never the less, will have a great time seeing Liz's sister Kathryn.

And post that, who knows. Maybe Colorado calls and we head north before the cold comes back. More WWOOFing on the west coast? One thing is for sure, it's going to be an adventure to never forget.

Thanks for reading.

What to do with No.1 and No.2

Living in a 30 something year old pop up camper has its merits. 

Merit 1: It was cheap

Merit 2: It was in 'decent' shape

Merit 3: It was portable

One flaw is the lack of facilities, ie bathroom stuff. 

For some time now, people have been asking what we plan to do with number one and number two. The option to go into the wild and dig out a cat-hole is always a possibility but sometimes you want a little privacy or the elements are not in your favor. Well, we weighed the options and it seemed that the most responsible thing to do, would be utilize a composting toilet. There are many on the market if you do a simple search but they can range in price from $35 to upwards of 100. But what makes it so expensive?

Well the issue with waste is that when combined, the urine and feces together make a biological hazard; namely due to the urine (ammonia). When you keep the two separate however, the potential for catastrophic disasters is greatly reduced. These composting toilets are specially designed to do just that, separate the one and two. Why couldn't we just do that?

With a couple trips to the hardware store, we had all the things we needed.
Materials:

1. 5 Gallon Bucket
2. 5 gallon bucket toilet seat (bought on Amazon)
3. Biodegradable kitchen bags (bought on Amazon)
4. Coconut Fibers/Saw dust (bought on Amazon)
5. A funnel (Size and design is up to the user)
6. Small length of aquarium tubing
7. 2 Rubber stopper
8. Bottle for liquids (We used Gatorade)
9. Feminine urination aid [Go Girl] (if desired)

Instructions:

• A hole was drilled in the rubber stopper to accommodate for the insertion of the aquarium hose.
• The stopper was plugged into the bottom of the funnel
• The funnel was cut to size and screwed onto the bucket and the position and height for its main user.
• A hole was drilled at the appropriate height and size to run the tubing from interior to exterior of bucket.
• Another rubber stopper was drilled to accommodate for the hose at the bottle end of the tube.
• A 1" hole was drilled into the cap of the Gatorade bottle.
• Biodegradable bags will line the interior of the bucket 

• Expand coconut fibers with water to be spread on top of each deposit to reduce smell and aid in decomposition.

• When the bio-bag is full, it can be trashed or buried.
• When the bottle is full or after each use, it can be disposed of outside.

And that't it, at least in theory. We will see how things really work out when we test the setup on the road. The bucket setup fits nicely in an old milk carton and will be strapped to the trailer tongue securely for transport and storage.

New Experiences in New Zealand - Part 4

Sopping wet, we loaded our gear into the awaiting Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. We had arranged for a company (2 guys) to perform the transport of the vehicle from the Routeburn Shelter (our Start) to the Divide (our end) of the track. This option was way more cost effective and time efficient since we didnt have to ride the bus back 4hrs to the start to retrieve the car. We could also continue our journey to the next destination; Gunns Camp which was plotted about 7km down a dirt/gravel road.

The history of Gunn's Camp is fascinating. The Gunn family has resided in desolate Hollyford Valley for nearly a century. The collection of tools, images, maps and machinery in the on-site museum depict the struggles of the main through-fare that was built through the dense forest to provide road access from Te Anau to the South and Milford Sound to the West. Prior to the installation of the road and Homer Tunnel, Milford Sound was only accessible via a lengthy boat ride. The quirky cartoons and phrases posted around the camp showed that creativity and comedy are needed to survive in this remote area of the island.

Our cabin, number 6, was right along the Hollyford River and was a very simple, two bedroom cabin with entrance to the dining room. Within the dining room was a wood/coal burning stove which was quickly fired up to warm our cold/wet bones and dry out some of our gear. The rest of the afternoon was a wash and with literally nothing else in the area, we decided to recuperate from the hike and spend the night by the fire. Seeing as how we were all pretty smelly after three days of hiking, everyone took the time to grab a shower from the camp facilities which were heated by a central wood burning heater. They had a very unique and independent setup which also included generator power from 6-10pm. After that, lights out.

In the morning, we pack up gear and headed out of camp relatively early. The next destination was Milford Sound which was approximately one hour to the West. As soon as we neared the Sound via the Homer Tunnel, the traffic began to build up. We ended up having to park in an overflow lot and take the shuttle over to the docks. We had a short wait in the terminal before our RealJourneys trip started. The boat pulled up and passengers began to load up. The boat was maybe 30% full which was nice for moving around and not having an overcrowded and noisy ride. Rain continued intermittently throughout the cruise but according to the captain, the falls were far less impressive a few days prior when the rain had yet to come. The increase in rain fall provided our tour that day with a beautiful hazy ride around the Sound to see the hundreds of falls cascading off the cliffs.

After the cruise, we drove down to Te Anau which was a bit of a haul and left the group really hangry. The town center offered many options for food but we decided to get our mutton on with some personal pot pies from Miles Better Pies. They were delicious. Our accommodations had us staying at the Fiordlands Great Views Holiday Park. The well kept grounds hosted a varied garden of roses and other exotic plants. The reception however wasnt as nice. The woman tending desk was very short with us and felt it wasnt her job to tell people how the internet worked or about the extra charges for gate key and every other little thing on the lot. Oh, you want to use the laundry (cha-ching), how about the sauna room (cha-ching), the grill? (cha-ching), the kitchen (cha-ching) everything came with its cost here. The main miff was when we paid the 2NZ to use the propane grill. The chicken was half way done when a small grease fire came up. The woman from reception came out, she was obviously watching from afar, and told us she had to shut the grill down because of the small fire. We cooled the chicken for as long as the grill stayed warm but she turned off the gas and ferociously locked it down. Very uncalled for and unprofessional. Thank god we only had one night to spend here.

Our next leg of the journey took us east through Queenstown once more and on to Mt. Cook, the highest peak in NZ. Most of this day was spent driving with small breaks for photo ops and eating. By mid afternoon, the team had reached the youth hostel and unloaded the car once more. We checked into our 8 person bedroom and was able to claim the beds of our linking since we were one of the firsts in. Dinner was whipped up and just before we ate, a beautiful rainbow was cast over the mountains from all the rain that day.

In the evening, we opted to go to the local museum which pays homage to Sir Edmund Hillary. They also had a theater which played multiple movies throughout the day; we watched the one about the strange and unique birds of New Zealand and their ancestral links to Australia. Back at the hostel, we spent time getting caught up on web surfing since we now had UNLIMITED ACCESS!!! All prior places gave out paper cards which provided the user with a code to redeem a small-nominal amount of internet for the day. I wish we had more time to spend here since we really didn't get to do any of the hiking due to inclement weather once again. Maybe next time. We did however have a break in the weather to visit a Lavender field which was on the long road to Mt. Cook

The trip from Mt. Cook to our accommodations in Akaroa was another long drive split between the group; at the end of the day though, everyone voted yours truly as driver superior on the twisty and tight NZ roads. That afternoon and evening, we explored the small French town of Akaroa. As a sort-of engagement dinner, our fathers decided to treat us to some fancy cuisine at The Trading Rooms in town. The menu appealed to most and even though the service was polite and well intention, the speed of service was horrible. The wine took 45 minutes from bar to table and the food, another hour and a half. In total, it was way too long for a meal and left me sour about the experience.The next day, we did a fish and chips for four people and included sausage, chicken, shrimp, fish and all you can eat fries all served hot in 5 minutes.

While in Akaroa, plans were loose and everyone was on board to try and go kyacking but by the time we reached the vendor, everyone backed out due to wind and cost per hour. Instead, we walked to the lighthouse up the road which was relocated from its original construction on the coast. Then, we followed a walk through the local park and found some really old trees. The road took us back to town where dinner materials were procured at the local butcher and foursquare. That night was bittersweet because it marked the last night in NZ for the Glasers. Our bags were packed and we were all ready to hit the road back the Christchurch and then the airport.

On the morning of February 20th, the Fulton family was dropped off at their accommodations for the night (oddly enough, the same Old Country Backpackers from Part 1) and Glaser crew drove to the airport. Bags checked in for the first flight. Then on to the second much longer flight (12hr AUK to LAX) and finally a short skip to Phoenix to see my brother and Dylan for an evening. While in Phoenix, we met with my mother who was staying with brother. She flew with us the next morning back to Newark NJ where the weather was cold and sleeting. I already missed New Zealand and wish I could have stayed longer.

Any who, that's about the jist of it. We had a wonderful time with no major issues to speak of. The plans were flimsy at the start but by and by, we pulled the trip together and had a grand ol time doing it. It was very fun and will obviously be a trip to never forget! Thanks for reading and keep on following our journey as we embark on a cross country US trip starting very soon!